‘Nakaka-inspire ka Tatay Vicente’: Trike driver returns lost cellphone of DepEd staffer in Tuguegarao

CAGAYAN, Philippines—Amid heightened fears due to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, the act of a tricycle driver in Tuguegarao City is a breath of fresh air after he returned on Monday a cellphone left by a passenger.

On its official Facebook page, the 2020 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) in Tuguegarao City praised Vicente Tungpalan who “humbly refused any reward and was even shy to have his photo taken.”

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The NSPC said the phone belongs to a member of The Bridge, the official publication of the Department of Education’s Division of Tuguegarao.

Several social media posts talking about other tricycle drivers in the city offering free rides as treats for NSPC participants are also going viral.

“Amid comments about ‘English-speaking’ and ‘abusadong’ tricycle drivers in Tuguegarao, Tatay Vicente Tungpalan from Tanza proves that there are also honest and kind drivers in the city,” NSPC said in the caption.

“Nakaka-inspire ka, Tatay Vicente! May your tribe increase!” it added with a heart emoji.

The Bridge is covering the weeklong NSPC hosted by the city and which is considered the annual gathering of thousands of campus journalists from the 17 regions of the country.

Earlier, a parade and several other events related to this year’s NSPC were canceled, and delegates were constantly monitored as the DepEd implemented strict measures to prevent the spread of the virus.  /ra