Ateneo scholar who's the daughter of a jeepney driver laments reactions toward strike

A Facebook post by an Ateneo de Manila University student whose father is a jeepney driver has gone viral.

Hya Bendaña, a full scholar at Ateneo, voiced her sentiments after classes in Loyola schools and Ateneo Professional Schools were not suspended on Monday despite the transport strike staged by jeepney drivers.

"This is about being in solidarity to those who are willing to sacrifice one day of their earnings to make a statement, para mapakinggan, kasi lagi na lang silang isinasantabi," Bendaña said in her Facebook post.

"Hindi lang 'to simply about suspension o kung paano makakarating ang mga mag-aaral sa Ateneo de Manila," she added.

Classes from pre-school to high school in Metro Manila during the strike were suspended, with several other colleges following suit.

She called on the public to listen and support the sentiments of drivers who have the courage to speak up.

"Minsan lang sila magsalita. Makinig naman tayo. Makiisa naman tayo. Kahit isang araw lang,"  Bendaña said.

The post has garnered more than 25,000 likes, more than 8,000 shares and over 100 comments.

In her post, she detailed her father's hardship as a jeepney driver.

"Araw-araw, 3 a.m. siya nagsisimula bumiyahe at gagarahe ng 12 midnight. Tatlong oras na tulog para sa maghapo't magdamag na pamamasada sa kalsada," Bendaña said.

"When it's finally time for him to rest, he doesn't sleep with comfortable cushions. He sleeps on the jeepney floor. Oo, 'yung tinatapakan natin, doon siya natutulog. Nakabanig o kaya naman duyan. My dad is a very big man. He usually has backaches dahil sa sitwasyon niya. Pero kinabukasan, papasada ulit siya," she added.

Bendaña was a working student in Ateneo de Naga during her high school days. During that period, her father, Renato Bendaña, stayed in Manila to work.

"Jeepney driver siya mula noong one year old ako. Talagang pagmamaneho ng jeep ang ikinayod niya para makapag-aral kaming magkakapatid at maiahon ang pamilya namin sa araw-araw," she said.

"Minsan nagkakasakit siya sa Maynila at walang nag-aalaga sa kanya, nahohomesick siya," she added.

Bendaña also said her father often skips meals just to provide money for his family.

"Malalaman ko na lang, sasakit na naman ang ulo ng tatay ko dahil nalipasan na naman ng gutom. Minsan nga, hindi na siya kumakain eh," she said. —Anna Felicia S. Bajo/JST, GMA News