ANGELES CITY -- A 43-year-old jeepney driver went viral on social media after he was discovered by a mother and son offering free rides to senior citizens.
Edgardo Reg Belza Jr. posted on his Facebook account the pictures of Andy Malig, a Checkpoint-Holy-Highway city limit route jeepney driver. The post earned more than 100,000 likes, 14,000 comments, and 22 shares as of Friday, November 1.
Belza said Malig returned the fare of his mother when he learned that she is a senior citizen, adding that he salutes Malig because the driver is concerned about the welfare of the elderly.
"He asked me if my mother is a senior. And when I said yes, he replied that senior citizens do not have to pay for jeepney fares," Belza said in Tagalog.
All of his passengers thanked and admired him for not accepting the senior's payment.
Malig, a driver for more than 15 years, told SunStar Pampanga that he has been doing this generous act to the elderly for the past several years.
"Ganyan po talaga ako. Hindi ko po sila pinamamasahe ang mga seniors kasi po wala na po silang trabaho. Kawawa po sila (That's who I am. I do not ask for jeepney fares from senior citizens because they do not have jobs)," Malig said.
The driver received salutes and wishes of God's blessings from netizens.
Ma. Theresa Jesus, one of the netizens who made positive comments and praises for Malig, said drivers like him are rarely seen nowadays.
"Bihira ang ganyan. Maipagmamalaki mong isa kang Pinoy na may malasakit sa kapwa. Ikaw na kuya, lodi ka (It is rare. You can be proud of being a Filipino who cares about others)," Theresa said.
Even Belza received praises from netizens.
His sister, Rhea Yang Rolle, said he "did the right thing because Malig deserves that people should know how he makes senior citizens like our mother happy."
Malig thanked the netizens for their kind words.
"Salamat po sa lahat ng nag-comment sa akin. Hindi ko po alam na nasa Facebook ako. Nagulat ako (Thank you so much for those who commented about me. I did not know that I was on Facebook. I was shocked)," he said.