By Hermes Joy Tunac
Photography by Mau Aguasin
A photographer’s primary job is to capture an image that’s worth a thousand words. But during a global pandemic, Mau Aguasin, a leading lifestyle photographer and regular PeopleAsia contributor, proves that her profession is much more than that. Two weeks after the government-mandated, Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Mau, a resident of Las Piñas, together with her partner and some friends, started a street-level donation drive dubbed as “Project Food Trunk.”
In the first wave of their meal distribution, they prepared bread packs for homeless people they see in the streets. “My partner prepares it at night, then I bring a tote bag full of bread packs when I leave the house for errands,” Mau tells PeopleAsia. Armed with the tools of her trade and oblivious to the risks of infection such endeavors take, Mau also took photos of recipients while making the deliveries.
“I took photos so I could remember their faces and have a headcount for the next day’s preparations. I posted the photos so I can keep track of our encounters and share with family what the actual situation outside our village gate is,” shares Mau. And through her photos and social media posts, the charity effort took on a life of its own, as it inspired more friends to join Mau in her Project Food Trunk. Two days after their first deliveries, she and her collaborators were able to generate almost P50,000 through various monetary donations.
“As more donors volunteered to help, we were able to include essentials—bath products, basic medicines, wound-care kits and sanitary items,” she adds.
As of this writing, the Project Food Trunk, which is now on its sixth week, is still active in giving away packed donations. They do their deliveries daily at 4 p.m. along Alabang-Zapote Road. “Some encounters reveal sad stories and some share stories of hopefulness and strength. Some preparations are easy-breezy, and some are just deadly tiring. But each day is worth it. Each encounter and assurance to a family is worth it,” says Mau.
Below is a gallery of Mau’s encounters with Project Food Trunk’s recipients.
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