A post on X (formerly Twitter) recently sparked a debate on whether or not Pinoys are too lazy to walk. “Sabi ng prof ko dati, tayong mga Pinoy raw tamad maglakad vs. ibang bansa,” read the post. “And it’s weird to me kasi, Pinoy? Tamad maglakad? Then marerealize ko na yung iba, 3 kanto lang yung pupuntahan itatricycle pa instead lakarin. Then again baka may factor yung klima ng bansa. Mainit.”

Sabi ng prof ko dati, tayong mga Pinoy raw tamad maglakad vs. ibang bansa. And it’s weird to me kasi, Pinoy? Tamad maglakad? Then marerealiaze ko na yung iba, 3 kanto lang yung pupuntahan itatricycle pa instead lakarin. Then again baka may factor yung klima ng bansa. Mainit.

— Rom (@rommeldrawlines) December 14, 2023

As of writing, the post has amassed 27k likes and over 5k reposts. The replies all attempt to answer the puzzling question: Are Pinoys too lazy to walk or is there a different problem altogether? As a defense, Pinoys point out several reasons why walking is sometimes not an option:

Poor pedestrian infrastructure

Many Pinoys in the comments section had to point out the obvious — walking means dealing with sidewalks that, quite frankly, don’t serve their purpose. They’re either too narrow or littered with trash and broken cement. Add scary footbridges to the list and it’s no wonder walking isn’t an option for most Pinoys.

“If our sidewalks were wide and there were trees, it would be bearable,” commented one X user. Their post even featured two photos to drive their point — one is of the poor excuse of a sidewalk found at MRT Ortigas versus South Korea’s wide ones. It’s no wonder Pinoys are willing to walk 20,000 steps when on vacation in a different country but dismiss the thought of walking three blocks in Manila.

It’s too hot out

Local weather isn’t helping Pinoys cultivate their love for walking long distances. In neighboring Asian countries, where the temperature cools down to the single digits, walking isn’t perceived as a punishment. But in the Philippines where the climate is hot and hotter, going to an event with pit stains and sweaty tees isn’t appealing.

Worried about getting a tan

Even though some are okay with sweating under the punishing heat, most Pinoys are more worried about their skin getting darker. “Aside sa klima, big factor din yung ayaw umitim ng mga Pinoy because of eurocentric beauty standards,” said another X user. How many times have you heard “Sayang yung Kojic” as an excuse not to walk?

Lack of discipline from fellow Pinoys

Part of the reason why sidewalks are chaotic in the Philippines is drivers who think it’s free parking space. Pedestrians have no choice but to walk on the street to avoid the cars.

The streets are chaotic and polluted

Aside from navigating through cracked sidewalks and illegally parked cars, walking along major roads also exposes Pinoys to pollution, trash, and reckless drivers out there. There’s also the added risk factor of becoming a victim of holdapers and snatchers. Granted, you could get a combination of those in any country but many believe it’s not worth the trouble of walking.

The Internet concludes: We need better urban planning

Whether they’re in their private cars or they prefer to commute or walk, Pinoys are suffering from poor urban planning. We’ve suffered for so long, that we tend to think subpar sidewalks and 3-hour traffic are the norm.

“Just shows na ang dami nating commuter/ pedestrian na dapat ipriority ng gov’t. If maghahire sila ng urban planner, make sure aside from credentials, yung nakaranas na gumamit ng public space para may hugot yung idedesign nya,” concluded the X user who started the thread.

What do you think? Are Pinoys too lazy to walk or is it a case of a city where pedestrians aren’t prioritized?

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