BY WAYLON GALVEZ
Include Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok coach Chito Viclolero and his players – Marc Pingris and Mark Barroca – on the list of PBA ‘samaritans’ after responding to the government’s call to help the frontliners in their fight to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Known for making sports apparels, Victolero said his family-owned Chlomars Sports Wear is now producing personal protective equipment (PPEs) and face masks for two reasons – one, for their donation drive, and secondly, for business side in order to help some individuals in need of extra income.
Several of Victolero’s clients are his Hotshots players, including Pingris and Barroca. Even the PBA has already ordered from his shop.
“Madami na kaming nagawa na PPEs and facemask na nai-donate namin sa community (Bulacan). Then may mga nag-orders, like si Ping, naka-order na siya and si Mark nagsabi na mag-order para mai-donate,” said Victolero.
“Actually na-encouraged ako ng mga bosses… boss RSA (Ramon S. Ang) and coach Alfrancis (Chua) kung papaano sila tumulong sa mga frontliners at sa mahihirap na kababayan natin.”
“Kaya nung nangyari nga itong pandemic na COVID-19, nung nahinto ang PBA nagkaroon tayo ng lockdown, naisip namin ng family ko na gumawai ng PPE na pinamigay namin sa frontliers. Then may mga nag-inquire na sa amin kaya tinuloy na namin,” he added.
Pingris said that it’s very important to help each other now more than ever, particularly the frontliners since they need to be safe in taking care of the infected individuals.
“Mahalaga dahil sa panahon ngayon tayo tayo magtutulungan. Para sa mga frontliners itong suporta dahil grabe yung nagagawa nila sa bansa natin,” said Pingris. “Hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas, sa buong mundo, mga forntliners ang bayani ngayon.”
“Ngayon sobrang mahalaga na ang bawat isa magtulungan para labanan itong COVID-19. Sa ganung paraan man lang makatulong tayo sa mga frontliners, kasi sila expose sa mga virus,” added Barroca.
Just like other companies, Victolero said that their apparel-making business struggled to sustain operations due to the global health crisis that almost froze almost everything after President Duterte imposed the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) last March 15.
However, the decision to make PPEs allowed Victolero to maintain the business, thus helping his 50-plus employees earn at this time. Now, a combined 25 sewers are working at home or at their shop in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
“Sa ngayon kasi naka-quarantine tayo, so hindi lahat nakaka-trabaho, pero tinutulungan natin sila. Sa mga nakakapag-trabaho naman, yung iba malapit lang naman sa shop, yung iba nag-stay sa shop, at iba naman may mga makina sa bahay,” said Victolero.
One of the early clients according to Victolero is the PBA Commissioner’s Office, which donated PPEs to different local government units (LGU) and in hospitals in Metro Manila.
“Noong nabalitaan ni ‘kume’ (PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial), nag-sabi agad samin kaya nakagawa kami ng 400 PPEs na nai-donate ng nga PBA. Next week may order sila na i-deliver namin,” said Victolero.
