13/06/2025
Sad but true, π
BECOMINGFILIPINO RAISES CONCERN OVER ONLINE GAMBLING AFTER HEARTBREAKING JEEPNEY RIDE
Travel vlogger BecomingFilipino (Kyle Jennermann) shared what he called the saddest jeepney ride he has ever taken. Seated directly behind the driverβa man likely in his late 50sβhe quietly observed as the man used every pause in the trip to gamble through his phone. Each stop meant reloading β±50 via GCash, spinning on Bingo Plus, losing quickly, and reloading again.
In just minutes, the driver had likely blown all the earnings he worked for that day.
The experience left BecomingFilipino deeply unsettledβnot just because of the moment itself, but because it reflected a much larger issue: how online gambling has woven itself into daily Filipino life. He noted how accessible and normalized itβs become, from flashy billboards to app ads and even beauty queens promoting slot machines on national TV.
His post ends with a heartfelt plea:
"GCash, please disconnect from gambling websites. It is just too easy."
"I watched a jeepney driver lose his hard-earned pay in real timeβ¦ and I couldnβt stay silent. Gambling is no longer hiddenβitβs on our phones, in our ads, and on our roads. This wasnβt just a sad ride. It was a wake-up call." β
Kyle βKulasβ Jennermann is a Filipino and Canadian travel vlogger known as BecomingFilipino; originally from British Columbia, he became a naturalized Filipino citizen in 2023 through an act of Congress.
This story is based on a personal Facebook post by BecomingFilipino. Graphics and minor edits were made by the Destination PH.