Heroes wanted . . .

Bonnie Tyler, the British singer, may have wanted someone “who’s gotta be larger than life” when she first sang her hit song: “I Need a Hero.” But I’ve learned enough in life that in an emergency, real heroes are everyday ordinary people who in a moment of challenge and choice, forego fear and disregard inconvenience and teach us that being a hero has nothing to do with social status but character.

While that is one thing they don’t give diplomas for, it has been my pleasure to meet such heroes every year when Goodyear Philippines awards road heroes with the “Bayani Ng Kalsada” award.

This year’s finalists and awardees experienced what most of us would rather not encounter, yet they all exemplified strong character. In one instance, a finalist who was cruising in his vehicle observed an ongoing robbery in another vehicle. He managed to signal other drivers to help him go after the criminals, cornered them until the police arrived at the scene.

In the case of Glenn Arcilla, the BNK awardee for Luzon, he happened to be waiting for passengers when killers “riding in tandem” pulled up near him and started shooting at a couple inside a nearby vehicle. As the killers made their get away, witnesses and passerby’s all ran for cover. Glen on the other hand instinctively ran to the victims to give aid and bring them to a hospital where the wife was saved while the husband expired. Glenn had no thoughts about bloodstains on the seat, a day’s income out the window or being a hero for someone, but he was.

For the BNK awardee from Zamboanga-Mindanao, Roel Limen, it was more about compassion for an old woman having a heart attack by the roadside. Roel physically carried the old woman into his jeepney and took her straight to the nearby hospital. Roel even visited the old lady, offered her a free ride home as well as a small amount of cash to tide her over.

If you’re a parent with a very sick child gasping for breath along the highway, your prayers would be pounding on heaven’s gate for someone to give you a ride. That was jeepney driver Roland Carullo who noticed that no one cared to stop, not even empty cabs and jeepneys. So Roland politely asked his passenger to get off so he could rush the child to the Taguig Pateros Hospital for free. His compassion earned for him the BNK award for NCR.

If you drive a lot on provincial roads, tricycle drivers in the middle of the highway might be one of your pet peeves. However, Christopher Fonclara is one tricycle driver who could be Bonnie Tyler’s larger than life hero. While on his way to UP-Miag-ao in Iloilo, Christopher chanced upon a roadside accident where there were 4 victims in serious condition.

Christopher used his tricycle as an instant ambulance, made two trips to the hospital and helped other tricycle drivers assist the remaining victims. Because he went to help twice, it was clear that Christopher was fully committed to give all the help he could which was why he was chosen as the BNK awardee for the Visayas as well as the national winner of the BNK awards.

But the story does not end there. A lady doctor based in Metro Manila was also given a special award for going out of her way to give assistance on the road. While on her way to work, Dra. Loraine Marie Badoy noticed the driver of an SUV throwing up. Her experience alerted her that the driver, who happened to be a lawyer, was probably experiencing a heart attack.

Dra. Badoy left her vehicle, assisted the victim and informed him he needed to go to a hospital. Embarrassed to impose upon the lady, the victim said he’ll drive himself. Badoy insisted that her driver would take him to the hospital where unfortunately the victim expired. Dra. Badoy could have dismissed the incident or just ignored the victim but she did not. By letting her driver take the wheel, Dra. Badoy probably saved more lives had the driver expired along EDSA.

Yes, we all need a hero; in fact we need lots of heroes. If you know a hero on the road, let us know so we can let Goodyear Philippines know about it too.

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If you happen to be one of the unfortunate few who had no choice but to settle for a “Staycation” during “Holy Week,” don’t despair. There’s so much to do out there and they don’t all cost a lot of money.

For instance, you can ride or fly out to the province of Masbate by April 9 at the latest, in order to experience or witness how “Rodeos are more Fun in the Philippines.” The annual event actually starts much earlier but the serious action takes place between April 9 to April 13.

On April 9 visitors can watch the Grand Rodeo Finals Parade during the day and spend the evening with participants during the Governor’s night celebration. On April 10, the Cowboys will stage an actual cattle drive and herding through town, which is supposed to end at the Rodeo Arena where a “Horse competition” will then take place.

On the 11th visitors will see the Filipino version of Barn Dancing but this one done in the streets of the city. Aside from those events, there will also be a livestock auction and display as well as a trade fair from April 9 to 14 that ought to attract a lot of commercial interest since many cattle traders from Northern and Southern Luzon regularly come to Masbate to buy cattle and some horses. I even met an American retiree who has taken a keen interest to breeding genuine native Philippine horses and wants to set up something in Masbate.

The awarding and closing ceremonies for the Rodeo will take place on April 13 and from the looks of it, we can expect competitors all the way from Benguet and Cotabato to lasso, wrestle and ride their way to victory.

As for the peace and order situation and in spite of the local campaign for political office, my friends in Masbate tell me that the politicians are respecting the Rodeo and have refrained from causing any disruption or tensions leading to the Rodeo Nationals. The politicians are apparently well aware that if any untoward event occurred during this very special event for Masbateños, the voters will punish the politicians responsible. So, “now,” they say would be a great time to go “Ride ‘em Cowboy” down in Masbate

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