How the Founder of Van Gogh is Bipolar is Helping Out During the COVID-19 Crisis

From crafting masks and other personal protective equipment to donating cash to fundraisers, there are many stories of ordinary citizens pitching in and helping others where they can during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of generosity and selflessness in times of crisis. 

The founder and proprietor of Maginhawa Street landmark Van Gogh is Bipolar is no exception. For weeks now, Jetro Rafael has opened his restaurant to people in need of a hot and filling meal and has also been donating food to nearby communities using his trusty bicycle.

At sa mga pagkakataon na kailangang magpakain ng malaking bilang ng tao (more or less 100 people) ako po ay nakikisuyo sa aking butihing mga kaibigan na may sasakyan para magdala ng pagkain sa mga iba’t ibang vulnerable communities dito sa Metro Manila. Minsan, random po akong pumapara ng kotse sa kalye sa mga Good Samaritan na willing magdala ng mga pagkain laluna sa mga hospitals (And in instances where we need to feed a big number of people, I ask the help of some friends with vehicles who are kind enough to deliver to vulnerable communities in Metro Manila. Sometimes, I even randomly stop cars on the street and ask Good Samartians to deliver food, especially to hospitals),” Rafael said on his Facebook page.

Van Gogh is Bipolar has been around for about 10 years and has become one of the most innovative and quirky restaurants not just in the popular Maginhawa District in Quezon City but in all of Metro Manila. Rafael, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, says he started out with his own homeopathy solutions to try and address his condition. After friends started seeking out his homemade recipes, he decided to open a restaurant and has been drawing a steady stream of curious customers ever since.

This month alone, Rafael has been distributing food packs as well as rice to hungry residents of nearby communities. He posts announcements of his donation drives on his Facebook page.

“I am blessed and humbled to be in this position,” he said in one of his Facebook posts. “God knows, my resources are limited and yet I will try to sustain it by continuing to raise funds from my own food business.”

If you'd like to help, contact Van Gogh is Bipolar at 0922-8243051