You’ll never run out of stories to tell when you’re on the road. A simple bike ride in the metro, for instance, can spark a variety of conversations and perspectives that we might initially overlook. For Buji Babiera, these sentiments make every adventure worth going the extra mile.
Photo: Buji Babiera
Millions of netizens around the world know Buji best when he’s out and about. In a jeep, on the train, and even on foot near a random Metro Manila sidewalk, he has turned his remarkable rise to prominence into a fruitful platform that empowers Filipino commuters against the longstanding dilemmas of our public transport system.
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Over the years, Buji has earned his stripes as a content creator and advocate for safer, more inclusive roads nationwide. In between lighthearted stories and overheard anecdotes that have us in stitches, he strives never to let a commute-related inconvenience go unresolved. Now, his own story is making its rounds through an activity he knows by heart: cycling. What started as an eager exploration of the city during the pandemic has evolved into First Bike Ride—a community-oriented initiative on sustainability, mobility, and wellness that uplifts his fellow change-makers across all regions.
“Since I wanted to practice my writing and photography skills, I started First Bike Ride to share my cycling experiences in hopes of encouraging more people to ride a bike,” Buji explained. Equipped with a long-time penchant for storytelling, he also aspires to make the project a space for growth that every Filipino can get behind.
When Passion Meets Initiative
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Buji is a go-getter in every sense of the word, and First Bike Ride can attest to that. After getting hooked on cycling in the pandemic, he took to social media to share his journey, which eventually became the foundation of his community and advocacy.
“[First Bike Ride] started as a Facebook and Instagram project where I told stories about cycling. I was also learning about social media during the pandemic, which led me to create the page. I never thought it would last, but the traction I received made me realize that I was having fun in the process,” Buji recalled.
A little encouragement and positive feedback were all it took for First Bike Ride to take flight. Despite the pandemic’s strict physical and social limitations, the community Buji built went above and beyond to make Metro Manila a safer, better-maintained environment for cyclists and fitness enthusiasts alike. It even expanded into Tambike Session, a locally acclaimed podcast on Spotify about bike lifestyle and the powerful storytellers he had connected with through it.
First Bike Ride isn’t as active now as it was in the early 2020s. Still, its lasting impact has done wonders for Filipinos who want the best, most fruitful developments for our public spaces.
In 2024, for instance, a plan arose to remove the protected bike lanes along Ayala Avenue. Advocates gathered and mobilized against it, with First Bike Ride as one of the initiative’s disseminators. It took a village, but the collective effort succeeded, proving how safety and inclusivity will always prevail, even in our recreational pursuits.
A Little Enthusiasm Goes a Long Way
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Buji’s passion for cycling (and First Bike Ride, by extension) wouldn’t have been possible without pursuing the road less taken. For him, this meant seeing Metro Manila in a thrill-seeking light when the rest of the country stayed behind closed doors.
“I learned how to bike when I was a kid, but I never thought that cycling in the city could be safe and practical until I tried it in 2020,” he recalled. Before he knew it, he had invited as many of his peers as he could to join him on the road.
A boom in cycling, specifically, prompted Buji to strike while the iron was hot: “Roads were jam-packed with bikes, and people really got into the cycling lifestyle. But when the lockdowns eased, and everything slowly returned to normal, there came a decline in cycling activities in the metro.”
Like Pilates, HYROX, running, and other in-demand fitness trends nowadays, Buji didn’t take Filipinos’ love for cycling for granted. With the rise of electric bikes and many commuters still traveling by bike, he reckons the sport and activity will spark interest among larger communities again soon. There’s always something new to explore in the city, after all. Might as well pedal your way to it while you still can.
“Cycling is an awesome leisure activity. You can go places while getting your cardio in at the same time! You might even make it to a nearby province, like La Union, if you’re feeling extra adventurous,” he advises. He particularly recommends group rides if you want to grow socially and turn an active hobby into a thriving community endeavor.
What’s Next for Buji and First Bike Ride
Whether you want to get into cycling but don’t know where to start, or seek reassurance that you aren’t alone in your harrowing everyday commutes, Buji’s social media presence has you covered. His purposeful narratives and calls to action have reached every social platform imaginable, proving that we, too, can use our passions to raise our voices and amplify issues that matter.
If you want to join First Bike Ride on their next exploration, stay tuned for invites on Buji’s Instagram stories. For now, you can watch him get candid on all things commuting on WhenInManila.com’s podcast, Para Po!, now streaming on YouTube.
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How do you stay active and advocate for safer roads across the metro? Sound off and share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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