With the enhanced community quarantine implemented across Metro Manila and Luzon, stories of hope and kindness reverberate with great joy on social media. Just like the kind customers who gave new shows to a Lalamove delivery rider who wears a damaged pair.

Delivery Rider with Damaged Shoes

Rachel Julian shared the story of how she had a very difficult time finding a rider to deliver cat food to her boyfriend, Gabriel Wynn Bugtong. Zac, Gabriel’s cat, was already low on cat food but they are not sure how she could bring the items to his house.

Living in Pansol, Quezon City, Rachel had a very difficult time finding a delivery rider who can get the items from her house for delivery to Caloocan. She spent many hours trying to book with various apps, even offering a bonus for any rider who would accept the offer. But no one did for several hours.

Hours later, someone from Lalamove finally accepted the booking, a rider named Reynaldo Manlapaz. When the rider arrived at their house, however, Rachel immediately noticed that his shoes were damaged.

“Eto yung shoes ni kuya, kapag gumagalaw siya parang may pakpak yung sapatos sa gilid at nakanganga na din,” she wrote on her Facebook account.

Good Samaritans Give New Shoes

When the rider left, Rachel quickly told Gabriel about the damaged shoes. She was surprised when he immediately offered to give the rider a pair of shoes. What’s so nice is that Gabriel actually offered to give his Adidas shoes, a pair that he had only used on a few occasions and was actually just bought the previous year.

It was almost good as new! When Kuya Renaldo arrived at Gabriel’s house, he was surprised to find that the young man also had a package for him – and it fit him perfectly! Awesome.

Later that night, the rider’s son texted to thank them for the shoes.

“Lesson learned: appreciate EVERY little thing na meron tayo at wag maghanap ng wala o higit. Minsan kung ano pa yung napakaliit na bagay para sa atin o nagagawa natin, yun pa yung nagmamarka at napakalaking bagay sa ibang tao. 🖤🤍 My heart is so full!!!” Rachel wrote.

Can I Ride with Lalamove?

Lalamove is an on-demand logistics company. It helps people deliver goods faster by booking a rider to pick the item/s that will be directly delivered to the recipient’s location instead of getting processed at the delivery service shop and delivered the next day.

Amid the many difficulties that workers face during the lockdown, stories of heroism and kindness from individuals or groups have surfaced. For example, a big company offered an impressive package that wowed netizens, including 1 month worth of grocery items, rice, and other benefits.

Company Benefits

But even smaller companies have stepped up and helped out their workers. Recently, Juanito C. Balundo posted pictures of the relief goods that his company offered, with each pack of groceries showing a Php500 bill attached.

Despite their company being small, Balundo said they still received something – and that meant a lot to them. A teacher, Balundo did not name the company but netizens are also offering praise online, agreeing with him in call to bigger companies to step up and help out their workers in this time of need.

“HINDI MAN MALAKI ANG KUMPANYA NANG BOSS NAMIN, MALAKI NAMAN ANG KANYANG MALASAKIT SA AMIN… How much more doon sa may malalaking kumpanya galaw galaw din. It’s time to show your care to them..huwag puro gamit sa tao ha…” the teacher wrote.

Financial Assistance from DOLE

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has earmarked a total of Php1.3 billion in financial assistance for 250,000 Filipino workers have temporarily lost their source of income due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

This program covers employees in private establishments affected by COVID-19 beginning its onset last January up to the last day of the lockdown on April 14, unless extended.

Regardless of employment status, the one-time, non-conditional financial assistance equivalent to P5,000 will be given to affected workers in lump-sum.

Take note, however, that the financial assistance will be processed directly by the companies; thus, the affected workers don’t have to visit the DOLE office. Instead, companies are asked to submit the complete documentary requirements online to the appropriate DOLE Regional Office or any of its provincial/field offices.

The following requirements should be submitted to DOLE:

• Establishment Report on the COVID-19 pursuant to Labor Advisory No. 9 Series of 2020
• Company payroll for the month prior to the implementation of flexible work arrangement or temporary closure

The DOLE will inform the company through email whether the application is approved or denied. For approved applications, the financial assistance will be sent directly to the beneficiary’s payroll account through bank transfer within 2 weeks upon receipt.

In this time of difficulty as the world struggles to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, stories of hope and love have become an inspiration to many who worry about what the future might bring.

Generous Taho Vendor

As a taho vendor, he is not rich. Yet Mang Boyong has a heart of gold as he gives out his taho to the frontliners who are manning the checkpoint at the Valenzuela-Meycauayan boundary.

On March 20, Mang Boyong went to the boundary, not to sell his taho but to give this out to the frontliners who are at the border. When asked why he was doing this, since he would surely lose his income for the day, Mang Boyong explained that he has been selling taho for 27 years in the Valenzuela area. He wants to give back to the frontliners who are keeping the area safe.

Mang Boyong also said that in the many years he worked selling taho, he understands that it is difficult to be overfatigued from lack of sleep. With these frontliners being on duty overnight, guarding the border, he wants to help them regain some strength with the only he can think of – giving them nutritious taho.

Praise from Netizens

The heartwarming gesture went viral, with many netizens praising Mang Boyong for being kind and generous to these frontliners.

“It is so much more special when even ordinary people share! Generosity shines!” one netizen commented.

“Pag palain ka ng Lord manong. Di ka mayaman pero may puso ka mag bigay 👏👏👏🖒 I-bless ka ng Lord sa ginagawa mo kabutihan, God bless u,” another wrote.

What is Taho?

Taho is a popular snack food in the Philippines made from fresh soft/silken tofu, arnibal (syrup from sugar), and sago pearl.