The road to success is never easy, but two foodpanda riders show that with grit and determination, you can reach your dreams. Bernardo Paderan and Junifer Dimaano are two of the delivery riders who take to the streets every day in order to earn their livelihood. At the same time, their work allowed them to pursue a college degree.
Bernardo Paderan is 31 years old, married with two children. He had to stop schooling after graduating from high school because his parents could not support his studies. With a more stable schedule, he saw an opportunity to enroll in a BS Information Technology Course at Access College in 2017.
There were still challenges, though, because he only had a bike which he would use to go to work and to his classes afterwards. “Nakikiusap na lang ako sa professor at nag-aadvanced studies,” he recalls.
He and his wife decided to invest in a motorcycle and he took on a job as a foodpanda rider in 2019 because it would fit his schedule better. “I was able to manage my time better, kahit kayod pa din. Ang shifts ko before or after ng classes” he said.
The hard work paid off and he has recently graduated Cum Laude of his batch. He has this advice for those who are undergoing challenges.
Junifer Dimaano had a good start back in their province of Ozamis, but when he moved to Manila at 18, it was the beginning of the turn of events in his life.
He was already struggling to meet the tuition so he thought of applying as a foodpanda rider. “Third year, First Sem ko na noon. Kinausap ko ang mga foodpanda riders na nagdedeliver sa amin tapos may nagpadala sa akin ng application form. Ang laking tuwa ko nung natanggap ako,” he says.
“Nagulat ako na one-week pa lang akong rider ng foodpanda, naka-ipon ako ng pambili ng sarili kong bike!” He had enough to cover his tuition and living expenses with his new job, and he also had more time to study. “
Now that he has finished his studies as part of Batch 2021, he looks back at all the challenges that he had to go through, and savors the sweet taste of success. “lumaban ka lang ng patas sa buhay, huwag ka mag-isip na gumawa ng masama. Samahan mo lang ng sipag at tiyaga at gagabayan ka ng Diyos,” he said.
foodpanda is immensely proud of the accomplishments of its two riders and is giving them graduation gifts of brand-new cell phones from its fleet partner Realme.
