Proven Wrong

A couple of months back, in this very column, I narrated how skeptical I was about a unique project Goodyear Philippines had undertaken. The project — Bayani ng Kalsada — was a search for Filipino drivers who had performed selfless acts of courage and service for fellow motorists and other people on the road. To sum up my thoughts in my column, I wrote back then, "I thought I’d imagine a scenario where Goodyear could actually find the ‘bayani ng kalsada’ (highway heroes) that they were in search for. Then the world just turned dark."

Call me a pessimistic harbinger of doom but I was dead serious when I wrote that the tire manufacturer’s effort, however laudable, was one bound to fail. I was, after all, writing about how Filipinos seemingly lose any sense of reason and civility once they are on the road. Filipino hospitality my foot! Out in the streets, there is only Filipino hostility — at least that was my argument.

Imagine my pleasant surprise, then, when last December 5, Goodyear Philippines presented five Filipino road users who had performed selfless acts of heroism on the road. I had been proven wrong and for all intents and purposes, was practically choking on my own harsh words — fine food at the Intercon (the venue for the awarding ceremony) notwithstanding. The thing is, I was happily choking.

After a rigorous screening process, Hilario T. Mendoza, a 42-year-old seasoned off-road driver and mechanic from Angeles City, whose speedy response and quick thinking, saved the life of a young man trapped inside his vehicle, was picked as the overall winner of the search. Joining him as finalists (and as winners with their own stories of heroism as well) were Joselito, Sebalda, Segundo Cabibijan, Eulogio Babagay and Erwin Joseph Rimando.

Mendoza’s story goes like this… It was May 28, and after leaving the venue of an off-road race, a flatbed truck carrying two competition vehicles accidentally smashed into a barrier in Porac, Pampanga. The impact sent a concrete beam crashing down on one of the competition vehicles on top of the truck. Inside one of the vehicles was a 20-year-old man who was held up to the driver’s seat with the concrete beam resting on his chest and legs. Luckily, the steering wheel and a roll cage (a requirement in motorsports competitions) prevented the vehicle’s roof from totally collapsing. Mendiola, who happened to be in the area, rushed to help without hesitation.

Mendiola immediately climbed into the flatbed and checked the condition of the young man. He learned that the driver was still conscious but was complaining of numbness in his lower body. He then decided to manually remove the steering wheel with a hacksaw. He also used a high lift jack and forced the roll cage apart and then assisted the boom truck in successfully lifting the concrete beam. Mendiola’s efforts bought the young man enough time until a medical team was finally able to extricate him and take him to the nearest hospital for treatment. Needless to say, the young man owes his life to Mendiola, a true to life highway hero.

For his efforts, Mendiola received a P20,000 cash prize from Goodyear, P20,000 worth of fuel coupons from Caltex, a scholarship for a two-year certificate course at STI for one of his dependents, P500,000 personal accident insurance coverage from eStandard Insurance, a plaque of recognition, a coveted Bayani ng Kalsada stamp on his driver’s license from LTO, lifetime free license renewal, as well as a Bayani ng Kalsada limited edition jacket, cap and shirt. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t exactly looking for a reward to begin with — save that of seeing a young man walk away from certain death.

After the awarding ceremony, I approached Goodyear Philippines’ president and managing director Dave Morin to congratulate him on proving me wrong and making the doomsayer in me eat his harsh, filthy words. The perennially jolly yet always humble Morin smiled right back, as he always has since I first met him three years ago, and told me that he was simply happy to have been a part of something that highlighted the positive side of the Filipino road user. And though that may have sounded like a shameless plug for Filipino possitivity straight from the mouth of an American, I’ll take that over any negativity from a fellow Filipino anytime.

The fact of the matter, however, is that Dave and his entire team at Goodyear Philippines have got it right. It is high time we tried to look at the bright side of things on every level — our f%$ed up roads included. Think about it. For every what, thousand or so inutile drivers out there, there is at least one Hilario Mendoza looking to go the extra mile to help out other people in need. If you look at it this way, you’ll have to agree that people like Mendoza are a special breed, indeed. But then, that’s exactly why they’re considered heroes. Still, think about what you would do to be able to be conferred with the title of hero too some day. Hopefully, Mendoza’s story inspires many to be more like him and less like the thousand other drivers who piss you and me off on a regular basis. Hopefully, too, you can start by trying to be like him yourself. I know I will try…

This week, in lieu of your messages, we’ll print a letter highlighting the kind of "heroic" spirit that the Bayani ng Kalsada program has just recently saluted. The letter, originally addressed to our esteemed columnist Ray Butch Gamboa, touched us enough to make us was to print it…

Dear Mr. Ray Butch Gamboa and The Philippine STAR family,

Last night along North EDSA, while on my way to Subic to visit my father, the front-left tire of my car hit a rock and was instantly flattened. Quickly finding a Shell station nearby along North EDSA (being a Shell Card member myself) to get help on changing my flat tire, a group of that Shell station’s personnel quickly went to help me. Being a new car driver myself, it was my first time to change a flat tire. With all my tools inside the trunk, I immediately brought them out and asked for help on how to do it. The Shell personnel were not familiar with changing flat tires but fortunately the guard on duty that night knew how. He immediately went to work (of course with little help from me).

I am writing this because I would like to commend that guard on duty Mr. Rhon Guttierez of Eaglewatch Security Services with office address at Mezzanine Floor, Prosperity West Center, #92-A, West Avenue, Quezon City. Indeed there is no dearth of Filipino heroes even in their own little ways. I am happy because I truly believe there is hope for the country to get out of the mess we are in right now. With people like Rhon Guttierez, who wouldn’t think twice in helping a stranger like me, I believe the country has real hope for progress and development. Despite the endless cases of corruption in government that we hear everyday, there is still a majority of Filipinos out there who believe in Jesus’ last instructions of "love thy neighbor as you love yourself".

I couldn’t thank that guard enough and the people at that Shell station last night for the simple yet heroic thing that they did in helping me. I hope you will publish this letter in the hope that the management of Eaglewatch Services and Shell take pride in the people that they employ.

I can remember a time as well last July when the RSL bus I was in was hit by a cargo truck during 12 midnight somewhere near Ragay, Camarines Sur. With rough roads and the location looking like we were in the middle of nowhere. Law enforcement personnel with detachment at 13kms away from the accident scene arrive after an hour. I couldn’t believe it that despite all the problems we hear regarding how inefficient the government is, Filipinos always never fail to amaze me. The law enforcer was quick in his investigation with a cameraman in tow to document the entire accident. And around 2AM, we were on our way back to Manila. The law enforcer being 13kms away could have kept us waiting but he didn’t. It is truly great to be Filipino.

I would also like to extend my condolences to The Philippine STAR family with the passing of your founder and publisher, Max V. Soliven. I was present during his wake and during the Burial Mass at the St. Ignatius Chapel inside Camp Aguinaldo to pay my last respects to a great Filipino who fought hard for the truth and for the ordinary Filipino man. May his works and life continue to inspire countless Filipinos in unleashing the simple "heroism" that is embedded in our hearts.

Thank you very much and more power to Motoring Today and The Philippine STAR.

Sincerely Yours,

Jay Michael O. Jaboneta

A thankful Filipino

Speak out, be heard and keep those text messages coming in. To say your piece and become a "Backseat Driver", text PHILSTAR<space>FB<space>MOTORING<space>YOUR MESSAGE and send to 2840 if you’re a Globe or Touch Mobile subscriber or 334 if you’re a Smart or Talk ’n Text subscriber or 2840 if you’re a Sun Cellular subscriber. Please keep your messages down to a manageable 160 characters. You may send a series of comments using the same parameters.