A 43-year old Ka-Panda partner walker and single mother, Sheila Macabenta has been delivering food on foot for almost a year now to foodpanda customers in Dagupan City.
It’s been said that anything that a man can do, a woman can do as well. That
certainly holds true for the fast-growing quick-commerce industry, where women
delivery workers make up a significant chunk of the workforce, thanks to food
delivery apps like foodpanda. One of the industry’s leading names and known for
their eye-catching brand, foodpanda is also known for giving opportunities to
Filipinos regardless of gender to become “Ka Panda” delivery partners.
While we are more familiar with the sight of them on a motorcycle or a bicycle, you might be surprised that others also deliver food on foot– and in foodpanda’s case, these workers are affectionately called ‘Ka-Panda walkers’. For the leading quick-commerce digital platform, having walkers opens up opportunities for those who are non-drivers or do not own a vehicle to still make a living – like 43-year-old Sheila Macabenta, who holds the distinction of being foodpanda’s lone walker in the Dagupan area.
Always jumping from one job to another
before becoming a Ka-Panda walker, Sheila is no stranger to hardships. As a
single mother and sole provider to her 3 kids, she did not mind these setbacks
in the past.
Like any mother, what kept her going is the
desire to take care of her children. Her resilience prevailed when one day,
while browsing through social media, she saw a job posting on the foodpanda
riders' Facebook Page. “Na-amaze at
na-curious ako sa trabaho ng isang Ka-Panda walker kaya nag-decide ako
mag-apply,” she recounts.
For Sheila, being a Ka-Panda walker is
rewarding, but the job also comes with its fair share of challenges – from the
unpredictable weather she faces every day to the long walks to deliver her
orders. But none of them compares to the fulfillment of being able to support
the needs of her family.
“Malaking
tulong si foodpanda sa financial needs namin. Nakakaya ko nang tustusan yung
mga basic expenses namin katulad ng pagkain, pambayad ng renta sa bahay, at iba
pang bills. Mahalaga yun sa mga nanay na tulad ko na mag-isa lang nagtataguyod
ng pamilya.”
One thing she also learned from her
experience is that respect and determination in her line of work are important.
“Pag
nagtatrabaho, kailangan ng tiyaga at respeto. Walang trabahong pang-babae o
pang-lalaki lang. Basta’t kaya, magpatuloy lang dahil walang madali sa umpisa.”
As we celebrate our ilaw ng tahanan this month, we also honor single parents like her
who act as both mother and father, working tirelessly to provide for their
families.
No matter what obstacles or hurdles she
faced – whether as a single mother or a woman Ka-Panda walker – Sheila has
proven that with eagerness and dedication, nothing is impossible. Mothers like
her who are able to juggle working and taking care of their families are always
an inspiration, and there’s no better gift than making them feel both our love
and respect.
So will Sheila keep on “walking” for
foodpanda and their customers? “Kahit
ilang kilometro man ang kailangang lakarin, hindi ako magsasawang maghatid ng
orders sa mga customers namin,” she says.
“Kahit ano mang pagsubok, basta’t andyan ang pamilya ko at mga customers na patuloy na sumasaludo sa ginagawa ko, kakayanin ko. Tuloy lang sa lakad ng buhay.”
About
foodpanda:
foodpanda is dedicated to bringing food lovers their favorite meals from curated local restaurants in the Philippines. Since its creation, the on-demand food delivery service has grown to more than 170,000 partner restaurants in more than 325 cities across 13 Asian and Central Europe markets. foodpanda Philippines currently operates in 150 cities and municipalities across the Philippines and continuously expanding. foodpanda is a subsidiary under Delivery Hero, a worldwide leader of the food delivery industry. For more information, visit www.foodpanda.ph.
How it
works:
Through the foodpanda website or via the new iOS and Android apps, customers can enter their address and view a curated list of restaurants and shops serving their neighborhood. Once they have found their choice, they can place an order in the comfort of their home or office, paying online through foodpanda’s secure platform or via cash-on-delivery The order is then carefully prepared by the restaurant or shop, picked up by the foodpanda rider and delivered straight to their doorstep.
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