Gretchen Ho thanks Filipinos abroad for helping her after her bag got stolen

TV reporter and athlete Gretchen Ho expressed her gratitude to the Filipino community in London for helping recover her stolen bag.

Ho narrated on ABS-CBN’s morning show Umagang Kay Ganda that a “caucasian” woman stole her bag when she went shopping on Oxford St. in London.

She said that the woman walked by the pile of clothes she was trying on before stealing her belongings. “Nakita ko pa ‘yung babae sa mukha. Nagkatinginan pa kami,” Ho narrated.

“Maganda siya. Sinasabi sa akin ng mga taga dito, madalas daw mukhang yayamanin ang mga nagnakaw, nakasuot pa ng suit,” she added.

According to Ho, her bag contained her passport, money, credit cards, two cellphones, and other important documents.

Ho also said that she blocked all of her phones and credit cards after the incident.

Expressing her gratitude to the Filipinos in London, she said: “Buti na lang maraming Pinoy na tumulong sa akin,” she said.

Ho further shared some details about her experience through an Instagram post and thanked the people who have helped her.

“So many people have helped me the past days. Serry Sadicon and the Buñags, Filipinos who were there with me right when my bag got stolen.

“It was coincidental that they passed by me in the store while I was panicking and talking to the manager. They allowed me to use their phones and even got me food, stayed with me until I was able to get picked up by my friend

“Marco Pajo, my cameraman, and his wife Jen for picking me up and sharing with us their time and resources.

“Tita Leah Pasaporte with whom we stayed with when we got locked out of our apartment,” she wrote on Instagram.

Counting My Blessings. Been having bad luck the past two days. Not only did my bag get stolen with everything in it (passport, cards, money, phones), we also got locked out of our AirBNB (keys with no landlord). But I'm counting my blessings. So many people have helped me the past days ? Serry Sadicon & the Buñags, Filipinos who were there with me right when my bag got stolen. It was coincidental that they passed by me in the store while I was panicking and talking to the manager. They allowed me to use their phones & even got me food, stayed with me until I was able to get picked up by my friend. Marco Pajo, my cameraman & his wife Jen for picking me up & sharing with us their time & resources. Tita Leah Pasaporte with whom we stayed with when we got locked out of our apartment. And then these random people today … waiter Ahmed from Egypt who gave me an extra refill of brewed coffee, uber driver Buvi from Sri Lanka who bought me iced coffee ? And of course, the Philippine embassy which has been very accommodating. Thank you everyone for your kind hearts ? I've never felt so vulnerable & helpless but God has been gracious. Thank you everyone.

A post shared by Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) on Aug 3, 2018 at 4:44am PDT

Ho also said in jest that the incident made her want to have a travelling partner as soon as possible.

“Kahapon kasi nag-decide ako mag-alone time kaya nga dapat maghanap na ako ng partner eh para may kasama,” she said.

The TV reporter said that she is already taking care of her lost passports and other travel documents.

Ho is currently in London to cover Ride London which is considered as the biggest cycling event in the world.