A female college student is making her mark in the streets of Batangas City. For a while now, Hanna Magadia, 21, has been manning the wheel of her family’s jeepney to help put food on the table and sustain her education.
After getting her license in 2019, Magadia went behind the wheel to run errands until she realized she could actually earn a living by driving.
"Sa una naman po hindi ko tinitigilan [yung mga naghahanap ng jeep] kasi may errands po [ako na] kailangan gawin [o] may inu-utos po sa akin gano'n po," she said.
"Not until po nang kita ko na parang kaya ko naman, kaya ko naman magsakay ng pasahero at ibababa ko na lang, tapos saka ko gagawin yung errands ko kasi doon din naman po dadaan," she added.
It was in December 2023 when she was convinced that driving a jeepney could be a lucrative source of income.
"Last December... sabi ko sa pinsan ko, 'punta ka dito, samahan mo ako, biyahe tayo, dalawang ikot lang… hindi ko naman akalain na sa dalawa kong ikot kikita ako ng ganoon, [ng] P800," Magadia told GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog.
"Ako po, sa kaloob-looban ko po, tuwang-tuwa ako kasi sa expense ko po na may gusto akong bilhin na ganyang bahay, bukas babaon ako ng ganto, may babayaran ako sa school, dun palang po napagtama-tama ko na kaya ko siyang bayaran and may matitira pa sakin na ko pwede ko pang ipunin," she said.
Magadia said it was her father who exposed her to driving, first with a tricycle, as early as during her elementary years when he was around.
"Yung sa tricycle po ang nagturo po sakin ay yung ama ko po, parang one hour niya po akong tinu-tinuruan then pabalik dala-dala ko na po yung tricycle. Elementary po ako nun if I'm not mistaken," Magadia said.
She grew up in the presence of women with her grandmother and aunt taking care of her while her parents, both Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), were away.
"Kumbaga, [ang] nagaalaga po sa akin nung una [ay yung] lola ko. Sumunod yung tiyahin ko po, then, siguro matanda-tanda na po ako nung dumating po ang nanay ko para alagaan po kami na nag-stay for good po siya dito," she said.
Today, Magadia enjoys the support of her mother in her endeavors. She said her mother gives her advice on what to do with her money and how to save up for her future.
"Sa nanay ko po, pag tatanungin niyo po, bakit niya po hinahayahan na ganoon [ang ginagawa ko]. Ang sagot niya lang po ay, hinahayahan niya po kami dumiskarte sa paraang kita niyang makakabuti naman po kami at maaayos kami ng sa sarili namin [na sikap]. Kasi hindi naman nga daw po sila habang buhay nandidito sa amin para suportahan at gabayan kami sa mga gusto namin sa buhay, ganoon po," she said.
DRIVING
Magadia said she makes sure to prioritize her passengers’ safety.
"Kung kita ko po na alanganin yung daan, talagang hindi ko po papasukan. Kasi marami po dito, hindi ko nila-lahat, pero karamihan ng jeepney driver dine eh, talagang pakaskaseruhan ho, talagang una-unahan po sa pasahero parang mauubusan. Sa akin, di bali walang sakay, basta wala akong disgrasyang inaantay," Magadia said.
She has also developed a passion for tinkering, delving into mechanics and welding.
"Sa akin po, once na nasiraan yan [yung jeep], as much as kaya ko pong gawan ng paraan, gagawa po ako ng paraan... Nakatigil po sa gitna ng kalsada [yung jeep], ay Sir, ay higa po ako sa ilalim ng kalsada at mabaklas lang yung nasira," she said.
"Kasi para po sa akin, driver ka, hindi lang basta pagmamaneho mo dapat yung alam mo, dapat pati yung maintenance, or kahit hindi man yung pinaka-complex na bagay, kahit yung solution man lang sa nagiging problema ng jeep mo, maagapan niyo," she added.
Passengers often admire her driving prowess.
"Nakakapanibago lang po, ayos naman po mag-drive," Steven Dela Cruz, a passenger, said.
"Hinahangaan ko siya dahil siya ay bata pa ay nagda-drive [na]. Magaling siya," Rhina Manalo, another passenger, added.
Sometimes passengers would be surprised of having to ride a female jeepney driver according to Magadia.
"Kadalasan po mga nagugulat po talaga yung mga sasakay, tataaas po ang kilay nila. Tapos meron naman po magugulat na lang kayo, pagtingin sa salamain, vini-video-han na po kayo, pasimple pa," Magadia said.
"Tapos ultimong sa mga barter po, yung mga nagtatawag ng biyahe pagtitigil po, talaga'y pagsisigawan pa nila na, 'oi babae yung driver, sakay na... ligtas kayo dito," Magadia added.
ACADEMICS
Magadia is a student of Lyceum of the Philippines University - Batangas pursuing a degree in customs administration.
She said she still prioritizes her studies over being a jeepney driver.
"Kumbaga, kung may pasok ako ng gantong araw, hindi ko po pipilitin na makabiyahe ako. Kung halimbawa na magko-conflict po sa oras, kung halimbawa po, ang labas ko po ay 8, hindi ko na po iba-byahe yung 8 onwards... para sa akin po, yung time po na yun is para naman po mag-refresh naman po ako sa kahit ano naman pong tinuro sa school,” she said.
"Pero once na free time naman po ako ngayon... nakakabiyahe po ako at nagagawa ko pa yung errands ko dito sa bahay," she added.
Magadia said this mindset has ensured that she is able to manage her time well.
LOOKING AHEAD
For now, Magadia says she will continue to drive the jeepney to help augment the public transportation in their area.
Alongside this, she has her sights on passing the board examination and working in government to save up for her dream of becoming a pilot.
"Future plans po for now, ipasa po yung board exam, then trabaho po sa government, kung papalarin po sa Bureau of Customs, then ipon, kapag naka-ipon-ipon siguro, itutuloy ko po yung dream ko na mag-pilot," Magadia said.
She also plans on opening a business with her partner, who is also a woman, as an investment for their future so they can pursue their other interests.
Her message to other women:
"Walang mali sa bagay na gusto nating tahakin, kumbaga, kung diyan ka masaya go for it, as long as hindi mo napapabayaan sarili at yung mga tao sa paligid mo, hindi mo naha-harm ang kahit na sino, [then] go for it kasi at the end of the day, it's you, yung sarili mo yung pasasayahin mo, hindi palaging iple-please natin yung ibang tao, kundi yung fulfillment na lang sarili natin," Magadia said.
(With reports from Paul Hernandez, GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog)
