CHEF Darence Patrick Co was butchering a whole pig when SunStar Davao entered Fat Cow a couple of days ago.
The young chef, known as Patrick by many, and his team has reached a milestone in the time of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), one month of preparing food for those working at the frontlines in this battle against the disease.
"Favorite nako ni, butchering," Patrick said as we skillfully butchers the pig, which was donated by one of his suppliers. "I used to work in a hotel. During OJT (On the job training) and work, gilikay nako ang butchering and I regretted it kay murag dako kaayo akong na miss (I avoided butchering while I was on OJT and work. I regret it then because it seems like I missed a lot)."
Since the restaurant started a food drive for those working in the frontlines, they already butchered around 400 poultry, seven pigs, and three goats.
Those who have been regulars of the restaurant would find the current set-up of the dining hall different from what it used to be on regular days. The whole restaurant is now being used to prepare meals for hundreds of frontliners every day.
At one section of the restaurant, four tables have been put together and covered in plastic wrap to serve as a food preparation table. During our visit, it was being used to butcher a whole pic.
More tables have been put together to form another large preparation table. This table was lined with rows of cardboard containers that will be filled with food.
The function hall has also been converted to an area where they prepare and pack the food.
Likewise, the dining area of Asian Cow, which is just a couple of blocks away from Fat Cow, has also been converted into a food preparation area.
"Nagsugod mi aning campaign tungod mingaw ang restaurant (We started this campaign because things have been slow at the restaurant)," Patrick said.
He said they noted that there a lot of posts on social media related to the Covid-19. He noticed posts that there are posts on Covid-19 "frontliners."
"Ngano dili ta magpakaon aning mga frontliners na gina ingon nila. At first wala mi kabalo unsa nang definition sa frontliner. Abi namo doctor lang, so among una gipadal-an doctor lang sa SPMC (Southern Philippines Medical Center) (How about we provide these frontliners some food. At first we thought that the frontliners are only doctors. So, they were the first group at SPMC whom we sent food to)," Patrick said.
He added that they also realized that among the frontliners, are also those in the security forces like the police, army, and personnel of Task Force Davao (TFD).
Patrick and his team started their food donation drive for those working in the frontlines on March 15, 2020, the day when Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio placed the city under community quarantine after the first confirmed Covid-19 case in Davao Region.
"We're all going through a lot these past few days but our city needs us. Our health workers have been working so hard to protect us from the dreaded virus and we need to show them that we support them. Let's remind them that they need to take care of themselves too," Patrick said in a Facebook post on March 15.
On their first run of the donation drive, they prepared 120 food packs for the frontliners of SPMC.
From their first round of food donation, the daily numbers of the food they prepared continued to increase. From only 120 food packs on March 15, Patrick and his team at The Fat Cow and Asian Cow are preparing 1,200 food packs per day as of April 16, 2020.
His team is preparing meals regularly for the frontline workers at SPMC; personnel of the Davao City Police Office, Philippine Army, and TFD; and health workers who are currently being housed at the CP Garcia campus of Davao Christian High School. Meals have also been provided to personnel at San Pedro Hospital, Bunawan Medical Specialist, Brokenshire Hospital, and Metro Davao Medical and Research Center. Other recipients include the Davao City Covid-19 Operations Center, Central 911, and frontliners at Compostela, Davao de Oro, among others.
Patrick and his team work with whatever is given to them through the donations, this is on top of the ingredients that they procure themselves.
He said when they receive in-kind donations, he and his staff sit down to discuss what to cook for the beneficiaries.
"It is more than just Fat Cow, we are just an instrument here for everyone para naa makaon (to provide food (for our beneficiaries))," he said.
Patrick said the food donation drive his team is doing is also made possible through the help of different groups and individuals like the office of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa (Team Bato), office of Davao City Representative Paolo Z. Duterte, Office of Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, Dumper Partylist, NCCC Cares, AOF Foundation, Rotary Club of Downtown Davao, and Phoenix Super LPG. He also extends his gratitude to donors who have remained anonymous.
"What is given to us mao among gamiton. We extend it to the last pack. Makatipid, pero lami and yield nga mas daghan. Quality ang food of course. (We maximize the use of the ingredients that are given to us up to the last pack. However, we also ensure that the food is delicious and of quality)," Patrick said.
Patrick said one of his motivations to continue the drive is his crew.
"If I stop it (restaurant operations), that would mean wala makaon ilang families (It would mean that their families will not be able to eat)," Patrick said.
Out of the 33 employees of both The Fat Cow and Asian Cow, 23 have voluntarily work to not only help prepare food for the food drive but also cater to their customers who order from them through delivery services.
"Sila mostly ga luto (They do most of the cooking). They are all housed in one hotel... Even me, I do not go home anymore to ensure food safety," Patrick said.
Members of his crew are being paid weekly instead of every 15 days. They also receive 5 kilograms of rice, sardines, load allowance, and a gas allowance for those who own a motorcycle.
Meanwhile, Patrick said despite the current situation, he and his crew did learn a couple of things.
"I am not happy about Covid-19 but we also learned a lot of things like preparing food for a lot of people at a given time and a given budget," he said.
Patrick pointed out that preparing food packs for hundreds of people is far from what they do as a restaurant.
"We are an ala carte restaurant, to begin with, we are like the semi-fine dining bistro in Davao City and suddenly we are going to churn out 1,200 food packs that only a hotel or a catering service can do. That is quite a challenge for everyone," he said.
Patrick said the crew has learned how to prepare food at a more efficient manner. While for him, as a business owner, he has learned crisis management for a restaurant. The restaurant has started to offer microwaveable meals and food packs for its customers.
"You have to know what to do when a crisis strikes... that lesson alone important," Patrick said.
Patrick and his team are now entering their second month now in their food donation drive.
"From the support we are getting, we can do another two or three weeks," he said.
"Kapoy siya pero lipay man. Staff nako kapoy pud pero fulfilling eh (It can be tiring, we are happy. The staff are tired too but they also get fulfillment from this). Exhausting financially and physically but very fulfilling emotionally and mentally," Patrick said.
Those who want to help chef Patrick and his team in their food drive, you may donate in cash or in-kind, which you can personally give to them at their stores -- Fat Cow, located at V. Mapa corner Mabinit Street, and Asian Cow along Mabinig Street Cash donations must be sealed inside a envelope for security and privacy. Financial donations can also be made through BDO: Pat Cow Bistro with account number: (032)402-16994.