Priest in PPE who blessed people in their homes initially just wanted to distribute food

The Catholic priest who went viral for wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while going from house to house has said he initially just wanted to distribute food to low-income families. 

During Eat Bulaga!’s “Bawal Judgmental” segment on Friday, Fr. Eduardo “Ponpon” Vasquez said he decided to visit houses in Manila not only to bless them but also to provide relief goods amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Sabi ko, pupunta na lang rin ako dito may dalang pagkain, bakit hindi ko na lang bendisyunan ... Pati ’yung mga patay at mga maysakit,” he said.

“Simula noong mag-lockdown, April ako nagsimulang lumabas at pumunta sa mga bahay-bahay dahil nga sa marami ang nagugutom at kailangan kong lumabas para magpakain at maglagay kami ng mga gift certificate para sa mga mahihirap at doon ko isinabay ’yung pagdarasal,” he added.

Father Ponpon shared that he wore PPE because it was what doctors used to get near COVID-19 patients.

“So gumamit kami noon. And actually parang kami ’yung naunang mga pari na gumamit ng PPE,” he said.

Before staying in a parish in Caloocan, Fr. Ponpon said he was a priest in Maguindanao when the Ampatuan massacre happened.

“Usually kasi nagmimisa ako sa mga kampo ng sundalo, but at the same time ’pag nagkakaroon ng giyera at maraming nasasaktan na tinatamaan, pumupunta rin ako sa lugar ng mga rebelde,” he said. 

He shared that he stood as a mediator between the government and the rebels, and just like the pandemic now, he saw how many people were displaced back in 2009.

Father Ponpon went viral for literally bringing the church to the people as religious services and Mass gatherings were still prohibited in numerous areas amid the health crisis. – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News