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First published in hardcover by UST Publishing House, 2009

First paperback edition, 2009
Online e-book version 2009
Printed in the Republic of the Philippines

Book and layout design by Daniel Palma Tayona

Cover (Ama at Anak: Simbang Gabi) and jacket (Mahusay) artworks by Anthony E. Palomo
Photography by Mike Cheung
 My father’s aging jeepney
was the first jeepney to ply
the streets of Barangay
Pastol. It is said that no one
who is from Pastol would
fail to recognize or ride
Tatay’s jeepney.
Children from our place
who were baptized and
sweethearts who had met
and married would have
been driven to church in
Tatay’s jeepney. School-
children from Barangay
Pastol would have been
brought to school in Tatay’s
jeepney.
 My father’s jeepney has been witness to those who have left and have come back to Pastol,
has heard the hearty laughter of friends meeting again after a long while, and has listened to
the cries of families left behind by those working abroad.
 My father is a skillful driver. The people of Pastol say that they prefer Tatay’s smooth
driving to the reckless way that others drive. They are sure to reach their destination safely
and soundly. Tatay does not blare his horn unnecessarily nor too loudly, nor does he brake
suddenly when driving.
He can go through the narrowest streets with nary a scratch or dent. I haven’t seen him
lose his cool when driving. Thus, Tatay became everyone’s model of a good driver in
Barangay Pastol.
 “If you hire Mang Tomas’ jeepney, you
won’t have anything to worry about,” I
overheard some people talking.
“As long as Mang Tomas is the driver,
I am willing to go. Any other person’s
driving makes me nauseous,” said Lola
Kadyang.
“If you’re not familiar with the place
you’re going to, just ask Mang Tomas.
He has the memory of a map!”
exclaimed my barber.
A number of couples even believe
that Tatay’s old jeepney brought
them good luck in their early years
of marriage.
 Tatay’s jeepney is very
well-maintained. Although
it is an old jeepney, it is
surely better than even the
most expensive or latest
model of vehicle. Tatay can
tell what needs fixing just
by listening to every
squeak and clink that it
makes. He also makes sure
to clean and wash his jeep
every Sunday.
 “This jeepney is our
lucky charm,” Tatay told
me while he was polishing
the bumper of the jeep.
“Without this jeepney,
do you think your Ate
would be able to finish
school? Do you think I
would be able to send
your Kuya to study in
Manila? So, make sure to
study well. A good
education is the only
legacy I can give you and
your siblings,” Tatay said.
 “A newly-washed and polished jeep looks sturdier and seems faster,” Tatay would always
tell me.
“It is a handsome jeepney, ‘Tay,” I once told him.
“But of course! Where else would it get its good looks but from us?” Tatay joked.
It seemed like our laughter would never end.
 I would often accompany Tatay on his jeepney route, especially on weekends or holidays.
I would be in charge of getting the fare or giving the change of the passengers. While waiting
for passengers at the jeepney terminal, I would never forget to place a piece of rock under
the jeep’s wheel so that it wouldn’t roll off accidentally. I would also wipe the side mirrors
and fill the radiator with water.
Thus, there are no delays or problems once Tatay plies his route. All our passengers arrive
safely home. All get to their destination.
 Because Tatay’s jeepney is always
so full that some passengers even
choose to stand by the entrance-
way at the back and cling to the
handle bars, the people of Pastol
also say that Tatay can bring good
luck to everything that he touches.
I thought, no wonder our
mangoes, santol, atis, caimito,
watermelons, chico, and banaba
thrive and always bear much fruit!
We always get bountiful harvests of
string beans, okra, ampalaya, and
other vegetables! That’s why our
pets and farm animals, like the
carabao, cows, goats, pigs, dogs,
ducks, and chickens never get sick!
 “Does Tatay have a magic touch? Why does everything he touch become productive?
Why do all his plants bear much fruit? And why do all our pets and farm animals grow in
number?” I would ask myself in wonder.
 One afternoon, Tatay told me a story.
“Do you know why our jeepney is a lucky charm? On December 16, 1999, at four o’clock
in the morning, a healthy baby boy was born in our old jeep.”
“Really?” I exclaimed.
“Yes. It was the first of the dawn masses before Christmas. We were on our way to church
when this woman began to feel her birthing pains. The baby was born before we could reach
the hospital. So, it was the cry of a newborn that I heard that early morning,” Tatay narrated.
 “Do you know who that
woman was? And who the
newborn baby was? Don’t
you notice anything about
the birth date of that
child?” Tatay asked in
succession.
I was enthralled by
Tatay’s story.
“You were that baby
who was born in our
jeep. You were given to
us by God on the first
dawn mass.”
 No wonder I shared the same birthday as the baby in Tatay’s story.
“However, it was a difficult pregnancy for your mother. Although she knew of the risk to
her health, she wanted you to be born. You are the best gift that we received. On that day
the Lord gave you to us, He also took your mother. She made me promise to take good care
of you,” Tatay said as his voice began to break.
 “There is a belief that if a child is born in a vehicle, that vehicle is blest. Because a new life
was born in it, the passengers of that vehicle will have long and safe lives. You, my son, are
the lucky charm of our family.”
I then understood why Tatay took great care of our old jeepney. For every day that he
drove it, it brought us food on our table, a good education for my siblings and me, money to
buy books for Ate Perla and Kuya Nonon, and just enough party food for a modest
celebration on each of our birthdays. That’s why we always have a good harvest. And that’s
why our farm animals bring abundance. And, that is why I have felt no absence of a mother’s
love — because Tatay had always taken good care of all of us.
 So, my child, if your
teacher asks where you
were born, tell her that you
were born in our old
jeepney,” joked Tatay as he
ruffled up my hair.
My father is the greatest!
 One Saturday, Tatay’s
rest day, I rode our old
jeepney. I sat on the
driver’s soft seat and
pretended to hold the
steering wheel as if I were
driving. I honked the
horn. I steered to the
right, then to the left. I
honked again and
glanced at the side
mirror. Stepped on the
brake pedal. Parked.
When I am grown-up, I want to be a great driver like Tatay.
I want to bring people to their destinations.
I want to fetch those who want to come home to Barangay Pastol.
I want to welcome those returning from abroad.
 I want to listen to the animated talk and laughter of folks who have not seen each other
in a long time.
I want to go to far places, swiftly yet safely.
I would like to continue witnessing all the happy occasions, like weddings, baptisms,
graduations, and more — while driving Tatay’s jeepney.
 I held on to the jeepney’s
steering wheel. I wished for all
of my dreams to come true.
Then I felt as if I had indeed
traveled far.
As I gripped the steering
wheel and settled comfortably
in the driver’s seat, I felt as if
Tatay were holding my hand
and as if Nanay were hugging
me tightly. It was a warm and
secure feeling. I felt very safe.
I knew that I would always
be guided in every path I
choose to take.
 (For my beloved father,
Mang Tomas, the best driver in
the whole world.)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
GENARO R. GOJO CRUZ grew up in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. He earned his degree in Social Science from
Philippine Normal College, and has won numerous writing awards, including the Palanca Award, Gawad Ka Amado,
Gawad Collantes sa Pagsulat ng Tula at Sanaysay, Ninoy Poetry Writing Contest, and the PBBY-Writers Prize.
He presently teaches at Philippine Normal College, while pursuing his masters degree in Philippine Studies as a
scholar at De La Salle University in Manila.
During his spare time, Genaro tells stories to, and teaches street children in Binondo, Manila.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

ANTHONY E. PALOMO graduated from the University of the Philippines with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. He also
completed certificate programs in Advertising at Maryknoll College and in Electronics at the University of Santo Tomas.
Recognized as one of the best watercolor artists in the country, Anthony was a member of the legendary Grupong
Salingpusa. His work is also influenced by four years of work as an overseas Filipino in Malaysia.
Anthony’s artworks for “Ang Dyip ni Mang Tomas” were showcased at the prestigious Ayala
Museum in Makati City, Philippines.