From sales representative, to OFW, to street-smart superhero on wheels: One man’s journey to succeeding despite the odds
We see a lot of them daily in their all-green outfit, riding their two-wheeled steeds. They brave the heat and rain, and continuously weave through heavy traffic just to make their way to our favorite restaurants before appearing by our doorsteps. These motorcycle-riding heroes who deliver our favorite fried chicken, rice meals, milk tea, cakes, and all the food that we crave for, plus our parcels and documents, do not come with capes, but they always have a way of saving our day.
Such is Niño Cardenas Nolasco, a GrabFood delivery-partner who hails from Calamba, Laguna. He used to be a Sales representative for one of the retail brands in Manila before he accepted a job in Saudi Arabia in 2016. “Nagtrabaho po ako bilang Sales Representative sa isang mall doon at parte po ng pagtatrabaho ko ay pagede-demo ng mga produkto, pag-handle ng customer service, ganun po. Nung natapos na po ung contract ko, napag-desisyunan kong umuwi na dahil hindi ko na po kaya yung stress at pagka-homesick talaga,” (I worked as a Sales Representative for a mall in the Middle East where I was assigned to do demos of products and handle customer service, among other tasks. But upon completion of my two-year contract, I decided to return to the country because I couldn’t handle the homesickness and stress anymore),” the 34-year-old delivery-partner confessed. In Manila, he accepted the job offered by the company where he used to work for, while already starting to be a GrabFood-partner as his side hustle.
When the pandemic happened and impacted the retail industry, Nolasco lost his day job.
This seemingly challenging circumstance did not deter him from doing hard integrous work and turned the obstacle into an opportunity. Nolasco’s saving grace was his former side hustle, which has become his full-time income stream – deciding to be a full-fledged GrabFood delivery-partner in 2021. The skills which he learned from the training and orientation provided by Grab—including how to interact with customers, road safety and courtesy, and essential food handling and sanitation—helped him become an efficient delivery-partner. “Bale tinuruan po kami na dapat laging minimum lang ung pagtakbo sa kalsada para maayos po ang condition ng pagkain at para na rin sa safety namin. Natuto rin po ako kung paano maging pasensyoso sa mga customers ko, at magbigay ng respeto hindi lang sa kapwa ko rider, kung hindi pati na po ang lahat ng bumibyahe sa kalsada (We were trained to always maintain minimum speed while on the road to secure the food we deliver and ensure our own safety. I also learned soft skills such as patience when dealing with customers, respect not only for my fellow delivery riders, but for other commuters as well),” he revealed.
Nolasco begins delivering around Laguna area — starting in Cabuyao and making his way through Sta. Rosa, Binan, Calamba, and other nearby towns — from 11:00AM, calling it a day at about 10:00PM. During his rest days, which is usually Tuesdays, he just stays home and bonds with his family. Three years into this newfound career, he has not only purchased his second motorbike, but has also acquired a house and lot in Laguna where he lives with his wife Luisa Clarice and their children.
“Nakakatawa nga po kung iisipin, dahil ang tagal kong nagtrabaho sa abroad pero hindi ko po nagawang mag-pundar ng bahay para sa pamilya ko noon. Nung naging Grab delivery-partner na po ako, mas lumakas ang loob ko para mabili itong property. Sobrang proud po ako sa sarili ko at lalo po akong nai-inspire na pagbutihan pa ang trabaho ko para maibigay ko ang the best para sa aking asawa at mga anak (It’s funny but looking back, I worked abroad for years but I wasn’t able to purchase a decent house for my family back then. When I became a Grab delivery-partner, I became confident in acquiring this property. This achievement has not only made me proud but has also inspired me to work harder so I could give my family the best life),” Nolasco smiled.
Like most food delivery riders, Nolasco’s daily grind is also peppered with occasional challenges. Apart from the weather being either too hot or suddenly in the presence of thunderstorms, the wild bumper-to-bumper traffic situation in the metro, and some customers being inexplicably irate, Nolasco has unfortunately also been the victim of ‘fake-booking’, a fraudulent prank by people online who order food (not using their real names and addresses) with no intent to pay.
“Wala naman po akong magagawa, talagang parte ng trabaho yan eh. Ayun, nire-report ko na lang po agad yung fake-booking na nangyari, nagre-reimburse naman si Grab basta kumpleto po ung ebidensya na fake-booking nga. Yung sa traffic naman po at sa init-ulan, hindi ko naman po kontrolado yan, kaya nag-iingat na lang po ako palagi. Pagdating naman sa masusungit na customers, masasabi ko lang po na dahil marunong po akong magsuyo ng tao, dahil nga sa ilang taon ko sa sales, nababalanse pa ito ng mga programa ng Grab na nagtuturo kung paano i-handle ang mga ganitong customer. Ayun, napapangiti ko naman sila kalaunan (It’s part of the job, and all in a day’s work. I immediately report these fake bookings I get, and Grab usually reimburses, we just have to submit proof of the incident. I can’t control the traffic and the weather, so I just live with it and brave these conditions with caution. Grab’s programs that teach us how to handle irate customers complement the skills and charm which I am blessed with as a sales representative, so I usually make them smile in the end),” he said.
Despite these hurdles, Nolasco remains undeterred, firmly rooted in the conviction that with the unwavering perseverance for his family, nothing can derail his path.
Because of Grab—and the hard work he puts into his job—Nolasco admits that he can now better provide for the needs of his family and is able to save some amount for their emergency fund.
He admits to earning more than enough weekly inclusive of incentives—“Bale, mayroon kaming dagdag na incentive basta makagawa kami ng at least 21 deliveries kada araw. Eh, sa totoo lang po, minsan nga nakaka-30 trips pa ako sa isang araw eh (“We get a certain amount daily if we could do at least 21 deliveries, and honestly, I sometimes even do 30 trips in one day.”)—and tips from customers, he said. As part of Grab’s incentive scheme, Nolasco is provided with vouchers which he uses to purchase his children’s vitamins, and food vouchers which enable him to order anything from Grab as his midday meal, snack, or something to bring home to his family. “Kung iisipin po talaga, mas malaki pa nga po ang kinikita ko bilang Grab delivery-partner kung ikumpara sa sweldo ko noong Sales Representative ako eh (Come to think of it, I am earning way more now as a GrabFood delivery-partner compared to what I used to receive as a Sales Representative!)” he exclaimed!
Does he ever have plans of returning to the retail industry or working abroad again? He shook his head, no.
Nolasco encourages others to explore being a GrabFood delivery-partner like him. All they need is a motorcycle unit, proper training from Grab, and a whole dose of patience, hard work, diligence, and perseverance. He also highlighted that integrity is critical in his line of work, adding that delivery riders like him should always view themselves as professionals and be dedicated to protecting their reputation.
Nolasco is extremely proud to be a GrabFood delivery-partner because it is a decent livelihood. He admits that what he does is more than just delivering food to customers, it’s way beyond that, he said. It’s all about delivering food sent by customers to their parents, relatives, or something that will surprise their special someone and assure them that they are loved and thought of.
“Sa totoo lang po pag naibigay ko na sa customer yung delivery at nakita ko na silang ngumiti, gumagaan po loob ko eh, napapangiti na rin ako habang bumibyahe dahil alam ko naging parte ako para sumaya ang ibang tao. Marami pong blessings na dumating sa buhay ko dahil sa trabaho kong ito, kaya opo, pang-matagalan na po ako dito (When I hand these food items over to the recipient, and I see them smile, I go through my usual daily routine with a big smile as well, knowing that I was somehow instrumental in making people happy. This livelihood has provided me with so many blessings. So, yes, I am in this for the long haul),” Nolasco concluded.
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