52-year-old vendor, a mild stroke patient, hands out free taho

A 52-year-old taho vendor, who had suffered from a mild stroke, gives away free taho to the people lined up at a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing area Manila, according to MJ Geronimo’s Thursday report on Stand for Truth.

Gimmy Conos, due to his condition, is only able to roam the streets to sell taho for a few hours. However, he is left with some unsold taho.

Instead of throwing this away, Mang Gimmy decided to help the people who have to wait for hours to be tested for COVID-19 and hand out glasses of taho.

“Marami pang laman, nanghihinayang po akong itapon. Mas mamabutihin ko pang mapakinabangan ng mga tao kesa itapon ko,” he said. “Masaya po ako, nakatulong ako sa taong nahirapan sa haba ng pila.”

Mang Gimmy has brought smiles to many people who spend hours queueing to be tested for COVID-19, but giving away taho for free is not new to him.

“Alas singko ng madaling-araw, sige na ako ng lakad. Madalas ako mahilo ‘pag gano’n na oras. Alas-nuwebe na, pinamimigay ko na para makauwi na 'ko kasi bawal ako magbuhat ng mabigat,” he explained.

Mang Gimmy has not been able to carry heavy weights, especially with his left arm, ever since he suffered a mild stroke.

The stroke also affected his speech.

The vendor said he is more concerned about buying his stroke medications than catching COVID-19.

“Ang kinatatakutan ko lang po, biglain ako ng aking sakit. Nararamdaman ko ‘yung batok ko sumasakit talaga at ‘yung ulo ko parang iniikot,” he said.

The limitations on public transportation amid the pandemic also compounded Mang Gimmy’s woes.

He said he is forced to take a taxi from where he is temporarily staying in Quezon City to the taho supplier in Manila since there are no more jeepneys.

“Inaabot ako ng P700 ang aking pamasahe. Napakahirap pang bumenta ng libo,” he lamented.

“Noon, inaabot po ‘yan P1,500 isang araw. Sa ngayon balik-puhunan lang kasi karamihan ng libre pinamimigay ko lang.”

Mang Gimmy has also been living inside a jeepney to avoid being locked down inside their rented home at a compound.

“Lumabas ako mag-umpisa ang lockdown kasi ikukulong nila kami doon, hindi kami puwedeng lumabas. Mild stroke [patient] ako, mainit ‘yung bahay ko, wala pa ‘kong gamot na suporta kundi pagkain lang. Wala pa akong gamot, baka mamatay pa ako sa stroke ko,” he said.

“Kailangan naman po namin matugunan ‘yung aming kahilingan, bigyan niyo kami ng service ng aming pagtitinda para hindi na kami sumakay ng taxi. Do’n lang napupunta ang aming kinikita,” the vendor appealed. -- Julia Mari Ornedo/BAP, GMA News