Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday said he believes there is no such thing as “a lazy Filipino” and that the assistance he and his allies are providing through various programs can go a long way in helping families recover from the pandemic.
“I can go on and on kung gaano ka importante ang industriya niyo, but ang gusto ko lang ipunto is walang tamad na Pilipino. Bihirang bihira ‘yan kung meron man. Talaga lang tinamaan lang ng pandemic,” Cayetano said on December 13 during the first Facebook live episode of his seven-day Christmas program dubbed “Bayanihan sa Paskuhan.”
(I can go on and on about how important your industry is, but I just want to point out that there are no lazy Filipinos. That is very rare, if any. It’s just that we have been hit by the pandemic.)
Monday’s special program is similar to the Sampung Libong Pag-asa program wherein Cayetano financially aids Filipinos with P10,000 to help them recover from the effects of the pandemic.
For the first episode, Cayetano addressed 50 pre-selected plant growers from Silang, Cavite.
“I would assume isang peak season niyo ang Christmas, but last Christmas halos walang nakalabas. Tapos n’ung medyo nakakabwelo na tayo, nagkaroon naman ng Delta,” Cayetano said.
(I would assume Christmas is one of your peak seasons, but last Christmas almost no one was able to leave their homes. Then when we thought things were slowly getting better, the Delta variant came along.)
Many Filipinos found themselves growing an interest in plants and growing their own when the pandemic started. The new hobby helped to relieve stress, ease mental states, and gave people something productive to do during the lockdowns.
Despite the influx of plant enthusiasts, however, it has not been easy for the flower growers of Cavite.
“Sa tagal natin naghahalaman ay dumating sa atin ang pandemic. Lalong lumala nung pumutok ang Taal, na wash-out lahat ng ating halaman,” plant grower Gliceria Patawe said.
(We have been planting for a long time, then the pandemic hit. It got more difficult when Taal volcano erupted because it washed out all our plants.)
For the plant growers of Cavite, Cayetano’s P10,000 financial assistance will not only help them pay their bills and purchase their basic necessities, it will help also fund their businesses and recover from the effects of the pandemic and the Taal eruption.
Cayetano was joined by Taguig 2nd District Rep. Lani Cayetano, plant growers Gliceria Patawe and Michael Ramos, Silang Mayor Soccoro Rosario “Corie” Poblete, Mayor Emilia Lourdes “Omil” Poblete, Vice Mayor Aidel Paul Belamide, Board Member Hon. Paolo Crisostomo, and Silay councilors Luis Junjang Batingal, Nionio Delos Santos, Peping Desingaño, Carlo Madlansacay, Freddie Magnaye, Ivee Jayne Reyes, Kathy Tirona, and Mat Toledo.
