In his three years as a taxi driver, 45-year-old Warlito Gonzales adheres to one simple rule; never take anything that’s not yours.
He and fellow taxi drivers Frankie Bautista and Cayo dela Peña received certificates with the words “Honest Taxi Driver” printed on it by the management of Marco Polo Hotel during the 888 News Forum early today.
“Di man gyud ko gusto ug mga butang nga dili akoa. Kung naay mahabilin sa akong taxi, ako gyud nang iuli kung asa nako gihatod ang pasahero. Mao gyud na akong prinsipyo sa kinabuhi (I don’t really want things that are not mine. If there are things that are left in my taxi, I would return it to where I dropped off my passenger. That has been my principle in life),” Gonzales said.
He said there were instances in which his passengers accidentally left iPhones and even laptops inside his vehicle. Gonzales said he makes it a point to return them to their owners.
Marco Polo’s human resource officer Cely Osumo and hotel’s security chief Rene Ferenal gives certificates and awards to honest drivers (from second from left) Frankie Bautista, Cayo Dela Pena, and Warlito Gonzales. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/ MARCO POLO HOTEL)
Two other recipients, Juanito Moldes and Ronnet Manguiran, were also given certificates but were unable to attend the ceremony. Bautista, a taxi driver for six years and a resident of barangay Bacayan Cebu City, said he also returns the items left by his passengers.
“Dili na maihap ang mga higayon nga naay mabilin sa akong taxi. Ako mismo ang muhatod sa ilang mga butang ug mouli sa ila (There have been a lot of times when things are left in my taxi. I personally retuen their things),” Bautista said.
Dela Peña said the first item he had to return to a passenger was an expensive brand of sunglasses.
“We also want to recognize then for sharing our mission to provide the best service to our customers,” Marco Polo HR manager Cely Osumo said.
Osumo said the drivers also each received gift certificates and an undisclosed amount of cash. She said when the drivers returned the items, the owners also give them cash rewards.
Consul General Bobby Joseph, founder of the 888 News Forum also handed P1,000 to each of the three drivers present. The hotel’s chief security officer Rene Ferenal said he’s been working with taxi drivers.
He said the hotel has an association of taxi drivers with at least 60 active members.
“We consider them partners. We also provide them with other benefits like a restroom, shower room that they can use even at night time,” Ferenal said. He said one driver returned a bag filled with dollar and yen bills worth half a million pesos.
Related Stories:
‘Oplan I-Love-U’ made taxi drivers behave
Cab ride with ex-Napoles driver spooks PDI team