Antipolo Teacher Helps Grade 3 Pupil Who Kept Wearing Badly Damaged Shoes
A public school teacher in Antipolo City, Rizal touched the hearts of netizens after buying new shoes for his Grade 3 pupil who had been wearing a badly torn pair.
The teacher, Mexdren Funtilar Badillos, known to his pupils and followers as “Sir Mex,” teaches at Sapinit Elementary School. In a report by GMA News, he said he could not stop thinking about his student, Tantan, after noticing that one of the boy’s shoes was already falling apart.
After class, Sir Mex talked to the boy and asked why he had not asked his parents for a new pair. According to the teacher, the child chose to keep using the shoes so his family could save money.
“Kinausap ko na siya kung bakit niya tinitiis ‘yong sapatos at doon ay sinabi niya sa’kin na para raw makatipid kasi alam daw niyang walang pera ang kaniyang mama/magulang. Nagagamit pa rin naman ayon sa kaniya,” the teacher shared. (I asked him why he was putting up with his shoes, and he told me it was to save money because he knew his mother and parents had no money. He said the shoes could still be used.)
Sir Mex then offered to buy Tantan new shoes. He documented the story in a series of TikTok videos that he started posting on October 21. He noted that the pupil’s parent gave permission through a signed waiver. The first video has already gained over 800,000 views.
Help for the boy poured in after the video spread online. Aside from new black school shoes, Tantan also received rubber shoes and socks, as shown in a follow-up video. Sir Mex said he will also buy school supplies for the boy with his mother.
Tantan’s father works as a security guard, while his mother is a housewife who stopped working to take care of his youngest sibling.
Sir Mex, who has been teaching for more than four years, said he has dreamed of becoming a teacher since he was young.
“Hindi lahat ng bata ay kayang sabihin ang kanilang mga pinagdaraanan. Minsan, sa likod ng kanilang pananahimik ay may kuwentong naghihintay na may makinig at umunawa,” he said. (Not every child can say what they are going through. Sometimes, behind their silence is a story waiting for someone to listen and understand.)
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