JJ Paule
Manila, Philippines
JJ is on a jeepney, on his way to somewhere he used to drive to. These days, commuting makes more sense. With gas prices going up, he's learned to save where he can. As the only one working in his household, it's something he's had to be mindful of.
At first, it was something he simply had to endure. Maybe, he thought, it would only be for the meantime until prices go down. But after taking the jeepney more often, he's started to get used to it. Along the way, he discovered something about himself.
"I actually found that I enjoy commuting. You get to be in the company of other passengers. In a car, you're mostly on your own with no one to talk to."
Before, being around crowds made him uncomfortable. He used to be shy and afraid of packed spaces. Somewhere along the daily rides, that began to change.
"Commuting helped me get used to being around other people," he says. "I'm not as afraid anymore."
Now, JJ isn't sure when – or if – he'll go back to driving, even if gas prices go down. What he knows is that commuting has shown him another side of himself. "I've become more confident now," he says.
Story and photos by: Paolo Ruiz
