Below is a press release from ABS-CBN Foundation:

Bohol tourist driver Augusto “Gus” Pascual was declared champion at the Pinoy Tsuper Hero (PTH) Year 4 grand finals on November 21, 2019 at ABS-CBN Dolphy Theater. PTH awards outstanding drivers who are able to show concrete evidences of how driving was able to create a difference in their families’ lives, showed leadership in their own transport groups, and have contributed to their respective communities. 

The other nine finalists were George Pasicolan of Tuguegarao City, Ronnel Historia of Tuguegarao City, Manuel Racoma of Ilocos Sur, Joseph Membrillo of Tacloban City, Eusibio Fabia  of Tacloban City, Victor Deloy of Cagayan De Oro City, Roland Castrodes of Cabadbaran City, Richard Gulle of National Capital Region, and Anthony Hidea of Sorsogon City

A collaboration between Phoenix, Inc., ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (AFI), and Bayan Academy for Social Entrepreneurship and Human Resource Development, Inc. (Bayan Academy), PTH is an advocacy program for the protection of the environment, formation of more cohesive and stronger Filipino families, and development of an accident-free community.

The PTH grand champion expressed his gratitude to the organizations involved in this competition. “Malaki ang aking pasasalamat ko dahil nakaisip sila ng ganitong proyekto kung saan binabago nila ang imahe ng mga drivers. Mula sa negative image na walang disiplina, ngayon nakikita natin na ang mga driver pala hindi lahat ganun, marami pa rin ang matitino at mapagkakatiwalaan at may dignidad,” said Pascual. 

(I am very thankful that they thought of creating this project where they are able to transform the image of drivers. From being seen as undisciplined, the public will know that there are still those who are disciplined and can be trusted, and that there is dignity in what we do.)

Pascual was born in Nueva Ecija but lived in different cities because of work. As a medical representative for a big pharmaceutical company, he was assigned in Tagbilaran City, Bohol in 1989. He had plans to relocate his family to Manila. But on his sixth year in Bohol as a medical representative, his request to be assigned in Luzon was not granted, but instead, will be assigned in Zamboanga. 

In 1995, being fully committed to his family, Pascual decided to turn down the new assignment and pursued other opportunities in Bohol. In April 2012, he joined the Bohol Island Operators and Drivers

Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BIODMPC), a company that offers tourist packages in the island. In just a month, Pascual was voted by the board as BIODMPC’s chairman. The cooperative experienced a lot of breakthroughs, such as acquiring Php 3.7 million in assets by December 2018, under his leadership. 

Pascual received an accumulated Php 145,000 cash prize, a brand new vehicle, Php 50,000 worth of Phoenix Petroleum fuel and lubes products, and a livelihood package sponsored by Super Phoenix LPG and Posible as the PTH grand champion. He is also the official Phoenix Petroleum Ambassador for one year. 

This year’s competition received more than 12,000 nominations nationwide. After deliberation, only the top 30 drivers were sent to Metro Manila for a 5-day training that included lessons on defensive driving, road safety, environmental protection, and entrepreneurship. This year’s training included financial literacy lessons to further empower finalists who were given cash prizes to implement their pitched community projects. 

Henry Albert Fadullon, Chief Operating Officer of Phoenix, Inc., shared how these drivers inspires and motivates their company. “Everyday, we can be a hero. And it’s actually these everyday, simple things, simple activities that were done well and were done from the heart and with all selflessness, that’s actually what moves the country. Kami sa Phoenix Petroleum, we are delighted, inspired, and motivated to be part of people whose everyday lives are made better. I think our country has more than enough. It can fight its way with the giants in the world. We just need to come together and be patriotic and show little acts of heroism in our everyday lives. I think the stories that I’ve heard today demonstrate that we have what it takes if only more and more of us demonstrate this in our everyday lives.”

“PTH has been a very good exercise to show how true Bayanihan spirit works,” said Susan Afan, Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation. “Phoenix, Inc., ABS-CBN Foundation, ABS-CBN Network Regional and Bayan Academy, collaborated with various local government and private agencies to provide training and seminars: DENR, Philippine Red Cross, SSS, PhilHealth, all together have made these 4 years happen — all of us united to help uplift and raise awareness towards Responsible Driving & Engaged Citizenship,” Afan added. 

 The competition was open to all public utility vehicle or PUV drivers (jeepney, tricycle, bus and taxi drivers), AUV or express drivers, truck drivers, driver-operators, entrepreneur/owners of vehicles, PUV operators, government drivers, company drivers, private vehicle drivers, family drivers, ex-overseas drivers who are presently working as drivers or operators in the Philippines, and loyal Phoenix driver-customers.

The Pinoy Tsuper Hero competition started in 2015 with the goal of bringing out the “super hero” in every Filipino driver.  It has produced PTH ambassadors like Reynaldo Samonte of Batangas (Year 1), Edwin Escamos of Iloilo (Year 2) and Alberto Abad of Rizal (Year 3) who have become role models in the transport industry. 

Since its inception, PTH has reached more than 68,000 drivers from 58 sites nationwide. It aims to change the perception towards drivers from being offenders to defenders. Pinoy Tsuper Hero Year 5 will start accepting nominations next year together with the launch of Pinoy Tsuper Hero Academy that will offer trainings and seminars for those working in the transport industry.