Bianca Gonzalez shares reminder about being compassionate towards service workers this holiday season: ‘a little compassion goes a long way’

Posted by ReyFort Media

Pinoy Big Brother host Bianca Gonzalez offered a timely reminder on kindness and understanding as the holiday season brings heavier traffic, longer lines, and more pressure especially for those working in the service industry. 

In a Facebook post on December 16, Bianca recounted an encounter with a delivery rider who was unfamiliar with their area. She shared how she noticed that the rider was not one of the usual names that accept their orders on a food delivery app, then began receiving messages about additional fees.  

“A little patience goes a long way. Story time! The other day, I ordered from a favorite resto na lagi kong ino-orderan sa Grabfood. Nung nag-accept yung rider, I noticed na bagong pangalan—usually ‘pag sa bahay, there are several usual riders na naga-accept.”  

She shared that the rider later messaged about additional fees, something she had not encountered before on their usual deliveries, which she later sensed that the rider might simply not be familiar with the place. 

“Maya-maya, nag-message si Kuya saying may village fee daw siyang babayaran. I’ve ordered from this place so many times and never ko pa na-encounter ‘yun, so I replied, ‘Okay Kuya, dagdag ko na lang mamaya.’ After that, nag-message ulit siya saying magbabayad pa raw siya ng parking. Ramdam ko na na-hassle siya, and naisip ko rin na baka hindi siya taga-area namin. I replied that in our usual Grab orders, wala namang added parking fee and that may rider parking talaga sa mall na ‘yun.”  

When the rider arrived, Bianca said they did what they usually do and handed him a small bag of snacks. The moment shifted the tone of the encounter. “Bigla siyang naging very apologetic, sabi nga niya na umulan at matindi ang holiday traffic, at sabi niya na bago siya sa area namin and so hindi pa niya kabisado ang daanan at parkingan,” she wrote. Despite being tired, the rider thanked them, ate one of the cookies right away, and greeted them a Merry Christmas before heading off. 

Bianca shared that the experience reminded her how everyone is dealing with different challenges, especially during this holiday season: “We’re all dealing with a LOT ngayong December, and a little compassion goes a long way. Lalo na sa mga nasa service industry, riders, drivers, security, enforcers, everyone just trying to get through each day despite the crazy traffic and holiday rush,” she wrote, adding that choosing kindness and compassion, especially when inconvenienced, can make a real difference. 

“Totoo talaga na we never know what someone else is carrying, and choosing to be kinder is a big part of the meaning of this season. ✨ Especially in these crazy days leading up to Christmas, when something throws us off, let’s take a deep breath and a moment before we respond. it can make or break someone else’s and your day. 🤍,” she ended. 

Beyond sharing stories of everyday compassion with the community, Bianca has also been open about raising socially aware children. In an interview with Karmina Constantino on the KC After Hours podcast, she spoke about bringing her daughters Lucia and Carmen to the Trillion Peso March in September to help them understand social issues at a young age. 

“They are ten and seven so we feel na naiintidhan na nila kahit papaano. We brought them to the rally. My husband (JC Intal) and I brought them to the rally and we really wanted to explain to them the reason why we were there because they saw the news. At that time, it was the flooding all around Metro Manila,” she said, adding, “I hope these little seeds that we plant, magbubunga siya eventually.”  

In the same interview, Bianca reflected on being vocal about social issues and the challenges that come with it. “I think I am the way I am because when I started sharing, di pa uso social media so parang feeling ko in terms of like projects or brands that would want to work with me, alam na nila na ganun ako dati pa,” she said. 

She also spoke about enduring criticism for speaking up. “I think being willing to be open to bashing was a huge part of it kasi you can’t be game for the bashing if you decide to speak up eh, which is hard. Not easy at all, 2022 was the rurok. I think I still have trauma from 2022,” Bianca shared, explaining why she continues to use her platform to encourage others to stand up for what they believe is right. (A.DE Guzman/Push Team)