Driving Force: Reasons why this single mom is her son’s superhero

Motherhood can be both challenging and rewarding but it takes an exceptionally strong woman to be a single mom.  Jhoan “Jho” Deriada’s journey is all about strength and resilience. A GrabFood rider based in Bacolod City, she singlehandedly raised his only son, and never gave up even when life was tough because she knows that above all things, a mother’s unconditional love for her son is more than enough to keep her going. 

“Sobrang hirap ng pinagdaanan ko.  Lahat halos na trabaho napasukan ko na para lang may makain lang kami ng anak ko, may pambayad sa kuwarto na inuupahan naming mag-ina, at makapag-aral siya nang maayos.  Naging encoder ako sa isang department store, naging Liaison Officer ako sa isang travel & tours company, pati pagiging crew sa isang fast-food chain, tapos night shift naman ako sa isang bar.  Naranasan ko lahat yan.  Hindi naman ako pwedeng mapili ng trabaho dahil hanggang first year college lang ako (I’ve been through a lot.  I have worked in almost all kinds of jobs so my son and I will have something to eat, pay the rent, and send him to school.  I was an encoder for a department store, a Liaison Officer for a travel & tours company, and even worked as a crew in a fast-food chain, while taking on night shifts at a bar.  I’ve experienced all that. I couldn’t be choosy in the type of work I get since I only finished first year in college),” Jho shared.  

When her son was growing up, she realized her minimum wage was no longer sufficient to make ends meet, so, she temporarily left her son in the care of her in-laws—one of the most heart-rending decisions she had to make—so she can be an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).  After six challenging years as a domestic helper in Kuwait, she was forced to leave her job after enduring a traumatic experience with her employer, a situation that could have ended much worse. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life.  Through hard work and determination, she invested in a home for her parents and opened a sari-sari store, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit and desire to provide a better life for her son, her sole inspiration.  

After marrying and giving birth to her son when she was only 25 years old, Jho faced further challenges when her parents disapproved of her husband due to his struggles with drug addiction, leading to a painful separation from her spouse. Despite these hardships, Jho remained steadfast in her commitment to her son Christian Paul, now 22, a loud and proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and a consistent Dean’s Lister (“Oh yes, I’m a proud mother and ally!” Jho exclaimed). Her dedication paid off when Christian Paul graduated from Carlos Hilado Memorial State University with a degree in Education in June this year. He is currently working as a call center agent, while waiting for the Licensure Examinations for Teachers in February 2025.  He often speaks proudly of his mother, actively advocating for the dignity of being a Grab driver and crediting her hard work for his educational achievements.

Jho started as an online food delivery rider (for another app), but her relentless pursuit of a better opportunity culminated in her long-awaited entry into the Grab platform, after a three-year wait.  “Sa tood lang, ako ang una nga food delivery driver nga babaye nga naka-motor diri sa Bacolod! Kada makita nila nga babaye ang rider, gaka-kibot sila.  Pero kabalo ko nga ga-admire sila sa akon kay risky akon ubra, especially sa gab-i (Truth to tell, I was the first woman delivery rider on a motorbike here in Bacolod.  Every time they realized that their delivery rider is a woman, they are usually shocked.  But I know they admire me because my livelihood is risky, especially at night),” the 48-year-old Ilongga shared.  

Jho could not even put to words how Grab helped sustain them and changed their lives, highlighting that her daily income now (plus all the incentives she receives) is far more than the pay she used to receive as an OFW.  In fact, she has replaced her old motorcycle with a spanking new one and wants to revive her sari-sari store business soon, now that she has extra funds.  Even then, Jho remains motivated to earn more, revving up her engine at 2am and goes around the City of Smiles until 6am, then goes home to have breakfast and catch up with the sleep she missed.  At around 10am, she goes back to work during peak lunch hours and delivers food orders to cities as far as Talisay, Silay, and even Victorias, and calls it a day at 7pm, or earlier, when she reaches her daily quota or when she’s simply tired.  

“Bale every day ako bumabiyahe, kahit umuulan.  The best gid gani kung ga-ulan kay damu orders. Siyempre, indi na sila ya mag-gwa sa balay, ma-order na lang na sila ya. May raincoat man kami kag fully geared man.  Kag naga-remind gid na si Grab nga kung kapoy or natuyo, pahigad kag pahuway.  Ginasunod ko na, gapahuway gid ko, para may ibato naman ah.  Amo gid na kung single parent, wala ko ya saligan para sa amon sang bata ko, lawas ko lang (I deliver daily even when it’s raining.  Rainy days are actually the best, because we usually get so many orders. Of course, people won’t go out to eat if it’s raining so they will just order food online.  We have raincoats and I am fully geared.  Also, Grab always reminds us that if we are tired or sleepy, we should slow down and rest.  I follow that, I rest, so I can recharge and have the strength to fight again. That’s how it is as a single parent.  I don’t have someone to support me and my son.  I only have myself),” Jho explained.  

With Grab, Jho and her son have savored meals they can only dreamed of enjoying before and explored various places around the city. Their dining experiences—such as relishing buffets during Grab events—are novel and they both cherish these moments together. Jho is grateful to Grab for the opportunity to provide for her son and the financial capacity to send him to a good school thus, when asked if she is proud to be a GrabFood delivery rider, she has only this to say: “Of course! Ngaa indi abi? Proud gani bata ko sa akon kay nagdaku siya nga babaye ang nagadala pagkaon sa balay.  Hambal nya, Mama, sang una daw halos indi ta ka-kaon, subong anytime, bisan ano gusto ta kaunon, mabakal ta na kag makaon (Of course, why not? My son is proud of me because he grew up knowing that I, a woman, bring food to the table.  He said Mama, we could hardly eat before, but now, we can buy and enjoy whatever food we like, anytime),” Jho almost teared up.  

Translation: “This is it, Ma! This is ours!”

Looking back at her hard knock life, losing her parents at an early age and not having anyone to support her financially and otherwise, Jho deeply appreciates how Grab threw her a lifeline when she needed it the most. But even now when her son has already finished college and is earning his own money, she assures that she will never ‘graduate’ from being a GrabFood delivery rider.  “Na-achieve ko na ang gusto ko para sa bata ko.  Siling nya gusto nya mag-abroad para makabulig sa akon.  Pero ang mga bata ta, obligasyon ta ina sila pa-eskwelahon kag tagaan sila mayo nga bwas-damlag.  Kung maging successful sila, ila na ya para sa kaugalingon nila. Enjoy nila iya sweldo.  Indi na sila dapat i-obligar mo nga saguron ka. Batunon ko kung may ihatag siya pero permi ko siya gina-remind nga indi nya ako responsibilidad (I have already achieved everything I wanted for my son. He told me he wants to work abroad so she could pay me back.  But it is our obligation to send our children to school and provide them with a better future. If they become successful, they owe it to themselves, they should enjoy their hard-earned money.  If he offers, I will accept, but I always remind him that I am not his responsibility),” mommy Jho lovingly explained. 

Moving forward, she dreams of a home of their own within the next two years, alongside securing insurance and building savings for their future. Jho believes in the vision of Grab and is immensely grateful for how it has transformed their lives. She finds joy in being part of the growing Grab women’s community, where members uplift and empower one another, reinforcing her commitment to her work and her aspirations.  Happy and content the way things are, Jho doesn’t aspire for anything more but ‘status quo’, as she knows she and her son are getting prepped for the bright future that they truly deserve. 

Women of steel who are esteemed for their strength and grace did not get that way because stuff worked out. They achieved all that because their life went wrong, but they handled it perfectly. So, single moms like GrabFood delivery rider Jho are to be respected for having the courage to rise from it all—alone—and for having the strength to never give up on the kind of love that puts his son’s needs always before her own. Indeed, Jho has proven that while there may be no way for someone to be a perfect mom, she has done more than a million ways to be that singular good one.  Truly, she deserves to be her son’s ‘She-ro’. 

INQUIRER.net BrandRoom/JC

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

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In order to move forward, we must give back: How one man’s past helped secure the future of others