Grade 11 student sells taho on the side to help with family's expenses

A Grade 11 student has been showered with support and praise on social media for selling taho on the side to help with his family's expenses.

As seen on Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras," Thursday, 16-year-old Gurprit Paris "Gopi" Singh braves the sun and the long walks while carrying soy bean curd containers on his back.

"'Ano kayang pwede kong gawin na walang kailangan na age limit na kaya ko rin physically?'" he said, recalling his train of thought. "So naisip ko, 'why not mag-taho kaya?'"

("'What can I do that doesn't have an age limit and I can do it physically?' So I thought, 'why not sell soy bean curd?'")

Gopi wakes up at 4 a.m. every day to get taho. When his products do not sell out on the streets, he offers them to his teachers and schoolmates at Tanza National High School.

"They're actually very supportive sa 'kin. Pati mga teachers, they buy from me. Parang suki ko na po sila. The principal gave me a permit naman din na makabenta do'n habang wala pang class," he said.

("They're actually very supportive of me. Even the teachers, they buy from me. They're like my valued clients. The principal also gave me a permit to sell while there's no class.")

All his efforts equate to earnings of around P400 to P600 daily, which he gives his mom.

Although he's busy all day, Gopi still ensures that his priority is his studies. A proof to this is his honors and good feedback from his teachers.

"Lahat po ng subject teachers, sinasabi na magaling po siya in written work, then performance tasks, pati rin recitation," said Marjorie Herrera, one of his teachers. "Mas lalo siyang hinangaan."

("All subject teachers say he's good in his written works, performance tasks, and recitations. He's even more admired.")

According to Gopi's mom, Maria Clarita Singh, he allots his weekends to rest and study.

"'Wag kang magtitinda kasi baka may mga assignment ka rin na kailangan mong [gawin]. At least balanced pa rin ang studies mo saka 'yung pagtatrabaho,'" she recalled telling her son.

("'Don't sell on weekends because you might have assignments that you also need to do. At least your studies and work are still balanced.'")

Gopi said he dreams of becoming a civil engineer. He vows to pursue this with hard work. He said he is also not ashamed of selling taho.

"Hindi ako nahihiya kasi nga po there's nothing wrong naman talaga sa ginagawa ko. It's a moral job."

("I'm not shy because there's nothing wrong with what I'm doing. It's a moral job.")

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News