Woman barters pomelo for medicines of mom with Parkinson’s disease

A woman has been bartering the pomelo growing in her family’s backyard to buy medicines for her 62-year-old mother who is battling Parkinson’s disease.

According to a “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” episode on Sunday, Nenita of Brgy. Bata, Bacolod City, has been paralyzed for over five years.

Nanay Nenita has difficulty speaking and moving her hands. The skin on her back has turned dark from lying in bed all the time.

Sheila used to work at a drug store but she couldn’t afford to buy her mother’s regular dosage.

The daughter said she felt guilty at times because growing up, her mother gave her everything. When Nenita was still healthy, she would sacrifice many things just so Sheila could continue her studies.

“Ma, sorry na abot sa ganito ‘yung sitwasyon kasi hindi ko mabigay ‘yung mga pangangailangan niya. Hindi ko masuklian iyong binigay niya na mabuting buhay. Mahal na mahal ko siya (Ma, I’m sorry that I couldn’t repay the good life you gave me. I love her so much).”

One day, Sheila discovered an online barter community in her area, where people traded items with each other without cash involved.

She looked for items she could exchange for Nanay Nenita’s medicine, and realized the pomelo from the tree that her mother planted and took care of in ’90s may be of good use.

Every day, Sheila would check if the fruits were already ripe enough to be bartered away.

“Nang dahil sa pomelo, malaking tulong (The pomelos were of great help),” she said.

Sheila said her mother wasn’t always this sickly. Nenita used to be filled with energy and strength.

Things changed for the family when her father died in 2011.

Sheila noticed that her mom’s health and walking capabilities were deteriorating. After going to the hospital, the doctor diagnosed Nenita with depression, and Parkinson’s disease.

Since then, Nenita had to be carried and assisted. According to Sheila, expenses on vitamins and milk alone would reach up to Php 2,000 every month.

She added that her husband’s income couldn’t cover all the expenses since they also had children.

Upon learning of their situation, the online barter community had decided to help Sheila and Nanay Nenita.

This incident is one of the reasons why the Department of Trade and Industry should not tax online barters, according to Jocelle, a lawyer and the founder of Bacolod Barter Community.

Sheila revealed that the doctor said that her mother’s condition would only worsen, as Nanay Nenita’s condition had no cure.

Sheila wanted to bring her mother to a doctor for consultation, but because of the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Bacolod, she decided to do it online for the meantime.

Attorney Jocelle, meanwhile, prepared a surprise for Shiela and Nanay Nenita.

“Para sa akin, kung i-compare ‘yung life namin sa pomelo, ‘yung pomelo namin hindi tumitigil iyong binubunga eh. Parang laban lang (Our pomelo tree keeps bearing fruit. Like us, we have to keep fighting),” Sheila said.

“Ibigay mo lahat habang buhay kasi Mama ko binigay niya lahat.  Hangga’t kaya ibigay, ibigay lahat (I will give my all while I’m still alive, because my mother gave her all).” – Kaela Malig/RC, GMA News