Chef Jessie Sincioco and her team have been preparing food packs for some of Metro Manila’s healthcare front liners since the Luzon-wide lockdown in mid-March, in a bid to feed stomachs and buoy spirits, as these unsung heroes selflessly put their own lives on the line trying to save other people’s lives.
By ALEX Y. VERGARA
Photos courtesy of Jessie Sincioco
Feeding people and making them happy with her food through her three restaurants and thriving catering business are what she does for a living. As a way of giving back and being one with the country during its darkest hour, she has also chosen to feed people in the trenches and make them feel loved while they battle a deadly, but unseen enemy.
Since March 17, less than a week after temporarily shutting down operations due to the government-mandated Luzon-wide lockdown to slow down the coronavirus’ spread, Chef Jessie Sincioco, one of PeopleAsia’s People of the Year 2020 awardees, and her team have been sending free food packs to various Metro Manila-based hospitals to help feed stressed out and overworked healthcare front liners.
“We provide food for people whom we feel need food support,” says Jessie, also a former PeopleAsia Woman of Style and Substance awardee, through email. “Our primary beneficiaries are doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who are risking their lives to save people as well as underprivileged people living in our community.”
Led by her brother, Chef Reo Sincioco, Jessie’s team composed of 10 or so personnel, upon the barangay captain’s request, had also prepared food packs for 500 poor residents in a barangay in Makati sometime ago. It certainly won’t be the last, as they have a list of food deliveries to last them until the end of April.
“During times of crisis, we always have to be sensitive to the needs of our neighbors, most especially selfless people who are putting themselves in danger just to save others,” Jessie, a devout Catholic, continues. “They include our doctors, nurses and various hospital staff who willingly put themselves at risk.”
It’s all in a day’s work, she says, since part of her company’s mission is “similar to saving lives.” And this primary goal is to “feed people with the best and most nutritious food because we want them to lead healthy, happy and longer lives.”
Since March 14, Chef Reo and his 10-person team have been housed at Chef Jessie’s Place in Makati. Since the outlet, including the company’s Chef Jessie Rockwell Club and Chef Jessie @ BGC, is closed, Jessie deemed it wise to put the place and its state-of-the-art kitchen to good use by preparing food for Metro Manila’s front liners.
To deliver the packed meals, Jessie and her brother tap the services of Grab and Lalamove. The chef also cites these two transport companies’ drivers as quite professional, efficient and also “another group of unsung heroes” during this time.
Jessie promises to continue providing packed meals as long as necessary and while they still have the vital ingredients and raw materials to do so. She also wishes to thank such generous and dependable suppliers as Alternatives Food Corp. and Cheryl Francisco for their fresh chickens.
“I believe God has blessed us with the talent to cook and prepare good food,” Jessie concludes. “So, we have to put this talent to good use. By providing the best available food to our heroes, we somehow utilize this God-given talent to help them perform their duties well. It’s the closest thing we could do in helping them save precious lives.”
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