President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., Vice-President Sara Duterte and other leaders have expressed support for the annual “World Pandesal Day” this October 16.
Spearheaded by the 85-year-old Kamuning Bakery Café in Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City, the celebration will start on Oct. 16 at 10 a.m. onwards and will give away 70,000 free Pandesal, along with cheese, sardines, ham, coffee, fruit juice, fruit jam, and other gifts.
World Pandesal Day is a unique event that honors the iconic Filipino bread while raising awareness about the pressing issue of global hunger.
The global celebration extends beyond the Philippines, with bakeries and cafes across North America, Europe, Asia, and other regions joining in the spirit of generosity in recent years. Free Pandesal bread shall also be sent to orphanages throughout Metro Manila.
TESTAMENT TO COMPASSION
To mark the celebration, Pres. Marcos Jr. said in a message: “Every year, the renowned Kamuning Bakery distributes thousands of these versatile bread and other food items to address hunger in the locality, and by doing so, it also spreads awareness of our social responsibility while sharing warmth and solace to those who need it most.”
Congratulating Kamuning Bakery for hosting the 10th World Pandesal Day, he further stated, “Your success in the past decade and the extent it has reached with the number of people and organizations following suit serves as a testament to how the greatest visions come to reality when genuine compassion and love for others remain the primary motivation for our actions.”
REDUCING HUNGER
For her part, Vice President Sara Duterte commended “the inspiring socio-economic and cultural initiatives the Kamuning Bakery Cafe has organized over the years and its passion for augmenting hunger by distributing thousands of our local staple bread free on World Pandesal Day.”
“By mainstreaming the value of basic nutrition, community service, and multi-sectoral engagement, we build a dynamic society whose food heritage serves as a fundamental resource in reducing the burden of food shortage,” Duterte said in a message.
She added: “May this celebration create more generous networks of philanthropy as the Kamuning Bakery Cafe flourishes its culinary influence and enable innovative approaches to ensure food security in local communities that complement our government’s nationwide efforts.”
According to Kamuning Bakery Café owner Wilson Lee Flores, the inspiration for #WorldPandesal Day stems from the Biblical story of a young boy who shared his five loaves of bread and two fishes, which Jesus Christ miraculously multiplied to feed thousands.
“This event reminds us that even the simplest gestures of sharing can bring hope and inspire change. Together, let us help combat hunger,” Flores said.
CIVIC ENDEAVORS
Some of the other civic endeavors of Kamuning Bakery Cafe include hosting the non-partisan Pandesal Forum, the annual World Poetry Day celebration, and yearly donations of new public school buildings to disadvantaged rural regions throughout the Philippines.
On October 11, 2024 Friday at 11 am morning, Kamuning Bakery Cafe will officially turn over its donation of a public school building to Sinait Elementary School in 371 P. Burgos Street, Brgy. Sinait, Tarlac City.
Earlier on May 3 this year, Kamuning Bakery Café led by Wilson Lee Flores also turned over four new classrooms and a school building donation to Dinalaoan Elementary School in Barangay Dinalaoan, Calasiao, Pangasinan, coinciding with Calasiao’s fiesta.
Since its inception in 2015, World Pandesal Day has garnered the support of notable figures and institutions. The first celebration was launched by then Senator Sonny Angara, GMA Network, Inc. Chairman Felipe Gozon, actor Dingdong Dantes, and Wilson Lee Flores at Kamuning Bakery Café.
This year’s World Pandesal Day promises to create even stronger networks of generosity, bringing together Filipinos and supporters from across the globe in the fight against hunger. As bakeries worldwide participate, the humble Pandesal becomes a symbol of unity, reminding us that small acts of kindness—when multiplied—can create lasting, impactful change.
