Pasada-Ochenta: “Driving for a Change”
It has been almost a year since the COVID-19 pandemic struck the Philippines yet Filipino families continue to reel from it, most especially, those who depend on daily earnings for their livelihood before Covid-19 restrictions were implemented. Such is the case of jeepney drivers of the University of the Philippines (UP) Balara to Katipunan route. They have resorted to begging to support their families. “Dumating ang punto na nanlilimos na kami (it came to a point when we started begging),” said Mang Ernie, president of the UP Balara-Katipunan Jeepney Operators’ & Drivers’ Association (UPBKJODA). Due to the quarantine, many have no option but to stay home, and jeepney drivers are left without passengers and their daily source of income.
With great need…
Before the pandemic, a jeepney driver of UPBKJODA would gross around 2000 Philippine pesos daily, roughly 40 US$. Now, on a “good day”, they could take home 200 pesos, a fraction would of what they would get before the pandemic. Despite the generous assistance provided by the government, church, and civic organizations, meeting the family’s basic needs and
their children’s education continues to be challenging for these jeepney drivers. The transition from physical classes to online classes of their children requires devices and data load which are beyond their means.
Came a torrent of generosity.
To mark the first year of the pandemic in the Philippines, Lauan University Center — a hub for young men (students & professionals) who seek continuing professional, cultural, and personal development — conceived an outreach dubbed “Tsuperheroes” (A Tagalog wordplay on Tsuper, which means “Driver” and the English word “superhero”). Its objective is to provide
care packages to the families of 70 drivers and 10 barkers of the UPBKJODA.
The response of companies and friends to the Tsuperheroes donation drive was hearteningly quick and generous. An email we sent out to the Food Bank of the Philippines got a positive response in less than 20 minutes. A donor whose business felt the negative impact of the quarantine sent his donation just the same and added, “We’re all in the same boat. Thank you for the opportunity to help.” Donations in kind, such as rice, cooking oil, margarine,
noodles, milk, pasta, soya drink, crackers, cookies, etc., started arriving. Another generous donor promptly supplied the funds for the cellphone load which the children of the drivers need for their online classes. Cash donations were used to purchase assorted canned goods. On February 20, student volunteers spent an entire afternoon filling up 85 sacks with 10 kgs of rice and 85 eco-bags with assorted food items. A week later, following the usual health protocols, the student volunteers assisted in hosting a simple program with light-hearted games and prizes to turn over the care packages. Held under the Katipunan-Aurora Blvd. flyover, it brought back smiles and laughter to the COVID-weary Tsuperheroes.
We are all in the same boat
Surplus donations of rice and other food items were delivered to the Parish of Our Lady of Pentecost where Lauan is situated. When the daughter of an owner of the fastest-growing bread brand in the country heard of Tsuperheroes, she offered their company’s help for the next outreach of Lauan. Mang Rolan summed up what many wanted to express. “Thanks po. Sama-sama po tayong magdasal para matapos ang lahat nang pagsubok at mabalik na po and lahat sa normal. (Thank you. Let us all pray together for the end of these challenges so that we may return to our normal lives)” “We will gladly help”, “Thank you for a good day”, “Thank you for the experience”. These quips from the volunteers show how our Tsuperheroes benefitted them as much as the drivers. Indeed, being in the same boat could bring out the best in each one of us.
This COVID-19 pandemic has made us reflect on what really matters most — the celebration of human life. We were never born to live only for ourselves, but for, and with others.
Article by Seve Perez
Edited by Rene Tan & Justin Tembresa
