Woman passenger drives taxi so cabbie can rest

A spontaneous act of kindness doesn't look for time or place. This moving anecdote from Philippines is all about benevolence that goes beyond the obvious.

Cristina Tan, a 31-year-old art dealer, hailed a cab to go from Pasay City to her San Juan residence - an hour-long drive - during rush-hour on September 15. She boarded it but soon realized that the 67-year-old taxi driver Rolando Sarusad wasn't feeling well. The cabbie asked her to look for another taxi. But Cristina didn't get angry (as any commuter trapped in a crazy snarl-up would). She rather offered him to swap places and let her drive the taxi.

After an initial hitch, Rolando agreed. Cristina took the wheel and drove home, as the elderly man snored off to sleep in the backseat. The lady put her mobile on silent mode to make sure he is not disturbed.

Cristina took a selfie as she drove, with Rolando taking a nap. She put the anecdote and photo in her Facebook post, which has gone viral.

"My first time to drive a taxi. Haha," she wrote in Filipino.

She told the Inquirer that after the driver settled into the backseat, he told Cristina: "Wow, you're cool!" before dozing off.

As she drove, people were amazed to see a pretty 'cabbie' in a white, long-sleeved flounce blouse. Some even tried to flag her down.

Cristina drove for around an hour and then woke Rolando up. She paid him double the fare to ensure "he wouldn't need to drive for much longer that day".

Later, Cristina - a hotel and restaurant management graduate from Infotech Institute of Arts & Sciences in Mandaluyong - said, "I could empathize with him right away," since the gray-bearded driver reminded her of her own father, who passed away in 2015.

The Good Samaritan has been hailed for being "beautiful with a golden heart". Netizens are wowed by her benevolence.

Source: Khaleej Times