Grab driver praised for giving free rides to stranded commuters

A story of an extremely kind-hearted Grab driver has recently gone viral online.

Romualdo Salvo Alabarca / Photo from My Pope Philippines

Romualdo Salvo Alabarca, 63, has become an internet sensation because he has been giving free rides to strangers who are stranded on the road.

Alabarca would pick these people up, whomever they are, when he sees them on the side of the road as he heads back to his home.

He says that these people would try to pay him but he will refuse it and say that the ride is free.

“Yung magpasalamat lang, masaya na ako nun,” he says.

Alabarca has brough apssengers from Taft Avenue, Manila to Bacoor, Cavite.

 Image capture from Philstar video via Facebook/Jeman Bunyi Villanueva Facebook Account

Image capture from Philstar video via Facebook/Jeman Bunyi Villanueva Facebook Account

He said that he also does not choose his passengers and just accepts all those who book through the app.

Alabarca has been offering free rides to Cavite, and whatever places he can pass by, since he started driving years before.

He adds that he does this kind thing because he knows the struggle of trying to find a ride home. He adds that he thinks about his family and says that his family could suffer the same, not having a ride home, and he does not want that to happen to other people.

Since then, many netizens have showed gratitude and praise to Alabarca for simply being kind to other people everytime.

"Dapat kahit sa maliit na paraan ay gumawa sila ng tama," Alabarca said.

Watch the video below:

You can also read a netizen's Facebook post below:

"I just met this one-of-a-kind Grab driver on my way home to Cavite. Pahirapan mag book sa may Market! Market! at na cancel ako sa first booking ko. So I tried booking Grab Share since hindi naman ako nagmamadali. In-accept ako ni manong Romualdo Alabarca, 63 years old. Pagsakay ko, he greeted me and showed his ID. I don't know what's that for pero siya na din nag explain agad na ginagawa niya talaga yun everytime na may pasahero siya. Hindi naman daw yun new policy ng Grab.

So nakakwentuhan ko siya and I learned from him na first day niya today as Grab driver and first passenger niya ako sa Grab Share. I asked why he chooses na mag Grab eh magulo na kako. He said dati siyang Uber driver (again, he showed his Uber ID) and he's doing this for his maintenance. Awwww. (EDIT: Ang unang intindi ko dito is gamot. It turned out he's talking about his car) Na mention ko na taga Molino ako and he immediately offered na isabay na ako kasi pauwi na din daw siya. I asked how much and he said, wala na ako babayaran kasi along the way naman daw ako pauwi. Normally I'd feel hesitant kasi that's too good to be true. Pero he seems harmless naman so tatanggi pa ba ako sa good offer niya?

On our way home, napadaan kami sa may Baclaran area and sobrang daming stranded na pasahero. Guess what? Nagsakay siya ng 3 more passenger na pa SM Molino! I'm so amazed sa ginawa niya. He told me na he likes offering free rides pag pauwi na siya. Madalas nga daw wala uma-accept ng offer niya. His only reason for doing that? Naawa siya at saka same gas din naman daw yung gagastusin niya. Told him sobrang bait naman niya and sana wag siya masyado nagtitiwala. No comment siya.

 Photo from Jeman Bunyi Villanueva's Facebook post

Photo from Jeman Bunyi Villanueva's Facebook post

About the 3 new passengers na sinakay niya, they're all surprised na naka free ride sila. Lahat sila nagulat at natuwa. Sobrang bait ni manong Grab driver. I'm surprised 4 1/2 stars lang ratings niya. Maybe because nalilito pa siya sa pag gamit ng Waze (that's according to him). Anyways, I'm still giving him something bilang tulong na din sa medication niya. And a 5 star rating + review + this appreciation post dahil once in a lifetime ka lang makaka encounter siguro ng ganito kabait na tao. Saludo ako sa iyo manong "Louie" (nickname taken from the song Brother Louie). Welcome to Grab! Thank you sa napakagandang serbisyo mo. I am blessed to meet a kind-hearted person like you. May you be healthy again and that God blesses you more."

#Grab #GrabSerye #GrabShare #GrabShareAStory #GrabAppreciation #BetterGrabPH


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Source: Philippine Star, Jeman Bunyi Villanueva | Facebook