Jose Cornejo Jr. did not expect he’d receive help just by sending a message on Facebook.
But the 48-year-old farmer from Tagongtong, Camarines Sur got the assistance he needed just four days after contacting Valenzuela City Congressman Win Gatchalian through his official page on the popular social networking site.
After seeing a post from the solon’s page that was shared by one of his friends, Cornejo had a feeling the public servant will have the heart to help him with one of the requirements he needed to finally work abroad.
“Sir Win Gatchalian, (idudulog) ko po sana sa inyo ang problema ko … Sana (mabigyan) n’yo po ako ng financial support para makapagpa-renew ako ng passport,” Cornejo sought help in a private message he sent last October 27.
Cornejo, who earns P200 a day by drying palay with his wife in Pangasinan, explained he needed to renew his passport so he can work as a cook in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
The Bicolano is hopeful he can finally provide enough money to support the studies of his five children, two of whom had recently stopped going to school, as a migrant worker.
“Humingi lang ako ng tulong para sa pag-aasikaso ng passport ko. Pupunta kasi ako sa Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia magtatrabaho ako bilang kusinero. ‘Yung passport na lang ang kulang ko,” Cornejo stressed out.
A few days after sending the message, Cornejo followed up his request by calling Gatchalian’s district office at (02) 352 0549, located along MacArthur Highway in Malinta.
He immediately pawned his cellphone to go to Manila after getting assurance that Gatchalian will shoulder the expense of his passport renewal.
A few hours upon his arrival in Malinta on October 30, Cornejo personally received P1,200 that he can use to pay for the fee guaranteeing the swift processing of his passport renewal.
“Noong una, sinabi ko sa mga kapit-bahay ko na humingi ako ng tulong kay Congressman Gatchalian, sabi nila nanloloko lang daw ‘yun kasi Facebook lang,” Cornejo said.
“Pero ngayon, pagbalik ko sa Pangasinan, mapapatunayan ko sa kanila na talagang natulungan ako,” he added. (Camille Nepomuceno)
