This group of friends from Camiguin Island brought good vibes to the online community!
26-year-old uploader Jett Stefano Pulvera said that their whole barkada planned a unique homecoming for their friend Benn Edbert Paderanga after he finished his on-the-job training in Cebu on October 17, 2023.
“‘Yung time na ‘yun is malapit na ‘yung opening ng Lanzones Festival. ‘Yung mga bystander na naghihintay din ng mga susunduin nila, nagtatanong sila kung sino ba ‘yung susunduin kasi may banda. Kasi si Robi Domingo, pupunta dito. Sabi nung isang bystander, ‘Baka si Robi Domingo ‘yung susunduin nila.’ Pagkakita ng mukha, “’Ay hindi pala.’ Ganun ‘yung reaction,” Pulvera told the Philippine STAR while laughing.
“Parang na-disappoint sila pagkakita sa mukha ko. Una ko talagang naramdaman, nahiya talaga ako. Gusto kong bumalik sa plane. Kasi ‘di ko talaga in-expect na sasalubungin nila ako nang ganun. May banda, may pa-tarpaulin,” Paderanga said in jest.
According to Paderanga, he only mentioned that he was coming home to their province to one of their friends. But Pulvera and their whole barkada wanted to surprise him at the airport.
“‘Yung two months’ time, eh na-lessen ‘yung bonding namin.So naisip talaga namin na, ‘May gagawin tayo na trip.’ Initially, ‘yung idea is beer lang at saka tarpaulin tapos nag-suggest si Ralph na baka pwedeng magdala ng banda. Nag-ask kami ng permission sa mga kasamahan namin sa banda. Pumayag naman sila na gamitin ‘yung mga instrument. ‘Yung garland po is handcrafted lang talaga,” Pulvera shared.
“Expected namin talaga na mahihiya siya kasi sobra ngang daming tao sa airport, eh. Napakaswerte nga kasi unang-una siyang bumaba. Dapat sana ‘yung expected namin, last siya bumaba kasi para nakababa na ‘yung lahat ng pasahero,” he added.
Pulvera said that they were shocked after his uploaded video on social media garnered more than one million views.
“Hindi namin inakala na aabot ng milyon. Ang main purpose namin is not to go viral—para lang magpasaya ng mga tao, mga friends namin. Nakaka-flatter talaga. Kasi sa ’min, it turns out to be natural, eh. Hindi scripted,” he noted.
Paderanga said that he is thankful for his friends as they brought laughter to the netizens, noting how he appreciates their small gesture of welcoming him back.
Pulvera also shared their secret to long-lasting friendship.
“Iwasan niyo talaga ‘yung plastikan, stay tunay lang sa isa’t isa. The rest will follow, eh. Kung may galit ka sa kaibigan mo, sabihin mo sa kanya, ‘wag mong idaan sa ibang tao,” he stressed.
