Angelle De Leon
Many netizens have expressed concern over a father who had a hard time getting a ride on his way back to Bicol to see his sick child.
In a series of Facebook posts, Joven Opeña shared the hardships of traveling from Bulacan to Bicol as he had no access to any public transportation due to the Luzon-wide lockdown.
The government has prohibited public utility vehicles such as jeepneys, buses, trains, and even ride-hailing firms from operating following the declaration of enhanced community quarantine or lockdown in Luzon due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
In his first post on March 25 at 2:33 p.m., Joven said he has started walking on the way to Manila.
“Anak laban pa po hanggang kaya mo pa. Ito na, uuwi na si papa nag-uumpisa na ko maglakad galing Bulacan to Bicol,” he wrote.
“Sana anak antayin mo si papa ha??? Mahal na mahal kta. Kapit lang. May awa ang Diyos kahit abutin pa ako ng isang linggo kakalakad basta antayin mo si papa,” he added.
At around 3:01 p.m., Joven thanked the drivers of the tricycle and truck, who helped him to get to Manila by hitchhiking.
He said he arrived in Binondo, Manila at 3:40 p.m. and he began walking again, going to Pasay and then to Alabang.
At 5:15 p.m., Joven expressed gratitude to a man, he identified as Kristofier Bernardo, for giving him a motorcycle ride going to Bicol.
With the help of the rider, Joven said he arrived safely in Bicol at around 7:21 p.m.
In a separate Facebook post, Opeña’s wife, Angeline, said their little boy has been diagnosed with “intussusception ascending colon” in July 2018, thus he underwent colostomy surgery.
“Hirap kami bumili ng kanyang colostomy bag kaya gumagawa na lang ako ng DIY colo bag. Sobrang liksi at kulit niya. Mawiwili ka sa lahat ng kalokohang alam nya. Ilang beses na kami nag-clearance pero palagi siyang nagkakasakit kaya hindi natutuloy,” she narrated.
“Na-admit kami nung January 2020 sa BMC (Bicol Medical Center) din dahil sa gastroenteritis. Pero di ko ini-expect na o-operahan siya ulit. Akala ko mararanasan niya ‘to pag-closure niya pero wala naman ako magagawa kasi tanging Diyos lang ang may alam,” she went on.
“Tatag ng loob ang kailangan dahil alam mong lumalaban siya. Good luck to us mahal. God bless you. Alam ko magpapagaling ka,” she added.
Angeline admitted that they are accepting donations for their sick boy.
“We need your kindness. Alam naman natin na lahat tayo dumadaan sa pagsubok ngayon pero sana po may makatulong sa amin kahit papaano. To God be the Glory!
09070315981 or PM na lang po. Thank you,” she said.
Joven’s first post has gone viral, with more than 60,000 likes, since it was posted.
It has also been shared over 123,000 times and garnered more than 9,500 comments.
Here are some of the remarks left by netizens:
“Dasal lang po Kuya. May awa si papa God. Tiwala lang.” – Princes Alindao
“Ingat sir! Sana pagdating mo magaling na anak mo. God bless.” – Ron Marmita
“Praying for the recovery of your baby.” – Arman Apig
“Nawa ay gumaling na si baby at makauwi na ang tatay niya.” – Ghara Gutierrez
“Ingat po kuya. God is Good. 🙏🙏🙏” – Princess Dela Cruz
“Ingat sa iyong paglalakbay. Diyan lng Panginoon. Amen.” – Celina Tripon
“Gagaling ka baby. Darating na papa mo. May awa ang Diyos.” – Jennifer Sung
“God bless you always.” – George Tingson
