MANILA, Philippines — A jeepney driver earned praise from the Valenzuela City government for graduating with a degree in information technology.
Marvin Padilla Daludado, 22, met with Mayor Rex Gatchalian yesterday. Gatchalian commended him for plying his route as early as 5 a.m. before going to class at 8 a.m.
The city government congratulated Daludado, a resident of Malanday, calling him “an inspiration to many.”
Daludado, in a Facebook post on May 15, said that since he had earned his degree at the University of the East-Caloocan City, he would also let go of his job as a jeepney driver.
In his graduation photo, he held signage showing his route from Malanday in Valenzuela to Pier 15, Luneta and Recto in Manila.
Despite his parents’ objections, Daludado said he started driving his father’s passenger jeepney in 2015, when he was 17 years old, to fund his tuition and other school expenses.
Daludado did not want to ask his parents for money and was determined to become independent and to help them.
He also thanked the city’s traffic enforcers who pulled him over for making shortcuts but let him off after learning that he was rushing to catch up with his classes.