Sorsogon ‘Baker Bishop’ feeds the hungry with help from Jollibee Group
BISHOP Jose Alan Dialogo was just about to celebrate his third month at the Diocese of Sorsogon when the community quarantine was imposed due to the spread of Covid- 19.
About one in every five families in Sorsogon lived below the poverty line, according to a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority. But Bishop Alan already knew this even before transferring to the diocese, as he too, was a native Bicolano, hailing from Camarines Norte. He felt compelled to help his parishioners and their communities because the pandemic and the lockdowns were not only a threat to the health of these communities, but also their livelihoods and food sources.
Using the equipment he brought with him, Bishop Alan decided to start baking bread to be distributed to those who needed it in community. From about 6 in the morning to past 6 at night, he started baking about 1,500 pieces of bread every day with the help of some church personnel, nuns, and other volunteers.
“Nagkainteres ako sa pagbebake dahil sa Foundation — dati, nagbe- bake kami para sa fundraising ( I got interested in baking because of the Foundation — we used to bake to help raise funds),” explains Bishop Alan, referring to the Manto Nin Pagkamoot ( Mantle of Love) Children’s Foundation Inc., a foundation he helped establish for underprivileged children.
When Fr. Rowan, also from the diocese, heard about the bishop’s initiative, he reached out to his friends and family for support. Soon enough, someone from his network was able to connect Fr. Rowan to the Jollibee Group.
The Jollibee Group sent 484 sacks of flour, eggs, and margarine to the diocese. This was part of its FoodAID Program wherein the group commited to donate a total of P220 millionworth of food to frontliners and communities in need all over the Philippines.
The Diocese enlisted the help of 44 bakeries and 14 parishes around Sorsogon to help them make use of the Jollibee Group’s donations, as well as in distributing them directly to the communities.
“Once they see something good, the generosity in others is also spurred” said Fr. Rowan. “I think that’s also the idea behind the multiplication of loaves and fish by Jesus Christ. It’s actually a multiplication of generosity, more than just a miracle.”