An elderly balloon vendor outside a school caught a Facebook user’s attention, prompting her to share his story of quiet perseverance.
Trinity JM on April 22 posted about meeting Tatay Pedring, a 66-year-old balloon vendor outside her daughter’s school.
She said she buys from him “almost everyday,” giving him more than enough so he would have “extra.”
Trinity also said she would sometimes “just hand him the money” whenever their house was already “too filled with balloons and sometimes a hot meal.”
“As the end of the school year is approaching, I worry about him,” she wrote on Facebook.
“Today, he handed me a card, saying that if I needed balloon needs, to contact them and give his name as the referral so he gets some commission,” Trinity added.
“I don’t have any party needs as of the moment and my daughter’s birthday is too far. If any of you have party needs, please do call the number on the card and give Tatay’s name. Posting this to help tatay,” she wrote.
She also included a photo of the card the elderly vendor gave her.
In the comments section, Trinity wrote that, according to Pedring’s son, selling balloons is his only source of income.
“Napa-graduate niya ang eldest son niya and his other son is bound to graduate this May, all from his hard work of selling balloons,” she said.
“He is originally from Cagayan Valley, and his wife was in an accident last year and is now unable to work. They have been worried din, as matumal daw ang benta now due to schools going on summer break,” the Facebook user added.
Trinity also shared her GCash account for those interested in donating to Tatay Pedring, adding that he does not have an e-wallet app. Her account details are as follows.
0927-539-4445
Je*n Tr****y M.
She likewise offered that those who would like to donate clothes for Tatay Pedring may message her, adding that she has noticed he “has been wearing the same clothes for three days now.”
“So for those who would like to give clothes [or] food instead of money to tatay, please do let me know,” Trinity wrote.
She assured social media users that she would make sure “to video everything and post it here for transparency” regarding the cash donations for Tatay Pedring.
Trinity said the vendor can be found in Sampaloc, Manila.