Filipinos called on more influencers and public officials to step up and help amid the fuel crisis, following content creator Arshie Larga‘s fuel support for tricycle drivers.
The influencer went to his hometown in Boac, Marinduque and gave over 1,000 tricycle drivers P500 each as assistance for their fuel needs on April 5, an Easter Sunday.
“Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit gusto ko ring makauwi sa’min this Holy Week,” he shared in a Facebook video.
“Sa awa ng Diyos at dahil sa patuloy niyong pagsuporta sa akin, ako’y nabibigyan po ng pagkakataon na kahit papaano ay makatulong sa iba,” Arshie said.
“Naisip ko lamang pong gawin ito upang makatulong tayo sa ating mga tricycle drivers sa abot ng ating makakaya. Pasensya na po kung sila pa lang po ang kailangan kong tulungan ngayon,” the influencer added.
“Personally, naniniwala ako na kung gusto talaga nating tumulong sa ating sariling paraan, kahit wala tayong pwesto sa gobyerno, ay pwede naman po natin itong gawin,” he continued.
Arshie said he was able to help 1,169 tricycle drivers.
He also thanked his supporters, saying he would not have been able to do the initiative without them.
Arshie’s initiative was welcomed by Filipinos, with some hoping that other influencers, as well as public officials, would also be proactive in extending help to the transport sector and motorists amid the fuel crisis.
Prices of petroleum products have skyrocketed as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, a key oil-supplying region.
Motorists have been dealing with triple-digit fuel prices per liter, a sharp spike that has caused some public utility drivers to reduce or stop plying their routes due to meager earnings.
“Ganito rin minsan dahilan bakit naiinis ako sa ibang influencers na ang content ay biglang luxury or self-help or gastos tapos apolitical pa. I think PH influencers should always somehow give back to the people that afforded them that platform, fame, and fortune. If Arshie can, they can,” an online user wrote in reaction to Arshie’s initiative.
“If a content creator can do this… galaw galaw mga senado!!!!!” exclaimed another user.
“Half a million, g*gi, hiyang-hiya mga public servant kuno. Salamat sa buhay mo, Arshie!” wrote a different user.
“Grabe talaga, ito ang influencer! Nakakahiya naman sa mga public servants natin,” said another Pinoy.
“Sana maging inspiration ‘to sa mga may kakayahang tumulong. O kaya ‘yung perang kinurakot ng gobyerno, dito niyo na lang ilaan [or] ilabas,” commented a different user.
Arshie, as a pharmacist, rose to fame for his health and medicine content, especially becoming a hit among Filipinos at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has since branched out into other topics, including lifestyle and travel content.
Arshie has over 4.3 million followers on TikTok, 114,000 followers on Facebook, 226,400 followers on the X (formerly Twitter) platform, and almost 280,000 followers on Instagram.
He was recognized as a Tatler Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2025 honoree and was part of Forbes’ “30 under 30 Asia” 2024 list.
