Humanity vs. Pandemic: Inspiring Stories in the Philippines Amid COVID-19
Humanity vs. Pandemic: Inspiring Stories in the Philippines Amid COVID-19
Since the COVID-19 pandemic has started, it has greatly affected most parts of the world, changing the lives of many people. Many have been scared while some are in pain. Unfortunately, there are people who have to deal with the sorrow brought about by this life-threatening disease.
On the other hand, there are also those who have grown compassion for others and those that have developed a strong will to start anew amid the crisis.
Let’s go over inspiring stories of a pizza delivery man who helped the people on the streets during the pandemic and the tricycle driver who used his COVID-19 Cash Aid to start a business.
An Admirable Act of Kindness from a Pizza Delivery Man
Raymond Papellero, a pizza delivery man at the Pizzahut Cubao Branch, was noticed by a bakeshop owner to have bought bulks of bread from them. Out of curiosity, Raina Ominga, the owner of the bakeshop, asked the rider if Pizza Hut is going to distribute the bread but that wasn’t the case.
It turned out that Papellero uses his own money to buy the bulks of bread. He spends the tips he received from his deliveries and distributes bread to people along the streets who are in dire need of help.
Papellero’s simple but very admirable act of kindness has been widely recognized on social media as the bakeshop owner uploaded his photo and story on Facebook last April 12, 2020. He is indeed a hero for not just doing his job as a frontliner but for helping those in need along the streets which is already beyond his duties as a food delivery personnel. As he inspires others, people like Raymond Papellero truly deserves all the appreciation he is receiving.
A Tricycle Driver Opens Up a Business Using COVID-19 Cash Aid
While most of the people who received a COVID-19 Cash Aid kept their money and used it to buy food and other essentials for the duration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), Mr. Samad Maulana, a tricycle driver from Barangay Culiat, Quezon City, decided to spend the money in a totally different way. Believe it or not, he used it to start a business!
Maulana now runs his own barbecue stall with the help of the Php2000.00 COVID-19 Cash Aid that he used as his startup capital. These days, his daily average income has is at Php 1,200.00
On April 17, 2020, the ABS-CBN News has posted about the entrepreneur tricycle driver’s unique story on Twitter.
Tricycle driver Samad Maulana of Barangay Culiat, Quezon City, used his received P2K cash aid as a start up capital for his barbecue stall. His average daily income these days, P1,200. | via @sherieanntorres pic.twitter.com/Ty2zwBkyx4
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) April 17, 2020
Maulana’s brilliant idea and inspiring story have earned praise on social media. Here are some of the words from those who looked up to what he did.
Putting the government’s financial aid to good use to generate more income. Resourceful indeed. Hope others follow his example instead of just spending all of the aid for personal consumption.
— The Eagle Has Landed (@Robocris1752) April 17, 2020
👏👏 wise! Not complaining and relying on relief goods.
— Katrina Gannaban (@katgannaban) April 17, 2020
Ito yung mga taong masarap tulungan kasi ginagamit sa tama ang nakuhang tulong.
— Yhanoxx10 (@tianoxx10) April 17, 2020
Filipinos are strong, wise, and compassionate!
The COVID-19 is truly frightening and worse, deadly, but we, Filipinos manage to prove that we are always bigger and stronger than challenges that we face and that these problems bring out the best in us. In times like this, like these two inspiring men, may we all stay resilient, wise, but not lose compassion.