From the perspective of food

We are beginning to deeply understand how vital national security is from the perspective of food.

No one, and I repeat no one, was ever prepared for this crisis where the Philippines, together with the rest of the world, is fighting an invisible enemy.

The national government as well as local governments are struggling daily to address the most basic needs of the people that modern day living tends to somewhat take for granted. The appreciation of the most basic needs which we are now putting at the forefront of survival is placed on the acquisition of food.

I am not by all means putting health in the backseat as day in and day out, our frontliners are sacrificing their lives to heal all those who have been unfortunately inflicted by the coronavirus. It is a fact that our front-liners are hit and hit hard, yet, at the end of the day, together with the rest of the nation, the poorest of the poor are those we put first.

While we all fear this virus, our stomach will react first, and addressing hunger will always come first.

The President has time and again explained, more so commanded, that people step up to the plate when it comes to responding to the needs of our fellow kababayans. While our government pursues the necessary health obligations to fight and beat COVID-19, it is also very clear that hunger is addressed and putting aside altogether politics and disinformation.

To me, the worst has come into play and these are those who instigate civil unrest. I repeat, no one was ever prepared for this and everyone is doing their best and it is truly an abomination that at the worst possible time in our history, people choose to create chaos and social upheaval using the very same perspective on food.

Now is not the time to sow disunity, and the very fact that this is happening sows bitterness and hatred toppled by the need to address the very basic necessity for every human being to live – food.

In as much as society can be divided by this, people should all the more fight against hunger by doing their part. Securing food secures the nation and every individual in society is a major player big or small. Pay it forward as they say and never fall into the trap of a great divide.