This Marikina restaurant is offering free meals to PUV drivers, delivery riders amid rising fuel prices
In a time when rising costs are making every peso count, small acts of generosity can go a long way.
As the Philippines reels from the fuel price hikes brought about by the tensions in the Middle East, many public utility vehicle drivers and delivery riders are finding it harder to stretch their daily earnings after spending more on gas just to stay on the road.
But one restaurant in Marikina is making a big statement through a simple act: offering free meals to the everyday heroes who help keep the country going.
Trining’s Kitchen Stories Marikina will be distributing free meals on April 8 and 10 to drivers of public utility buses, jeepneys, and tricycles, as well as delivery riders from services such as Grab, Joyride, Lalamove, and J&T, among others.
At the center of these efforts is chef and owner Jayson Mauliit, who, in an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, shared that the initiative was inspired by his late grandmother, Trining.
Mauliit looked back on 2021 when both his grandmother and great-grandmother were battling COVID-19, forcing the family to sell home-cooked meals to cover mounting hospital bills.
"Binenta po namin siya noong 2021 and then we did the gratitude campaign for frontliners. So ang ginawa po namin, nagdo-donate po 'yung mga tao and at the same time umo-order po sila ng pagkain para sa mga frontliners. Kami po 'yung nagde-deliver," he continued.
After his grandmother died, Jayson decided to open his own restaurant despite of not having a proper educational background on entrepreneurship or culinary arts.
"Home cook lang po ako, pero ang malinaw po sa akin noon ay kung magiging restaurant po ito na nakapangalan sa lola ko, kailangan 'yung prinsipyo ng lola ko 'yung magamit namin as a business model... And that is to care for other people," Jayson highlighted.
In times of crisis, Trining’s Kitchen Stories would temporarily close to the public, transforming into a community kitchen for volunteers.
"Nagfu-fundraise po tayo and then nakikipag-coordinate with local government units to deliver dignified meals in evacuation centers. Ang tawag po namin dito ay 'Food Dignity Movement.' Gusto po natin magkaroon ng dignidad yung mga meals na ibibigay po sa ating mga vulnerable communities," Jayson explained.
"Ngayon po, walang bagyo pero nagkaroon po ng fuel crisis. Tinamaan 'yung food industry, tinamaan 'yung transport industry. Tingin po namin kailangan may tumulong para sa mga PUV and delivery drivers po natin," he said.
Gas or food?
Recalling the reactions of some of the drivers who received the free meals, Jayson shared that almost all of them became emotional at the kind gesture.
"Madami pong halos naiyak sa initiative natin. Meron pong isang driver from Move It nung isang araw, ang sabi niya pinadaan po talaga siya ng Diyos dito sa Gil Fernando Avenue kasi buong araw na siyang hindi kumakain," Jayson recounted.
He continued, "'Yung last P100 niya, pinang-gas niya na. Hindi niya alam kung saan niya kukunin ang kita that day, kaya hindi na siya kumain. So nakatulong po sa kanya nung nagkaroon po ng hot meals for them."
There were also drivers who said that it was okay for them to skip their own meals as long as their children had something to eat at home.
"'Yung hot meals natin nakakatulong sa kanila, hindi para ma-solve ang buong problema nila, pero para magkaroon lang sila ng lakas para ituloy ang araw, makapagtrabaho nang hindi na iisipin kung magugutom sila sa kalsada," he said. "Medyo masakit po 'yan kasi ang choice ngayon ng kababayan natin is either kumain or magpa-gas."
Working as a community
As a restaurant owner, Jayson has his own operational costs to consider, yet he emphasized that partnering with the community helps make initiatives like this possible.
"Ang ginawa po namin, dumiretso po kami sa mga farmer groups ng Benguet. Binili po namin nang mas mataas sa farm gate price 'yung mga gulay nila. Ngayon, 'yung mga farmers sa Benguet, tinapatan po nila 'yung monetary donations ng gulay din. So instead of 150 kilos 'yung pinadala samin, naging 300 kilos na," he said.
"Ang tingin ko po, ang solusyon sa crisis na ito ay ang pagsasama-sama ng mga sektor. Hindi po pwedeng magkanya-kanya kasi lahat po apektado," he added.
For those who would want to make donations for Jayson's cause, you can reach out to them through their Facebook account. They are accepting ingredients such as vegetables, proteins, and more to prepare meals for the drivers. Cash donations are also accepted.
Distribution for the free meals begins at 4 p.m. and will continue until supplies last at Lot 12, Block 3, Gil Fernando Avenue, Barangay Sto. Niño, Marikina, near the Good Friend Bridge and the Marikina Engineering compound.