TRENDING: Who is JB Suarez, and why are his anti-'kamote' videos all over TikTok?
Have you heard of the Anti-Kamote Gang? JB Suarez is its self-appointed leader. He likes to put "kamote" drivers—motorists who don't follow rules and common sense—in their place through road safety videos, some of which have been viewed over a million times on social media.
He uses angry comedy to get his road safety messages across to his over one million followers on social media. If you've come across his videos, you'll know he usually signs off with, "Nakakainis ka eh." That relatable phrase, delivered with a mix of annoyance and sarcasm, always hits the mark.
Making road safety videos using his signature angry comedy isn't his only preoccupation, however. Suarez graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Santo Tomas, and is a pioneer member of the Business Development and Marketing Department of full-service construction company Mundo.
Besides his day job, keeping people safe on the road is Suarez's advocacy.
"I think the biggest fault in road users in the Philippines is their complacency and wrong confidence in their bad practice," Suarez told PhilSTAR L!fe. "Nandiyan kasi 'yung thoughts na, 'Wala naman manghuhuli,' 'Wala naman madidisgrasya,' 'Never naman ako nadisgrasya sa ganitong pagmamaneho.'"
"[A] lack of enforcement and infrastructure creates kamote drivers. Fixers play a huge role here, as well," he added.
It's personal
Suarez tackles all sorts of common road errors that grate on a defensive driver's nerves, including counterflows, going slow in the overtake lane, pedestrians who don't use the pedestrian lane, and motorcycle riders who don't use their blinkers.
When talking about these annoyances, Suarez's anger is genuine because he has personally seen or experienced all of them.
"Iba kasi 'pag na-encounter mo na siya. I get to remember the frustration that that situation put me in. The emotions and concern are more genuine when the videos come from lived experiences," Suarez told L!fe.
A community of non-'kamotes'
Suarez doesn't take his huge role in driver education lightly. He takes pains to stay factual and regularly reminds his viewers to scrutinize and criticize him whenever they believe he's in the wrong.
"This is the type of community I wish to build with the Anti-Kamote Gang," Suarez said. "No one is perfect, even the leader himself. So whenever I get something wrong, I always tell my followers to hold me accountable, correct me as needed. I want people to be able to see my 'leadership' in the AKG as my personal take on leadership as a whole."
The generally short attention span of social media users doesn't bother Suarez. His videos are made to suit it, with each one lasting 30 seconds on average. Of course, the more irritating the "kamote," the longer the video will be.
Because he knows what he's fighting for, which is safer roads for all, Suarez keeps his focus on the knowledge he imparts, not the views or followers.
"Views and engagement do not carry true impact, in my opinion. What use are these vanity metrics if I'm not really able to keep the roads safe? Mas importante na tumatak," Suarez said.
Future road users
With 1.1 million followers on TikTok and over 230,000 followers on Instagram, Suarez's influence is widespread, even reaching the children of his followers.
"I realized that my content was making a difference when [I saw] videos of motorists showing how I've become their 'driving conscience,' preventing them from becoming 'kamotes'," Suarez said.
@jb.suarez #antikamotegang #nakakainiskaeh ♬ original sound - JB Suarez
Parents message him saying their children tell them they don't want to become "kamote" drivers when they grow up. "The same children ask their parents 'if JB Suarez would get mad at [their parents] if they saw how [they] drive'," Suarez added.
"This was the moment I realized that I was not only inspiring or reminding people to become better drivers, but also better parents; along with shaping the future of future drivers," he continued.
Nonchalant
"No, I'm not really an angry person in real life," Suarez clarified, adding the discovery sometimes surprises his followers who meet him in person.
"Fans that I meet in real life would confront me with, 'Nonchalant ka pala in real life?' and 'Boss, buti hindi ka galit ngayon'," Suarez said.
Despite what the public thinks, the engineer said it takes a lot to get him mad in reality.
"I'm a generally patient person, contrary to what I show on my content," he said. "But then again, my videos are a showcase of piled-up frustrations on people who just merely fail to practice common courtesy, common sense, and safety on a daily basis."
Ultimately, Suarez is hoping that his road safety education, delivered with the perfect mix of humor, sarcasm, and some yelling, will make the road a safer place.
"A good driver practices instinctive and defensive driving. Armed with road knowledge and situational awareness, a good driver will always find his or her way to their destination safely," Suarez told L!fe.
"Kamote" drivers, take note.
