A gesture of an overseas Filipina worker who is based in Dubai has struck a chord with an old man from Pasig City after she gifted him a cellphone that he had been wanting to buy for his grandchild.

Last March, Monica Raon Santos, an accountant manager at an engineering firm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, saw on Facebook the story of the old man named Lolo Lucio.

The old man braved to travel from Pasig to a mall in Santa Mesa even at his weak knees to buy his grandchild a cellphone. He brought with him a bunch of P20 and P100 bills to buy it, but his money fell short of almost P400 to take it home.

Kean Estacio Jonson, the salesman, who assisted Lolo Lucio shared on Facebook last March 20: “Kanina si tatay wala man lang pumapansin sa kanya habang ako naman naka salubong ko sya nag tanong siya sakin sabi nya iho san ba pwedeng bumili ng Vivo. Sabi ko ‘Tay tara dun tayo sa store.”

He noticed that Lolo Lucio was already having a difficulty in talking and walking at that time.

At the store, the old man handed him a slip of paper. “Nabasa ko lang sa dala niyang papel “Vivo”. [Ta]pos nung bibili na sya pag labas ng pera puro 20 pesos at 100 pesos na naka tali ng goma. Sabi nya inipon pa daw nya yun para mabil[h]an nya yung apo nya ng cellphone,” Johnson said.

“[K]aso kulang yung pera nya. Ang price kasi ng unit na bibilin nya ay 5,990, pero ang dala nyang pera ay 5,600 lang,” the salesman added.

Thousands have liked, shared and posted comments. But one of them, the OFW from Dubai, sent a personal message to Jonson. She pledged to money so that Lolo Lucio would finally be able to purchase the cellphone.

Santos asked the salesman to alert her again once the old man returns.

Screen shots posted by Kean Estacio Jonson on Facebook

But, at that time, the salesman doubted that Lolo Lucio would still return to their store in Sta. Mesa. But the old man did come to see him again.

“[Di] ko din [in]-expect na babalik sya sakin para bumili ulit ng unit kasi malayo sya at matanda na. [T]aga Pasig pa daw kasi sya. [A]ng layo ng Pasig sa SM sta mesa, pero mas pinipili parin ni lolo na balikan ako para sakin siya ulit bumili.

He thought of contacting the OFW based in Dubai, but in his mind, it was a long shot that she would immediately reply.

He narrated on another Facebook post on June 2: “[P]ag message ko sa kanya agad naman siyang nag reply. Bigla nalang siya nagsabi na pahingi daw ng bank account ko at mag-tatransfer daw siya ng pera na pang bayad sa unit na gusto ni lolo na bibilin.”

Santos paid for the cellphone unit, and told Lolo Lucio to keep his money.

Screen shots posted by Kean Estacio Jonson on Facebook

The second Facebook post of Jonson last Saturday has now garnered almost 40,000 reactions from netizens.

“Nakakatuwa lang kasi may mga tao parin talagang kahit maganda na ang buhay sa ibang bansa naiisip paring tumulong sa [ibang] taon, kahit hindi naman niya kilala o kamag anak,” the salesman who had been instrumental for Lolo Lucio and the OFW to cross paths miles away from each other.

“Sana lang dumami pa yung kagaya ni Ms. Monica na kayang tumulong sa kapwa kahit sa simpleng pamamaraan lang,” he added.

Meanwhile, netizens have nothing but all praises for Santos, saying she tugged at their heart strings.

In a Facebook post, the OFW said: “Nakakataba ng puso.❤️ Sobra!? Binabasa ko po lahat ng messages niyo sa akin. Maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat ng mga magagandang messages niyo sa akin.”

She also revealed that the story of the old man touched his heart because she has always been a “certified Lolo’s girl.”

“Certified Lolo’s girl po ako kaya talagang mahina ang loob ko pagdating sa mga matatanda. Hindi ko po lubos maisip na marami palang matutuwa at maiinspire sa ginawa ko,” she said.

Well for what you just did, we’re sure that you made your Lolo proud! You remind us that it’s not the amount of gift, but rather the heart behind it.

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