Inspiring Pinoy stories that touched our hearts in 2024

73-year-old man turns his home into a library

With the emergence of technologies, physical books are slowly and sadly becoming a thing of the past, but Hernando "Mang Nanie" Guanlao is here to keep their wonder alive by turning his home into an educational haven.

Located at Brgy. Dela Paz in Makati City, Mang Nanie's home became a communal library brimming with books with a wide variety of genres.

“I was in my younger years during childhood [when] I had this law of attraction with the books among my friends in school. Going back to this, I thought during that time that this would create something out of these old secondhand used books we use in college,” Guanlao told PhilSTAR L!fe.

As his collection grew from just 50 books, he decided to set up a small reading center in front of his house that he manages all by himself. More than encouraging others to read, he also gives out books to those who are living in remote areas.

“As of this date, I'm still here, very active in doing some of my programs like books to reach remote places in the Philippines, sending books to different provinces that seem to be a record for my project. It's not that easy. But surprisingly, I was able to achieve that until today,” he said.

Ride-hailing driver installs videoke in his car to entertain passengers

@dadarobygrabvioke ♬ original sound - Roby Querol

Metro Manila traffic seems to worsen as the years go by, which is why one Grab driver is making use of the power of music to beat the traffic blues.

Robert Jurado Querol, or “Dada Roby” to his passengers, has a videoke set-up inside his vehicle, allowing them to have a jamming session while stuck in traffic jams. Dada Roby, who has only been driving for the ride hailing app for nine months, finds it a fun diversion on the road and a great way to make new friends. 

He has many stories about passengers who take on his free “Grab Vioke” challenge. “One time, may napick up akong magboyfriend, at 'yung babae ang kumanta para sa boyfriend niya. Sabi ko kasi sa kanila, palagi na lang 'yung lalaki ang nanghaharana, dapat babae din,” he told PhilSTAR L!fe.

He also said there are times when some passengers don't want to get off even upon arriving at their destination. “Tinatanong nila kung pwede pa ako umikot kasi gusto pa nila kumanta. Sinasagot ko na naghahanapbuhay po ako eh,” he added with a laugh.

American solo traveler gets help from Filipinos after losing her money and passport

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A post shared by Kaylen (@kaylenmj)

Filipinos are some of the friendliest people in the world, and an American female solo traveler attested to that when she received help from the locals after losing her wallet and passport while exploring Moalboal in Cebu.

She explained in a TikTok video that she wanted to go to Oslob to swim with the whale sharks when she realized that she had lost her valuables as she was about to pay for a tricycle ride. Instead of getting angry at her or assuming that she was tricking him, the driver went out of his way to help her out of the pinch.

“He’s like, ‘Girl, come with me,’ takes me into town, gets all his tuktuk drivers, random old ladies on the street, tells them the situation. They’re like, ‘Let’s all go to the CCTV station and figure out what bus she was on,’” Kaylen said.

It took them until 4:00 a.m. in the morning, but Kaylen eventually retrieved her valuables from a kind man named Alberto. But the kindness didn’t end there as the locals took her to see the whale sharks themselves.

“I’ve met a lot of people in this world and I never have experienced kindness like that,” she highlighted in an interview with The Philippine STAR.

Beyoncé sends gift to 2-year-old Pinoy fan who went viral for calling her his 'friend'

Despite Beyoncé having thousands of admirers all over the world, one young fan in the Philippines has occupied a special place in her heart since he went viral for calling her his "friend."

In a TikTok video, the two-year-old son of host Bea Fabregas is seen looking for Beyoncé and asking permission if he could visit her because “they’re friends.”  

Bea told him that he couldn't since she doesn’t live in the Philippines, and that they do not know her personally. Tyler, however, insisted, “Oh, you know her personally, she’s my friend!” adding, “I want to meet her.”

Tyler received a sweet bouquet of blue flowers from the American superstar after he caught her attention with the TikTok video.

“For the record, [Beyoncé] and Tyler are now actually, officially friends! Through the power of Queen B’s internet (millions of views and likes, it's crazy!), she saw the video and sent over some of her favorite blue flowers, a new animal best friend for Tyler,” Fabregas wrote in her Instagram post. She added that the gifts also came with a little note that read, “To my friend Tyler” and “I see your halo, Tyler.” 

Kid goes viral for his touching reaction to a free face-painting session

An adorable kid hailing from Pampanga charmed his way into the public's heart following a viral video where he was seen innocently asking if a face-painting session was free during a children’s birthday party and getting overjoyed that it was.

In the clip, Lian Charles Bartolay was filmed approaching the face painter at a birthday party. He asked her, "May bayad po?"

After learning that he didn't need any money to enjoy the service, Lian quickly smiled in excitement and asked if he could have a Spider-Man design painted on his face.

Despite the simple interaction, many who watched the video were touched by the precious moment including Vice Ganda, who went out of her way to make friends with Lian.

As shown in her YouTube vlog, the Unkabogable Star surprised him as he was getting a Spider-Man face painting at a popular indoor amusement park in Quezon City. They had a fun time trying out the rides together with It's Showtime kids Kulot, Argus, Jaze, Imogen, and Kelsey.

At one point, Lian couldn’t help but ask excitedly, “Libre po ba ito?”

Vice answered, “Libre ‘to, kasi mahal ka namin.”

Later on, the comedian had a chat with Lian and his mom and shared that she teared up when she watched the viral video.

“Ang daming naantig doon sa video niya na ‘yun, isa na ako doon. Nung nakita ko talaga ‘yung video, naiyak ako. Parang nakakalungkot, parang naramdaman namin siya,” Vice said.

Couple gives fruits and vegetables as wedding gifts to guests

Sometimes, the best wedding gifts are the simplest ones.

Such was the case for married couple Niño Basco at Yanna Ferrera after they gave free vegetables to guests who attended their wedding. What’s even more special about their edible gifts is that they came straight from Basco’s very own farm.

“A year ago, before wedding po, nag-iisip po kami ng wife ko ng souvenir for guests, then one time magkakasama kami ng pinsan ko at ni wife, naisip po namin na bakit ’di na lang 'yung mga tanim ko na gulay. Ayaw po kasi namin ng giveaways na itatambak lang sa bahay, naisip po namin mas okay po 'yung mapapakinabangan,” Basco told Pilipino Star Ngayon.

“Nag-oorganize po kasi kami ng free store sa Church, so dun po galing 'yung idea. May isang booth sa wedding kung saan pwede ka mag-shopping at libre lahat 'yung makukuha mo,” he added.

Basco worked hard to care for his harvest for three to five months, which is why he was overjoyed that his gifts were well-received by his guests at his wedding.

“Tuwang-tuwa po 'yung mga guests [and] super enjoy po sila. Then kinabukasan, nag-message sila na inulam na po nila 'yung nakuha nilang veggies sa wedding,” he highlighted.

Father walks his daughter to the altar for her wedding despite being bedridden

A father’s love for his child knows no bounds. That’s exactly what Danilo Navarro showed to his daughter Daren Tuazon when he insisted on walking her to the altar to get married to the love of her life despite being bedridden.

Navarro had been battling a heart illness for a long time now, which eventually got him confined to his bed. At the time, he was Tuazon’s only living parent as her mother passed away back in 2020, which is why he was determined to be there for his daughter to support her in the once-in-a-lifetime moment.

“Weeks before noong wedding, lagi niya tinatanong, ‘Tapos na ba ang wedding?’ Sobrang excited siya kasi ako ‘yung bunso–only girl–na hindi niya pa naaabutan ang wedding,” Tuazon said in an interview with The Philippine STAR.

“Tapos miracle, parang lumakas siya bigla. Parang pinilit niyang maging okay ‘yung mga vital signs niya,” she added.

After getting transported in an ambulance dressed in a black suit and pants, Navarro successfully witnessed his daughter's wedding. He eventually passed away weeks after the event, carrying with him memories of Tuazon achieving her happily ever after with Jose.

Security guard-clay sculptor mounts first exhibit with college students

Dominic Barrios is not just a security guard at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde—he's also an artist who makes stunning clay models of vehicles, pop culture characters, and mythological beings.

Barrios was able to showcase his talent and expertise at the school's exhibit with Benildeans in celebration of the Philippine Creative Industries month.

He mounted his first-ever exhibit, titled KUYA SEKYU, which "reflects the imagination of a young boy who found joy in comics and mythic tales" according to its catalog. It included models of Godzilla, King Kong, Zeus, Medusa, Kratos, and a Spartan soldier.

He started making art when he was eight, but he noted that nobody ever mentored him and that he simply observed characters in comics and video games. Since he has been bringing his hobby to work, it was only a matter of time until students noticed his craft.

"Inimbitahan ako, sinabihan akong isasali nila ako. Siyempre, medyo naano ako kasi 'di naman ako estudyante," he told PhilSTAR L!fe. "(Pero) masaya ako dahil ngayon ko lang na-experience ito... Ito ang first exhibit ko sa tanang buhay ko."

"Naisama ko rin ang pamilya ko doon (sa exhibit). Sila ang inspirasyon ko, pati ang mga kasamahan kong security guard," he said.

Barrios is now planning to take up fine arts in college.

Vlogger 'Kulas' officially becomes a Filipino citizen

There’s no doubt how much content creator Kyle Jennermann, also known as “Kulas,” loves the Philippines, which is why he was over the moon when the government finally recognized him as an official Filipino citizen.

The 34-year-old Canadian, who is behind the YouTube channel BecomingFilipino, shared the good news in September with photos of him taking his Oath of Allegiance at the House of Representatives. 

“Today marks the beginning of the most important part of my life. I am ready for this. I am filled with belief, inspiration, gratefulness, and love,” he wrote. “One day at a time... Kaya pa.” 

It came after the Senate unanimously affirmed House Bill 7185, which was intended to grant Kulas his Filipino citizenship in late May. After nearly four months of waiting for the final approval, he finally became a naturalized Filipino. 

“The first moment I found out Republic Act 11955 was signed by President Marcos... I was both overjoyed and relieved,” Kulas shared in a quick chat with PhilSTAR L!fe. “It was incredibly emotional, uplifting, and a moment I will never forget.”