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While several local charity organisations and individual philanthropists set up big iftar tents in different locations to serve meals to workers in this holy month of Ramadan, there are also groups and organisations that take to the streets their commitment to reaching out to people in observance of the season.
On Friday, a number of Filipino groups headed to one of the busiest streets in Doha to hand out iftar packs to motorists as their way of contributing to the growing community of residents observing the holy month through simple acts of kindness.
Led by Republika Supremo International and Bayanihan Qatar, around 212 volunteers from more than 20 Filipino community groups trooped to the Radisson Blu signal a few minutes before the sunset to hand out iftar packs containing an assortment of snacks and drinks.
This was the third iftar drive initiated by Republika Supremo since the group was founded. It was the first time for Bayanihan Qatar, a federation of Filipino groups mainly from grassroots sector, to co-organise the campaign that is also aimed at helping ease iftar rush.
“This kind of campaign is an important gesture of love and respect towards our Muslim brothers and sisters during the holy month of Ramadan. We may not share their faith but it is important for us, who considers Qatar as our second home, to observe the season,” Bayanihan Qatar President Jerry Ronquillo told Qatar Tribune.
Commenting on the reactions of the motorists as they hand out the iftar packs, Jerry said many of them, especially non-Filipinos, expressed their gratitude and appreciation of their gesture.
“We received very positive and encouraging reactions from the motorists. They were thankful for our simple gesture demonstrating the spirit of Ramadan. There were even some who gave their dates and drinks to us so we could pass on to other motorists,” Jerry added.
Similarly, the volunteers were also happy to be able to demonstrate the spirit of bayanihan through the campaign. Bayanihan is a Filipino value and a concept of helping one another most especially in times of need. In organising the iftar drive, several groups and individuals pledged support and donations. Their commitment to the activity started from gathering the donations to packing the foodstuff and then spending their spare time to distribute the packs.
Overall, they were able to hand out more than 1,000 bottled water, more than 300 packs of biscuits, dates and bread, hundreds of oranges and apples and several packs of laban and other juices.
Those who took part in the activity included Republika Supremo, The Filipino Community, Qatar Pinoy Helping Hand, Hero Qatar, Elite Qatar, TSDQ, GSSI, Ang Munting Tambayan, GRII, Kabisig, OFW Barkadahan Qatar, Filipino Vloggers in Qatar, Buklod, PGBI, GGGBAI, Kapuso, Brethren, BMKQ, Ilokano Group and others.
“Reaching out to people is our way of life and at the core of the principles of our group. In this third Iftar Community Service, we again witnessed how our community unites to support a good cause. On behalf of the leadership of Republika Supremo, I would like to commend all groups that took part in this initiative and for their continuous support to our projects,” said Republika Supremo founder Pascual Castro.
Following the success of the drive, he added, they were planning to hold another similar campaign on May 24 at the same venue to be led by Elite Qatar and Filipino Vloggers in Qatar.
On Friday, a number of Filipino groups headed to one of the busiest streets in Doha to hand out iftar packs to motorists as their way of contributing to the growing community of residents observing the holy month through simple acts of kindness.
Led by Republika Supremo International and Bayanihan Qatar, around 212 volunteers from more than 20 Filipino community groups trooped to the Radisson Blu signal a few minutes before the sunset to hand out iftar packs containing an assortment of snacks and drinks.
This was the third iftar drive initiated by Republika Supremo since the group was founded. It was the first time for Bayanihan Qatar, a federation of Filipino groups mainly from grassroots sector, to co-organise the campaign that is also aimed at helping ease iftar rush.
“This kind of campaign is an important gesture of love and respect towards our Muslim brothers and sisters during the holy month of Ramadan. We may not share their faith but it is important for us, who considers Qatar as our second home, to observe the season,” Bayanihan Qatar President Jerry Ronquillo told Qatar Tribune.
Commenting on the reactions of the motorists as they hand out the iftar packs, Jerry said many of them, especially non-Filipinos, expressed their gratitude and appreciation of their gesture.
“We received very positive and encouraging reactions from the motorists. They were thankful for our simple gesture demonstrating the spirit of Ramadan. There were even some who gave their dates and drinks to us so we could pass on to other motorists,” Jerry added.
Similarly, the volunteers were also happy to be able to demonstrate the spirit of bayanihan through the campaign. Bayanihan is a Filipino value and a concept of helping one another most especially in times of need. In organising the iftar drive, several groups and individuals pledged support and donations. Their commitment to the activity started from gathering the donations to packing the foodstuff and then spending their spare time to distribute the packs.
Overall, they were able to hand out more than 1,000 bottled water, more than 300 packs of biscuits, dates and bread, hundreds of oranges and apples and several packs of laban and other juices.
Those who took part in the activity included Republika Supremo, The Filipino Community, Qatar Pinoy Helping Hand, Hero Qatar, Elite Qatar, TSDQ, GSSI, Ang Munting Tambayan, GRII, Kabisig, OFW Barkadahan Qatar, Filipino Vloggers in Qatar, Buklod, PGBI, GGGBAI, Kapuso, Brethren, BMKQ, Ilokano Group and others.
“Reaching out to people is our way of life and at the core of the principles of our group. In this third Iftar Community Service, we again witnessed how our community unites to support a good cause. On behalf of the leadership of Republika Supremo, I would like to commend all groups that took part in this initiative and for their continuous support to our projects,” said Republika Supremo founder Pascual Castro.
Following the success of the drive, he added, they were planning to hold another similar campaign on May 24 at the same venue to be led by Elite Qatar and Filipino Vloggers in Qatar.
