From Manila Commuter To Iloilo Motorist

I MOVED OUT OF METRO MANILA and into Iloilo recently, and one of the major lifestyle changes I’ve had to make was how I get around.

 

- Trixie Reyna - Benedicto

I’ve been a commuter all my life. When I was a student, it made more sense, budget-wise— even if this meant taking four jeepneys, two tricycles, and two train rides just to get to my university and back home.

When I started working and eventually earning enough to buy a car, I still never got around to it. I told myself I’d rather see the world than drive around my own city.

The advent of Uber and Grab only created a stronger case for my reluctance to get behind the wheel. The road congestion they inadvertently caused justified my decision to not buy a car “so I won’t contribute to the worsening traffic situation in Manila,” I told myself. That’s before I moved to my husband’s hometown last December.