His Name Is Reynaldo Carcillar The Pedicab Driver

His name is Reynaldo Carcillar: The pedicab driver whose death has sparked debate and introspection

On June 21, 2023, a rainy Friday evening, Reynaldo Carcillar was found lying motionless in the gutter on a sidewalk near the North and South Gates of De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila. He had suffered either a heart attack or a stroke while transporting a passenger on his pedicab, which he named "John and Denver" after his two sons. He was 52 years old.

His death sparked a viral reaction online, as a student from DLSU, Christopher Chanco, posted a Facebook account of what he witnessed that night. He claimed that nobody stopped to help Carcillar, except for two security guards from DLSU who administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), one Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) guard, and two police officers. He also said that none of the cabs or cars he hailed stopped at the scene, until a barangay tanod (village watchman) named Agot Perez agreed to take Carcillar to Ospital Ng Maynila.

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Chanco also criticized the DLSU administration and security office for not allowing Carcillar to enter the DLSU Clinic for medical assistance, citing that it would require permission from them. He questioned the University's protocols on assisting outsiders, especially those who are poor and marginalized.

Carcillar's wife, Carmencita, said that her husband had his first heart attack in 2009, but she was able to revive him. She said that he had been working as a pedicab driver for more than 20 years, earning around 300 pesos ($6) a day. She said that he was a good husband and father, who loved his family and his job.

Carcillar's death was not the only one that involved a pedicab driver near DLSU. A week earlier, another pedicab driver named Jonas Mateo was stabbed to death by the companion of a thief within DLSU's peripheries. Mateo was trying to chase the thief who snatched his passenger's bag. He was also taken to Ospital Ng Maynila by his nephew, John Paul Escovido, who drove his pedicab. Escovido said that nobody else helped them, except for some DLSU agents who chased and caught the suspect, Jimmy Liban.

These incidents prompted discussion and debate on social media and online forums about the University's policies on helping outsiders, especially those who are in need of urgent medical attention. Some netizens expressed sympathy and outrage over the deaths of Carcillar and Mateo, while others defended the University's actions and pointed out the risks and liabilities involved in such situations.

Following the viral reaction online, several organizations launched donation drives to provide monetary assistance and support for the families of Carcillar and Mateo. These donation drives were done in the span of one week and amassed funds enough to cover the estimated expenses for funeral services of the drivers.

The deaths of Carcillar and Mateo also raised awareness and concern over the plight of pedicab drivers in Manila, who face daily hardships and dangers in their work. Pedicabs are non-motorized vehicles that are powered by human pedaling. They are often used as a mode of transportation in narrow streets and congested areas where other vehicles cannot access. Pedicab drivers earn meager incomes from their fares, which are usually negotiated with their passengers. They also have to deal with traffic, pollution, weather, harassment, extortion, and violence.

His name is Reynaldo Carcillar. His name is Jonas Mateo. They were pedicab drivers who died while doing their jobs. Their deaths have sparked debate and introspection on how we treat our fellow human beings, especially those who are less fortunate than us. Their deaths have also highlighted the need for better policies and programs that will protect and support pedicab drivers and other informal workers in our society.

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