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Man from Davao only had coconuts to eat after losing source of income amid quarantine


A man in Toril, Davao City only had coconuts to eat after losing his source of income during the enhanced community quarantine.

According to a Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho episode on Sunday, Alfredo and his family didn’t have anything to eat for half a day when he found three coconuts lying around.

After grating the coconuts, he had to share it with two of his other siblings.

Teary eyed, he said, “Napakabigat. Iyong iba kumakain ng masarap, natutulog sa magandang tulugan. Kami, masyadong napakahirap.”

[“Others get to eat delicious meals and sleep on a proper bed. But us, we're stuck here, poor."]

Alfredo admitted that life was already hard even before the enhanced community quarantine was implemented.

Before the pandemic

Aside from working as a peanut vendor, Alfredo also worked as a janitor, service crew, packer and even as a freighter just so he could save up and continue his studies. He had only finished high school.

He also sold vegetables and would earn P120 a day, something he used to sustain his five other siblings.

“Hirap talaga ng buhay. Kung minsan matagal pa iyong sahod, ano na lang iyong pambibili ko ng pagkain at pamasahe ko? Kung minsan, naglalakad na lang ako para makauwi sa bahay,” Alfredo shared as he shed a few tears.

["Life is really difficult. I would run out of money before my next paycheck. Sometimes, I would not have anything to buy for food. There are times when I don't have enough money for transportation that I would just walk home."]

Surviving nowadays

Things became harder for Alfredo when their district was placed under enhanced community quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Since then, Alfredo hasn’t been able to properly make a living.

“Hindi na ako makakabenta ng gulay. Pagkatapos, hindi ka na makalabas. Paano ka magdidiskarte? Papaano na lang iyong sikmura namin. Gugutumin na kami,” he said.

["I can't sell vegetables anymore. I can't even go out to try and make a living. How are we going to survive? We are going hungry."]

Alfredo said that the barangay gave his family rice and canned goods. However, he said that this wasn’t enough to support them throughout the quarantine.

Some of his neighbors didn’t have anything to eat so they resorted to eating rice with water and salt.

Netizens to the rescue

To help out, Sachiko took a video of Alfredo and posted it on social media.

In the video, Alfredo told the public his plight and said, “Hihingi sana ako sa inyo ng bigas kasi wala na kaming bigas. Kaya nagkayod na lang ako ng niyog dahil wala kaming pananghalian. Gutom na kami. Wala kaming trabaho. Maawa kayo sa amin.”

[“I would just like to ask for some rice. Because we don’t have anything to eat anymore. All we have are these coconuts. We are hungry. We don't have a job. Please have pity on us.”]

The video went viral and donations came pouring in.

Boxes of canned goods and sacks of rice started arriving for Alfredo and his family.

The Public Employment Service Office also said that once the quarantine is over, Alfredo can head to their office so they can help him find a job.

"Napakasaya ko kasi nagkaulam na kami,” Alfredo shared. “Ang biyayang natanggap ko sobra-sobra. Gusto ko ito ipamahagi sa lahat na nangangailangan ng pagkain kasi hindi lang ako ang nagugutom. Napakaraming nagugutom dito.”

He added, “Sa lahat ng tumulong sa akin, maraming maraming salamat sa inyong lahat.”

["I'm so happy because we now have something to eat. We received so much I want to share it with others who also need it. I know I'm not the only one getting hungry. There are a lot of us going hungry. To everybody who helped me, thank you very much."] — Kaela Malig/LA, GMA News

For those who want to help Alfredo and his family, please deposit to:

ALFREDO L. PAZ JR.
003800312810
BDO TORIL, DAVAO CITY BRANCH

 

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