Gratitude in many forms

When the Philippine government announced that some parts of the country, including Metro Manila, will be reverting back to modified enhanced community quarantine starting August 4, many Filipinos rushed to the nearest grocery stores and resorted to panic buying to replenish their supplies at home. 

Knowing that a lot of people would be panic buying—leading to long lines inside and outside the store, potentially dangerous exposure to other shoppers, and the possibility of running out of the very items you were looking for—a customer named Cathy decided to book a MyKuya partner to line up and do the grocery shopping for her instead.

MyKuya partner Jomar, a former security guard at an establishment in Muntinlupa City, accepted the customer’s request without giving it a second thought and diligently followed her instructions. 

Upon arriving at Cathy’s home, Jomar was shocked to find that some of the grocery items—such as 5 kgs of rice, 1 kg of hotdog, and a dozen eggs—were actually for him. Cathy surprised him by adding those items to her grocery list so that he could take something home to his family. As a cherry on top, the customer also gave Jomar 2 spray bottles of rubbing alcohol and a generous gift of 500 pesos.

Jomar couldn’t control his happiness over the things that he received. He accepted the request just to help a customer out and came home with a bounty of gifts. “Sobra sobra yung binigay ni Ma’am Cathy talaga. Sana pagpalain siya sa kabutihan niya. Wala akong masabi. Grabe ang pasasalamat ko talaga,” he said.

An unexpected blessing

Such kindness was not an isolated incident. Back in June, for example, Jomar accepted and fulfilled a grocery delivery request from a customer named Marjorie. Upon delivering the grocery items, Jomar received a 600-peso bonus from her to thank him for his good service. In disbelief, he asked Marjorie what the money was for since she had already paid for her request, to which she replied that it was something he could take home for himself and his family.

These rewards and tips are more than what Jomar expected from the role, and he certainly feels blessed for receiving them. 

The economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic not only affected him but his entire family as well. With his wife and father both losing their jobs and their newborn baby and his mother, who suffered from a stroke, greatly depending on them as well, every penny counts during this difficult time.

An instant helping hand

Jomar’s experiences are just some of the many remarkable MyKuya partner stories that happened during the pandemic.

Another partner story is that of Kuya Christopher and Kuya Renante’s. Christopher had accomplished two bookings and decided to call it a day at 6:00 p.m. He had already taken a bath and started bonding with his family when he received a grocery delivery request from a client living in Corinthian Gardens. The customer wanted him to get groceries worth 5,000 pesos from Rustan’s Eastwood. With the drive to always accept any booking that comes his way, Christopher hurriedly got dressed and went out to accomplish the request as he had an hour before the store closed as well.

However, he met a problem with the task: the client requested to buy glass bottles. Christopher sought the help of other MyKuya partners in delivering the client’s request as the glass bottles were fragile and he needed another secure way of transporting them since he was only using a bike. Renante, who had just accomplished a request 11 kilometers away from Christopher’s location, volunteered to help.

After safely delivering the glass bottles, the customer gave them a 200-peso tip, which Christopher urged Renante to take but the latter refused to do so. “I am truly thankful to Kuya Nante and the camaraderie we all have as MyKuya partners, ready to help out not just clients but one another,” Christopher said.

Both MyKuya partners consider each booking a blessing in their lives. Just the opportunity to work during the pandemic is already a big help to them and their families. It’s their gratitude that empowers them and other MyKuya partners to fulfill requests that come their way.

Your package is in good hands

In a different case, Christopher also showed how MyKuya partners are not only resilient and hard-working, but honest and good-hearted as well. They have the best intentions for both customers and non-customers as they’re aware that everyone is equally having a difficult time in the midst of the pandemic.

He was on his way to accomplish a task in Cubao when he saw a package accidentally fall off the motor of another courier. 

Concerned that the delivery fee might be charged to the rider, Christopher picked up the package and delivered it back to the sender, who then informed the courier and recipient of the incident.

Always on the move, no matter the weather

Much like Christopher and Renante, MyKuya partner Mharlyn—a former table manager at a gaming company—is always eager to step up and accept any service request that she receives. She remembers exactly the first time she received a booking. She was on her way to purchase something for her customer when heavy rain started pouring. She didn’t have an umbrella or any other protective gear with her at the time, which added to her worries that she wouldn’t be able to reach the store before it closes. 

In an effort to accomplish her first task and not disappoint her customer, Mharlyn proceeded to pick up and deliver the needed items, damp clothes and all. Because of her courage, Mharlyn not only made her client happy but received a generous tip from them as well.

Bayanihan with MyKuya

It is in stories like these where MyKuya partners embody one of the Filipino traits the on-demand services provider MyKuya firmly believes in—bayanihan. It is because of this that MyKuya’s acceptance rate shot up during the pandemic. Knowing that everyone is equally having a difficult time and they have the means to do something meaningful, MyKuya partners are always on the move to accept service requests, regardless of time or weather, and accomplish them timely.

“Given that some regions in the Philippines are under MECQ again, MyKuya will continue embodying this trait by helping our Kuyas and Ates in the best way possible,” MyKuya founder Shahab Shabibi said, “With the pandemic still economically affecting the entire country, MyKuya will consistently support our customers, and most importantly help more hardworking Jomars, Christophers, Renantes, and Mharlyns who perfectly embody the Filipino traits of bayanihan and resiliency every day.”

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