On a bright Sunday morning of August 7, 2022, the parking lot of the Saint Joseph Parish Church was crowded not with cars, but pedicabs. Seated at the front pews were pedicab drivers participating in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, their first activity for the day. After the holy Mass, they transferred location, for it was now time to bless the store that the pedicab drivers will now be owning. It was the highlight of the morning. Rev. Fr. Choy Gomez led the blessing. And as if, the blessings never ran out, a raffle draw was conducted wherein the pedicab drivers had the chance to win kitchenware, sponsored by Missionary Families of Christ (MFC) Tacloban. 

Behind the success of the blessing of the store was a long preparation for those who were involved. Series of meetings had to be conducted between the St. Joseph Parish through Rev. Fr. Rey Jostol, parish priest, MFC Tacloban, San Jose Manlurip Pedicab Operator Driver’s Association (SANJOMPODA) and the No One In Need Movement. They had to make sure that information was well communicated and the plans were well coordinated. Also part of the requisites was the pedicab drivers’ involvement in the Life in Christ Seminar, which thankfully, they actively participated in. 

All the efforts for the store were inspired by the stakeholders’ desire to uplift the dignity of these pedicab drivers. That even if they have their primary source of income, they can still improve their ways of living through an additional livelihood. The success of this project is an exemplification of the people’s willingness to collaborate in order to help boost the lives of their brethrens. Currently, the store, located by the highway, is a go to shop for the locals who are in need of buying rice and pedicab spare parts. There are high hopes for this store that it will be a driving force for significant change in the pedicab drivers’ lives. That it will be a solid reminder that there is always hope and an opportunity to succeed in life.