Honest Cabbie

Poor cabbie returns P150,000 to passenger

Tarra Quismundo
Inquirer News Service

LAST Sunday, part-time taxi driver Reio Lance, 28, drove back to the Manila Domestic Airport in Pasay City to return some 150,000 pesos in cash to a passenger.

The passenger, Annie Joy Angana, had left her bag at the backseat of the taxi after rushing off to catch an 8:45 a.m. flight back to Cotabato in Mindanao. Angana had borrowed the money from a relative to pay for her daughter's crucial brain tumor operation.

On Wednesday, Lance's honesty was recognized by the Taguig City government.

Lance, who at times had to sell sampaguita garlands and balut (boiled duck's egg with embryo) to earn money, was offered a job at City Hall. The city government also promised to subsidize the elementary and high school education of Lance's children, Reiozel, 5; and Rhazelle, 3.

"Because life is so hard, at times our family would have dried fish and salt with rice to eat. That's why whenever I get the chance to work part-time driving a taxi, I take it," said Lance in an emotional account to city employees.