CinemaBravo

Libreng pares from “Ka-Freshness” Wilbert Tolentino? Possible! The popular content creator, influencer, and talent manager visited Quezon Memorial Circle on June 12, a national holiday celebrating Independence Day, alongside Ahon Mahirap President Kristine Caballero-Aplal. Their mission was to bring their non-profit organization to the masses through a feeding program. Team members and other volunteers joined the special occasion, contributing to the event’s success.

Their feeding program features a special taste of pares that’s free for everyone. The volunteers all embrace the motto: “Sama-sama, tulong-tulong, yakap pangarap, ahon mahirap.”

The event marked a significant milestone, with 1,250 cups of pares distributed within the day.

An Overwhelming Experience

Pares, a popular Filipino dish consisting of savory beef stew paired with garlic fried rice, was the highlight of the event.

During interviews where CinemaBravo was present, Wilbert Tolentino shared his excitement about the project.

“Sobrang nakaka-overwhelm kasi first time itong project. Itong program na ito ay advocacy ng Ahon Mahirap sa pamumuno ni Mareng Kristine Caballero-Aplal, ang aming Presidente… Pinu-promote ko rin ang aking Kain Tayo [novelty song]. Nag-collab kami. Nakakataba ng puso kasi una sa lahat yung Top Sharers ko, Top Fans ko, nandiyan din, dahil pag-post ko sa fan page, nandito rin sila para suportahan din ako…”

(This program is the advocacy of Ahon Mahirap under the leadership of Mareng Kristine Caballero-Aplal, our President… I also promote my song ‘Kain Tayo’. We collaborated. It warms my heart because my top sharers and fans are here, supporting me when I post on my fan page.)

Joy and Recognition

Reflecting on what he enjoyed the most from the launch of their program, Tolentino said, “Yung nagtatawag sa park. Yung pumunta ako sa park, tapos nag-invite ako ng tao, tapos maraming nagpa-picture at maraming naka-recognize kahit nakasalamin at nakasumbrero ako. Nakaka-enjoy na medyo nakakaiyak kasi sa harap ng tao, nagtatawag ako ng, ‘Tara, kain tayo, libre po, libreng pares!’”

(In the park, calling out. I went to the park, invited people, and many took pictures and recognized me even though I wore glasses and a hat. It’s enjoyable and somewhat tear-jerking because in front of people, I call out, ‘Come, let’s eat, it’s free, free pares!’)

He added, “Sabi ko nga lagi sa Live ko… [yung] pinakamaraming nag-comment na lugar, yun ang susunod na pupuntahan namin. Mas gusto natin i-cater yung mga street children, yung mga depressed area, para at least lahat sila ay matulungan din natin.”

(I always say in my Live broadcasts… the place with the most comments, that’s where we’ll go next. We prefer to cater to street children, depressed areas, so that we can help everyone there too.)

Expanding Horizons

Regarding the scope of this program, Tolentino mentioned, “Kung kakayanin namin, aabot ng mga province. Pero right now, NCR muna kami, kasi baka yung sasakyan namin, hindi kakayanin. Kasi kapag magta-travel ka sa province, kailangan may ka-tie up din kami na may tagaluto doon. Kasi dapat yung sangkap namin ay same din… dito. Kasi siyempre ayoko rin ma-bash.”

(If we can, we’ll reach the provinces. But for now, we’re focusing on NCR because our vehicle might not be able to handle it. Because when you travel to the provinces, we also need to partner with someone who can cook there. Because our ingredients should be the same… as here. Because of course, I also don’t want to be bashed.)

Advocacy and Future Plans

Kristine Caballero-Aplal expressed her thoughts on their advocacy, saying, “Ahon Mahirap’s Ka-Pares sa Pag-ahon has an advocacy on poverty alleviation. One of the things that we wanted to do… is to provide sustainable solutions to poverty.”

She elaborated on the significance of serving pares, “Pares, kasi kung makikita natin yung logo natin ng Ahon Mahirap, dalawang tao kasi yan, yung isa ay inaahon yung nasa baba. So pares, it’s also another word for pair. Kasi kailangan talaga natin ng kapares pag tayo ay umaahon…”

(Pares, because if you see our Ahon Mahirap logo, it represents two people, where one is lifting the other up from below. So pares, it’s also another word for pair. Because we really need a pair when we are rising…)

Looking ahead, Caballero-Aplal shared, “We plan on going around NCR. Of course, this will have to be coordinated through our chapter presidents…

“Kung sino ang gustong mag-request… mag-visit lang kayo sa aming Facebook page. Meron din tayong website. Meron din tayong Instagram and Tiktok.”

(Whoever wants to request… just visit our Facebook page. We also have a website. We also have Instagram and Tiktok.)

Mission and Vision

Their mission: “As united advocates for a more just and equitable society, we are dedicated to alleviating the suffering caused by poverty in all its forms. Guided by our unwavering commitment to social justice, equity, and compassion, our mission is to marshal our resources, knowledge, and empathy to create tangible and sustainable change. Through our collective efforts, we strive to foster self-reliance, restore human dignity, and create a society where every Filipino thrives. This mission is not just our duty, it is our solemn promise to the people of the Philippines.”

Their vision: “We envision a Philippines where every individual, regardless of their background and circumstance, has the opportunity to lead a life of dignity, prosperity, and fulfillment. A society where poverty is but a distant memory, and the principles of social justice, equity, and compassion are the cornerstones of our collective journey towards progress and harmony.”