The online community applauded a PWD delivery food rider for continuing to work despite his disability.
27-year-old Nathaniel Felix Sagun said that his disability was never a hindrance to earning money for his family.
“Lagi kong iniisip kung gagamitin ko ‘yung kapansanan ko marami talagang tutulong. Kaso ‘yung tulong kasi na ‘yun isang bagsakan lang ‘yun. Mas maganda talaga na nakikita nila na nag-effort ka kasi ‘pag nagustuhan nila ‘yung delivery mo, uulit pa sila eh. ‘Yun naman ‘yung nangyari, continuous silang umo-order,” Sagun told The Philippine STAR.
Sagun went viral in September after he offered his “pasabuy” services online.
“Nagkataon kasi na bayaran ng bills, bilihan ng gamot para sa erpat ko. Tapos bayad pa sa motor. So tatlo ‘yung prino-problema ko. Bale first time kasi ‘yun na hindi ako makaka-quota. Inabot na ako ng Biyernes wala pa rin. Sabi ko, “hindi na pwede ‘to kailangan ko mag-post ulit magpapasabuy na ako,” he shared.
“’Yung ‘pag viral naman ng post ko hindi ko talaga siya expected kasi lagi naman talaga ako nagpo-post. Hanggang kinabukasan, napakarami nang umorder. Nakatulong po talaga nang maigi ‘yung mga taong nag-share, nag-like po at nag- comment sa aking post. ‘Yung mga tip po nila ‘yun talaga nakatulong nang todo,” he added.
Sagun, who is originally from Dasmariñas, Cavite, said that his condition was inborn.
He used to work in a lumpia wrapper factory for 10 years before trying his luck in Manila as a delivery rider.
“Classified siya sa PWD as orthopedic eh orthopedic disability. Nakatukod pa naman (sa handle) ‘yung kaliwa, abot ko naman saktong sakto lang,” he said.
“’Yun nga lang ang pinaka struggle kapag paahon ang location ng drop-off, talagang napakahirap pong magpedal. kapag pa ahon. Kailangan hindi lang doble kung hindi minsan four times ka pa nga mag-ingat hindi lang basta nakalingon ka,” he added.
Sagun usually goes out 12 hours a day to deliver food around the metro. He said he can earn P700 on ordinary days and P1,000 during holidays.
“Hindi naman siya sagabal, ang pagiging PWD.Siguro kung paano mo na lang siguro matitingnan.Nakakapag-deliver naman ako nang maayos. ‘Yun nga lang medyo may kabagalan nang konti kasi syempre safety first pa rin tayo sa kalsada. Pero okay naman po, wala naman pong nagagalit na customer sa akin,” he noted.
“So far wala naman akong discrimination na na-experience sa mga customer. Pagka sinabi mo naman ‘yung problema, nakakatagpo naman ako sa marunong umunawa na customer po,” he added.
Sagun admitted that there are just a few opportunities given to PWDs in the country. He hopes that his story will be an inspiration to fellow PWDs.
“Sa mga kagaya ko po na persons with disabilities (PWDs), ‘wag na ‘wag tayong mawawalan ng pag-asa.nHindi habang buhay sasabihin nila ‘PWD ka, ay ‘wag ‘yan may kapansanan ‘yan.’ Hindi ganun, ipakita natin kung ano ‘yung best natin” he stressed.
“Hindi kamo may kapansanan tayo hindi natin kaya makapagsabayan. Hanapin lang natin ‘yung angkop na hanapbuhay para sa atin at angkop na trabaho. Kung ano ‘yung mga strong skill natin dun tayo mag-focus,” he added.
