MANILA — UST Golden Tigresses star libero Detdet Pepito has led her team through adversity during the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.

Despite being dubbed as ‘Mini Miss UST’ due to the Tigresses’ height in comparison to their opponents, UST, through Pepito’s leadership as well as the collective effort of the whole team, was able to enter the Season 86 championship round albeit falling short of clinching a title.

READ: Belen, Solomon take charge as National U clinches UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball title

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However, it is not only inside the taraflex that Dedet’s initiative for the common good can be witnessed.

WATCH: Bella Belen consoles Detdet Pepito after UAAP Finals

In a previous Instagram story which she shared on her account, the multiple-time UAAP Best Libero awardee expressed her support against what would be the effects of the Philippine Government’s public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

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And moments after the conclusion of the league’s volleyball season, Pepito shared the story behind her previous social media post.

“Yung tatay ko po kasi jeepney driver ng sarili naming jeep,” Pepito told ABS-CBN News on Wednesday, talking about her father Margarito.

“Ilang years na nabuhay kami sa ganoong pamumuhay, na jeepney driver tatay ko, hanggang sa napa graduate niya isa-isa yung mga kapatid ko. Isa siya sa mga tumulong ng pag graduate ng mga sister ko at brother ko kasi lahat kami scholar,” she continued.

“Elementary pa lang po ako, or sa panganay pa lang po namin, nagje-jeep na siya.”

But aside from being possibly personally affected by the PUVMP, which requires the drivers and operators to join a cooperative to avoid being considered as colorum and have their franchises revoked, Pepito knows that a lot of people would also be distressed by it.

“Ang dami rin talagang mawawalang ng trabaho if ipu-push yun nila,” she said.

“Sa dami ng jeepneys, tapos para sa mga commuters din. Nabuhay na tayo ng ganong paraan eh, na nagje-jeep tayo. Malaking bagay din po sa mga estudyante na hindi ganun kalaki [yung binabayaran],” Detdet, added, while also sharing her message to the jeepney drivers.

“Laban lang po. Sa mga jeepney drivers, laban lang, kasi may mga lumalaban pa rin po para sa inyo. May plano po si God, at hindi naman po sila pababayaan.”

The UST star then went on to express her message for her father.

“Sa part ko naman, sa tatay ko, since 60+ years old na po yung father ko, talagang tumanda na siya sa pagiging jeepney driver, sa akin, matuloy man o hindi, gusto kong matigil na rin yung pagda-drive ng tatay ko kasi nga gusto ko na siyang pag relax-in at makabawi na rin sa kanya,” said Pepito.

“Tatay, gawin na lang private yung jeep mo ha? Ta-try ko yung best ko para makapag-pahinga ka na sa pagmamaneho,” she concluded.