OFW in Thailand raises money to return home through ‘paper clip challenge’

An overseas Filipino worker in Thailand was able to raise money to return home in the Philippines through the “paper clip challenge.”

According to Mark Salazar’s “24 Oras” report Friday, the paper clip challenge is a popular online trend that began as early as 2005.

The challenge involves the exchange of items from a lower to a higher value, and it starts with a paper clip. It should be done between strangers and any item may be traded off except money.

In December 2021, Clint Lozada undertook the challenge and was rejected several times.

“Una pa lang na-reject agad ako,” he said.

He persevered until he got his first trade-off: his paper clip became wet tissue.

Clint then met a group of Filipinos in Thailand, who replaced his wet tissue with a face mask.

After that, someone agreed to get the face mask and handed him a cell phone case. By then he had earned an item worth THB1,790 or around PHP2,786.

As the item’s cost went higher, it became more difficult to trade it. The language barrier also added to the challenge.

However, because of the COVID-19 surge, he had to stop doing the challenge and continue it online.

After two months of not getting any response, someone finally made a trade with him and even returned his phone case because they believed in his mission.

“Kahit maraming negativity ngayon na nangyayari, meron at merong mga taong taos pusong tutulong sa’yo,” said Clint.

By then, another Filipino had helped him out so he could finish the challenge and return home.

Thanks to those who helped him, after four years in Thailand and four months of doing the paperclip challenge, Clint was finally reunited with his family in Bacolod early this month. – RC, GMA News