GREEN FIRE

by FO2 Hiroshi M Adriano

(PEREZ FIRE STATION)

Today, food prices have skyrocketed in local markets and farm jobs scares, lockdowns amidst the
pandemic and disasters decimated crops. Hence, the pain has been passed on to consumers in the form
of soaring food cost that reverberated-up the impact. Nevertheless, in fulfilling the gastronomic
sustenance and needs of Filipinos, vegetables has always been a staple food on every household,
agriculture has consistently provided food on every individual’s plate. Growing crops has forever been a
way of life rooted in the hearts and genes of the Filipino people. It was one of those events that elicit
curiosity, causing most of the inhabitants to momentarily pause and spend a few minutes of our time
solving the conundrum, I stand corrected. Perhaps, the people were too busy thinking how they can
survive and sustain life in this 3rd world backwater country, that almost no one paid attention to this
peculiar circumstances that there are some initiating effort to help each other specially in this time of
pandemic.

Lamentably, it has been more than a year that our country is imposing lockdowns vividly hurting the
most vulnerable group in our nation and it is the reason community pantry started and continuously
spreading like a wildfire in different localities across the nation where people are famished. It was
inspired by the perception “Give whatever you can, take only what you need”. In consonance, for the
continuous public service the Perez (BFP) Fire Fighters under the leadership of FSUPT ROWENA H
GOLLOD our Provincial Fire Director, Spearheaded by FO3 Percival R Del Moro the Acting Municipal Fire
Marshal in Perez a 5th class municipality 4th district in Quezon Province Region 4-A conjointly with Perez
PNP headed by PLT ISAGANI P GONZALES, OIC conducted community pantry at Brgy Sangirin in Perez
Quezon the BFP personnel harvested their own crops with the help of Mr. Sofio A Mendoza a local
farmer and also our neighbor that we always commended for taking the pressure of some herculean job
of teaching us how to easily and effectively stagger plant cultivating date that promotes rapid growth
Nevertheless, we still need to endure and partake in this laborious task of planting green chili, eggplant,
bottle gourd and bitter gourd by giving them a head start by taking care of them indoors in the seedling
tray using organic soil the BFP Personnel sprinkled them using 1 cup of noodles per hole a day for 3
weeks to a month period until sprouting. Then transferred the seedling to the farm soil when they
already reached 3 inches and after 3 months the fruits of labor are vivid they are ready to be harvested
and be donated to the community thru the pantry. Conversely; however, as the pandemic is still
prevailing the BFP personnel is still purposely enforcing use of face mask and face shield and social
distancing all throughout the said activity. Apparently, this humanitarian action was indeed reflection of
resilience and evidence of response and unanimity as a result of unwanted necessity due to Covid19
that deviated the normal set up of living in this challenging times thus, every person should take part to
survive the imperceptible enemy.

Surely, the vision and actuality of planting, harvesting and donating together hand in hand including a
little bit of the past mixed with the present the teamwork of Perez BFP personnel and the local farmers
is second to none and to be able to share it to the community amidst the pandemic is a tall glass of
water for every thirsty individual-sparkly engaging, a contrasting panorama was painted on our not-so-
impressionable mind from the standpoint of theoretical view that one commonality that binds people
together is by helping each other and understanding that the nationality is not only synonymous to
citizenship.