BY: CHESKA
Filipino pedicab driver, Elmer Padilla became popular after a photo of him selling his hand-made toys on the streets of Imus, Cavite went viral on social media.
Interestingly, his toys are made from worn-out “tsinelas” (flip-flops). He started making toys from discarded materials when he was 9 years old. Due to his family’s extreme poverty he decided to create his own toys out of discarded slippers since his family couldn’t afford toys for him.
He recounted,before going home he used to go to a toy store and study the branded figures to copy them.
"Lumaki po ako na walang laruan kasi po hirap po talaga ang pamilya ko. Mahirap ang kalagayan namin. Ultimo nagkakahalaga ng P10 hindi po mabili-bili," he shared.
"Ang ginagawa ko na lang po hinahawakan ko na lang tsaka tinitingnan. Sapat na sa akin na mahawakan ko siya tapos ginagaya ko na lang po siya gamit mga tsinelas."
Before moving his family to Manila, Elmer worked as a pedicab driver and a part-time fisherman in Catbalogan. Samar.
Today, he still struggling to provide for his wife and two small daughters as he couldn’t acquire the necessary requirements to be able to get a job as a construction worker, including cash for transportation from Cavite.
So to be able to make ends meet, Elmer make his hobby into a business, he is selling action figures made from worn-out slippers on the streets.
When Elmer heard that ABS-CBN would have a chance to meet the Marvel Studio stars, he began creating a rubber action figures “Hulk” and “Thor” for them and he wished that the Hollywood stars would accept them.
He said “"Ito po ginawa ko po iyong mga idol ko pong mga character si Thor at si Hulk. Pinangarap ko rin po na sana mabigyan niyong pansin po iyong mga gawa ko dahil idolo ko po kayo,"
Photo credit: ABSCBN News
The Hollywood stars didn’t fail him as Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth pose with the action figures made by pedicab driver, Elmer Padilla.
The “Hulk” star Mark Ruffalo complemented Elmer and even gave a shoutout on Twitter and wrote. "Not only is this inventively creative, but it's sustainable and just pure awesome!"
During the interview held in Sydney,Australia, Ruffalo called Padilla “genius” because of the recycled materials being used for his action figure.
Photo credit: ABSCBN News
Photo credit: ABSCBN News
Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth told ABSCBN News that he never thought that the figure was crafted from discarded flip-flops. He said: "I bet he is fantastic,it looks better than me."
The pedicab driver also gained praise from the film’s director, Taika Waititi saying that “Elmer’s unique creations are poster-worthy”
Photo credit: ABSCBN News
Photo credit: ABSCBN News
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Source: ABSCBN
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