Manila traffic holds up James Reid in his latest single
First SB19’s “Visa,” and now this. Looks like the Filipino experience makes for good songwriting material. Take, for example, “Traffic,” James Reid’s latest single, which puts into words the feelings and frustrations that every commuter experiences daily—with a romantic twist of wanting to be closer to someone who feels out of reach.
“Ba’t tila ang layo kahit anjan ka lang naman?” doesn’t only apply to the drive from Mandaluyong to Makati. Perhaps a friendship you’re worried about breaking? What about someone you simply haven’t found the right timing for?
Inspired by a universal experience
The song was inspired by a shared experience between Reid and his collaborators, Luke April and Nhiko Sabiniano, while stuck on the road.
“At the time, I wanted to write a song that’s relatable to Filipinos in terms of concept and sound,” Reid shares in a press release. “It just so happened that we all experienced traffic that day, and it felt like the song wrote itself after we locked in on that idea.”
A little cheesy but with just enough added oomph to make it fresh and dynamic, the new track is emblematic of his 2024 album, “Jgh,” which included songs like “Sandal” and “Hurt Me Too” as well as “Pahinga” with TJ Monterde. “We aimed to create a classic upbeat OPM track with a fresh twist—nostalgic at its core, but layered with unique sounds and ear candy to give it a distinct edge,” adds Reid, sharing more about the new track.
This also marks Reid’s first release of the year, ahead of his upcoming teleserye “Someone, Someday,” with Kathryn Bernardo and Maja Salvador.
Everyday pains
“Sayang lang ang oras ko sa traffic,” starts Reid in his brand new track. Now that’s a sentiment we can all agree to.
Just last year, the 2025 TomTom traffic index ranked the Philippines as the most congested country in Asia, and the second-most in the entire world. Motorists in Manila were reported to have lost around 143 hours, or five days and 23 hours, while stuck in rush hour traffic. Meanwhile, road congestion remains in worse shape in Davao City, with motorists losing about 168 hours on the road.
As we all know, a workday for the average commuter extends past the eight hours spent in the office, especially if you take into account the additional hours spent going to and from the office. Factor in sleep, chores—and leisure if any—and what time is left for commuters? What more if you have to leave home by dawn to just make it to the office in time?
The Filipino commuter’s woes don’t end there. Public transportation is inefficient and outdated, forcing Filipinos to rely on private vehicles to move around—hence the over-congestion. But if that wasn’t enough, escalating armed conflict in the Middle East is causing oil prices to increase to unprecedented levels.
Now, motorists are feeling the effects of a war happening thousands of miles away.
Traffic affects everyone, rich and poor alike. Some would rather suffer from the comfort of their own cars, while most have no choice but to squeeze themselves into overcrowded buses and jeeps to simply move around the city. No one’s asking for public transport to be easy. The hassle is the inherent cost of getting around at a cheaper cost.
But when commuters practically look like tightly packed sardines, there’s a distinction between a luxury and simply providing them the dignity they deserve.
And for Reid, it’s not necessarily about silently accepting the status quo, but instead, understanding what you can do for yourself given the circumstances. “Real traffic already sucks, so don’t let your personal life get stuck, too. Say how you feel, be who you want, do what you must. Just don’t wait.”
