Honest Muslim boy returns lost SRI money to cancer survivor teacher

A heartwarming story has recently emerged from the Division of Davao del Norte after a boy named Ashnor Abbas Cadato, a 9-year-old Grade 3 learner of Sto. Niño Central Elementary School, Talaingod District, did the right thing and returned a lost envelope filled with Service Recognition Incentive money to its rightful owner, a cancer survivor teacher named Oliva Alimes Pelias of Pandulian Elementary School in Kapalong East District.  

According to Ashnor, he was with her mom Asleah when he spotted the envelope on the grounds of the North Davao Electric Cooperative (NORDECO) Office in Tagum City, Davao del Norte on January 4, 2023. When he opened it up and saw the cash inside, he immediately knew he had to return it to the owner.  

“Masaya po akong nakita ko ang pera, at alam kong kailangan itong ibalik sa may-ari,” Ashnor said.  

Ashnor brought the envelope to his mother Asleah and she posted a photo of the envelope with the owner’s name on Facebook to find the owner. She then left the money in the care of the NORDECO security guard as she and her son had to go home to Talaingod. Teacher Oliva was shocked to find out that the envelope had been found, as she had been searching for it for hours.  

Teacher Oliva said that she lost the envelope after using part of the money to pay her electric bill in NORDECO. She was then relieved when someone informed her that the envelope now containing P2,000 had been found. Her niece reclaimed the money because she can’t leave her class at that time.  

“First and foremost, walang kalalagyan na saya ang aking nararamdaman. Sobrang blessed dahil sa mga kamay na nakapulot ng aking pera. At this hard time, hindi ko lubos akalaing maibalik pa sa akin nang buo ang perang nalaglag ko kahapon. God is so good dahil wala akong stress at pressure na naramdaman kahapon dahil pinaubaya Niya ito sa isang mabuting kamay. Isa akong cancer survivor na madaling makaranas ng stress at pressure, ni isang katiting na pag-alala wala akong naramdaman. Napalaki ng magulang ang isang bata sa pagiging matapat. Values intergration in school was instilled in the heart and mind of the Grade 3 boy. Sobrang proud ako sa mag-ina,” Teacher Oliva