(Note: Pilipino Star Ngayon’s Bituin Ng Pag-Asa series looks back and celebrates viral stories of hope and inspiration this 2020.)
This delivery rider’s story about a customer’s random act of kindness warmed hearts last November.
Grab rider Mark Berdan said that he was just waiting for orders last November 23 when he received a booking order from a lady customer with an unexpected request.
“Kuya hindi mo na kailangan pumunta dito. Yung 30 pieces ng burger, ipamigay mo along the way diyan, sa mga nasa kalsada na nagugutom,” read the customer’s message to the rider.
The customer added that he could also take home to his family five pieces of the ordered food.
Berdan had never encountered such a request so he initially thought it was a joke.
He had to ask the customer repeatedly if it was real and not a prank.
“Yes, kuya ipamigay mo na diyan sa kalsada yang 30 pieces sa mga nagugutom tapos five pieces iuwi sa inyo,” the customer replied.
It turned out that customer had already done it before.
Berdan went on to distribute the food items to people — street children, homeless, street vendors, among others — he met along the way in the Alabang area.
When he showed proof that he was able to give away the food items, the good samaritan who didn’t want to be identified said, “Kuya, hindi mo na kailangan mag-picture. I trust you po.”
The food delivery rider turned to Facebook to share his unusual but heartwarming story with the customer and it quickly went viral.
“Not all heroes wear capes… Some just have the Grab app. 
“Not only was the kindness passed on, the ‘donor’ enabled kuya Grab driver to live vicariously through (the customer) and learn how to give without expecting anything in return. #payitforward,” another netizen commented.
Berdan was also praised online because through his willingness to be an instrument for a stranger’s good deed, the act of kindness went a long way.
Watch the inspiring #BituinNgPagAsa video below:
