Dianne Apmee Leonardo Bacelonia
A post of netizen Jewel Rashia trended on Facebook. It contained photos of a Grade 6 student named Lance Abarquez who was selling ‘Tinapa’ sardines and ‘tuyo’ dried fish.
“kumakain kami sa may Jollibee Pateros tapos sabi ni nanay (may nakita sa baba mula sa view sa taas) nak tignan mo yung bata oh nagtitinda ng tinapa tapos kayo puro hingi lang ng pera.”
Jewel said she met Lance when he approached her to sell his products at a fast-food restaurant.
Jewel learned that he was selling these goods to buy medicine for his father.
“After few minutes umakyat yung bata tapos sakto tabi ng hagdan puwesto namin. Paglapit pa lang ng bata ang galing ng speech nya kung paano niya inintroduce yung tinda nya kala mo nasa commercial eh. Habang pumipili nanay ko ng tinda niya ininterview nya muna.”
“Lance pala pangalan nya, taga gawad kalinga sa sta. ana. Wala na syang mama namatay na tapos yung papa naman nya may sakit. Tinanong namen sino nagpapaaral sa kanya sabi nya tita nya daw. Nagtitinda sya ng tinapa at daing para may pambili ng gamot sa papa nya pati pambaon nya sa school. Kahit na mabigat yung dala niya tinitiis nya, kahit malayo mapuntahan nya basta maubos lang daw niya lahat ng tinda nya. Makikita mo talaga sa bata na pursigidong mag-aral, makatulong sa pamilya kahit na sa ganyang edad pa lang siya.”
From Gawad Kalinga, Santa Ana Village, Lance makes the long walk to Pateros daily to sell his wares.
A lot of people reacted to the post. They were so proud of the kid for working hard at his young age. Some were setting Lance as a good example for many.
“Hi Lance! kung makakarating man to sayo, napaka swerte ng papa mo at meron siyang masipag at mapagmahal na anak kagaya mo 😃 Kaya sa ibang kabataan dyan maging aral sana to sa inyo na hindi madali ang buhay, hindi madaling kumita ng pera kaya wag lang kayo puro “ma/pa penge pera” sa magulang nyo matuto din kayong dumiskarte dahil hindi niyo alam yung paghihirap ng magulang natin mabigyan lang tayo ng magandang buhay 💟 “
If a kid can do it, why not an adult?
People also thank the uploader for spending time to post such an inspiring story.
