Positivity on board: A ride to Grab

Aware of the difficulties, challenges and stress encountered by commuters and motorists in the congested streets of Metro Manila almost on a daily

basis, 50-year-old Grab driver Jovelton Lopez, came up with an initative to help calm down passengers and embrace positivity.

Lopez, who has been a Grab driver for the past three years, gleefully treats passengers to free candies, biscuits, and bottled water, and is thankful for a smile and a complementary word in return.

A ride with Lopez, however, can also turn into a mind-relaxing and inspiring one, as quotes on the good, nice and positive things can be found on the vehicle’s seat covers.

“Napuna ko kasi na yung mga riders, pag pumasok sa kotse, usually nagmumuni-muni so, naisip ko what if mag-post ako ng inspirational words para mabasa nila, (I noticed that when my passengers get inside the car, they are quiet and appear to be contemplating, so I thought of posting inspirational words for them to read),” he said.

The quotations, which mostly tackle facing life's challenges, were chosen by his four children and were handwritten by his wife.

Magic words Every day, Lopez said he encounters different types of people, but even the most irate get out of his car with a smile.

“May naisakay ako dati na galit na galit sa akin at ang daming bad words na sinabi dahil hindi ko sinunod ‘yung sketch niya dahil alam kong mali, pero bago siya bumaba, nag-apologize siya (I once had a passenger who was so upset and hurled profanities at me for not following the sketch of her destination, which I knew was not accurate. But she apologized to me before she got off the car),” he said.

“Naniniwala ako na dahil yun sa nabasa niya yung mga quotes ko (I believe it was because she read the inspiring quotations).

Of faith and fate One time, he also picked up a cancer patient who was on her way to the Senate to ask assistance for her cancer treatment.

In the course of their conversation, Lopez found out that the lady hasn’t taken any meal for the day.

“Tumayo ‘yung balahibo ko kasi sabi niya na naniniwala siya na ‘yung biscuit ay symbol ng body of Christ at ‘yung tubig ay parang blood of Christ na magiging source of healing niya (I had goosebumps when she said that she believes that the biscuit I offered symbolized the body of Christ and the water was like the blood of Christ, which will become her source of healing),” he shared.

Trending Grab car The pampered, endearing ride Lopez affords his passengers quickly made it to social media.

In his Facebook post, accountant Ronel Ambrocio said that Lopez was effective in spreading positive vibes because he made him smile throughout his ride.

“He told me that he did that to spread positive vibes, and he surely gave me one because even if there was heavy traffic, his effort was enough for me to look at the positive side,” he said.

Twist of fate While championing positivity on the road, life once led Lopez to a virtual deadend. Obviously, he was undaunted. His family once owned a tailoring shop which produced comforters.

But in 1995, the business folded up.

“Nag-collapse ‘yung business kasi ‘yung mga ka-transaction ko, hindi nagsi-bayaran, (My business collapsed because some people did not pay up),” he lamented.

“May isa pa nga akong pinagkautangan na sobrang aggressive, kinuha niya ‘yung sasakyan ko. Wala naman akong nagawa dahil wala akong pambayad (One of my creditors was so aggressive that he took my car, but I could not do anything because I had nothing to pay him).”

Down but not out Bent on bouncing back, Lopez, with the little capital that he had left, resumed the business, but this time, with only family members helping him out.

“Ang ginawa ko to survive, lahat ng palengke – Angono, Taytay, Binangonan, Marikina, sinuplayan ko ng comforter (What I did to survive was I peddled my comforters in markets in Angono, Taytay, Binangonan, and Marikina),” he said.

Still, they did not earn enough to provide for their daily needs, so Lopez decided to work as a taxi driver.

“Napilitan ako mag-taxi para magkaroon ng daily income kasi ako yung breadwinner. ‘Yung misis ko, walang trabaho. Sabi ko, kailangan ko masurvive yung expenses namin (I was forced to be a taxi driver just to have a daily source of income because I am the breadwinner. My wife does not have a job. So, I told myself that I have to provide for our expenses),” Lopez said.

Grab-bing an opportunity

Eventually, transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) Grab and Uber boomed and Lopez was fortunate enough to be recruited by one of the operators.

A few years later, after spending many hours on the road, he managed to save enough for a new car.

“Nakaipon ako ng pangdownpayment at pinalad naman akong makakuha ng sariling sasakyan na iniingatan ko na lang ngayon (I managed to save up for down payment and luckily, I bought my own car, which I am now taking care of),” he said.

His children, who are now working students, are also helping him in their expenses.

Giving back

Often asked by his passengers why he goes the extra mile in his service, Lopez would say that it is his way of giving back after all the blessings he received.

“Siyempre may budget ako rito, kinukuha ko sa incentive na natatanggap ko. Binabawasan ko lang naman ng maliit na amount, pero ‘yung kasiyahan na dala sa rider, di naman mapapantayan eh, (Of course I am allotting a budget for this, which I get from the incentive that I receive. But that is only a small amount compared to the happiness that I am giving my passengers.)” Lopez said.

He said he is also getting mixed reactions from his colleagues who find his effort, “baduy” or of bad taste.

“Para sa kanila baduy kasi ang gumagawa lang daw ng ganito, mga babae (For them, this is ‘baduy,’ because they believe only women do this),” he said.

But there are also those who appreciate and even try to replicate the effort.

“Kaya lang hindi rin nagtatagal dahil wala sa puso, pero gusto ko sana na dumami pa kami (However, they would not keep up the task because their heart is not in it. But I really want to see more of us do the same),” Lopez said.

Drivers’ priority

Aside from making his passengers smile, Lopez said he hopes to encourage fellow drivers to make passenger satisfaction a priority.

“May mensahe kasi ako, hindi sa mga rider, kundi para sa mga driver, na sana hindi lang puro pera yung kanilang iniisip. Dapat isipin din nila kung paano naman sila makakabawi (I have a message, not to the riders but to drivers – they should not only think of money, but also of ways of how they can give back),” he said.

“Para naman kapag sinabing driver, hindi mababa ang tingin sa amin (So that when one talks about drivers, people would not look down on us).”