Goodyear Philippines lead Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for 2006 is an adaptation of Goodyear North America’s search for Filipino drivers of public utility jeepneys, taxicabs, commercial trucks & buses, and private vehicles, who have performed selfless acts of courage and service for fellow motorists and other people on the road. The culminating activity and awarding of winners of the campaign was held last December with Ms. Judy Reinke, Commercial Attaché of the US Embassy in the Philippines, as one of the special guests.
The campaign, which was supported by local government transportation agencies, corporate partners and media organizations, commenced as part of Goodyear Philippines’ celebration of its 50th year of manufacturing excellent tires in the Philippines.
After a rigorous screening process by a committee, Hilario T. Mendiola—a 42 year old seasoned off-road driver and mechanic from Angeles City (a city north of Manila), whose speedy response and quick thinking saved the life of a young man trapped inside his vehicle, was chosen as the over-all winner.
The incident happened on May 28 this year. After leaving the venue of an off-road race, a flatbed truck carrying two competition vehicles, accidentally smashed into a barrier of the Megadike in Pampanga. The impact sent a concrete beam crashing down on one of the competition vehicles on top of the truck.
Inside one of the vehicles was a 20-year-old man, who was held up to the driver’s seat with the concrete beam resting on his chest and legs. The steering wheel and the roll cage, a safety device required in the competition, prevented the roof of the vehicle from collapsing. After learning of the accident, race organizers immediately called the office of the Governor of the province, which dispatched heavy equipment and an ambulance accompanied by four other off-road vehicles, one of which was driven by Mendiola.
At the accident scene, a pay loader and a boom truck attempted to lift the concrete beam but rescuers gave up upon seeing the roll cage that was wrapped around the concrete beam. They said that any further movement from their end would increase the risk of aggravating the young man’s injuries.
Without hesitation Mendiola immediately climbed into the flatbed and checked the condition of the young man. He learned that driver was still conscious but was complaining of numbness in his lower body. He then decided to manually remove the steering wheel with a hacksaw. He also used a high-lift jack and forced the roll cage apart and assisted the boom truck in successfully lifting the concrete beam. The medical team was finally been able to extricate the young man and take him to a nearby hospital for treatment.
“Goodyear believes that recognizing local road heroes is one of the best way of celebrating our 50th year anniversary here in the Philippines and at the same time initiating a corporate social responsibility project.” Says David Joseph Morin, President and Managing Director of Goodyear Philippines Inc.
As the top awardee, Mendiola received over $11,000 worth of prizes from Goodyear and its partners which includes cash, gas coupons, scholarship for his dependents, personal accident insurance coverage, a stamp of “Bayani Ng Kalsada” on his driver’s license, lifetime free driver’s license renewal and exclusive “Bayani Ng Kalsada” apparels.
Joining Mendiola on the list of Goodyear Philippines’ first Bayani ng Kalsada winners are jeep driver Segundo Cabibijan, and taxicab drivers Joselito Sebalda, Eulogio Babagay and Erwin Joseph Rimando who each had successful stories of their road heroism.
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