Fathers on the fringes: The ‘trolley boys’ of Los Baños

Before the sun rises in Barangay San Antonio in Los Baños, Laguna, the “trolley boys” would set out with their self-built carts and position them onto the train tracks, ready for the rush of early morning passengers.

The “boys” are men, mostly fathers who earn a living by pushing wooden passenger trolleys on the train tracks.

The trolleys, which are fitted with benches, are crafted out of wooden planks with metal wheels attached at the base. Once boarded by passengers, drivers would push the trolley over the tracks, gaining momentum with their feet. If it weren’t for the dents on the rail that occasionally shake up the ride, it would feel like gliding along the countryside with a view of overgrown grass and trees sprouting between densely packed rows of homes that flanked the railway.

For every trip down the tracks, the trolley boys earn just enough to keep their families fed and their children in school. This they say, is worth every push and is the reason why they keep returning to the train track every day, rain or shine.

Three trolley drivers shared their fatherhood journey as they navigate life along the tracks.
Pushing for his children’s education

Roderick Bayrante, 38, is already on the tracks at dawn during school days. “Para pagputok ng liwanag, pagpasok ng anak ko, may maiabot akong baon.” (So that by the time daylight breaks and as my child heads off to class, I can hand over some money.)

Bayrante said he makes an average of just P400 per day but he strategizes with his wife to make sure that their family of five makes it through the day. The national poverty threshold is at P13,873 per month for a family to meet basic food and non-food needs, based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2023 data. Roderick’s income falls short of this, but he carries on with quiet determination.

Bayrante said they barely get by with what he earns, making it difficult to set aside money for future needs. “Kasi alam mo kung bakit? Siyempre sa tanghali pa lang doon mo na kukunin ang pambili ng ulam, pambili ng kalahating kilong bigas. Kaya hindi mo totally mahahawakan talaga yang sinasabi na P400 na amount.”

(Do you know why? Because by noon, you’re already using part of buy a viand, to buy half a kilo of rice. So you don’t really even get to hold on to that full P400.)

He lights up whenever he talked about his children. “Gusto ko makatapos sila. Kung magkakaroon diyan ng libreng mga scholar ng gobyerno at sila’y makapasa sa ganoong sistema, mas maganda kasi may posibilidad talagang sila ay magtuloy ng pag-aaral. Kasi ‘pag ito lang talagang [pagtotrolley], kung tutuusin talagang hindi kayang makapagpa-aral basta-basta ng kolehiyo sa ganitong trabaho.”

(I want them to finish school. If there are government scholarships available and they’re able to qualify, that would be much better because then there’s a real chance they can continue their education. Because honestly, with this kind of job, it’s really not easy to send kids to college.)

Two of his children, aged 12 and 15, are in high school while his 5-year-old will enter grade school this school year.

“Kapag nakatapos sila, may trabaho. Gusto nilang kumain sa masasarap na kainan magagawa nila kasi may hanapbuhay kayo eh. Lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila: ‘Sasalaminin ‘nyo ang paghihirap natin. Laging titingin sa likod kung saan kayo nanggaling,’” he said.

(Once they finish college, they’ll get a job. If they want to eat at good restaurants, they can because they have a job. I always well them: “Look at our poverty. Always look back at where you came from.”)

Aside from trolley driving, Bayrante does construction work on the side, as he is the sole breadwinner of the family.
los banos trolley boys
REST STOP. The trolley drivers are seated beside their handmade carts, waiting for the next ride that could help feed their family, pay a fee, or send their child to school. Photo by Leah Sagaad
Opportunity to lead

Securing a better future for their children is a shared goal of the trolley drivers in Barangay San Antonio.

Ruel Ogalin, 52, has been supporting his family’s needs and his children’s school expenses through driving trolleys. He is the president of the San Antonio Trolley Organization and has intermittently held the position since 2010.

“Sinimulan ng kumpare ko noong 2008 — ‘trolley boys’ kung tawagin pa lang siya. And then nang ako na ay umupo noong 2010, ako na ‘yung naglagay ng SANTO o San Antonio Trolley Organization,” he shared.

(My friend started it back in 2008 — it was just called “trolley boys” then. And when I took over in 2010, I was the one who established SANTO, or the San Antonio Trolley Organization.)

He was among the seven trolley drivers and one youth representative that visited Taiwan in 2024 for Project LAKBAY or the Learning Actively through Knowledge-Based Appreciation for Youth: A Youth Cultural and Learning Immersion Camp, an initiative by the UP Open University and EduConnect Southeast Asia Association.

Ogalin noted the importance of their service to the community.

“Kaming mga magto-trolley ang laki ng ginagampanan at obligasyon namin kasi kung wala kami, mahihirapan sila — katulad ng mga namamalengke, mga estudyante. Kaya malaking bagay din ang pagtotrolley sa mga pasahero dito, sa mga mamamayan ng Barangay San Antonio,” he said.

(We trolley drivers have a big role and responsibility because without us, people would have a hard time — like market-goers and students. That’s why trolley driving really makes a big difference for passengers here, for the residents of Barangay San Antonio.)

At around 7 am and 6:30 pm, during the train’s back-and-forth runs through the Philippine National Railways’ Calamba to Lucena line and vice versa, they make sure to clear the tracks. Ogalin said the safety of their passengers is their top priority.
laguna trolley boy
GIVING WAY. A trolley driver steps aside to let another pass in an unspoken rhythm that keeps the tracks moving. Photo by Leah Sagaad

As their leader, Ogalin also reaches out to the local government and nongovernment organizations to seek support with the needs their group cannot fulfill on their own. He said they have been responsive.

He also has tips for his fellow trolley drivers tips on maintaining harmony within their group.

“Ang number one mensahe ko lang sa mga kapwa ko magtotrolley ay ‘yung pagsasamahan na maganda. Walang lamangan, walang inggitan, at higit sa lahat irespeto at igalang ang bawat isa.” (My number one message to my fellow trolley drivers is to maintain good camaraderie. No one should try to outdo others, no jealousy, and above all, we should respect and value one another.)

For the youth in his village, Ogalin highlighted the importance of finishing their studies, especially if their parents can support them.

“‘Yun lang ang tanging yaman na tanging maipamamana ng mga magulang nila sa kanila na hindi puwedeng bayaran o agawin ng sinuman.” (It’s the only treasure that parents can leave their children, that cannot be bought or stolen by anyone.)
Tenacity on the tracks

Jorge Dimakulangan, 53, has been a trolley driver for over 20 years now.

“Wala namang ibang mapagkukunan eh — sa trolley lang,” Dimakulangan said. “Matiyaga ka lang diyan, talagang makakakuha ka ng mga pangkain, gastusin lang sa araw-araw.”

(We don’t really have any other means of livelihood — only the trolley. If you’re patient, you’ll get your expenses to buy food and other needs to get by each day.)

Dimakulangan said many people living along the tracks in Barangay San Antonio depend on trolley driving, and has become part of their lives.

He said that the most difficult part of their work is dealing with bad weather. The tracks can get slippery when it rains, forcing them to be extra vigilant for both their passengers and themselves.

“Pinakamahirap siguro ‘yung ulan-init na babanggain mo. Tatrangkasuhin ka, mawawala pa ‘yung biyahe mo.” (The hardest part is probably braving the rain and heat. You risk getting sick. Sometimes, you even lose a whole day’s trip.)

His message to everyone making a living through the trolley can apply to anyone else living on the margins, “Tiyagaan na lang; sipag na lang talaga (Just persevere; just work hard).”

The tracks bear witness to the weight of these fathers’ battles to provide for their families, one push at a time. – Rappler.com

Princess Leah Sagaad is an Aries Rufo fellow. She is a campus journalist studying Development Communication at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. She is the associate managing editor for short form reporting of Tanglaw.