GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Pinoy Zumba instructor in KSA performs dances-for-a-cause
A 40-year-old network technician at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has recently led a dance-for-a-cause for three Filipino children in dire medical need.
“Hiningan ako ng tulong ng isa sa mga group administrator ng ‘OFW Bayanihan-Riyadh.’ Hindi naman ako nagdalawang-isip dahil malapit sa akin ang mga bata lalo na yung mga taong kapos-palad. Dun din kasi ako galing – yung kanin at kape lang ang ulam,” shared Archie Garcia, from Gagalangin, Tondo.
(The group administrator of ‘OFW Bayanihan-Riyadh’ had asked me for help. I had no second thoughts because children are always close to my heart, especially the unfortunate ones. I’ve also been there – eating only rice with coffee.)
One of the children is a four-year-old girl whose chest was burned with a lighter. The other two have heart problems.
Also, Garcia had led other dances-for-a-cause in Riyadh: “Zumba-for-a-cause for Transjugular Liver Disease,” “Zumba for Taal,” “Zumba for Distressed OFWs,” and “ZumBayanihan with OFW-Riyadh” for two other children.
“I’m a licensed Zumba instructor and for the past three years, I’ve helped a lot of children through Zumba-for-a-cause. Two have died, though, while preparing everything for a liver transplant,” he added in an interview via Messenger on June 25.
Garcia also established the “Livestrong Z-squad” in September 2018 to spread fitness through livestreaming and posting in YouTube, an American online video sharing and social media platform.
It was noticed by his workmates who wanted to stay healthy and by other OFWs who wanted to ask for financial aid.
“Hindi ako mayaman; 23 years na nga akong nagwo-work dito sa KSA. Mas gusto ko lang tumulong kaysa tulungan or kumita. Para sa akin kasi, hindi naman ito ang pangmatagalan nating tahanan at alam ko sa bawat mabuting nagagawa ko eh may mapupuntahan akong mas higit pa sa mundong ating ginagalawan.”
(I am not rich; I have been working here in KSA for 23 years. But I would rather help than be helped or earn. We will not live in this world forever, anyway, and I know that with every good deed I do, I will go to a place far greater than this world.) —LBG, GMA News
