Angelle De Leon
A netizen, whose photo was taken while looking longingly at a helmet inside a Spyder shop while holding diapers, received a new helmet from the store after his story went viral.
On November 18, John Vincent Calleja Guiruela shared a photo of himself carrying packs of adult diapers and tissues while standing outside the Spyder store at SM mall in Legazpi, Albay and staring longingly at the helmets inside the shop.
He captioned the photo, “Priorities.”
It seemed that John wanted to buy a Spyder helmet for himself but couldn’t as his “priorities” now was buying diapers for an adult in the family.
Many netizens felt sorry for John.
In an interview with DailyPedia, John said the photo was taken last November 16, when he went to the mall to buy medicines and other things for his mother who had a stroke and had been diagnosed with diabetes.
The 27-year-old John said he also wanted to buy his “dream helmet” at that time, but he could no longer afford it after buying his 75-year-old mom’s medicines.
“Originally kasi gusto ko bumili ng helmet pero kinapos sa budget. Tapos inestimate ko kakapusin pa sa bahay kaya ayun. Medyo nalungkot ako, di na din ako nakapasok sa store, sumilip lang ako sa kung meron nung dream helmet ko,” John narrated.
“Sakto nag-picture picture kami ng partner ko. Kako kuhaan mo nga ako. While checking the photos napaisip na lang ako na i-post ko isa sa Facebook with a caption ‘priorities.’ That time pumasok sa mind ko na ako na lang aasahan ng parents ko. Kaya saka na muna yung wants ko sa buhay,” he added.
According to John, he gave up his job as a BPO employee to take care of his parents in Bicol.
He said he is now looking for a freelance job as their family only relies on the pension of his 75-year-old father.
“Ako lang inaasahan nila (parents) as of now. Retired air force yung father ko, kaso nagka-issue sa pension,” John shared.
“Kaya naghahanap ako ng sideline as a freelancer para sa bahay na lang din ako at makapag-focus sa pag-aalaga,” he added.
John said two days after his photo went viral, an employee of the Spyder store asked him to go back to the shop wearing the same shirt he wore on the day the photo was taken.
He said he was asked to fit some of the helmets and afterwards, a store employee gave him the helmet that he wanted for free—as a Christmas gift from Spyder Philippines.
“Sobra pasasalamat ko sa kanila. Naawa for sure. Nagtanong sila kung ano kalagayan ng mother ko,” John said.
“They also asked kung ano need ng mother ko,” he added.
Aside from the helmet, John was also surprised that the Spyder Philippines also gave him packs of adult diapers for his bedridden mom.
John later posted on his Facebook the photos of his visit to the Spyder store. With a caption “Priorities Part 2,” he also posted a photo of himself and his bedridden mom back at home together with the gifts he got from Spyder Philippines.
“Yung simpleng pagpansin nila sa situation ko, it means a lot to me and to everyone,” John said.
“They have a heart that truly cares for their customers. Sobra talaga pasasalamat ko sa kanila,” he added.
Many netizens have also expressed gratitude and thanked the Spyder Philippines for giving the young man the helmet that he wanted and the diapers for his sick mom.
