BIÑAN, Laguna – A food delivery rider whose bike was stolen received a shower of donations from Good Samaritans after a video of him crying went viral.
On November 26, foodpanda rider Joshua Belen parked his bike outside a mall to get his customer's order. When he returned, the bike was gone.
The CCTV footage on the parking lot caught how the perpetrator took the bike. Unfortunately, the suspect's face was not visible in the video.
"Dun po, iyak na po ako nang iyak kasi wala na po akong gagamitin pang-trabaho (I couldn't stop crying because I didn't have anything to use for work anymore)," Belen told the Manila Bulletin.
"Yung kukunan po namin nang pang-araw-araw, wala na po kaya po mahirap, masakit... Kahit mahirap ang buhay, sana lumaban tayo ng parehas (The bike that I used to buy our everyday needs was gone, it was hard and painful... Life is difficult but we should fight fair)."
After the video taken by his fellow rider went viral, help flowed in – including one motorcycle, four bikes, cash, and groceries.
Belen is now using one of the bikes for work while the other three, he gave to his father and two siblings. He is currently saving up to apply for a driver's license so that he can use his new motorcycle.
"Sobra po ang pasasalamat ko, lalo po sa Panginoon, 'di Niya ako pinabayaan (I'm so thankful, especially to the Lord, He didn't let me down)," Belen said.