This photo courtesy of Jay-r dela Calzada shows Tatay Pepe with his cane inside his new home.
CEBU CITY, Philippines— The gifts continue to pour in for Tatay Pepe from Minglanilla town in southern Cebu.
This after netizen Jay-r de la Calzada surprised the 76-year-old elderly living alone in Barangay Manduwang with a cane and LED lights that he can use to get around, especially at night.
Again, De La Calzada said help from other netizens made this latest blessing possible.
“Very overwhelming ang ila help,” said De La Calzada, who shared on his Facebook page about the situation of Tatay Pepe last December 2, 2020.
Read: Bayanihan spirit shines like Christmas star for this elderly living alone in Minglanilla
“Tatay Pepe would even tell me nga sobra-sobra2x na gyud kaayo iyang grasya, considering di na daw sya mag dugay diri. But I just really wanted him to feel na even [in] his last years, he [won’t be] alone and there are still many people who are looking after him,” De la Calzada added.
De La Calzada’s story of Tatay Pepe reached netizens far and wide, which paved way for him to be able to renovate the elderly’s shanty with the help of his neighbors.
Tatay Pepe (second from right) together with his neighbors, who helped build his new home, and Jay-r (right most), who spearheaded the fund raising drive for the elderly.
De la Calzada was able to raise P14,000 from donations, which he used to buy medicines, clothes, food, and the materials needed for Tatay Pepe’s new home.
It seems like Christmas gifts came early for Tatay Pepe this year!
/bmjo