Months after being featured on KMJS, how have their lives changed?

Months after being featured on KMJS, how have the lives of Lolo Juanito, “Gabriel,” and Nanay “Nida” changed?

How is Lolo Juanito?

The senior citizen couple who traversed a rocky and dangerous path to their rice field while carrying their baby grandson, received overwhelming support after they were featured on “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” in August.

According to the “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” episode, 75-year-old Juanito and 65-year-old Rosita of New Corella, Davao del Norte, thought they had to work day in and day out to be able to provide for their great grandson, Javel.

They worried about Javel’s future because his Lolo Juanito’s eyesight was getting worse and his back was hurting.

However, the couple said things began to change after they got featured on KMJS.

“Sobrang saya ko dahil itong mga pinamigay ng mga tao, kahit malayo sila, nagsusumikap din sila na makatulong din sa akin (I’m really touched by how many people sent help. Even if they’re far away, they’re doing their best to help us),” said Juanito.

With the generous amount they received, the couple shared that they now have their own concrete house.

“Nagpapasalamat pa rin ako lalo na sa taga GMA. Maganda ang aming pagtulog. (I’m grateful to those from GMA. We sleep better at night),” said Juanito.

Juanito is also attending an alternative school. After working in the banana field, he would study his modules.

The old man, however, didn’t know that the town officials had a surprise for them—free electricity!

According to the local government, there will be a solar panel in the barangay starting January.

The KMJS team also gave the family a new set of furniture and capital for their store business.

Nanay “Nida” and her two daughters

Last January, KMJS told the story of Nanay “Nida,” a 74-year-old woman with schizophrenia, who was locked in a cage by her two daughters for almost two years.

Her daughters shared that she suffered from a mental illness.

But since their family didn’t have resources to bring her to a hospital, the daughters felt they had no choice but to keep their mother in a cage.

“Bigla lang siyang tumatawa. ’Yun bang bigla lang siyang nagpapatay-patayan, tapos magugulat na lang kami. Sabi ng aking kapatid, ‘ano bang nangyari kay mama?’ (She’d laugh out of nowhere. She’d even play dead. My sister asked, ‘what happened to mama?’)” said Jennalyn Cabello, one of the daughters.

Fortunately, an expert had seen Nida and she was brought to a mental health facility.

After 11 months, with Nida’s improved health and steady path to recovery, she was finally discharged from the hospital.

“Hindi ko inakala na ang aking nanay ay gagaling. Sobrang saya ko na gumaling ang aking nanay (I never thought my mom would still recover. I’m so happy that my mom has gotten better),” said Jennalyn.

Genny, Nida’s other daughter, was thankful to have their mom back.

Nanay Nida’s old cage had also been demolished.

Meanwhile, they said that the donations they received after being featured on KMJS were used to open a small store.

Although their business had been put on hold due to the pandemic, Genny said they’d start selling again next month.

The KMJS team also brought them some food items for their early Christmas Eve dinner.

“Gabriel” and his family

Nine-year-old “Gabriel” tested positive for COVID-19 last April and was sent to an isolation center in Cebu. A video of him praying and crying at the isolation center went viral.

His faith gave him the courage to fight off the disease and brought hope to other people.

Seven months after he was featured in “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” he has recovered and is now back in the care of his family. Having recovered from the virus, he was now ready to introduce himself to the public as Lordran—his real name.

Lordran said that as soon as he got out, they all went to church.

“Malungkot ako sa isolation facility dahil walang yung mama ko doon, ngayon masaya na ako dahil nakauwi na ako. Sobra akong nagagalak at nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon (I was sad at the isolation facility because my mom wasn’t there. Now, I’m happy because I’m finally home. I’m so happy and grateful to the Lord),” Lordran said.

His mom said her son couldn’t stop sharing with other people how he recovered from the disease.

Lordran also said he was thankful for the changes in his father’s life.

Lordran is now a Grade 4 student. With the donations they received after they got featured on KMJS, they were able to open a small porridge.

“Sa lahat ng tumulong sa akin, maraming salamat po (To everyone who helped me, thank you so much),” Lordran said. “Sa mga bata na katulad ko, manalangin lang kayo kay God. Fight fight lang (To kids like me, just keep praying to God. Just keep on fighting)!” --Kaela Malig/RC/LA, GMA News