ANGELES CITY—Long before sunrise, tricycle and delivery riders queued outside Beautéderm headquarters in Barangay Sto. Domingo here, eager to secure their slots for the second round of Biyaheng Kalinga on April 17.
By mid-morning, hundreds had registered, each one hopeful for the relief that free gasoline and rice would bring.
Beautéderm, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Balibago, distributed ₱500 worth of gasoline and two kilos of rice to 600 riders. The initiative, which began as a modest outreach, has grown into a movement of compassion.
Beautéderm CEO Rei Anicoche-Tan explained why the company decided to hold a second round. “It’s because the feeling was so good. I thought no one would go, but when I arrived from Manila, there were already so many people in line. That’s why we were convinced to go for Round 2.”
She added that the ₱500 subsidy was enough for a full tank, giving riders three to four days of uninterrupted work. “For them, that means more income and more food on the table.”
The Rotary Club of Balibago mobilized its members, while local businessmen pitched in with goods and cash donations to expand the program’s reach. What began as assistance for 500 riders grew to 620 beneficiaries, including Beautéderm employees and delivery staff.
Riders expressed heartfelt thanks: “Maraming salamat po kay Ma’am Rei at sa Beautéderm family. Binigay po nila sa amin na gas at bigas, malaking tulong po.” Another added, “Nagpapasalamat po kami sa Rotary Club of Balibago at sa Beautéderm. God bless po.”
For Anicoche-Tan, Biyaheng Kalinga is part of a larger tradition of philanthropy. Long before the pandemic, she had been consistent in giving back—donating proceeds from her ventures to cancer patients and other causes.
“No matter what crisis we’re going through, I’ll be here as long as I can. It feels so good. The people are so kind,” she said.
Round 2 of Biyaheng Kalinga did not end with the distribution of fuel and rice. It ended with riders heading home with lighter burdens and fuller hearts, proof that compassion can be as tangible as a tank of gas and a sack of rice. In a city where every kilometer is hard-earned, the gesture stood as a quiet but powerful reminder: when communities choose to care, the road ahead becomes less daunting, and the journey more bearable.
