Social media has proven to be a powerful thing in mobilizing help to those in need. We’ve read of cases where loved ones were reunited and lost items being returned to their owner, all in one status update. We’re hoping it’ll help this time.
This story was shared by netizen Alica F, who met Nanay Luz on the street.
According to Alica’s Facebook post, Nanay Luz was abandoned in Manila and wants to go back to her home province Ilo-Ilo.
According to Alica:
Nakita ko po siya nagmamalimos kanina sa gilid ng Greenwich. Malayo pa lang napansin ko na mahina at pagod na siya. Pansin ko din hindi siya masaya sa perang inaabot sa kanya. Nung lumapit na kami sa kanya at inabot ni Max yung pera sa kanya, sabi nya, “Hindi ko sana kailangan ng pera, gusto ko sana ng kanin at ulam. Gutom na gutom na ko, kagabi pa ko hindi kumakain.” Naisip ko wala akong dalang cash kasi papunta pa lang kami ng BPI.
Laman lang ng bag ko ay P150 lang, pero hindi ako nag dalawang isip bilhan si lola ng pagkain. Biglang pumasok sa isip ko paano pag si lola ko naging ganito.
(I saw her asking for alms along Greenwich. I could already see her from afar and I could tell she was weak and tired. I noticed that she wasn’t happy with the money given to her. When we approached her and Max handed her money, she said, “I don’t need money, I need food. I haven’t eaten since last night and I’m so hungry.” I only had P150 because we were on our way to BPI, but I didn’t hesitate to buy lola food. I suddenly thought about my own lola being in the same situation.)
Alica then interviewed Nanay Luz:
Habang kumakain siya, naitanong ko sa kanya kung saan siya nakatira at bakit siya nagmamalimos. Sagot niya sakin, “Matagal na kami sa Quezon, pinaalis na kami doon. Nademolish bahay namin. Dinala ako ng mga anak ko dito, pero hindi naman ako iniwanan ng contact number nila. Sabi nila babalikan nila ako. Hinihintay ko sila pero hindi na bumalik (Habang nagkukwento siya, tumutulo luha nya at hindi ko na din napigilan mapaiyak. Laking lola ako kaya nasasaktan ako sa ginawa ng mga anak niya sa kanya). Nakwento niya rin, yung pinagiwanan sa kanya ng mga anak nya, ginawa siyang kasambahay. Okay lang daw sana sa kanya yun kaso sinasaktan siya at mahina na rin ang katawan niya para maglaba at maglinis sa bahay, kaya umalis siya doon sa tinitirahan niya kas inaabuso sya.
(While she was eating, I asked her where she lives and why she’s asking for alms. She said, “I live in Quezon, but we were asked to leave because our house was demolished. I was brought by my children here but they didn’t leave their contact number. They said they’ll be back but they didn’t return. While she was telling this story, we were both crying. I grew up with my lola so it hurts me that her own children would do this to her. She also told me that the family she was left with made her a housekeeper. She didn’t mind but they abused her. She was also too weak to wash clothes and clean the house so she left.”)
Alica also found out that Nanay Luz sleeps in the seats in the plaza.
Habang ngkwekwento pa siya, napansin ko tipid na tipid siya sa kinakain niya. Sabi ko sa kanya “Kain ka lang, nay.” Sagot niya sakin, “Tama na yun sa akin, itatago ko lang to para may pagkain ako ulit mamayang gabi.” Naguilty tuloy ako na ganun lang naibigay o naibili ko sa kanya.
(While she was telling me this, I noticed she wasn’t eating all her food.
I told her to eat it, but she said, “It’s all right. I’m going to keep the rest so I have something to eat later.” I felt guilty that it was the only thing I could give.)
Alica said she decided to post the story and Nanay Luz’s photo so she could help Nanay Luz get back to her home province in Ilo-Ilo.
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