Kalbaryo.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Conrado De Quiros

I WAS one of those who applauded what Darwin Calvario did, and I am happy that he has reaped the rewards of his honesty. Calvario is the tricycle driver from Gen. Santos City whose deed has now become part of urban legend, the legend of cab/jeepney/tricycle drivers and post office clerks returning money they find in their premises.

Calvario's case is a little more dramatic. Not least because of his name, which as our correspondent, Aquiles Zonio noted, is cruelly apt. Calvario lives a life of Calvary: he is as poor as a church (or mosque?) mouse and cannot afford an operation for his two-year-old son who suffers from an anus that isn't open. The results of that affliction you see in the picture that appeared on page 6 of our Saturday issue: His belly is bloated.

One day a couple of weeks ago, Fate dropped on Calvario a magnificent gift. It took the form of a bag he found on his tricycle containing P270,000 in checks and P26,000 in cash. The money could easily pay for the operation and leave something extra for him and his family. His fellow tricycle drivers advised him not to look a gift horse in the mouth and use the money to good purpose. But Calvario refused. Against the prodding of his fellows and the pounding of his needs, he decided to seek out the identity of Fate.

Next day, he went to Radyo Bombo to report it. And soon enough, Fate came rushing in in the form of Sarah Joe, a businesswoman. The grateful Joe immediately gave Calvario P6,000 and a sack of rice.

Calvario's honesty also did not go unnoticed by the wider public, and soon enough well-wishes, and more importantly cash and tangible rewards, began streaming his way. The mayor pledged to pay for his son's operation, but a doctor topped this by saying he would do the operation for free. The PCSO, GMA7's Kapuso Foundation and ABS-CBN's Bantay Bata all dropped by and expressed their willingness to help. Truly, one good deed deserves another.