Basilan-Jumbo Plastic’s Allyn Bulanadi (2nd from left) poses with frontliners.
Growing up in Doña Pilar, Davao City, Basilan-Jumbo Plastic’s Allyn Bulanadi lived a normal life under the caring arms of his father Alberto and late mother Erlinda.
But things changed when as a 17-year-old ‘probinsiyano’ packed his bags and moved to Manila to pursue his basketball dream.
Upon his arrival in San Sebastian College-Recoletos in 2014, he realized that life in the Big City is far different from the province.
Witnessing children begging for alms in Quiapo – just near SSC-R has become a daily occurrence to him though his heart bleeds for them.
Much as he wanted to help those street children, he only had enough resources for his own or sometimes, less.
And so, the good-looking Bulanadi — a dead ringer of Allan Caidic –vowed that one day, once he finally earns enough for himself, he will give back to the people that became his inspiration to become who he is today.
“Dati ko pa lang gusto tumulong, lalo na sa mga bata sa Quiapo nung nasa Baste pa lang ako. Pero kaunti lang din kasi ang meron ako that time, you cannot give what you do not have ika nga. Ngayon, may trabaho na ako, masaya ang puso ko na nakakatulong na ako sa wakas sa ibang tao,” said Bulanadi.
Two days before he celebrated his 23rd birthday, the Basilan sniper during the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season drove around Alabang-Zapote – the place where he is staying throughout the course of the enhanced community quarantine – and handed out packed meals that included beef tapa, pork tonkatsu, rice, and softdrinks to the frontliners and the less fortunate.
“Maraming tao ang nagugutom at walang tirahan. I’ve always wanted to reach out to these people and lend a helping hand, but way back my resources were only limited or enough to feed myself dahil ako, nakikipagsapalaran din. I can only watch them from afar and silently telling myself na if God will bless me more someday, I will definitely share it,” he said.
It was also a tribute to his late mother, who taught him how to become resilient in times of crisis and extend his hand to those in need.
“My mom taught me to be resilient and never ever give up until I reach my dream. She was my inspiration kung bakit ako nag pursige kasi I’m doing this for her. Just like sa krisis na ito. Now is not the time to lose hope,” he continued.
With the fight against the pandemic at its peak, Bulanadi urged Filipinos to work with each other and practice proper sanitation.
“We should be each other’s anchor at this time of the pandemic. Disiplina at sakripisyo pa, most importantly tiwala sa Diyos. We need to cling to that hope no matter how small it maybe.”
