As fuel prices continue to rise amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, a restaurant in Marikina has begun offering free meals to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and riders.
Trining’s Kitchen Stories, owned by Chef Jayson Maulit, has already distributed hundreds of meals since Monday, April 6.
Maulit said the initiative traces its roots to the COVID-19 pandemic, when his grandmother, Lola Trining, was infected with the virus.
“Nagsimula po siya as a gratitude campaign for frontliners noong COVID-19 pandemic, noong maospital si Mama Trining at kinailangan po naming humingi ng tulong,” Maulit shared in an interview over DZRH.
He explained that the effort was inspired by the compassion shown by the people who helped his family during his grandmother’s illness.
Unfortunately, Lola Trining passed away. To preserve the family’s recipes, Maulit later established the restaurant, featuring dishes his grandmother used to cook.
“Naranasan din po namin ang pagtulong sa amin kahit strangers, tumulong noong kami ‘yung nangangailangan,” he said.
Maulit added, “Pangako ko po kay Mama Trining noon, kapag nagkaroon tayo ng pagkakataon na tayo naman ang makapagbahagi ng biyaya, gagawin din po namin para sa mga kababayan natin.”
Aside from the current initiative, Trining’s Kitchen Stories also serves as a soup kitchen during typhoon season, providing free meals to those in need.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, Maulit said they were able to prepare more than 1,000 meals in just three days.
He also shared the challenges faced by his 10-member team, including a daytime power outage. Despite this, he expressed gratitude to friends who immediately stepped in to help, as well as donors who provided packaging materials.
“1,125 meals in 3 days, by a kitchen of 10 people—only made possible by so many guardian angels beside us. I wish you could see it on the ground, friends. This is goodness in action. This is the Filipino DNA,” he said.
