Somewhere between compassion and good intention is the value of responsibility. That’s the story in the tragic birthday community pantry organized by actress Angel Locsin.
The noble intentions of the actress were overshadowed by the uncontrolled mob which practically smashed all health protocols installed by the government and resulted to the death of a senior citizen.
Angel, known for her charity works in the past, made an apology after the incident and reached out to the family of the elderly man who died while queueing up.
Whilst Angel’s intention is noble, this is where the values of accountability, anticipation and planning are important. Anyone organizing a community event must realize the impact of their activity. More so, that it involves a celebrity organizer. Angel must have awakened to why the government takes cautious steps in mounting community response actions.
A non-expert like Angel and her team should have consulted event planners and the local government unit or barangay concerned of their planned activity and prepared for a risk management plan. This is not just one ordinary person setting a small pantry outside his house for neighbors to take. This is a celebrity organizing a big community pantry on her birthday and announcing it on social media. Worse, they never prepared for any emergency situations nor even set up heath protocol mechanisms. Did Angel even apply for a local permit in anticipation of a mass gathering and given the current health restrictions?
Clearly, that was a complete recipe for disaster.
Angel’s community pantry exposed hundreds to the risks of community transmission, the impact of which is yet to be known in the coming days.
The lack of accountability overwhelmed the nobility of her intentions.
