GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Every morning, while the streets fill with the rumble of tricycles and the growing frustration of commuters, one student quietly defies the rising cost of transportation—not with protest, but with hooves.
John Jeric, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Agriculture student at Golden State College, has become an unlikely symbol of resilience in a country grappling with soaring fuel prices. Instead of lining up for increasingly expensive rides, he travels to school on horseback.
What began as a personal decision to save money has now sparked wider conversations about a deepening transport crisis—and the apparent lack of concrete solutions from authorities.
A Practical Choice Born Out of Necessity
Jeric said the decision was simple: he could no longer afford the rising cost of daily commuting.
With tricycle fares in General Santos City climbing due to continuous oil price hikes, even short trips have become burdensome for students and low-income earners. For Jeric, the math no longer made sense.
“Riding a horse is far more economical,” he explained. “It only needs grass and water.”
Having grown up in Sultan Kudarat, where horseback riding is common, Jeric was already skilled in handling the animal. What may seem unusual in an urban setting is, for him, both natural and sustainable.
Viral Fame—and a Stark Reality
A video of Jeric riding his horse through city streets, captured by a local resident, quickly circulated online. Netizens expressed amusement and admiration, praising his creativity and resourcefulness.
Motorists slowed down, some smiling, others taking photos. For a moment, the spectacle offered relief from the daily grind of traffic and rising expenses.
But beneath the viral attention lies a more serious reality: Filipinos are being pushed to improvise in the face of economic strain.
Jeric’s story is not just about ingenuity—it is about survival.
Rising Costs, Limited Solutions
The Philippines, heavily dependent on imported fuel, is once again at the mercy of global oil price volatility. The ongoing supply pressures linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven fuel prices upward, with immediate consequences for public transport.
In General Santos City, local officials are reportedly considering a tricycle fare increase ranging from ₱3 to ₱11, depending on fuel costs. For drivers, the adjustment is necessary to keep their livelihood afloat. For commuters, however, it means yet another financial burden.
What remains glaringly absent is a clear, long-term strategy.
There has been no comprehensive plan to cushion vulnerable sectors from the cascading effects of fuel price hikes. No sustainable transport alternatives have been rolled out. No subsidies have meaningfully eased the daily commute for students like Jeric.
Instead, the response has largely been reactive—adjust fares, absorb costs, endure.
A Symbol of a Larger Crisis
Jeric’s daily ride now stands as both inspiration and indictment.
It highlights the resilience of ordinary Filipinos who find ways to adapt, no matter how unconventional. At the same time, it underscores a troubling reality: when citizens are left to devise their own solutions, it often reflects systemic gaps in governance.
Urban transport, once a routine part of daily life, is becoming a growing source of inequality. Those who can afford rising fares continue as usual. Those who cannot are forced to walk longer distances—or, like Jeric, find alternatives outside the system entirely.
Beyond the Novelty
While many celebrate Jeric’s ingenuity, the attention risks reducing his situation to novelty rather than recognizing it as a symptom of a broader issue.
His story raises uncomfortable questions:
How many more students are struggling silently with transportation costs?
How many families are forced to cut back on essentials just to afford daily travel?
And how long can improvisation substitute for policy?
As fuel prices remain unpredictable and transport costs continue to climb, the image of a student riding a horse through city streets may soon lose its novelty—and become a stark symbol of a nation still searching for direction.
For now, John Jeric rides on—steady, practical, and ahead of a system struggling to catch up.