Michelle Uvence is extremely grateful that a puppet she uses to teach Mexican students was found and returned to her after being stolen last weekend.
“He was the famous one. They may not know me, but they know Pancho,” said Uvence, pointing to Pancho Valdez, her longtime co-educator in Vancouver’s Mexican community.
“I work with him all the time, and I think the children love him. He teaches Spanish, and values, and I use him every day.”
But Pancho was stolen from Uvence’s car, along with several guitars, speakers, and other educational materials.
“I was just shocked, I started crying. The only thing I thought was Pancho. I was really sad. I really need him. I work with him all the time, what am I going to do now?”
After Global News asked the public for help finding Pancho on Saturday’s News Hour, a viewer in Burnaby emailed us, saying she had seen him in a nearby alley earlier that day.
When Uvence heard the news – she burst into tears – and rushed to pick Pancho up and bring him home.
“He’s a little bit dirty, but he’s OK,” said Uvence.
In an ‘interview’, Pancho said he was happy to be back home.
“I was so worried. I missed all the children, and I missed of course Michelle, and I was so scared. But I’m glad I’m here,” he said.
And he’s grateful a television viewer was looking out for him.
“¡Muchas gracias, Global News!”