Though he has been in Manila since his days in La Salle Green Hills, Robert Bolick still has a special place in his heart for Ormoc City.
“Bihira lang ako makauwi sa amin, once or twice a year lang pero dun ako lumaki e,” the 24-year-old national team guard said.
Since March, local hospitals have been overloaded with patients.
Wanting to help out his fellow compatriots, Bolick messaged Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI) president Ronald Mascariñas, asking how they could help the frontliners who have been working tirelessly for the last five months.
“Gusto ko talaga tumulong sa mga kababayan ko sa Ormoc. Dun ako nag galing e,” expressed Bolick.
“Gusto ko magpasalamat kay Boss Ronald kasi when I messaged him, hindi man lang tumagal ng one-minute, sumagot siya kagad. Hindi sila nag-hesitate.”
Uling Roasters, the sister company of Chooks-to-Go, sent over packed meals to local hospitals, police stations, and checkpoints in Ormoc. This will be done for three days beginning today, Monday.
“When Robert messaged that he wanted to help out his hometown, of course we can’t say no,” said Mascariñas. “Robert is family to us since he was part of the 23-for-2023 Gilas Cadets team that represented us during the Premiere Cup two years ago.
“As we always say, once a Manok ng Bayan, always a Manok ng Bayan.”
Helping distribute the packed meals were Robert’s sisters Claudeth and Zlife.
Appreciating this deed was none other than Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez.
“Salamat Ronald sa pinadala mo dito na Uling Roasters at kay Robert na hindi nakakalimutan kung saan siya nanggaling. It’s very good. Masarap talaga,” said Gomez, also the president of the Modern Pentathlon Association of the Philippines.
“Thank you so much sa support na binigay ninyo sa amin. The people are very happy about the chicken.“
For his part, Bolick knows that the help he and Uling Roasters offered to the frontliners was just little compared to what they are doing for the country.
That is why Bolick is calling for everyone to keep disciplined as it is the only thing the medical frontliners are asking for.
“Nobody signed up for this but they accepted it. They think this is part of their job. Sarap sa feeling na mga kababayan mo tumutulong kahit maliit sahod nila, they are risking their lives. Nakaka-inspire na tumutulong sila to people that they don’t even know… Ang alam lang nila na is they know them in blood because they are Filipino,” he said.
“The only thing we could do is support our frontliners by being disciplined. ‘Yun yung kaya nating gawin to flatten the curve. This is just our way of saying na we are here, we support you, and we are grateful to you.”
