Argentinian beef importer, agro-business hopeful and sometimes model Nico Bolzico is known for chronicling his antics on his popular Instagram account, but today he departed from his usual shenanigans by paying tribute to a hardworking taho (soybean curd) vendor whom he often sees in his own neighborhood.
Meet 39-year-old Henry Leonardo, a vendor who commutes for two hours every day just so he can sell taho in the businessman’s neighborhood by 6am.
According to Bolzico’s post, Leonardo walks around the neighborhood selling taho for six hours every day so he can provide for his wife and two children. He’s been working as a taho vendor since 1998.
Leonardo always has a ready smile for Bolzico as well as for his dog, Pochola, the Argentine transplant added.
“This is one of many stories of Filipinos that are fighting every day, doing long commutes and sacrificing a lot of time with their families to be able to provide or fulfill their dreams, and they all have a common factor: they all smile [as they are doing this],” Bolzico wrote.
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Bolzico, who said he has been living in the Philippines for eight years, added that people are always looking for role models, while having men like Leonardo all around them who are worth looking up to.
“I encourage you to just look around, be aware of that and return that smile [to these role models], maybe you are [even] one of these examples! If that is the case, this post is to encourage and celebrate you! The capability to smile no matter the circumstances is what makes this country invincible,” he said.
“There is only one idol in this picture, and it is definitely not me.”
Bolzico ended his post with the hashtag: #TheRealIdols. His post has attracted almost 60,000 likes since it went up this morning.
Netizens, as you might imagine, only had good things to say about Bolzico and Leonardo. One netizen called both of them amazing.
Another netizen said that Filipinos’ positivity is one of the reasons why she’s proud to be one.
A netizen said she often buys from Leonardo, who always gives her a big smile and a salute whenever she buys from him.
A follower told Bolzico that his posts often make her laugh, but this post about Leonardo made her weepy.
In addition to being one of the hunkier people currently in agricultural technology field, Bolzico is also the husband of host and actress Solenn Heussaff.
Do you know someone like Leonardo? Tell us by leaving a comment below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.
