00:00From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to the continuation of the PUV modernization program and the ongoing oil price hike,
00:11the Jeepney drivers faced many trials.
00:14We followed the experience of one of them.
00:17His hope for his sick child is still alive.
00:22His story in the special report of Niko Wahe.
00:30Waking up early in the morning,
00:39going home late at night.
00:43This is usually the daily life of Jeepney drivers.
00:48Early in the morning, they go to the market to earn a lot of money.
01:01I first met Jameson in March 2022.
01:07At that time, drivers like him were poor.
01:11Not only because of the pandemic, but also because of the high price of oil.
01:17He reached the point where he gave up his rented house and just lived in a Jeep that he rented to save money.
01:26He brings his income to his family in Romblon.
01:30Aside from his daily expenses, a large part of his income goes to the needs of his child,
01:36who has imperfect anus or has no hole in the bottom.
01:40What I earn in a day is 400 pesos.
01:46The other two are for him.
01:50Sometimes, I feel like crying when I think of them.
01:57Even if I don't have anything to eat, I have something to give them.
02:11Three years ago, we brought Jameson back to him.
02:16He is still in the process of getting a Jeep that he is saving for his family.
02:21This Jeep, which Jameson calls his body,
02:25is the one he used in 2022 when we last interviewed him.
02:29Until now, he is still with Jameson.
02:33According to him, he is always with him no matter how hard it is.
02:38When you interviewed me, sir,
02:41I was still sleeping there for eight months.
02:48He told me that when the COVID-19 pandemic hit,
02:52he was able to recover his income and he was able to send his family to Manila from Romblon.
02:58Before I sent them here, I got a house to live in.
03:06When I sent them here, I couldn't find a house to live in.
03:13We were able to sleep in the Jeep.
03:16But Jameson thought that he was able to recover his income.
03:20He was worried.
03:23When the government implemented the POV Modernization Program,
03:27he thought that he would lose his job.
03:31I was worried because I didn't know where to get food for them
03:43because I only know how hard it is to be a Jeepney driver.
03:49Even though it was a long process,
03:52now, the franchise of the Jeep that Jameson is selling has been consolidated.
03:56There has been a change in his income.
04:00The previous P50 that he earned is now P300.
04:05He is now giving it directly to his wife.
04:08I doubled my salary in Manila.
04:13If you want to buy a house in Manila, you need to have a good salary.
04:19When you interviewed me, sir,
04:22at 6 p.m., I was already working.
04:27Now, it's 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. because they are already here.
04:32Even though I am struggling, at least I am with them.
04:38I am happy.
04:41To make the situation of Jameson's family better,
04:44we decided to help him get treatment for his son, Kian.
04:48We brought him to the Philippine Children's Medical Center for an operation.
04:53We call this operation PSARP.
04:56P-S-A-R-P or Posterior Sagittal Anorectoplasty.
05:01This is the operation.
05:03They don't cut the stomach.
05:06It's right there in the stomach.
05:08We will look for it.
05:10It should be in the area of his rectum,
05:14but it's not there. It's empty.
05:16It's closed.
05:18Kian doesn't have a connection.
05:21His stomach is not open or closed.
05:27The operation was a success for Kian.
05:30The doctor said that Kian needs to be taken care of,
05:34especially that he has Down syndrome.
05:39Jameson has high hopes that his dream of having a healthy son will come true.
05:44I cannot explain how happy I am
05:49because finally, my dream will come true.
05:57Nowadays, every trip of Jameson is more chaotic.
06:01He has been through a lot.
06:03There are many ups and downs,
06:05but he still has time to rest and relax.
06:08Now, he can save his strength for the next day of PASADA and Paikibaka.
06:15This is the first news for GMA Integrated News.
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