After 21 years of being separated from his family, a scavenger at the Libertad Public Market in Bacolod City was recently reunited with his sister in San Mateo town, Rizal Province, with the help of a television network.

Romeo Busano, 70, decided to settle down in the birthplace of his wife, Josie in Sagay City, Negros Occidental in October 1985 and lived there for many years.

In 2001, however, Josie became ill and died, leaving Romeo alone and devastated.

Romeo became a scavenger and lived in a cart beside the Libertad Public Market, living on what little he earned from used plastics and other items he collected from garbage dumps that he could sell, and on help from passersby who took pity on him.

“My only wish is to see my brothers and my sister before I die”, Busano told “Issue Subong Negrense” aired over GMA TV 13 Bacolod.

Stella Alfabelo who passes by the street near the market on her way to work, told the TV station she would give Busano whatever little she could to help him get by when she could.

Busano had told her that he wanted to go home to San Mateo to be reunited with his siblings, she told GMA TV.

Alicia Busano Bustillo, Romeo’s sister, said that when Romeo moved to Negros Occidental with his wife,“We told him that it might be difficult for him to live in Bacolod City alone because we don’t have relatives there. But he (Romeo) said it would be okay as he was with his wife.”

Since 1985 they had no contact with her brother and all the letters they sent him were sent back to them, she said.

Bustillo said that when her son, Michael, married a Bacoleña, they asked the couple to look for Romeo in Bacolod but they failed to find him.

Until one day, Michael saw his uncle being featured on GMA TV 13.

The staff of the show sought the help of GMA TV 7 Manila through their Public Service Program “Wish Ko Lang”, and Romeo was able to go home to San Mateo where he was reunited with his sister, Alicia.

The supposed a happy reunion for the siblings, however, was marred with sadness when Alicia told Romeo that their brothers Dominador and Rodolfo were already dead.

Nevertheless, Alicia vowed to take care of her elder brother and promised him that they will not be separated again.*APN

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