While other people his age are enjoying retirement, 88-year-old Lolo Benjamin still goes to work at the market every day, walking some 4 kilometers and carrying heavy goods to the market stalls.
According to radio DJ Val Santos Matubang who goes by the name “Kuya Val” on Bay Radio, he was touched by the plight of Lolo Benjamin after seeing the old man still working in the market with a physically demanding job.
Instead of enjoying retirement, Lolo Benjamin has to work so he can support his 70-year-old wife and their four grandchildren. Like many people who have been working manual, heavy jobs in the Philippines, Lolo Benjamin does not have pension and is not getting support from his children. This forced him to work even at such an old age.
Kuya Val shared a video of Lolo Benjamin on Facebook where it had gone viral.
The oldest Baggage boy at all. Lolo Benjamin 88 years old walking 4 kms. A day para magbuhat ng gulayin sa palengke para buhayin ang asawang 70 years old na mahina na at 4 na apo na iniwan sa kanya. Sa lahat ng matanda sa kanya lang ako napapaluha. Kahanga hanga ang sipag nya.# kuya val 0929 1132469
Posted by Val Santos Matubang on Sunday, August 21, 2016
After his appeal for help for the old man, Kuya Val was able to gather some funds to help Lolo Benjamin build a more comfortable house for the family.
please ask Duterte if he can have a pension, as he said that he wants to give pensions to senior citizens who don’t have SSS pension, I will also donate some amount for this old man in addition to how much the government can give him.