Acknowledging privilege (with a dose of frustration) triggered the birth of Stickers for Food PH, writer-artist Melissa Cabral’s brainchild. “I saw PAGASA’s (People for Accountable Governance and Sustainable Action) food initiative and I was moved by how they were able to act so quickly to help feed our fellow Filipinos in need. I wanted to do what I could to contribute to their cause, in a way that was also quick but would maximize the positive net impact,” she tells us.

Even though Cabral was trying to donate through the available drives she could scour through her cursor, she felt frustrated over how she couldn’t leave the house to contribute more. So, she dabbled on a possible initiative given her present resources.

“I still have internet. I have a computer. I can draw, but I’m terribly slow at finishing illustrations, so commissions were a no-go for me as I didn’t have a lot of spare time. And I could only raise so much money relying only on my own limited skillset,” she said. She then realized to gather around her artist friends, as she also took inspiration from one: “I remembered my friend, Leanza Garcia, produced a unique sticker design to raise funds to donate to PAWS to help animals that were affected by the Taal ashfall.”

Learn more about the #StickersForFoodPH initiative and how you can help.

Please RT and spread the word!#Fundraisers #PAGASA #Covid19 #SurvivalPacks #Quarantine #Lockdown #CoronaVirus #StayatHome #SocialDistancing #ArtforaCause #StickersforaCause pic.twitter.com/COdznafOUB

— Stickers For Food PH (@stickers4foodPH) March 24, 2020

This is how her fundraiser project Stickers for Food PH began. Last month, it gathered volunteer artists with their hella cute (and tasteful) sticker sheet submissions. From local delicacies to cheat day go-tos, these stickers bring out the food fantasy we used to witness on local art convention tables. Well, we had a sneak peek on Twitter.

Kwek-kwek kayo jan!!!

One of my submissions for the #StickersForFoodPH project! All proceeds will go toward PAGASA's initiative to deliver food to families in communities that have lost their means of livelihood.

Check out @stickers4foodPH for more info ? pic.twitter.com/zIyJCp8A6N

— Jzam (@jzamazing) March 31, 2020

here's my stickers for @stickers4foodPH's project! ?? #artph pic.twitter.com/Izzp0GA0rB

— roiroi ✧ (@roisarts) March 29, 2020

Donors can purchase these printable sticker sheets through the Stickers for Food PH online store, set to launch within this week to Apr. 12. Proceeds go straight to PAGASA, a civil society organization that aims to bring people together during critical times—and that includes the Luzon-wide lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through distributing survival packs to families of daily wage earners, they work towards a “just, fair and sustainable future.”

Still don’t know what to draw? Why not the actual food from PAGASA’s survival packs? ☺️

Here are some photos kindly provided by @pagasa.ph for your reference.

Your food-themed stickers will help fund more survival packs like these for Filipinos in need.#artph #artforacause pic.twitter.com/BDRiqgVpkt

— Stickers For Food PH (@stickers4foodPH) March 30, 2020

As per their tweet on Apr. 6, Stickers for Food PH received around 1,500 stickers from over 400 artists. It’s pretty insane, and the team is working double-time to handle the influx.

The team is comprised of Cabral (operations), Aiken Garcia (graphics), Franchie Lagmay (website design), Bea Montenegro (admin tasks) and with some additional help from Merllamas, their artist circle. Until then, we wait for them to flip “open” their store sign.

Art by Tine Paz Yap