Anthony Quimpang used to do what many people do when they see someone asking for help on the street. He would hand over whatever he could and continue with his day.
But each encounter with elderly people begging in Iligan City left him with the same feeling that a few pesos could not answer every need.
“We have that kind of compassion naturally, especially for the elderly. We give our spare coins, but deep inside, we really want to do more than that,” Quimpang told Tayo Mismo in an exclusive interview.
That thought stayed with him while he was a college student around 2011. Along his daily route to school, he often crossed paths with the same elderly faces. Instead of simply offering alms and moving on, he began stopping to greet them. Those brief exchanges slowly turned into conversations, and eventually into friendships with an elderly couple named Lolo Domingo and Lola Sopriana.
At first, Quimpang admitted he felt self-conscious talking with them while other people looked on. Hoping they could spend time together more comfortably, he invited the couple to a nearby karinderya where they could share a meal, exchange stories, and enjoy each other’s company.
He never imagined that one invitation would shape the course of his life.
More than 15 years later, Quimpang continues to gather people through Salo-Salo Charity, a community initiative that welcomes anyone to sit down and share a meal together, while giving priority to elderly people, those experiencing homelessness, and others facing difficult circumstances. Over the years, the initiative has also grown to include Free Bread Sunday, outreach visits to remote communities, educational support for Bajau children, and the distribution of rice, food, school supplies, and other essentials made possible through donors and volunteers.
Despite everything Salo-Salo has grown into, Quimpang says its purpose has always been the same.
“It was never a feeding program,” he said.
He explained that sharing food was simply the beginning. The real goal was to create a space where people who were often ignored could sit with others, enjoy a conversation, build friendships, and feel that they belonged. For Quimpang, the meals created an opportunity for people from different walks of life to see one another as equals around the same table.
Today, the 36-year-old balances his advocacy with helping manage his family’s sand-and-gravel business, where he also assists with deliveries. His days can be busy, yet Fridays remain dedicated to Salo-Salo, while Sundays are reserved for distributing bread across different communities in Iligan City.
His commitment came with sacrifices.
Growing up as one of seven siblings, Quimpang had hoped to earn enough to eventually finish college on his own. Instead, much of what he earned found its way back into keeping Salo-Salo going. Years passed, and the degree he once planned to complete remained on hold as Friday gatherings became part of his weekly routine.
Family members sometimes questioned why he continued helping others even when they faced financial challenges themselves. Finding volunteers and sponsors also continues to be one of the biggest hurdles in sustaining the programs he leads.
Even so, Quimpang says he never seriously considered giving up because the fulfillment he receives cannot be measured in pesos.
“You can’t explain the kind of joy when even one person thanks you and tells you they haven’t eaten,” he said. “Especially when the person you helped truly has nothing.”
He says that feeling keeps him looking forward to every Friday, knowing that someone who may have spent days worrying about their next meal will have a place to eat, while someone who has spent hours on the street with no one to talk to will find people willing to share both food and conversation.
“The thing that is stopping us is our comfort zone,” Quimpang said. “If we wanted to do more than give spare coins, we just need to step out of our comfort zone and make friends with them.”
Quimpang’s story reminds us that helping others does not always begin with a large donation or an organized program. Sometimes it begins with choosing to stop, listen, and share a meal.
If his story inspires you, perhaps it can also inspire your workplace, your organization, your school, or even a small circle of friends to start something of your own. Whether it’s sharing food, volunteering your time, or supporting community initiatives already making a difference, every act of kindness has the potential to grow when people choose to show up for one another.
To support Salo-Salo Charity and Anthony Quimpang’s other charity projects, you may send your donations through:
GCash
09759244979
John Ray Anthony Quimpang
BDO Bank
001800421387
Jorjane Lisondra
