When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ripped apart a family vacation that was meant to celebrate a life milestone, national water polo coach knew exactly what to do with the money he planned to use for that trip.
He turned over that cash—a bonus he won as part of the coaching staff of the national team that won silver in the Southeast Asian Games last year—to Barangay 56 in Manila.
His wife, Katherine, agreed the donation was the best thing to do with the money after the pandemic scrubbed off their planned trip to Coron in Palawan, where they were supposed to celebrate their anniversary.
“Our anniversary is May 11, we got it all planned to take the kids, Danyca, Kaila, Dwane and Kasandra, to Coron,” Evangelista told the Inquirer. “But there are things beyond our control.”
Evangelista, an elected barangay captain, had spearheaded several donation drives for his barangay, even shaving off his head as promised when he raised 100 sacks of rice.
Evangelista’s barangay was placed under 48-hour heavy lockdown by the city government.
“It’s easier now because nobody wants to go out and the streets are really empty,” he said.