DUBAI: In this day and age, it is always a relief to know that we still have Honest Abe in our midst and he comes by the real-lfe name of Mario Gacang, a Cebuano, who for the past 34 years, has been working as a security guard at a copper company.
As they say, the best virtue is doing the right thing even when nobody is looking – which was exactly what Gacang did at a little past midnight last March 14, 2019 when he found a wallet with $420 bills, 80 Bruneian Dollars, 400,000 Indonesian rupiah, two ATM Cards and identification cards.
A press statement issued by the company – the Carmen Copper Corporation – said Gacang immediately reported and turned over the wallet to his night shift officer.
The wallet was returned to its owner the next day, a Chinese national identified as a certain Li Wu, a crew member of M/V CSC Rui Hui that was docked at the Sangi Port in Toledo City that time for copper concentrate loading, according to a report published by Cebu Daily News (CDN).
Despite his financial difficulties, Gacang said keeping the wallet never crossed his mind.
On March 18, CCC management led by CCC President and CEO Roy O. Deveraturda handed Gacang a certificate of recognition for his honesty.
“Most people will pursue power, glory and fame, but the most important things are neglected. In the book ‘The Little Prince’ it is said that what is essential is invisible to the eyes. So I’d like to add to that – that what is essential can only be felt by the heart. And it’s really very heartwarming and heartfelt to have someone like Mario perform a good deed for all of us,” CDN quoted Deveraturda as saying in his message.
Gacang has six children all of whom has gone to college through their father’s hard work.
According to CDN, Gacang’s eldest daughter now teaches in Thailand. His second daughter works as a Certified Public Accountant in Singapore while the third child is a Marine Engineer. His fourth child is now a lawyer while the fifth is a Computer Engineer based in Japan. His youngest daughter recently earned her degree in Aeronautics.
And so, it goes, the story of a man who lives Gacang choosing “integrity over money” and “service above self,” the very same teachings that he would always shared to his children, CDN said.
