Reese Barcelon
- A female netizen named Renzel Lopez Sobrepeña lambasted the jeepney driver and his wife who discriminated the passenger who was a beggar and an old man.
- At first, Sobrepeña was the only one who stood up for the old man and later on, almost all the passengers took her side.
In the Philippines, most especially in Manila, the scenarios of beggars climbing up jeepneys happens frequently that it makes more people get used to it.
As a matter of fact, if you’d ask a Manileño about his experience with street kids and beggars, he might just give you a story or two since incidents involving them are rampant nowadays. However, not all beggars do is to ask for money. Sometimes, they simply wanted a ride from a vehicle due to various reasons such as exhaustion or health problems perhaps.
Sadly, one of the beggars who turned out to be an old man experienced discrimination from his fellow Filipinos.
One of the passengers who had witnessed such occurrence is Renzel Lopez Sobrepeña.
The incident infuriated her so much that she decided to post in on social media to release the heavy feeling of seeing how heartless people can be.
Read the full post below:
“That kind of feeling na makita mo ‘tong taong ‘to na pinapahiya ng asawa ng driver na katabi niya kagabi! Last night! Yung pakiramdam kong pagod ako sa trabaho isama mo pa ang biyahe na napakalayo! Tapos may makakasakay ka na pulubi. From the start! Pag sakay ko pa lang halos ipahiya ng ipahiya ng babaeng katabi niya si tatay! na kesho “Istorbo kayo! Dapàt hindi kayo sumasakay ng ganitong Rush hour” Napapailing nlng ako o kaming mga pasahero sa babae, halos kumirot yung puso ko!! Mas pinili ko na wag na munang mag salita, pero halos ipamuhka niya sa matanda na nakakaabala siya! Hindi ko na natiis nag salita na ko!!”
According to her, from the moment she rode the vehicle, she noticed how a woman was speaking ill about another passenger who was a beggar and an old man. The woman was complaining that the beggar was being a nuisance and that he shouldn’t ride a jeepney during rush hour even though the man wasn’t actually doing anything.
“Ako : Ate hayaan mo na! Hayaan niyo nalang po. Sabay sumagot ang lalaki na katabi ko na “Napailing sabay sabi sakin, “Pumapatol sa matanda” sagot ko naman kaya nga e! Binayaran ko ang matanda ng nalaman ko na sa monumento din siya Bababa! Pero nagulat nalang ang isang dalagita na kasunod ko, na Pinabababa na ni manong driver ang matanda sa 5th ave palang! Sabay sabi “Wala pang monumento kuya binayaran naman siya ni Ate ha! Sabay turo sakin.” Dun na ko nag salita na ulit na. “BAYAD HO YAN, PAGLALAKARIN NIYO SIYA HANGGANG MONUMENTO EH BINAYARAN KO SIYA!” Halo halong emosyon yung naramdaman ko! Pati mga pasahero halos nag salita na din. “Pwede ho kayong kasuhan sa ginagawa niyo dahil Senior na to” Sabi ng isang lalaki.. At sinundan ko ng salita sa driver . “WALA NAMAN PONG UMAANGAL SA MGA SAKAY NINYO! YUNG ASAWA NIYO LANG HO!” At doon na nag init sakin ang matapobreng Babae!! Nagkasagutan,duruan,murahan!”
Sobrepeña paid for the man’s fare and was surprised upon realizing that the driver was telling the old man to leave.
The incident was the reason why the other passengers decided to butt in and defend the beggar as well. However, a ruckus occurred as the jeepney driver’s wife fought with her.
“HINDI HINDI AKO PINALAKI NG MGA MAGULANG KO PARA MAMBASTOS NG MATATANDANG KAGAYA NG MATANDANG BABAE PERO PINILIT NIYA KO DAHIL SA MATAPOBRE SIYA!! IPAPASA DIYOS NALANG KITA!
Ako lang ang bukod tangi na naglakas ng loob kasi hindi ko na natiis. Pero hindi ko inaasahan na lahat ng pasahero bandang huli ay kakampi sakin. Thank you sa babae na kasama ko sa jeep na nag share nung picture kagabi sa pic at patuloy nakumakalat na ngayon! May karapatan siyang sumakay sa kahit anong sakayan. Walang oras! Kahit anong oras dapat! Tar****dang Babae! Walang puso!!
Tay! Hinding hindi ko po pinagsisisihan na napaaway ako ng dahil sainyo. Na sa halangang 13pesos minaliit niya po kayo! I Blessed niyo sana siya Lord. Guide him.”
Sobrepeña admits that she doesn’t usually fight with someone, especially when the person is older than her, but the way the woman treated the beggar is something that Sobrepeña can’t tolerate.
Meanwhile, here’s what the netizens said about this issue:
Public vehicles are called like that for a reason – that they are intended for public use. It simply means that every citizen, regardless of their status in the society, has the right to ride in any public transportation.
What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you agree with what Sobrepeña did?
