Just a little bit carried away
BOOSTED by excitement, a foodpanda rider zooms to her first delivery, and a speeding ticket.
She woke up that morning to the smell of a fresh start. It’s mid-February 2020 in Bacolod and Angelyn Guinabo hops off her bed energized for her first day as rider for foodpanda, the country’s on-demand food delivery service.
She wore her new uniform, checked her motorcycle, and made herself available for her maiden delivery. Soon, an order was received and she was called into action, scurrying to attend to the task. But her enthusiasm later proved to be too much.
“Sa sobrang excited ko noong araw na yun, naticketan ako ng traffic enforcer,” Guinabo says, laughing. “But lesson learned din ‘yun para sa akin.”
Since then, it has been all smooth sailing. Guinabo moves at her own pace now, or at least what the law allows, without compromising the quality of her work.
“The best thing about being a foodpanda rider is ‘yung malaman ko na worth it lahat ng pagod ko,” she says, “’Yung mabilib ang mga customer at kung sino man ang makakita sakin.”
But Guinabo doesn’t do her job to get recognized. She does it for her family, which is why she’s thankful to foodpanda for allowing her to earn money during these difficult times.
The company makes sure that their riders are safe and well-equipped to perform their delivery duties at high rates of production and satisfaction. To protect riders from mischievous customers, foodpanda has made it a matter of policy to shoulder costs of canceled orders. Meanwhile, riders are also covered with accident insurance through foodpanda’s partnership with Manulife and Cebuana Lhuillier.
“Malaki ang pasasalamat ko kay foodpanda kasi malaki ang naitulong niya sa akin pati narin sa pamilya ko, lalo ngayon sa nararanasan nating pandemic,” Guinabo says. Her advice to her co-riders: “Be patient, honest, healthy, and be good. Laban lang!”
Always smile
Another rider who pushes his co-riders to keep on keeping on is William Esteben.
“Kahit na mahina ang delivery, importante masaya ka parin. Kailangan always smile lang at ingatan ang sarili,” he says.
Unlike Guinabo, Esteban is a senior citizen who’s among the original foodpanda riders in Bacolod. What he likes about the company is how every rider is properly taken care of.
Foodpanda knows how integral mobile devices are to its operations, which is why through partnerships with telecommunications providers such as Globe, PLDT-Smart, and Cherry Prepaid, the group provides riders with exclusive deals that let them save up on data consumption and communications expenses. The company also gives riders all the essential gears for smooth and safe deliveries, including raincoats and face masks, among others.
What’s more, safety measures are part of riders’ Protocol Intensive Training, a prerequisite that ensures all riders know what to do to help keep themselves and their customers safe.
“I love how foodpanda works,” Esteban says. “To my fellow riders, kahit anong pagsubok sa delivery man ‘yan, kailangan maihatid natin ang pagkain nang walang sablay. Always ride safe!”
Celebrate modern heroes
Another foodpanda pioneer rider in the Negros Occidental is John Mark Tabuyoc.
The soft-spoken big guy says the opportunity changed his life. He remembers spending his first foodpanda salary on appliances, much to the delight of his family. Today, Tabuyoc continues to work hard while looking after his co-riders.
“Marami akong nakilalang mga bagong kaibigan dito,” he says. “Parang mga kapatid na ang turingan namin sa isa’t-isa.”
It can be said that foodpanda is, indeed, a brotherhood and sisterhood of modern heroes. The riders are noble frontliners who diligently fulfill their duties. (PR)