In Metro Manila where arrogant taxi drivers who choose passengers and refuse to give proper change, and harass their customers are considered normal, one man shines as a beacon of hope for this dying breed of unsung heroes.
His name is Eugenio Ventura, and the Philippine social media is going crazy over him.
According to a Facebook post by Rommel Lopez, he hailed Ventura’s taxi at LRT Roosevelt Station on his way to Mother Ignacia Avenue.
Upon entering he was immediately greeted with a courteous “Sir pasok lang, hindi ako namimili ng pasahero. Kahit saan kayo pupunta, ihahatid ko kayo” (Sir, just come in, I do not choose passengers. Wherever you need to go, I will bring you there).
Shocked, Rommel could not believe it at first. He got to know Ventura more, who insisted that he is grateful to his passengers because “kayo ang pinanggagalingan ng aming kabuhayan” (you passengers are the source of our livelihood).
Ventura then revealed that he only brought a meager allowance of P1,200 as his Christmas bonus.
When they arrived at the destination, the meter read P78.50, so Rommel paid P100. Just like any passenger in Manila he decided not to get his change but once again was surprised when Ventura handed him a P20 and his receipt.
“He refused saying that I deserve the change because it is the right thing to do,” recounts Rommel.
In the end, Rommel got his P20 change, but firmly insisted that Ventura keep the remaining P1.50.
Full post by Rommel Lopez:
Meet Mr. Eugenio Ventura, 63 years old, a taxi driver. I hailed him at the LRT Roosevelt Station to go to Mother Ignacia Ave. Sabi niya “Sir pasok lang. Hindi ako namimili ng pasahero. Kahit saan kayo pupunta, ihahatid ko kayo.”
I thought he was just trying hard to be nice. But I was wrong. He wasn’t trying hard. He wasn’t even trying at all. Through that very short trip, I learned how happy he is for being a taxi driver and how he still drives for his youngest kid who is a working student, but is about to graduate in college. He said he is just doing his job as a taxi driver to be nice to his passengers because “kayo ang pinanggagalingan ng aming kabuhayan”. It was sad to know though that his operator deducted something that I wasn’t able to catch what. He ended bringing home for Christmas a meager P1,200 as his Christmas bonus.
When I reached my destination, the meter read P78.50. I gave him a P100. I decided not to get the change but he hurriedly gave me the P20.00 and my receipt. I told him that he should keep it and it is my tip for him. He refused saying that I deserve the change because it is the right thing to do. I told him “OK yung P1.50 na lang tip ko. Huwag niyo nang tanggihan.” He smiled.
“Manong, may isa pa akong request, ” I said. Picturean ko kayo at share ko sa Facebook para malaman ng marami kung ano ang isang tunay na taxi driver na Pinoy.” He laughed so hard. That’s the story behind this picture.
I thanked him profusely when I alighted his taxi. He thanked me endlessly too.
Please share this and tell the world that there is a Filipino taxi driver like Mang Eugenio.
Update (18-Jan-15):
One of our readers, Zee Valdez shared a very similar experience with Mang Eugenio. Here is what she wrote:
Omg!!! I remember him so well!!!! Nasakyan ko din yung taxi niya!!! Papunta akong TUA non galing sa bahay namin, Dalawa pa nga silang taxi non na sabay kong napara, yung unang taxi tinanggihan ako for no reason at all pero tumigil pa siya sakin then sumunod na nga si Kuya Eugenio, nung pinara ko siya pina-alam ko agad na sa TUA ung punta ko and he said the same thing na “Sige lang po mam, pasok lang po kayo” nung pagpasok ko bigla siyang nagsabi ulet na “wag kayo mag-alala mam, isusumbong natin ung taxi na yun at tinanggihan ka!” Sabi ko nalang “Nako po, wag na! Ganyan naman po kadalasan eh.” That’s how our conversation started…
Sabi ni Manong “Ako po mam hindi po ako namimili, eto lang po kasi hanap buhay ko kawawa naman po anak ko kapag wala akong naiuwi sakanya eh”
Sabi ko nalang “Grabe po! Saludo po ako sainyo! God bless po!”
He said “Ganun lang po talaga kaming mga magulang mam! Kahit ano para po sa mga anak namin. Ikaw po ba mam nasan po ang magulang niyo?”
“Ang mommy ko po andto sa pilipinas, ang daddy ko naman po nasa ibang bansa”
“OFW pala papa mo! Maswerte ka at nabibigay ng magulang mo ang mga kailangan mo at gusto mo!”
“Oo nga po eh!”
Dun palang sabi ko sa sarili ko bibigyan ko ng tip si manong. So habang byahe namin, yung side na inupuan ko, andun ung araw, mas lalo akong naantig sakanya nung nakita niyang naiinitan ako tapos sabi niya “Mam lipat po kayo sa kabila para po hindi kayo mainitan!” Sabi ko nalang sa sarili ko grabe, sobrang saludo na ko kay Lolo. Tapos nung andun na kme malapit sa TUA (ung sa may KFC banda) naglabas siya ng food niya kasi mga bandang 12:30 na yun eh. Eh traffic parati sa part na yon so kumagat lang siya ng onti. Naka-earphones na ko non, pero aware ako sa mga ginagawa niya na kumakain siya chuchu. Ang ginawa niya, kumaway siya saakin para makuha ung atensyon ko tapos sabi niya “Mam, kain po tayo! Pasensya na po at eto palang po ang nakakain ko” sabi ko nalang “Nako lolo di pa po kayo kumakain?” Then he said “Di pa po mam! Wala pa po ako sa boundary! Baka makaltasan nanaman po ako eh.” So sabi ko sa sarili ko non, bibigyan ko na talaga siya ng malaking tip as in malaking dagdag. Sinagot ko nalang siya na “Sige po! Okay lang po! Kain lang po kayo jan!”
Sa may St. Luke’s na part na kme tapos sabi ko sakanya, “dun nalang po sa may stoplight” before going to the stoplight lumipat na kme sa right lane, eh may jeep na parang nananadya at sobrang bagal pa niya. If I was the one driving, nabusina ko na yon to the max with matching reklamo pa! Pero si Lolo, kalma lang siya, parang wala lang. Sunod lang din naman siya sa jeep na yon kasi nga malapit na sa may stoplight. Nung pababa na ko, ung metro ko umabot ng 96php. I gave him 150php. I think it’s safe to say na kahit papano, he deserves it and para saakin, hindi masama sa loob ko na bigyan siya ng ganon kasi all the time na I was inside his cab, he was very caring to me na parang akala mo apo niya ko or what. Nung pagka-abot ko sakanya ng 150php nagmamadali akong lumabas. Tapos bigla siyang nag honk edi lumapit ako. Sabi niya bigla “Mam, sobra sobra po binigay niyo saakin.” Sabay abot nung 50php. “Hindi po! Bigay ko po talaga yung 50php. Tanggapin niyo na po yan” Sabi niya, “nako po mam, hindi po! Sobrang laki po nung tip niyo” sabi ko sakanya “Sige na po tanggapin niyo na. Pang-dagdag niyo po sa pagkain niyo. Tip ko na rin po kasi sobrang bait niyo po” His face lit up like a child. He was teary eyed while saying “thank you mam! Salamat po ng sobra!” Sa sobrang tagal naming nagusap akala tuloy ng mga guards nagka-problema haha.
Hanga talaga ako sakanya. He was one of the most unforgettable and memorable na nasakyan kong taxi. Sabi ko pa nga non gusto ko ulet mahanap si kuya eh. Answered prayer at nakita ko siya ulet. Thank you for posting this. He deserves to be known for his kindness. Abs-Cbn, GMA, TV5, CNN pls pls pls po, hanapin niyo po si Lolo smile emoticon