Filipino Virtual Assistant Moves Netizens with His Generosity
FREE OF CHARGE – A touching story of kindness and compassion went viral on social media after a Filipino virtual assistant (VA) chose to offer his services for free to a 75-year-old client from Texas. The VA, John Jynell Motilla from Cavite, Philippines, shared his experience through a heartfelt Facebook post that resonated with many netizens and fellow virtual assistants.
John recounted how he met the elderly woman, who lives alone in a small apartment in Texas. According to him, her living conditions are modest—her bed is visible right from the entrance, and she spends most of her time there because it’s the only comfortable place to sit. With no children or spouse to support her, John was moved by her situation and wondered if such loneliness was common among seniors in the U.S.
Despite her limited circumstances, the elderly woman was trying to earn a living by setting up an online store. Her only income was a pension, which barely covered her basic needs. She had posted a job online, hoping to find a virtual assistant to help her build an Amazon store. She initially hired someone, but the process remained unfinished due to budget constraints.
John initially offered to work with her for ₱5,000 (around $90) per week. However, as he learned more about her struggles, he decided to waive his fee completely. “The more I understood her struggles, the more I felt compelled to help. I decided not to charge her at all and to wait until her store started generating income. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made,” he shared.
The story became even more emotional when the elderly woman told John that she planned to leave her Amazon account to him when she passed away, as she had no one else to entrust it to.
In an exclusive interview, John reminded others of the importance of compassion and helping those in need. “Sana po ay magsilbing paalala na ang bawat maliit na kabutihan ay may malaking epekto sa buhay ng iba,” he said.
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