Grab Honors Real Lives of Its Riders With ‘Itatawid, Ihahatid’
Now in its second year, “Itatawid, Ihahatid” continues to spotlight the often-overlooked dedication of Grab driver- and delivery-partners — everyday heroes who go the extra mile not just for passengers and customers, but for the families who rely on them.
This year’s campaign features two viral short films inspired by real stories—those of a senior GrabCar driver and a determined female GrabFood cyclist. More than just testimonials of grit, these stories reveal a shared reality among drivers and riders: behind every booking is a mission, one that transforms individual journeys into opportunities for entire families.
In the heat of a Manila afternoon, 63-year-old Ronald “Ronni” Petterson grips the steering wheel of his GrabCar with precision. He is simply a dedicated transport professional and father still providing. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Mary Joy Flores leans over the handlebars of her bicycle, weaving through traffic with practice. A GrabFood delivery bag is strapped securely to her back, but the real weight she carries is more profound: the needs of five other lives that depend on her.
They come from different generations, but Ronni and Mary Joy are bound by the same road — one paved by Grab’s expanding ecosystem of support for its driver- and delivery-partners. Through financial programs, digital training, education assistance, and emergency aid, the platform is building more than livelihoods. It’s helping build futures.
Ronni Petterson, 63: A New Chapter Behind the Wheel
Ronni’s face may be familiar to some. The former corporate trainer and television extra has always been a man of many roles — but perhaps none as meaningful to him now as being a GrabCar driver-partner.
“I get to meet people, help them get where they need to be, and still provide for my family. At my age, that’s a gift,” he says.
More than a job, Grab has offered Ronni the tools to thrive. He is a regular user of GrabAcademy, the company’s in-app learning platform where he picks up tutorials on customer service, digital literacy, and financial management. “The videos are there anytime I need them. That’s important, especially for someone like me still catching up with the digital world,” he says.
Like many partners, Ronni also turned to GrabFinance’s GrabAsenso Loans during a period of financial need. “It’s deducted gradually from my daily earnings — you hardly notice it, but before you know it, you’re done paying. That kind of flexibility matters.”
In the first quarter of 2025, Ronni was among the thousands of partners who received Ka-Grab Rewards – Grab’s incentives scheme for its top performing driver-partners – entitling him to performance incentives, vouchers, and discounts at pharmacies like Generika. “They text me when I can claim my discount. I just show up, no hassle,” he smiles.
For Ronni, the road ahead isn’t just about driving — it’s about staying an active, productive, and proud senior citizen on the road.
Mary Joy Flores, 22: Delivering Hope with Every Order
Mary Joy has worn many hats: construction worker, computer shop attendant, and more. But none of those jobs gave her the consistency, flexibility, or empowerment she now finds as a GrabFood cyclist.
As the breadwinner for her baby and four younger brothers, every delivery is part of a larger mission: “After December, I was finally able to buy shoes, school bags, and uniforms for my siblings,” she shares.
Like Ronni, she tapped into GrabFinance’s GrabAsenso Loans during tough moments — micro-loans designed with partners like her in mind. Instead of a rigid credit check, the platform assesses her in-app performance and earnings. “I wouldn’t qualify for traditional loans. But Grab sees the work I do,” she says.
In a world where financial access often excludes the very people who need it most, this inclusion is a lifeline. It means her siblings stay in school, meals remain on the table, and hope is always within reach.
Programs Rooted in Malasakit and Mobility
Grab’s social impact ecosystem extends well beyond Mary Joy and Ronni. In 2024 alone, millions worth of emergency aid distributed through GrabCare and MOVE IT Malasakit programs, providing immediate relief during medical emergencies and natural disasters.
Through the GrabScholar Program, the children of driver-, delivery-, and merchant-partners have been awarded over 900 educational grants and 18 full-ride scholarships — empowering the next generation with opportunities their parents once only dreamed of.
Stability, too, is in the company’s blueprint. The Grab Kaagapay Program now subsidizes Pag-IBIG contributions for thousands of partners in Metro Manila and Cebu, unlocking access to housing and calamity loans.
Each initiative echoes the company’s deeper commitment: to invest in partners not just as workers, but as people — providers, students, caretakers, and community members.
One Ride at a Time, One Family at a Time
As Grab’s viral short films under the “Itatawid, Ihahatid” campaign capture the quiet heroism of its driver-partners, real-life stories like Ronni’s and Mary Joy’s remind us that behind every journey is something more. A parent’s love. A child’s dream. A second chance. A lifeline when it’s needed most.
Ronni and Mary Joy represent the power of platform work coupled with support, mobility not just in transit, but in life.
And through Grab, they are not only getting there — they’re bringing others with them.
