Students hope viral video can reunite man with family

CEBU, Philippines - The university students whose video of giving cake to an old man outside their school are hoping that netizens would share the video in the hopes of helping the man find his family.

"By the help of other people sharing our video, mapadali ang atong pagpangita sa iyang family," said Danhiecka Bongas, one of the five who surprised Lolo Alfredo Salaver with a cake on his 97th birthday last October 6.

Lolo Alfredo has dwelt outside the walls of the Univesity of San Jose - Recoletos where the students are studying and while the family of another student, Carla Gilig, has offered the old man a temporary place to stay in, Lolo Alfredo reportedly wishes to reunite with his family.

Bongas said the old man had told them he has not seen his family, particularly his children, Mary Kristine and Mary Concit, for 30 years.

The old man is reportedly from Leyte and survived supertyphoon Yolanda three years ago. Someone reportedly helped him move to Cebu after he left a home for the aged because he was allegedly forced to do chores.

He then ended up outside the USJ-R campus in downtown Cebu City.

"He won't ask for something to eat or for money… he will just wait until someone will offer him foods and other things," Bongas said.

Last Saturday, Bongas group together with Brian Sido of DCYM radio coordinated with a few charity institutions and local government units in the hopes of providing the old man basic necessities but they did not receive any response as of yesterday.

At least, for now, Lolo Alredo has a roof over his head.

"We are very glad that Lolo could sleep well at night… that no one would steal his things," Bongas said.

The video of Bongas' group giving the old man birthday cake has been viewed at least 626,974 times.

Another of Bongas' friends, Leeanireb Dayondon, said they came to know of Lolo Alfredo's background by chatting with him each time they would approach him for the past year.

"Every time makakita mi ni Lolo sa gawas sa gate, naa juy something niya nga makaduol mi niya. Malooy mi niya maong muhatag mi og food nya storya-storyaan namo," Dayondon said.

The other two in the group are Shannie Ortiz and Chariz Romaratena. (FREEMAN)