Kapuso actor Alden Richards expressed interest in locating an elderly man, Lolo Renato, who sells vegetables in Laguna and whose story recently went viral on social media.

Responding to a July 7 Facebook post of one Jeric M. Platon who interviewed Lolo Renato, the Pambansang Bae said on his page on July 26, “Kung meron makakapagbigay ng detalye kay lolo, palagay lang po sa comment box salamat po.”

(If there’s anyone who can give me details about grandfather, please place it in the comment box. Thank you.)

Platon earlier shared on Facebook a photo of the elderly man and details about him: “Posting this photo not to brag but really to INSPIRE people specially in this time of Pandemic. Siya si Lolo Renato, 74 years old. Nagtitinda ng gulay sa may Eton Exit ng SLEX. Tuwing pumupunta ako ng Nuvali, lagi ko syang nakikita sa may gilid, may payong sa tabi pansangga ng init ng araw at may mga gulay na tinitinda.

(He is Lolo Renato, 74 years old. He sells vegetables at the Eton Exit of SLEX. Whenever I pass by Nuvali, I always see him on the side, armed with an umbrella which protects him from the sun and he’s selling vegetables.)

One morning, Platon decided to get out of his car to banter with Lolo Renato, just like “Atom Araullo” of “I-Witness”.

“Nakatira sya sa may tabing ilog malapit sa pine-pwestuhan nya, meron daw syang isang bahay kubo. Dalawa ang kanyang anak pero nasa Maynila at ilang taon na rin na hindi sya inuuwian. Siya nalang mag-isa sa buhay kasama ang apat nyang alagang aso. Pagtitinda ng gulay ang kanyang kinabubuhay sa ngayon. Pinapatinda lang sa kanya,” Platon narrated.

(He lives near a river, very near where he sells, he has a small house. He has two kids who are living in Manila and it has been years that they have not visited him. He lives alone together with his four dogs. Selling vegetables is what tides him over. He is just being asked to sell the vegetables.)

Lolo Renato’s income is very meager, since according to Platon, he only earns P100 from his sale of P1,000.

“Malimit daw walang bumibili ng kanyang tindang gulay. Ang tanong ko kay Lolo Renato, paano po kayo kumakain pag walang bumili ng gulay na tinitinda nyo. Talbos daw ng kamote ang pantawid gutom nya. Minsan itutulog [na lang] daw ang gutom,” Platon related.

(Most of the time no one buys his vegetables. So I asked him how he is able to eat if no one buys his vegetables. He said he eats sweet potato leaves just to address his hunger. Other times, he just sleeps to overcome his hunger.)

With that, Platon said there are many other questions he wanted to ask but opted not to out of pity for the old man. He then asked people to watch out for the documentary he will make about Lolo Renato.

Meanwhile, netizens responded to Richards’ request. One Bheia Yabut recalled, “Parang si lolo po ung nasa may highway Eton Greenfield, Basta papnta pong Pramana. Nasa highway lang po siya. Makikita niyo po kagad siya. Minsan na din kaming napabili sakanya. Godbless po.”

(I think he was on the highway Eton Greenfield, going to Praman. He’s just in the highway. You will easily see him right away. One time, we also bought from him.)

One Maricon Cleofe claimed she was able to locate Lolo Renato.

“Dun po sya sa may gilid ng Eton papuntang Nuvali lodi. Napuntahan namin ng gf ng kapatid ko nung isang araw. God bless you Alden!” she said.

(He’s there at the side of Eton going to Nuvali, idol. Me and my brother’s girlfriend were able to see him.)

“Hi Alden Richards! Actually tinutulungan namin siya, everytime na dadaan kami we stop just to give money, nagbigay din kami last week ng grocery. Everyday siya na nanjan nagtitinda kahit umulan, yung gulay nya ay pinapabenta lang [sa kanya]. He lives under that bridge sa Eton! If galing kang North, sa pinaka entrance lang siya ng eton sa may right side mo siya lagi makikita, before mag Phoenix Petroleum. I also message you on Messenger,” one Mary Villaflores offered.

(Actually, we do help him, every time we pass by, we stop just to give (him) money. We also give him groceries. He sells there everyday even when it is raining. He is just asked to sell the vegetables. He lives under that bridge in Eton. If you’re coming from the North, he’s just there at the main entrance of Eton. You will always see him at the right side, before reaching Phoenix Petroleum.)

“Sa mga nagtatanong po ng address niya, yun lang po talaga ang tirahan niya sa ilalim po jan kung mapapansin niyo po may daanan jan po pababa. Wala pong mabigay na address si lolo Renato, lagi niya pong sinasabi na sa baba lang siya nakatira,” she added.

(To those asking for his address, he just lives down there. You would notice there is a way going down. Lolo Renato doesn’t have an address to state, he always just says he lives down there.) JB

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