In our daily lives, we may encounter people whom we least expect to inspire us, through the simple things they do or their mere presence in our lives.
Just like in the viral Facebook post featuring registered nurse, event host, and entrepreneur "Genesis Wilson Bias" from the province of Rizal, on his heart-warming encounter with "Mang Fred," a senior citizen who continues to offer his services repairing broken shoes and umbrellas in their area and neighboring barangays through his bicycle.
Based on Genesis' post, he unfolded as he decided to have his shoes repaired by the old shoemaker, and while he was getting them fixed, he engaged in conversation with him.
Even when Genesis was still young, he already saw Mang Fred, and this had been his livelihood ever since. Mang Fred would peddle his services using his bicycle every day.
The conversation went like this:
“Mang Fred bata pa lang ako, kayo na po ang nagtatahi ng mga sirang payong at sapatos namin,” he said to him.
The old man answered, “Suki ko yung babaeng mabait jan sa inyo (Nanay Wina), kaso nabalitaan ko matagal na daw syang namatay.”
“Ang tyaga po ‘nyo Manong,” the uploader commended the repairman.
“Kailangan eh, para may pambili ng bigas,” his replied.
According to Genesis, Mang Fred is said to be 68 years old and originally from Baras, Rizal.
Since 1985, Mang Fred's livelihood, he says, has been repairing broken umbrellas. In 1990, he also started repairing broken shoes.
Through a simple conversation with Mang Fred, Genesis realized many things. They talked about various topics, such as the price of rice, as well as whether there is still "hope" for the country to overcome hardships.
“Ang simple lang ng dahilan at kaligayahan ni Manong kung bakit sya nagsusumikap sa buhay. Madami kaming napag-usapan tungkol sa buhay. Kagaya ng ang mahal na ng mga bilihin lalo ang bigas at kung may pag-asa pa bang lumiwanag ang Pilipinas???”
“Sa ating buhay, [marami] tayong pinagdadaanan na pagsubok o maaring kadiliman. Ngunit, kailangan lang natin na maniwala na sa bawat araw na nagmumulat tayo ng ating mga mata, nakikita natin ang bagong buhay at liwanag. Sa bawat [pagsulsi] natin sa ating buhay may mabubuong pangarap at makikita natin ang pag-asa.”
“Si Mang Fred ang naging blessing ko ngayong araw upang mas makita ko ang halaga ng buhay ko noon at kung ano ang simpleng meron ako ngayon. Maraming Salamat Mang Fred! Ingat po palagi, isasama ko po kayo palagi sa aking mga dasal 🙏🙏🙏🙏,” the uploader said on his lengthy Facebook post.
Because of his post, Genesis said that some concerned citizens extended help to Mang Fred. It was found out that Mang Fred was able to send two children to college, and one of them is currently still being supported through his work as a repairman.
His eldest child graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Information Management, the middle child with a BS Secretarial degree, and the youngest is undergraduate of BS Psychology program (2 years) and BS Business Administration (1 year).
Even though his children give him money, Mang Fred still chooses to work hard so that they won't have to rely on children who have their own lives.
Mang Fred was surprised by the outpouring of help he received. He said he never imagined he would be in the news after the post about him went viral.
“Ako’y nagsusumikap para magkaroon ng pambili ng mga pagkain para nang sa ganoon, para din sa aming pangangailangan. Maraming maraming salamat sa inyong lahat!” he said with a grateful heart.
The uploader, Genesis, also shared his realization after becoming an instrument for blessings to pour out to the elderly man.
“Natanggap na po ni Manong Fred ang inyong tulong. Maraming Salamat po sa inyong mga tulong para sa kanya lubos po ang kanyang kaligayahan. Gaya ni Manong hindi ko din lubos inakala na makakatulong ako sa pamamagitan ng FB post ko. Salamat sa Diyos.”
“Isa lang ang natutunan ko, ‘Hindi man ako maging biyaya para sa iba, nais ko na maging daluyan ng biyaya mula sa Diyos,’” he said.
Congratulations, Mang Fred and kudos to you, Nurse Ghen!
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
Just like in the viral Facebook post featuring registered nurse, event host, and entrepreneur "Genesis Wilson Bias" from the province of Rizal, on his heart-warming encounter with "Mang Fred," a senior citizen who continues to offer his services repairing broken shoes and umbrellas in their area and neighboring barangays through his bicycle.
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| Photo courtesy: Facebook/Genesis Wilson Bias |
Based on Genesis' post, he unfolded as he decided to have his shoes repaired by the old shoemaker, and while he was getting them fixed, he engaged in conversation with him.
Even when Genesis was still young, he already saw Mang Fred, and this had been his livelihood ever since. Mang Fred would peddle his services using his bicycle every day.
The conversation went like this:
“Mang Fred bata pa lang ako, kayo na po ang nagtatahi ng mga sirang payong at sapatos namin,” he said to him.
The old man answered, “Suki ko yung babaeng mabait jan sa inyo (Nanay Wina), kaso nabalitaan ko matagal na daw syang namatay.”
“Ang tyaga po ‘nyo Manong,” the uploader commended the repairman.
“Kailangan eh, para may pambili ng bigas,” his replied.
According to Genesis, Mang Fred is said to be 68 years old and originally from Baras, Rizal.
Since 1985, Mang Fred's livelihood, he says, has been repairing broken umbrellas. In 1990, he also started repairing broken shoes.
Through a simple conversation with Mang Fred, Genesis realized many things. They talked about various topics, such as the price of rice, as well as whether there is still "hope" for the country to overcome hardships.
“Ang simple lang ng dahilan at kaligayahan ni Manong kung bakit sya nagsusumikap sa buhay. Madami kaming napag-usapan tungkol sa buhay. Kagaya ng ang mahal na ng mga bilihin lalo ang bigas at kung may pag-asa pa bang lumiwanag ang Pilipinas???”
“Sa ating buhay, [marami] tayong pinagdadaanan na pagsubok o maaring kadiliman. Ngunit, kailangan lang natin na maniwala na sa bawat araw na nagmumulat tayo ng ating mga mata, nakikita natin ang bagong buhay at liwanag. Sa bawat [pagsulsi] natin sa ating buhay may mabubuong pangarap at makikita natin ang pag-asa.”
“Si Mang Fred ang naging blessing ko ngayong araw upang mas makita ko ang halaga ng buhay ko noon at kung ano ang simpleng meron ako ngayon. Maraming Salamat Mang Fred! Ingat po palagi, isasama ko po kayo palagi sa aking mga dasal 🙏🙏🙏🙏,” the uploader said on his lengthy Facebook post.
Because of his post, Genesis said that some concerned citizens extended help to Mang Fred. It was found out that Mang Fred was able to send two children to college, and one of them is currently still being supported through his work as a repairman.
His eldest child graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Information Management, the middle child with a BS Secretarial degree, and the youngest is undergraduate of BS Psychology program (2 years) and BS Business Administration (1 year).
Even though his children give him money, Mang Fred still chooses to work hard so that they won't have to rely on children who have their own lives.
Mang Fred was surprised by the outpouring of help he received. He said he never imagined he would be in the news after the post about him went viral.
“Ako’y nagsusumikap para magkaroon ng pambili ng mga pagkain para nang sa ganoon, para din sa aming pangangailangan. Maraming maraming salamat sa inyong lahat!” he said with a grateful heart.
The uploader, Genesis, also shared his realization after becoming an instrument for blessings to pour out to the elderly man.
“Natanggap na po ni Manong Fred ang inyong tulong. Maraming Salamat po sa inyong mga tulong para sa kanya lubos po ang kanyang kaligayahan. Gaya ni Manong hindi ko din lubos inakala na makakatulong ako sa pamamagitan ng FB post ko. Salamat sa Diyos.”
“Isa lang ang natutunan ko, ‘Hindi man ako maging biyaya para sa iba, nais ko na maging daluyan ng biyaya mula sa Diyos,’” he said.
Congratulations, Mang Fred and kudos to you, Nurse Ghen!
— Noel Ed Richards, The Summit Express
