ANGELES CITY – The search for the best jeepney and tricycle drivers in this city culminated in a show of talent and skills at the SM City Clark here on Wednesday.
Dubbed: The Search For The Ultimate JODA (Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association) and TODA (Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association) King 2013, the contest produced the most photogenic, most friendly, best in casual and sports wears, as well as the best in talent and most handsome drivers.
Herminia Pamintuan, wife of Mayor Ed Pamintuan, said the contest aims to instil discipline among the drivers’ ranks by educating them in basic courtesy to mold them as “tourists’ drivers” because the city is flocked by both local and foreign tourists.
“This is already our third season. This is our first step in making these drivers to become not only drivers but also tourist guides,” she said citing Davao and Puerto Prinsesa in Palawan which are both favorite tourists’ destinations that have friendly drivers who also act as tourists’ guides.
Proclaimed winners as Mr. Photogenic and Mr. Congeniality were Elmer Mamangun and Jose Dialam for JODA and John Andrei Catacutan and Marvin Bayugan for TODA.
The top two performers were Almando Acut and Eduardo De Asis for JODA and Teodolfo Sales Jr. and Romeo Reyes for TODA.
The audience had a blast watching the top two performers especially the performance of Sales where he impersonated action star Lito Lapid. Sales became an instant action star with his arnis stunts as the judges were on their feet during at the end of this performance.
Adjudged the Best Tsuper Looks and Best in Talent where Leo Cabrero and Teodoro Atriano for JODA while Leonardo De Asis bagged both awards for JODA.
The casual wear and the sportswear winner for JODA was John Ruel Reyes while Teodoro Atriano and Leo Cabrero were proclaimed winners for TODA. The panel of judges were led by set designer and Mutya ng Pilipinas Central Luzon organizer Tan Lucas, SM City Clark manager Ana Datu, Mutya Ning Angeles organizer Roland Alcantara, actress and the Philippine representative to the World Musical Performing Arts 2013 Danica Reynes and theater actress MG Manialung.
The event, which was hosted by Augie Dizon, Ozanne Ono Ocampo and Alyssa Mae San Pedro, was organized by the Angeles City Tourism Offi ce in cooperation with Mayor Pamintuan and the Angeles City Traffic Enforcement and Transport Management Office.
–Michael Canlas, Charmane Cayanan, Yeo Intaek/SPCF-OJT
