2 tricycle drivers in Pagadian give free rides as Christmas treat

Tricycle drivers Letagem Ornillo and Eddie Fuentes offer free rides to their neighbors in Pagadian City as a Christmas treat. PHOTO BY AUDE HAMPONG

Two tricycle drivers based in Pagadian City offer their neighbors a unique Christmas treat, free rides.

Letagem Ornillo and Eddie Fuentes have decided to give free rides even if they are not well off and continue to keep ends meet every day.

“Payback ko lang ito sa kanila sir kasi sa ilang taon ko na….Ang mister ko isang tricycle driver, ako rin isa ring tricycle driver kaya malinaw na nabubuhay kami sa mga pasahero," said Ornillo.

"Sa katunayan, kulang pa ang aming ganti sa kanila. Dyian kasi kami nabubuhay. Diyan lumaki ang aking mga anak. Diyan namin sila napag-aaral.Ganti ko lang yan sa kabaitan ng aking mga pasahero,” she added.

Fuentes, on the other hand, said he wants to extend help to other people but could not afford to hand out cash assistance. He decided to help his neighbors by offering free rides.

"Nahihiya ako kaya idinaan ko nalang sa libreng sakay sa aking tricycle. Kahit mahirap at may kaya nasisiyahan kaya masisiyahan rin ako lalo na kung magpapasalamat. Nakakatouch ng puso. Atleast nakapagbigay ako sa kanilang ng kaunting regalo na nataon din na Christmas,” he said.

Ornillo and Fuentes have been giving free rides since Saturday, Nov. 30.

If all goes well, they may decide to set aside one day in a week to offer free rides.

Their passengers, that include student Marcelito Delicano at city hall employee Guillerma Salinas, appreciate the gesture.

“Sa kanilang ginawang libreng sakay ni ate at kuya,talagang malaki ang naitulong sa amin bilang mga estudyante.Makaka-save kami ng pamasahe kada araw. Saludo kami sa kanilang ginawa,” Delicano said. — BAP, GMA News