"Kudos to Kuya Driver" was the caption of a viral picture uploaded by a passenger, commending the kindness of a jeepney driver who offered free water to passengers.

On her way home from duty at the hospital, Micaella Nelmida boarded a jeepney with a route to Barangay Macabulos, Tarlac City from Barangay Maliwalo-Matatalaib.

Tarlac City recorded a heat index of 42 degrees Celsius on April 26, 2024, according to Zoom Earth.

Instead of feeling irritated by the hot weather, Nelmida felt grateful when 43-year-old jeepney driver Jowell Bondoc offered them cold water.

Nelmida said that she posted the picture to express her gratitude.

“I posted it because I was amazed na may jeepney driver who's offering water to his passengers. It was a simple gesture, pero it shows that humanity [or kindness] still exists. Despite the small earnings po as a jeepney driver, he did not hesitate to help,” she said.

Bondoc had brought a large water jug and plastic cups inside his jeepney to provide relief from the heat to his passengers. 

Bondoc has been a jeepney driver for 18 years.

Despite facing financial challenges, he said that he finds joy in helping his passengers in simple ways.

“Para sa mga pasahero po kung sino gustong uminom, sobrang init po kasi at malasakit na din po sa mga pasahero,” Bondoc said.

Although Bondoc’s traditional jeepney is scheduled to be phased out, he wants to prove that a driver's kindness still matters during a journey.

He hopes that other jeepney drivers will also take the comfort of their passengers into consideration.

”Sana po makapagbigay po sila [ang mga driver] ng pribilehiyo sa mga pasahero… mahirap po [maging jeepney driver], syempre nagbubuhay ka ng pamilya, [pero] titiisin mo kahit mahirap,” Bondoc said.

Bondoc’s water in his jeepney is free for any passenger, with their smiles and gratitude being payment enough for him.