78-year old Lolo turns birthday into a community pantry to help earthquake victims

Photo Courtesy || Geraldine Laureta Azada

Cordillera - Instead of hosting a party for his birthday celebration, a 78-year old Lolo in Abra had decided to put up a community pantry  to help the people in his neighborhood who were affected by the series of strong earthquake that hit the province recently. 

In a photo shared by his relatives on social media, Lolo Santiago Laureta is seen standing in front of a table with various kinds of vegetables like tomato, strings beans, bitter gourd, eggplant, okras, and more.

Photo Corutesy || Geraldine Laureta Azada

Aside from vegetables, Lolo Santiago also offered free ice cream to those who wanted it. 

"Happy 78th birthday Lolo Santiago Laureta! Community pantry instead of birthday party," the relatives wrote in the photo caption. 

They invited everyone to come to the community pantry and reminded them to bring their own eco bag.

Abra province was hit  by the magnitude-7 earthquake, the hardest among the northern provinces. Many residents were in need of assistance like food, water, shelter and financial help to recover from the earthquake.