Some heroes don’t wear capes. Some, like this jeepney driver, take the wheel and drive underneath the scorching sun.
Facebook user Carmina Maricar Corona shared a now-viral photo on Thursday of a jeepney driver who offers free rides to all senior citizens, persons with disability (PWDs), pregnant women, and honor students in Sto. Tomas, Batangas.
“Whoever gets to ride this jeepney would also be impressed by the driver,” Corona said, identifying the man behind the wheel as Como Iquin Jose. “He is offering FREE FARE as in FREE!!!”
And passengers don’t even need to present any sort of ID. “He bases it on the honesty of people,” Corona told Coconuts Manila in a Facebook message.
“He said he’s not scared to be fooled by people because he said the Lord is here,” she told Coconuts.
The photo shows the driver’s signage which says: “For all Seniors, PWDs, Pregnant, and Honor Students, FREE FARE 100%. I will continue to share my blessings with others. Good vibes and God bless! Happy rides!!!”
“God bless brother, and have a safe trip every day!” Corona added in her post. “I hope no one deceives him.”
Jose, the driver, shared in a Facebook post earlier today why he offers his services for free.
“Some people might think we’re rich which is why I get to give free rides to my passengers. NO, we’re poor,” he said in Filipino.
But he does it because he wants to be helpful to fellow Filipinos, sharing that he too has hardships in life.
As a driver, he said he faces all sorts of accidents and car troubles which cause him to use up his savings. He also shared that in 15 years of marriage, he has only been in the same country with his wife, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), for a year and a half.
“It’s really a sacrifice. That’s part of life…. Just enjoy work every day, like what I do. This is why I’m not impatient,” he said in Filipino. “That’s why I will continue what I’m doing to be helpful to my fellow countrymen.”
He shared that his dream in life is to inspire others and said that one does not need to be wealthy to lend a helping hand.
“If you want to help, it has to come from the heart and that isn’t hard to do if you’re willing to do just that. There’s nothing impossible in life.”
“[W]hen you do good things for others, you’re better than the rich [people] here on earth,” he added.
The photo has over 1,600 likes and 945 shares as of this article’s posting. Netizens admired Jose and wished him well for his good deeds.
Aieh Velez said: “[W]ew, this guy is so nice.”
Jodel Servidad Noveno said: “I hope everyone [does this].”
Larry Reonal Carullo said he was also able to ride Jose’s jeepney. “He said he wants to help,” Carullo said.
RJ Cuenx said she hoped no one abuses Jose’s offer, referring to people who have money but don’t pay. “Kudos to him! I hope more blessings will come his way.”
Corona responded and said: “I asked him ‘how do you make sure that [the passenger] is an honor student?’ He said, ‘It’s up to them if they want to deceive me’.”
Jesy Rosario said: “Our status should not stop us from sharing our blessings. This put me into a really good mood.”
“You do not need a college degree or a deep pocket to be kind!!!” Deo Zumang said.
He’s not the only jeepney driver that gives free rides. In December, an elderly jeepney driver went viral for giving passengers free rides on Christmas Day, which he has been doing for 14 years already.
Have you seen other acts of kindness like this? Leave a comment below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
