This jeepney driver gives back in the best way he can on Christmas Day.
Facebook user Prudence Mae Abellanosa Enerlan shared a now-viral photo of Virgilio Sabay Barangan Sr., a 74-year-old jeepney driver in Cebu province who gave his passengers free rides yesterday, Christmas Day.
Enerlan says in the Facebook post in Filipino that she met the driver at around 7:15am in the city of Naga while she was on her way to work.
The driver greeted her as soon as she sat on the front seat and said: ‘Good morning and Merry Christmas.’
“When one passenger gave his jeepney fare he refused to accept it, and said to us ‘ALL MY PASSENGER IS (sic) FREE of Fare, that’s my little Christmas gift for everyone’,” Enerlan stated.
She shared in the post that she was shocked and awed by the driver’s Christmas present.
Enerlan recalled the moment in a Facebook message to Coconuts Manila.
“He greeted everyone in the jeepney a Merry Christmas, and when a passenger goes down the jeep, everyone smiles and thanks him,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
“[Even though] my destination was a bit far, he drove me to the place where I work without hesitation.”
And apparently, the elderly driver has been giving free rides on Christmas for 14 years.
Enerlan told Coconuts: “I asked whether he would incur a loss since gas prices are high but he said ‘I won’t lose money since this jeep is mine and I really want the jeep to be full because it would be a waste if it wasn’t.'”
“He said he’s just giving back to the people because four days before Christmas, he earns a lot. He also told me he couldn’t afford to give away t-shirts, so simply giving passengers their rides for free is how he gives back.”
The Facebook post had over 62,000 likes and 15,000 shares as of this article’s posting. Netizens absolutely loved the driver’s present.
Arceli Mastilero Ortiz said in Filipino: “He’s so kind, I hope other jeepney drivers follow suit. Merry Christmas!”
“That kind of person should be blessed,” wrote AC Patiag Ortiz.
Wilma R. Belisco stated: “[I hope] there are more generous people like you.”
“May God bless [you] more, driver with a good heart,” Divina Lopez Diana added.
Have you experienced anything like this? Leave a comment below or tweet us @CoconutsManila.
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