Running late? Well, the Philippines is probably the worst place you could ever be if you are. Every once in a while, or for most people, we find ourselves rushing to catch the time, even though no one probably ever did.
In the Philippines, a commuter has lots of forms of transportation to choose from. We have, what I've always thought to be an original from the Pinas, the "jeepneys," which I was already in high school when I found out that it wasn't. It is in fact a remnant of when the Americans were at war with the Japanese years ago. The Americans used it for transportation during the war and then after the war, they left the used jeepneys here in the Philippines. Jeepneys are long open vehicles with 2 side entrances up front, one for the driver and one for passenger/s, and a rear entrance for loading/unloading passengers to the jeepney. Jeepneys are cheap means of transportation with only specific routes that they follow. But they don't have "jeepney stops"; drivers just stop whenever a passenger says "para", "sa tabi na lang", or similar notions to tell him to stop, such as knocking the roof of the jeep. This is what makes it convenient since you can stop directly where you need to go, but this also causes instant traffic. It usually has a capacity of around 20 passengers. A modification of the jeepney is a multi-cab, which is actually pretty much the same as the former, except it is shorter and only run for shorter distances. For both transportation means, you usually either give your fare directly to the driver or if you're seated farther away from the driver, you ask the other passengers to pass your fare to the driver. On special instances, there's a booth where you're asked to fall in line to pay for a chip that's equivalent to your fare or a conductor asks for your fare.
Another popular means of transportation is the petite tricycle. From it's name itself, it has three wheels. It is a means of transportation made up of a motorcycle attached with a sidecar. It has a capacity of usually around 4 to 5 passengers. They are like taxis, except they are open and they are not metered. Instead, the driver usually has a fixed price per destination. A modification of this means of transportation is the pedicab, which is pretty much the same as a tricycle except it is not run by a motorcycle, but by a bicycle, and it is also cheaper. However, tricycles go for the extra mile while pedicabs are just for shorter distances.
A third means of transportation is the bus. The buses we have here in the Philippines can be either open or air-conditioned. And just like the ones found abroad, the buses here have specific routes and bus stops, although the latter isn't actually strictly implemented since the buses here can actually stop anywhere that's not specifically prohibited. Buses can operate provincially or only within the city or a specific area. In each bus is a driver and one or more conductors, with the latter being the one issuing tickets and collecting fares from passengers. Some buses have television set for entertainment, while others only play music.
For some places here in the Philippines, we have boats or barges for transportation. While here in the metro, we have the light rail transit, the Manila Metro rail transit, and the Philippine national railways. All of which are trains with specific train stations where they issue tickets for one-way travels or tickets with stored value.
But for a common commuter like me, jeepneys would have to be our best friend. As was mentioned earlier, they are cheap, fast, and convenient in such a way that they can stop wherever you want them to. But the latter is actually one of the reasons why we have instant heavy traffic here in the metro. And for that, for me, here are the top 5 reasons why it's not that fun to commute in Manila during rush hour.
When you look at it within the context of life, we people tend to overtake those in front of us. We may have reasons for doing so. Sometimes, it's right to do so: because we are better than those before us and it comes naturally for us to overtake them and lead the way. Sometimes, it's wrong: because we tend to think that there is a hierarchy and that those walking at the back tend to be the weaker/lower ones, and so we try to overtake those in front. But for me, there are times that we should be content on where we are and try to be patient, for in the end of the journey, it matters not who finished first, but rather, who was able to do the most on the way there.
When you look at it within the context of life, swerving is something that we usually do at times when we are having doubts on whether or not we are doing the right thing at that very moment while we were doing it. But for me, sometimes, it's not the decision that makes it right or wrong, it's always up to us to make whatever we've decided to do, the right choice, because all of the time, we have an option to do so.
When you look at it within the context of life, we have moments of being parked at certain points in our lifetime when all we can ever do is to sit quietly, stare blankly in space, and not be able to think or do anything, but just stare. We may have these kinds of moments, we black out anywhere. But we should always try to start our engines again and never give up, for as long as we have life in our body, we can live. Sometimes, it is okay to rest if we must, but make sure to make it quick and move on.
Not just accidents, it can also cause blockage to the intersection when the PUV tried beating the red light but then, gets stuck in the middle of the intersection because the lane is still packed with other vehicles because of another stop light in the proceeding intersection, and this is one of the most common causes of heavy traffic here in the Metro.
When you look at it within the context of life, we always do this, trying to make it through each finish line we encounter day by day by day. It's as if, it is the only thing that matters; trying to finish as early and as fast as we can. But this should not be the case in our lives; we should not be hurrying to end each day as if we're never going to get old. Instead, it is better if we try to make the most out of each moment, no matter the circumstances. Because, when you think about it, this is our one and only life, and it is ending one second at a time.
I know that what it says is right... at times. But, it is also wrong most of the time - if you put it in the context of traffic. Here, it would instantly cause heavy traffic because almost all of the PUVs do this; be it for loading or unloading passengers, buying water bottles, rags, cigarettes, etc from street vendors, etc. As I've said earlier, it is really convenient because it let's you get off at exactly the point where you want to. But sometimes, I believe that it would be really so much better if PUVs would follow the concept of bus/jeepney stops. Yes, it would be a hassle to walk some distance from the stop to your destination, but then again, if you look at it within the context of life, it is better to stop at the point where it is right to stop than to have to stop somewhere you think is right but is totally wrong.
These are the reasons why I love and hate to commute here in the Metro, especially during rainy season. But, hey, don't get me wrong, I still love the Philippines no matter what. It's just that since we love something, we would want to see it in a better place someday.
A third means of transportation is the bus. The buses we have here in the Philippines can be either open or air-conditioned. And just like the ones found abroad, the buses here have specific routes and bus stops, although the latter isn't actually strictly implemented since the buses here can actually stop anywhere that's not specifically prohibited. Buses can operate provincially or only within the city or a specific area. In each bus is a driver and one or more conductors, with the latter being the one issuing tickets and collecting fares from passengers. Some buses have television set for entertainment, while others only play music.
For some places here in the Philippines, we have boats or barges for transportation. While here in the metro, we have the light rail transit, the Manila Metro rail transit, and the Philippine national railways. All of which are trains with specific train stations where they issue tickets for one-way travels or tickets with stored value.
But for a common commuter like me, jeepneys would have to be our best friend. As was mentioned earlier, they are cheap, fast, and convenient in such a way that they can stop wherever you want them to. But the latter is actually one of the reasons why we have instant heavy traffic here in the metro. And for that, for me, here are the top 5 reasons why it's not that fun to commute in Manila during rush hour.
5. Overtaking AnyoneOvertaking is a driving act involving a rapid maneuver to get ahead of another vehicle in front. Here in the Pinas, it is very rampant especially in the provinces where there isn't much strict implementation of traffic rules. It is good in such a way that one can actually use this maneuver to get ahead of slower vehicles especially when one is in a hurry. But it is also a hassle to commuters alike since during rush hour, everyone is simply impatient and would want to overtake anyone just to get to their destinations. Indirectly, it causes more accidents, which can potentially result to traffic jams, which in turn, aren't easily resolved since I'm quite sure that 99% of parties involved in such accidents would say that they weren't at fault for the accident, except when so much evidence is at hand.
When you look at it within the context of life, we people tend to overtake those in front of us. We may have reasons for doing so. Sometimes, it's right to do so: because we are better than those before us and it comes naturally for us to overtake them and lead the way. Sometimes, it's wrong: because we tend to think that there is a hierarchy and that those walking at the back tend to be the weaker/lower ones, and so we try to overtake those in front. But for me, there are times that we should be content on where we are and try to be patient, for in the end of the journey, it matters not who finished first, but rather, who was able to do the most on the way there.
4. SwervingSwerving is a driving act which can be likened to suddenly changing one's mind while on the midst of doing what he has already decided upon, i.e. swerving is suddenly turning and changing one's direction while doing a turn to the right/left. Indirectly, it also has a potential to cause accidents, which would now cause the traffic to go haywire. It is a really common mistake that causes one to get an instant ticket from traffic enforcers, especially here in the Philippines.
When you look at it within the context of life, swerving is something that we usually do at times when we are having doubts on whether or not we are doing the right thing at that very moment while we were doing it. But for me, sometimes, it's not the decision that makes it right or wrong, it's always up to us to make whatever we've decided to do, the right choice, because all of the time, we have an option to do so.
3. Parking AnywhereHere, there, everywhere. People would park their vehicles wherever space would permit. It is good in such a way that if you were really in a hurry and you needed to park your car, you can do that in front of the establishment and signal that you're in hazard. But it is such a hassle especially when the parked vehicle causes the road to become too narrow for others to pass easily, or it takes up half of the lane, causing traffic because it would now serve as a block to other vehicles passing through especially when the car is parked near an intersection or a street curve.
When you look at it within the context of life, we have moments of being parked at certain points in our lifetime when all we can ever do is to sit quietly, stare blankly in space, and not be able to think or do anything, but just stare. We may have these kinds of moments, we black out anywhere. But we should always try to start our engines again and never give up, for as long as we have life in our body, we can live. Sometimes, it is okay to rest if we must, but make sure to make it quick and move on.
2. Beating the Red LightYes, this could be one of the most violated traffic rules ever. I mean, as a commuter, this is really helpful if you're in a hurry and all you want to make the driver do is to make the vehicle fly past the stop lights! It is certified that PUVs would really stick their necks out there just to catch that yellow light. But this is such a pest because it has a high propensity to cause accidents.
Not just accidents, it can also cause blockage to the intersection when the PUV tried beating the red light but then, gets stuck in the middle of the intersection because the lane is still packed with other vehicles because of another stop light in the proceeding intersection, and this is one of the most common causes of heavy traffic here in the Metro.
When you look at it within the context of life, we always do this, trying to make it through each finish line we encounter day by day by day. It's as if, it is the only thing that matters; trying to finish as early and as fast as we can. But this should not be the case in our lives; we should not be hurrying to end each day as if we're never going to get old. Instead, it is better if we try to make the most out of each moment, no matter the circumstances. Because, when you think about it, this is our one and only life, and it is ending one second at a time.
1. Stopping AnytimeI've seen one sign posted on the back of a jeepney driver's seat which says:
(Please hold on: Sudden stop is sometimes necessary)
I know that what it says is right... at times. But, it is also wrong most of the time - if you put it in the context of traffic. Here, it would instantly cause heavy traffic because almost all of the PUVs do this; be it for loading or unloading passengers, buying water bottles, rags, cigarettes, etc from street vendors, etc. As I've said earlier, it is really convenient because it let's you get off at exactly the point where you want to. But sometimes, I believe that it would be really so much better if PUVs would follow the concept of bus/jeepney stops. Yes, it would be a hassle to walk some distance from the stop to your destination, but then again, if you look at it within the context of life, it is better to stop at the point where it is right to stop than to have to stop somewhere you think is right but is totally wrong.
These are the reasons why I love and hate to commute here in the Metro, especially during rainy season. But, hey, don't get me wrong, I still love the Philippines no matter what. It's just that since we love something, we would want to see it in a better place someday.
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