Goodyear recently launched its 2009 version of the Bayani ng Kalsada (BNK) search. This nationwide search for Filipino drivers who have exhibited acts of courage, sacrifice, and extraordinary selflessness now has a new theme that of road safety and offers nomination not just via going to the nearest Goodyear Servitek/Tyre Pro or Auto Care outlet and getting a Bayani ng Kalsada nomination form. In fact, one can nominate a hero by sending a text message (with the initials "BNK" on it) to either 0921-766-6166 or 0915-899-5070 and follow the subsequent message instructions.

However, there are stringent criteria for the nomination to be valid. The nominee should be a citizen of the Philippines, the heroic act must happen anywhere in the country and should occur from Oct 2009-March 19, 2010, the event should have happened while the nominee was driving, and the vehicle that the nominee was driving must be a legitimately registered vehicle with the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Nominees can be either driving privately owned vehicles or public transport units, and the nominations can also be extended to members of the media (as long as someone else does the nomination and not the media member that committed the heroic deed). Once the act of bravery has been validated by a dedicated search committee (composed mostly of Goodyear members) the nominator and the nominee will get a Goodyear gift pack.

The aforementioned search committee shall also pick the finalists, which will be composed of three per region (National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao). The finalists will have to submit National Bureau of Investigation, police, barangay and LTO clearances in order to be deemed fit to become the regional winners. From that pool of regional winners an overall national winner will be chosen.

But the nominator isn't just limited to winning a Goodyear gift pack once he or she nominates someone for his act of bravery. Nominators will also be given a special raffle number that qualifies them to a monthly raffle draw, with three major prizes (one for each region) and 12 minor prizes (one for each region). Raffle stubs not drawn during one month are eligible for the next month's raffle draw, and the winners shall be announced via text message, email and via the Goodyear website.

Goodyear knows that heroes are out there, and makes sure with its Bayani ng Kalsada endeavor that getting on a hero high and promoting road safety as well - is richly rewarding. "Being a company whose products people entrust their lives to as they traverse the roads and highways across the Philippines, we are compelled to push the road safety message to our consumers. Our commitment to this effort is non-negotiable. More than a popularity contest, the Bayani ng Kalsada effort is a concrete manifestation of what road safety is all about going beyond our personal levels of comfort and becoming more aware of others who are on the road with us," said Goodyear Philippines managing director Gerry Alava.