‘Pay it forward foundation’ of ‘harmful’ bus company

The April 12 issue of the Inquirer carried a feature story about the “philanthropist arm” of one of our country’s bigger bus companies (“Victory Liner pays it forward through foundation,” Sunday Biz).

As one of the many unfortunate victims of this bus company, I am led to suggest and remind all those concerned that true charity comes from a clean heart and a clear conscience.

To many people, Victory Liner is a notorious bus firm that sows chaos in and destroys every neighborhood where it fancies to locate a bus terminal. In fact, it forces itself on any place where it wants to do business even if it is unlawful or causes harm to people.

In 1994, Victory Liner managed to open a rear gate at its terminal along our street, a once peaceful residential area. All our valid complaints to the authorities were ignored: Victory Liner was too rich, powerful and influential.

Denver Street in Cubao, Quezon City, is not an isolated case. Victory Liner has done the same in many other places. I have had chance encounters with quite a number of Victory Liner victims, and all have the same painful experience they could never forget.

And now comes this foundation prominently featured in the Biz Section of the Inquirer—very misleading because it has no author and no indication as to whether or not it is an advertisement. Did Doña Marta T. Hernandez forget to instill in her children the importance of respect for the rights of others? Otherwise, the foundation named after her would have been more credible and noteworthy.

—CONSTANCIA ALIWALAS, Cubao, Quezon City