On the Tuesday before the new lockdown, businesswoman Pinky Tobiano headed out to Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. Her mission? To find jeepney and tricycle drivers whose livelihoods will once again be affected by the enhanced community quarantine. She handed out food packs of whole chickens, ham and rice, but more than that, she listened to their plight.
One man, Jojo, was worried about how he would buy medicines for his wife, who has leukemia, if he has no income in the coming days. Tobiano told his story on her Instagram account and her followers quickly responded, sending help for Jojo.
“Hi Ms Pinky nag-send po ako sa Gcash n’yo maliit lng po. Thanks po,” one comment read.
No help is too small and Tobiano knows this. She has spent the pandemic doing what she can for different people—front-liners, kids in orphanages and at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), single parents in Novaliches, families in Marikina. She handed out noche buena bags to street children.
She calls it Grateful Tuesdays, an initiative she started upon realizing that there are so many displaced workers because of the pandemic. And the people from Cornerstone Entertainment found her efforts so inspiring, they decided to turn it into an online show, which Tobiano cohosted, first with Yeng Constantino, and then with Jaya and Zephanie—so they can help more people in more places in the Philippines. (Available on facebook.com/watch/cornerstoneofficial and Kumu.)Grateful Tuesdays has helped over 70,000 families throughout the pandemic. They’ve also granted scholarships to students.
Supportive friends
“I’m very fortunate that my friends are very supportive of my initiative,” Tobiano said. Her friends from the Harvard Business School Owner/President Management Philippine Chapter and from the entertainment industry are just some of the many who’ve supported Grateful Tuesdays.
When Tobiano went to Cagayan Valley to help those affected by the typhoons, Ruffa Gutierrez and KC Concepcion went with her.
Tobiano is a busy woman. She’s the CEO and chemist behind Progressive Laboratories, KPP Powers Commodities Inc. and Qualibet Testing Services. She’s a wife and mom of two. She’s the president of the Association of Bureau of Animal Industry Recognized Laboratories. She hosts “TablelovebyPinky,” a show on The Filipino Channel, devoted to her passion for tablescaping.
But helping others is always a priority for her.
“During the pandemic, my team of chemists and I formulated disinfectants—Viralcyde Max—and alcohol to help public institutions. We were working 24 hours in the laboratory,” Tobiano told Lifestyle. They donated their disinfectant and alcohol to East Avenue Medical Center, PGH, National Center for Mental Health, and Haven for the Elderly.
Heroes
“My team members were my heroes,” Tobiano said. “We were so tired, but we know the country needs all the support. We were the back-end support for the front-liners.”
She added, “I have always believed that in this pandemic, we need to be grateful. I believe that we need to be a catalyst for change in this tough time.”
Tobiano’s gratitude manifests in her generosity and desire to keep giving.
She will never forget the time she met Aling Ising during her Care and Share Program in Cagayan. “I gave her rice and lugaw and said, ‘Nanay, kain na po.’ She replied, ‘Ma’am Chemist, iuuwi ko po ito sa tatlong apo ko para may hapunan sila. Naanod po kami at sa kariton kami ngayon natutulog. Wala din kaming mapaglutuan, natangay ng baha.’
“My heart went out to Lola Ising. You could see in her eyes the courage and pain and hunger, but she saved the small bowl of lugaw I gave her for her apos. It’s the unconditional love of a lola. I have a soft spot for the elderly. They have always been part of my mission in life.”
Tobiano’s passion for helping others is something she learned from her own grandmother, she said. “My late grandmother was the most selfless lady, and I grew up with her. She was my inspiration for being grateful and giving back. When she passed away, I started going to Haven For The Elderly (formerly Golden Acres Home for the Aged).”
Haven is just one of the homes for the elderly that Tobiano has been supporting for over three decades now with her Pinky Cares Foundation. The other is Graces Home For the Elderly. “For the past 32 years, we’ve been helping monthly with feeding programs for the lolos and lolas. I celebrate my birthday there, as well.” Tobiano also supports a shelter for sexually abused children.
We asked, what has she learned from Grateful Tuesdays? She said, “A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles.”
To support Pinky Tobiano’s initiatives, contact @chemistpinkytobiano on Instagram or Anya Camacho at tel. no. (0917) 823-8888.
