They say kindness is contagious, and this Gen Z Bicolano pharmacist is proof of that, saying after he adapted the initiative of pharmacist-turned-content creator Arshie Larga.
25-year-old Charlie Bandola said that he is a huge fan of Larga and when he got an opportunity to spread kindness, he grabbed it.
“Sabi ko, I want to also start ‘yung ginagawa rin ni Sir Arshie Larga.Since estudyante pa lang ako, I’m very inspired by him na talaga. I really look up to him. Nu’ng nagkaroon ako ng pera from sponsored deals,” he told The Philippine STAR.
“Sabi ko, since malapit na rin nga ‘yung birthday ko and gusto ko rin makapag-share ng blessings, P10,000 na lang ‘yung natira. Sabi ko, kalahati nito sa animal rescue. P5,000 dito sa mga gusto kong tulungan sa botika,” he added.
Bandola believed in the initiative of Larga. When he encountered a patient who was struggling to buy medicine, he did not think twice to help.
“Merong pasyente talagang wala siyang pambili. Meron nga pong isang pasyente na maglalakad na lang daw siya. Sabi ko, “Ma’am, wag na, libre ko na lang. Para at least, hindi ka na, malayo po kasi ‘yun.” CUT Bibigay ko na sa’yo ‘yung libre ‘yung gamot, and, pamasahe mo na lang ‘yung natira mong pera. So, parang, if, nandito ko kasi, ma’am, sa healthcare field, sobrang nakakaawa talaga,” he shared.
Bandola couldn’t count how many patients he was able to help since he doesn’t always record his small act of kindness.
Aside from the fact that he can help a sick individual, it was the reactions and the gratitude of the person he was able to help that made his heart full.
“Meron kasing mga reseta, na sobrang dami talaga na gamot. Like 300 pieces. Ang ginagawa ko, ma’am, hinahati ko na lang siya na magkakasya na at least may maiinom na ‘yung pasyente pansamantala. Since nga po, limited nga ‘yung funds,” he stressed.
Adding, “Minsan kasi ‘yan, random lang talaga ‘yung mame-meet mo ng mga tao, ng mga patients, and nakukwento nila ‘yung mga sitwasyon nila, and sabi ko, wag mo na po babayaran, bigay ko na sa’yo ‘yung libre. Sinusulat ko na lang sa papel if ilan na ‘yung utang ko sa nanay ko. Kasi hindi ko pa naman po binabayad ‘yung P5,000. Utang muna eh. Mapabawas ko na lang sa sahod ko.”
According to him, every individual that he met had a unique story to tell that makes him more eager to work hard to become a blessing to others.
“Lola po siya and bata. Nung una po, magtatanong lang naman sila kung magkano ‘yung gamot. Tapos na-overheard ko, nung pina-prepare ko ‘yung gamot, sabi nung bata, ‘Lola, wala naman tayong pera. Pambili na lang natin ng pagkain.’ Sabi ko, ‘wag ka mabahala. Ako na bahala. Kasi paulit-ulit siya sinasabi niya, ‘Sir, wala naman akong pera. Sir, wala naman akong pera,’” Bandola narrated.
“I feel empathy lang naman sa mga pasyente na naghihirap sa buhay. I did my best. Ginawa ko ‘yung kaya kong gawin. And ‘yun ‘yung pagtulong sa kanila. Sobrang gaan sa puso na, ayun, nakakatulong ka. ‘Yung purpose, gusto ko kasi, I want to live my life as purposeful as possible. Ayokong mag-social media for clout lang. Kasi gusto kong may matututunan ‘yung mga manunood sa akin,” he added.
