57-Year-Old Jeepney Driver Decides to Live in His Vehicle to Lessen Expenses
A 57-year-old jeepney driver has touched many hearts after being seen living in his jeep just to lessen expenses and save money.
Rodolfo Gabatino, originally from Nueva Ecija, was photographed cooking his own meal beside his parked jeep at a terminal in Quezon City.
Gabatino moved to Metro Manila to earn a living and support his family. He has four children who are still in school, and he only gets to see them during special occasions. To stretch his limited earnings, he decided to stay inside his jeep instead of renting a bed space that costs around P4,000 a month.
“I’m doing everything I can to save money. I now live in my jeepney rather than pay P4,000 for a bedspace,” Gabatino said.
The jeepney driver did this so he can save money and use it for more important needs like food, school expenses, and other essentials.
Driving his jeep daily gives him just enough to get by. However, he’s growing more worried about the rising cost of fuel, especially with recent news of increasing oil prices due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
“I have four children who are still in school. We rarely see each other now—only during special occasions,” he shared.
The expected hike, with diesel possibly going up by over P4 per liter, means his daily earnings will shrink even more.
Many people admired his sacrifice and determination just to provide for his family. Others expressed concern about how many more drivers like him may be struggling silently.
Living inside a jeepney is not ideal, but for him, it’s a practical choice to keep going and continue helping his children reach their dreams.
In another post, a jeepney driver praised for helping push stalled ambulance in Lapu-Lapu City
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
