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| The story of honest cab driver Maximo Aton has gone viral online. (Photo by Facebook user Raine Cruz) |
If you think most cab drivers are dishonest and dangerous, then exclude Maximo Aton from your list.
A certain Raine Cruz on Thursday "shared" that Aton was one honest cabbie everyone should emulate.
In a lengthy Facebook post, Cruz said the cab driver turned his “stressful day” into an inspiring one.
After a long day at work, he and his companion named Hero, hailed Aton’s taxi from Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas, and asked him to bring them home in Taytay, Rizal.
Upon reaching their destination, Cruz said they noticed that they left one of their bags which contained a laptop and P5,000 in cash in Aton’s taxi.
He immediately called Crowne Plaza hoping its security personnel has kept the record of the taxi cabs in the area. Cruz said he was surprised as the hotel's security personnel not only provided him the cab's plate number but the driver's contact number as well.
He then called Aton, told him he was the passenger he took to Taytay, and asked for their bag.
“Sabi ko, ‘Sir, baka pwedeng makuha ko yung bag kasi importante yung laman.’ Hindi ko sinabi kung ano even though alam ko na pwede niyang tignan yung laman,” Cruz noted.
In which Aton replied, “Ay oo sir, may naiwan kayong bag. Sinubukan kong bumalik sa inyo, hindi ko na matandaan yung lugar.” The cabbie added that he was about to return the bag to Crowne Plaza since he didn’t know what to do with it.
Cruz said they could just meet at the hotel and retrieve their bag when the driver offered that they could meet in a nearer place.
“Nahiya ako at the same time medyo nagtaka dahil mapapalayo pa siya para lang hindi ako mahirapan. Effort talaga siya,” the passenger added in his post.
He said Aton arrived at their agreed meeting place and surrendered their bag with the laptop and money intact.
“Para sa akin napakalaking bagay ng effort na ginawa niya, kung tutuusin pera na yun at may gamit pa. Binibigyan ko siya ng pera para sa abala, ayaw niyang tanggapin. Pero pinilit ko pa din iabot. Nakakatuwang naranasan ko yung ganito. May mga ganitong tao pa pala. Para sa akin saludo ako at hindi lahat ng taxi driver may kalokohan. Salamat sir!
“Kahit sa pamamagitan lang ng Facebook, gusto kong ipaabot ang lubos na pasasalamat ko. Maliit na bagay man ang post na ito, sana nang dahil dito makilala ka ng marami. Saludo ako sayo!” the grateful passenger concluded.
As of this writing, Cruz’ post has been shared 3,351 times and flooded with praises for Aton.
In March, the Department of Tourism has also hailed another honest taxi driver as the country’s“model of fun.”
