Netizens lauded a Good Samaritan after he offered to pay for the school supplies of a parking boy at a supermarket in Baliwag, Bulacan on Sept. 2, 2023.
An 11-year-old boy caught the attention of Ian Kenneth Reyes as they were queuing up at a counter. The boy in front of him looked uneasy and kept counting loose change placed on his towel. When it was his turn, the boy became more tense as his bill got higher with every item punched at the cash register. Kenneth felt the need to take action during that time and offered to add the boy’s tab to his account.
“Nakita ko may hawak siyang bimpo. Naka-cover ‘yung bimpo niya. Then nakita ko siyang nagwo-worry doon sa bimpo na hawak niya. Nung binuksan niya, maraming coins. When I saw it na nag-aalala siya doon kung kakasya ba ‘yung pera niya, doon na ako gumawa ng action. At the same time, pinatago ko ‘yung baryang binubuklat niya. Sabi ko, ipangdagdag mo na lang ‘yan sa baon mo,” narrated Kenneth during an interview with The Philippine STAR.
The heartwarming encounter made rounds on social media, prompting the online community to extend its help to the young boy seen in the viral video.
After successfully starting a donation drive, the 27-year-old Good Samaritan came back to the supermarket and found out that the Grade 4 student works as a parking boy there.
“Nagpaparking boy siya doon and then kung ano ‘yung kinikita niya, ‘yun ‘yung pinambibili niya ng gamit. Based doon sa auntie niya, nung una raw namili na si Niño nang pakaunti-unti. Kumbaga ang ginagawa niya is, ‘pag may pera siya ngayon, bibilhin niya to kung ano ‘yung aabutin ng pera niya,” he said.
Moved by Niño’s story, Kenneth kept the donation line open as netizens continued to send monetary and in-kind donations. He made a series of videos to update the online community on their donations for Niño.
As of Sept. 2023, Niño was able to receive a total of P34,000 which was allotted for school supplies and groceries. A donor also sent him gadgets he could use for his schooling.
“Nung napamili na namin lahat, binigay ko doon sa guardian ni Niño ‘yung remaining na cash na natira sa akin. So sabi nila, hindi daw nila ineexpect ‘yon. Kasi ‘yung isang itlog daw, lima sila, naghahati-hati pa raw sila doon,” Kenneth added.
He discovered that Niño resides with his aunt and grandmother after his mother passed away. Moved by his story, Kenneth vowed to continue sustaining Niño’s needs in the coming years.
“I know how life hard is, galing ako doon. Galing ako sa ganoong buhay, bago ko narating lahat ng mayroon ako ngayon. Sabi ko [kay Niño], kahit nasa (United) States ako, magsesend pa rin ako ng kahit kaunti para kahit papaano kung kukulangin ka man na gamit or may babayaran ka sa school, ako na ‘yung magpprovide muna,” he told The STAR.
What was supposed to be an ordinary grocery day for Kenneth turned out to be one of the memorable experiences he would bring with him as he moves to the US.
“Kasi ang hirap eh, mag-isa lang siya. So sabi ko sa kanya, huwag siyang mahihiya sa akin, ako ‘yung Kuya mo. Sabi ko, sa abot ng makakaya ko, tutulungan kita,” he added.
As someone who had the same experience as Niño, Kenneth reminded people to give a helping hand to the needy.
“Hanggang ngayon, pinaiiyak ako nung video na ‘yon, [dahil] naging instrumento ako ni God para ibigay ‘yung deserve nung bata. Hangga’t kaya natin i-spread ‘yung kabutihan, i-spread natin lalo na’t ‘pag alam natin na deserve nung tao,” he ended.
For those who wish to help Niño, you may send your donations to Ian Kenneth Reyes via GCash on 09154338941.
