Continuing the legacy: Alberto Abad, a Pinoy Tsuper Hero through and through
“As a Pinoy Tsuper Hero winner, I want to be a good ambassador of drivers by showing that although drivers may not earn as much as other professionals, we are still able to support the needs of our family in a rightful way,” said Abad. “With discipline, determination, trustworthiness, and respect for the rights of others, time will come that we will receive the kind of respect similar to the respect given to those in the corporate world.”
Abad believes that his years of self-discipline has made him stand out among all the Pinoy Tsuper Hero applicants.
“When I served as a driver to my former boss, he taught me life lessons and helped develop my skills by sending me to seminars and trainings. Through his support, I learned how to value not only my work but also my surroundings and the people around me. This time, I want to do the same to others and share what I have learned. I want to be someone’s role model and mentor as well,” he said.
Backed by years of hard work, from being a farmer, construction worker, furniture maker, houseboy, personal assistant, driver, to a proud owner and operator of three tricycles and two UV express vehicles, Abad has earned the trust and respect of many people.
He was elected as president of their community’s homeowners association and is currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors of a cooperative in his hometown in Antipolo, Rizal. He is also an active and a reputable member of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association (TODA) in his locality.
Prior to his win, he has been implementing various safety and environment protection programs in his community. He has programs for proper waste segregation, prohibition on burning of trash, and stringent regulations on clearing pathways for cars and people, and keeping the surroundings clean through the Linis Walis Program.
A proud father of three, Abad said he is more than ready to live up to the Pinoy Tsuper Hero title and continue the legacy of former winners Reynaldo Samonte of Batangas and Edwin Escamos of Iloilo City.
“My plans are to educate the drivers to become a defensive driver and be trained on how to save lives during emergencies. I also want to organize seminars to discuss and teach them how to abide by traffic laws, how to dispose used oil, and how to to use oil filter properly. I want to share with them my advocacy on protecting the environment and hopefully encourage them to support or even start their own program of the same cause. Above all, I want to inculcate to them the virtue of discipline which has enabled me to make a difference all these years,” he said.
Abad bested over 30,000 drivers from all over the country who joined this year’s Pinoy Tsuper Hero contest and was chosen through a series of screenings including trainings, deliberations, and panel interviews. He took home an accumulated cash prize of Php 140,000, Phoenix fuel and lubricant products worth Php 50,000, a family accident insurance worth Php 1 million, a Phoenix Petroleum watch, and a brand new Suzuki Ertiga.
Launched three years ago, Pinoy Tsuper Hero is the collaborative advocacy campaign of Phoenix Petroleum, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, and Bayan Academy. The brainchild of Phoenix Petroleum President and CEO Dennis Uy, the campaign aims to bring out the “superhero” in every driver and promote driving as a noble profession. It recognizes and empowers outstanding Filipino drivers who make a big difference in the community, exemplify discipline on the road, and help protect the environment.