(Delayed post)
May 12, 2022
Naawa naman ako dun sa Lala Move rider that came to my office this afternoon to deliver some documents from the roofing contractor based in Cavite.
Because I knew beforehand that this guy would be coming from Mendez, Cavite I told the security guards to let him in, rather than just telling him to leave the envelope with the security guard.
He looked confused and probably didn’t quite understand why I was entertaining him. I asked if he wanted a cold drink.
I asked him about his previous job which he gamely answered. He began sharing his life story. Medyo humaba na ang kwentuhan namin.
It is difficult to be a rider he said. When it rains he couldn’t go out, and when it’s too hot he had to endure the sesring heat. I gave him some words of encouragement like “hindi naman araw-araw umuulan. ganun talaga, kami rin dito may araw na matumal. Magtyaga lang tayo.”
He agreed “opo mam”.
Me—- “Asan ang parents mo?”
Rider—– “Broken family na kami mam”
Me——– “Hiwalay na nanay at tatay mo?”
Me——– “Patay na tatay ko”
Me——– “Bata pa namatay”
Rider—– Na-stress mam. Nangaliwa kasi ang nanay ko, hindi nakayanan ni tatay. Kinabukasan, hindi na sya nagising.”
He said his father had been noticing the extra closeness between the male neighbor and his mother. Instead of the mother being magiliw sa tatay nya, very sweet daw dun sa kalapitbahay nila. She frequented the neighbor’s house and one day, boom! Nakita ni tatay yung dalawa na magkaulayaw.
His mom chose the guy over them. She bore him two children.
At a young age, he and his two other brothers became technically orphans. They stopped schooling and experienced many nights going to bed with an empty stomach.
Until now, at 36 years old and already with his own family, he still cries every time he thinks of his mother.
Rider—– “Hanggang ngayon mam, masakit pa rin sa dibdib ko, iniwan nya kami, maliliit pa. Namatay si tatay, walang mag-aruga sa amin.”
His eldest brother enlisted in the military and died in the field. His other brother died of cancer at a very young age. He is basically alone.
I took his full name and cellphone number. He knows my phone too because the company who sent me the documents provided him with my contact number.
He worked daw for 10 years as a personal driver to a certain Mr. Ang in Makati. Mr. Ang’s businesses folded during the pandemic.
He still wishes to find a regular job other than riding the bike because he said it’s dangerous. He earns good money actually being a rider.
I asked how much tip the sender gave him, P50 daw. I gave him an extra P100 naku confused talaga sya bakit ko sya binibigyan ng extra tip. His facial expression spelled happiness upon seeing the P100 peso bill.
I also told him he may sit in the lounge downstairs para merong aircon while waiting for the next call hoping it would bring him back to Cavite.
1:11 pm
I wish this guy safety and prosperity, and peace of mind.
