Our resilience as a community has come to the fore in various emergency situations. More than a matter of survival, an attitude of sharing and solidarity goes a long way in making our communities thrive.
We often ignore sustainable or communal habits when things are “easy,” only to rediscover them when a crisis leaves us no other choice.
In 2020, “PASABUY”[1] wasn’t just a convenience; it was a survival tactic that gave birth to a whole new micro-economy. Now in 2026, as the energy crisis forces us to rethink how we move, we are seeing the same bayanihan[2] spirit applied to the passenger seat.
Filipino culture has a unique way of turning a social necessity into a catchy brand. If “PASABAY” is the traditional act and “PASABUY” was the pandemic service, the 2026 carpooling/fuel-sharing trend is waiting for its own “official” name.
If we follow that same linguistic DNA, here are a few candidates that might capture this moment:
PASAGAS: The most direct. It signals, “I’m going your way, let’s split the fuel.”
PASAFUEL: A bit more modern, focusing on the literal resource we’re trying to save.
PASAKONTRI: (Pasa + Kontribusyon). It highlights the “chipping in” aspect rather than just the ride.
PASABYAHE: Focusing on the shared journey and the shared cost of the road.
These behaviors should be permanent, not just emergency measures. Carpooling and “bulk-buying” via neighbors are objectively better for the environment and the wallet.
The tragedy is that it often takes a “breaking point,” like a global pandemic or soaring oil prices, to strip away our individualistic habits. When the “I” becomes too expensive or too dangerous, we are forced back into the “We.”
While we wait for a catchy term to trend on social media, the underlying action is what matters. Whether it’s sharing a grocery list in 2020 or sharing a fuel tank in 2026, it proves that community is our most resilient technology. We don’t need a new app as much as we need a neighbor who is going in the same direction.
The question now is: Will people actually stick to these carpooling habits once the energy crisis stabilizes, or will we revert to our “solo” ways once the pressure is off?
Heero Cayasa
[1] A Filipino portmanteau of pasabay (to ride/go along with) and buy. It means asking a traveler, local runner, or online intermediary to purchase and transport items for you for a small service fee.
[2] A traditional Filipino core value representing communal unity, voluntary cooperation, and helping neighbors without expecting anything in return
