A 56-year-old store owner from Cebu received praises from netizens after she provided free snacks to students with perfect exam scores.
“She’s been selling po for almost five months na po dito sa school sa Bartolome and Manuela Pañares Memorial National High School. ‘Yung mga bata po is napalapit na po talaga kay Mama. Naisip niya na why not mag-isip tayo ng paraan para ma-motivate natin ‘yung mga students,” daughter Jessiel Ivy Gedoria told The Philippine STAR.
“Before the exams sinabihan niya na po ‘yung mga students na, “Sige ha mag-aral kayo nang mabuti kasi if maka-perfect kayo, meron kayong free snacks kay Nanay.” The day of checking, nilagay po namin ‘yung karatula na may free snacks sa first 20 na maka-perfect, makapresent ng test papers nila with perfect scores. Nagtakbuhan po ‘yung mga bata sa tindahan tsaka prinepresent po nila ‘yung test papers nila para magclaim ng free snacks nila,” she added.
Nanay Livy opened her store in November 2022 after she stopped selling goods in a public market when the pandemic hit the country.
“Naisipan ko na ‘yung blessings ishare ko naman sa mga bata, for motivation ba na mag-aral sila ng mabuti. Every morning mag-greet sila, ‘Hello, Nay, good morning.’ Masaya naman ako kasi ang feeling ko anak ko rin sila,” she said.
According to Nanay Livy, she wanted to give little “rewards” to kids for doing their best in school.
“Masaya kasi tiningnan ko ‘yung mga bata na takbuhan nang takbuhan, “Nay, ito na ‘yun! Na realize ko na ‘yung mga student pala even maliit lang ‘yung binigay mo, ma-appreciate nila at sumikap naman sila,” she noted.
Nanay Livy also shared that some kids would even tell her that they don’t have enough money to buy food.
“Sabihan ko anong problema mo? ‘Nay, ito lang ‘yung pera ko P3 gusto na sana kong kumain ng turon, uminom ng juice pero ito lang ‘yung pera ko.’ ‘Yung iba naman, ‘Nay, pwede ba pautang? Bukas na lang.’ Maawa naman ako. ‘Wag na sa ‘yo na lang babayaran mo ako kung magiging abogado ka na or magiging doktor ka na. Hanapin mo lang ako,” she shared.
Nanay Livy’s small act of kindness recently went viral on social media after her daughter Jessiel shared the story on Facebook.
Other generous individuals also donated money to help Nanay Livy sustain her mini project.
“Kahit hindi po kami naghingi, wala po dun sa post ko na baka gusto niyo tumulong. Pero meron po talagang nag initiate na tumulong kasi gusto po nila na mas maparami pa ‘yung mabigyan ni Mama,” she said.
“Sobrang naa-appreciate ko po si Mama at sobrang proud po ako na ‘yung Mama ko po is nakagawa at nakaisip po ng ganun. ‘Yung mga tindera gusto din nilang gayahin kasi pang-motivate din po sa mga students sa kani-kanilang mga eskwelahan,” she added.
Nanay Livy plans to continue giving out free snacks to students as long as she can.
“Kung may exam, mamimigay naman ako kahit konti. Mag-aral lang lang silang mabuti. Kung wala naman silang pera, punta lang sila sa akin makakain naman sila kahit konti,” Nanay Livy said.
