Photo by: Bernard Testa / PCIJ
As Christmas draws near, the city begins to slow down and grow quiet. Campuses announce the start of the holiday break, bags are packed, and students and faculty count down the days until they can return home and celebrate the holiday with their families. Behind every journey home, however, is a driver who makes that reunion possible.
For some MoveIt drivers, the season is spent not just navigating the busy streets of Metro Manila, but carrying people closer to family. While many passengers are on their way home for the Christmas season, these drivers often remain on the road—choosing to work through the holidays so others can make it home in time. Their sacrifices, resilience, and dedication become part of countless Christmas stories, even if their celebrations are put on a hold. Truly, they keep the city moving and hearts connected when it matters the most.
Home for Christmas
Benjo Pajanostan, a MoveIt driver living in Pasay City, has spent the past seven years navigating Metro Manila’s roads, working as a motorcycle taxi driver since 2018. Having driven for Angkas and MoveIt, Pajanostan has witnessed how the holidays transform both the city and the people moving through it.
When asked about what Christmas means to him, he said that for him, it is deeply rooted in family, faith and in,“Sharing our blessings, giving gifts and money, eating together and also going to church to pray to God and thanking him for everything we’ve received.”
Even amid long hours on the road, he finds meaning in his work, noting that while helping passengers reach their destinations, enjoying “sightseeing different places in Manila or outside Manila, at the same time you have earnings.” Moreover, to him, the season goes beyond celebration as Christmas is ultimately about “sharing, helping, giving hope and love to everyone, not only for our loved ones, but to other people.”
Between Home and The Road
For those who cannot go home, Christmas passes in tiny fragments. It is felt in the glow of traffic lights, the soft hum of Christmas songs, and in quick video calls during their breaks. Miles away, their families gather without them, with the hope that next year will be different. Staying in the city means choosing responsibility over rest, trusting that the sacrifices made on the road, will one day lead them back home.
For those who manage to go home, the journey is brief but deeply cherished. Time is measured in hours, not days, as they squeeze in stories, shared meals, and quiet moments with loved ones before going back to the city. The journey back to the city comes too soon, but it carries renewed strength—a reminder of why they endure long work hours, and busy roads, especially in a season that is about family.
When Christmas Feels Near and Far
In a season that is defined by togetherness, some MoveIt drivers remain on the road, helping others reach the people who matter to them the most. Through long work hours, and holiday traffic, they become the unsung link between departures and reunions.
Their stories, though rarely told, reflect the resilience and generosity that keep the spirit of Christmas alive.
As the year draws to a close, their journeys remind us that even the smallest rides can carry the greatest meaning: connecting families even while celebrating with their own from afar.