Job offer, donations pour in for shoemaker living in pedicab with 2 dogs

Shoemaker Kimo Ranes was thankful enough to have a customer when the assistant cameraman of GMA's Mariz Umali had his sneakers repaired on Thursday.

Umali spotted Ranes along a street in Manila and featured him on "24 Oras" to show how he has been impacted by the quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Little did Ranes knew that help would be pouring in after the public witnessed his story of perseverance and survival in a pedicab, which he calls home and shares with his two dogs.

On Friday, Umali returned to see him bringing some donated cash and items, and news of a job offer from a shoe company based in Marikina.

"Uupa ako ng bahay, kahit mumurahin lang, tapos maghahanap ako, ...patuloy 'yung ginagawa ko. Mahirap dito sa tabi-tabi po, eh. Maganda talaga may bahay ka sarili," a teary-eyed Ranes said, who was even hesitant to accept the money.

"Nahihiya lang po ako, naaabala po kayo... Hindi po ako makapaniwala," he added.

While the interview was ongoing, several people dropped by to bring him food and leash for his pets.

"Kasi sa sitwasyon natin ngayon, meron tayong pandemic, syempre inaalala rin namin 'yung kalagayan ni kuya at meron pa siyang alagang mga aso. Mapagmahal siya sa mga alaga niya," Enrico Natividad said.

"Kasi po nakita po namin sa balita. Pinahatid lang sa akin ng amo ko, pinahanap siya sa akin," Plinky Tubosa said.

Anne Umali, an owner of a shoe factory in Marikina, said she would like to offer Ranes a job.

"Trabaho sana, para meron syang stable na income," Umali said.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Police Provincial Office has offered to finance Ranes' transportation back to Iligan.

"Iba 'yung pakiramdam na makauwi kung makauwi ka at makasama 'yung pamilya. Kami na po ang sasagot. Pag-uwi niya doon sa Mindanao at pagbalik niya diyan sa Manila. Kung ano 'yung maitulong namin," Police Major Junnel Caadlawon said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/LDF, GMA News