Eyes on the prize: One man rides high to reach his goal

For people who are steadfast in their resolve to achieve their dreams, there is no stopping them. GrabCar driver-partner Roderick (Rick) Archivo Raba agrees, saying that while life isn’t a walk in the park, he believes he is destined  for something more, and because of his hard work and perseverance, he has successfully achieved what he has set out to do…and more

Raba’s father (who used to own a chlorination business that serviced water districts and local utilities) wanted him to become a mechanical engineer so he could eventually take over the business. Instead, Raba enrolled and graduated with a vocational-technical certificate in automotive mechanics, a far cry from his father’s original dream. “Bata pa, mahilig na talaga ako sa kotse. Sa 13 kaming magkakapatid, ako lang ang natutong mag-drive. At dahil sa vocational course ko, nahasa na lang din ako sa pagme-mekaniko. Ang pangarap ko lang talaga noon pa ay magkaroon ng sariling kotse (I was really fond of cars since I was young. Out of 13 children in the family, I am the only one who knows how to drive. And because of my vocational course, I also became adept in fixing and maintaining cars. My only dream since I was young is to have my own car),” the 47-year-old Novaliches native said. 

Given his educational background and passion, Raba then worked as a driver for one of the leading global petrochemical companies, where he delivered motor and engine oils and lubricants to as far as Batangas and Pangasinan. Although he claims he valued the camaraderie in the workplace, the tasks simply became too stressful thus, in 2019, he was compelled to resign after 13 years in the company. 

That same year, he found out that a good friend, who used to be a Purchaser Manager of a company, resigned and spent his separation pay to purchase a car and joined Grab. Inspired by his friend’s journey, Raba then approached another friend who operates GrabCar units and convinced him to let him drive at least one of the vehicles. He then proceeded to be a GrabCar driver-partner, paying a weekly boundary to his operator-friend. Only a year later, the height of the global pandemic, left Raba with no means to make ends meet for his family. With his initial earnings from Grab, he and his wife Rachel decided to establish their sari-sari store business which kept their family afloat. Raba didn’t let any opportunity to earn pass him by, as he would accept personal driving services within their area, while also doing sideline driving and delivery for big and small companies in need of his service.

As the pandemic restrictions eased up, his operator-friend offered to sell him the same sedan which he used to drive.

Raba agreed to assume the car’s balance for two years, and the monthly boundary thereafter. “Tuluy-tuloy ang biyahe ko araw-araw. Pero kapag madaling araw na ako natapos sa byahe, the next day hapon na ako uli babiyahe, para may konting pahinga. Pero kailangan sabay kami ng asawa ko mag-almusal, kahit gaano ka-busy. Kaya pinursige ko talaga dahil malaki pa rin naman ang kita ko sa Grab. Nakatulong din na may tindahan kami.(I worked nonstop, But if I complete my trips at dawn, I will resume work in the afternoon of the next day, so I’m well rested. I also make it a point to have breakfast with my wife, no matter how busy. I really persevered and somehow, I still earn a lot from Grab. Good thing we also have our store),” Raba sighed. 

However, when asked why he has that certain glow on his face now, despite those financially tough times, he revealed: “Huling hulog ko na po itong buwan na ‘to. Kumpleto ko na yung bayad ko sa kotse. masasabi ko nang, sa wakas, may kotse na ako! (This month would be my last payment. I have completed my monthly payment.I have my own car now!),” Raba beamed, knowing that he has finally fulfilled his singular childhood dream. 

Being a GrabCar driver-partner, Raba maintains certain values and attitude—all of which he has learned from his training and seminars with Grab. Respect should be practiced all the time, he explained, starting with keeping his vehicle clean all the time, greeting every passenger with a smile, and helping them load in any baggage. Further, he adheres to all traffic rules, observes the required speed during navigation, while maintaining an ideal braking distance. When a passenger inadvertently leaves something in his vehicle, Raba also goes the extra mile and travels to where he dropped the passenger off, to personally return it. On several occasions, he has been rewarded with huge tips from passengers who appreciate his service. 

“Maliban sa incentives, maganda talaga ang kita sa Grab. Sa Grab, kapag masipag ka, maganda ang kikitain mo sa isang araw. Kung may gusto akong bilhin, halimbawa, o may kailangan na project ang anak ko, ibyahe ko lang nang extra, makukuha talaga sa ilang oras lang (Apart from incentives, Grab really pays a lot. With Grab, hard work leads to good earnings . If I want to buy something, for instance, or if my son has requirements for a school project, I just do extra trips, and I’m good),” Raba expounded. 

Raba’s motivation and inspiration will still and always be his family. The first thing Raba intends to do is to treat his wife and children out for a special meal and give back to his mother. Raba is proud of his children who he sent to school, thanks to his Grab earnings. His two daughters are now working, while his youngest son is still in high school. 

To beat boredom in the midst of a long day’s work, Raba takes time to rest in between trips, meets up with his fellow GrabCar driver-partners and drivers, bonds with them over coffee and conversations, their own simple way of unwinding and de-stressing. The group regarded him as a valuable asset because of his automotive mechanic expertise, and sometimes, Raba would teach and share basic automotive skills during these midday breaks. He also responds and helps his fellow drivers having car trouble on the road, when he can. To date, Raba has convinced two more friends to become like him, a happy and contented GrabCar driver-partner as he also wants to share his journey. 

Looking back, Raba couldn’t help but be proud of how his seeds of sacrifices and hard work have harvested for him a blessed life. “Dahil sa Grab, napag-aral ko ang mga anak ko, nagkaroon ako ng sari-sari store, at higit sa lahat, nakapag-pundar pa ako ng sarili kong sasakyan, na dati ko pang pinapangarap. May awa talaga ang Diyos, magpursige ka lang sa pangarap mo, ibibigay talaga sa ‘yo (Because of Grab, I was able to send my children to school, we have established our store, and most importantly, I have purchased my own car, something which I have always dreamed of. The Lord is merciful, and when you persevere, your dreams will be given to you),” he smiled. 

Five or 10 years from now, Raba is certain that he will still be with Grab…as a GrabCar operator maybe? No one knows, he said. For now, he is still basking in this feeling of being able to finally achieve his lifelong dream. Months from now, he will surely set his mind and heart to achieve a fresh new goal, he said. Indeed, without goals and plans to reach them, all of us are merely vehicles that drive on without any destination. But for people like Raba who have their eyes set on their goals, eventually succeeding and achieving them, they definitely know what they want and where they’re going. 

INQUIRER.net BrandRoom/JC