WITH great power comes great responsibility, so they say. But even if foodpanda appears to be the country's on-demand food delivery service with its fantastic deals and superb services, its riders are still ordinary humans. A customer in Davao, however, must have missed the notice.
"Minsan po may customer ako na pina-akyat ako sa pader nila at pinalakad sa napakadilim na lugar," rider Danizza Jane Nervida says, laughing.
Dedicated to complete the order, the woman wall-crawler did everything she could to deliver the item. Through the sheer power of will, and prayer, she eventually succeeded in her quest.
Riders are motivated to go the extra mile knowing that foodpanda does the same for them with unique perks. For one, the company has made it a matter of policy to shoulder costs of canceled orders. The accident insurance of riders is also covered through foodpanda's partnership with Manulife and Cebuana Lhuillier. What's more, they get exclusive deals to save up on data consumption and communications expenses, thanks to tie-ups with Globe, PLDT Smart, and Cherry Prepaid.
Another source of Nervida's strength is the sight of happiness from a satisfied customer. She tries to serve as many as she could and never lets fatigue get the best of her.
"The best part of being a foodpanda rider is mahatid ko 'yung order ng customer nang maayos," she says. "Masarap sa feeling 'yung satisfied sila at nakangiting tatanggapin ang order nila. Also, I always smile to keep myself motivated."
Wielding the power of positivity is not uncommon among foodpanda riders. Another example is Rex Drilon, who says he gets through the grind by keeping his mindset bright and his hopes high, day in and day out.
"Sinasabihan ko mga kasama ko to think positive at wag silang mawalan ng pag-asa," Drilon shares. "Kapag may itinanim may aanihin. Think positive at tiyaga lang every day."
Another member of the optimism squad of foodpanda riders is Mary Ann Alcasid. In her 11 months of experience delivering food, she has mastered the ways of staying 100% no matter what.
"When orders are low, I keep myself energized by telling myself that not all days are the same; that tomorrow will be another day," she says.
Alcasid also draws strength from the riders' camaraderie. While they remain close, she reminds her co-riders to never let their guards down at this time of pandemic, telling them to always practice social distancing and wash their hands frequently.
The advice complements part of the Protocol Intensive Training, which ensures all foodpanda riders know what to do to help keep themselves and their customers safe.
Indeed, not all heroes wear capes. Some are frontliners clad in a foodpanda shirt out to save the day-or to deliver your orders. But isn't that kind of the same thing?