Pinoy Commuter Problems (Part 1)

(personal experience)

No, this isn't a rant. I just hope I can share with utmost eloquence, of how a daily commuter's experience is, in this country - the Philippines. I hope I could put into perfect words to paint a picture that evokes with feelings, harrowing feelings of how a person commuting within Metro Manila (and greater Manila area) would carry such a burden so hopeless -  on a daily basis going to work, running an errand, going to school, or even just visiting a place; and then experiencing the same thing again - going back home.

Sadyang napakasaklap, 'ika nga.


Balik-tanaw...

Mid June 2003. The rainy season was just starting to set off. It was my first experience of Manila on my own. I travelled via bus from the province going to Sampaloc Manila. To look for a job, to make a living and to help out putting bread on the table. I was a bedspacer along Reten Street - one of the crowded, bustling with people streets in Sampaloc area; where the Espana is just a walking distance - tanaw agad ang UST; where Recto, Quiapo, Taft, Quezon Boulevard, Divisoria and so on, and so on - are just a jeep away. If I'm not mistaken it was only 5 pesos back then - one way fare from Bustillos going to San Sebastian Church where the jeepney driver would park within the area and trace back its route again for another cycle of servicing commuters - a normal, not and ordinary scene of a common Pinoy living in the metro.

Those were my first-hand experiences of jeepney riding; Yes, it was in Sampaloc-Quiapo-Manila area. Not to mention the normal snatching "dukot" scenes where you just shrug it off and pity the victim in the back of your head while you move on and get lost again in your train of thought on your daily commute.

I landed a job in Makati sometime July. With this, I had my first take of LRT, I would take the Central Terminal station (close to SM Manila) then drop off at Edsa station. Then transfer to Taft station of MRT to finally get off at Ayala Station (believe it or not - it was my first time too in MRT). That was my daily routine back then - my exposure to the public transport system of Metro Manila. It was then president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who was reigning.

Commuting back then, daily is uncomfortable. I didn't have any choice. I have to deal with it.

Pawis.
Alikabok.
Polusyon (lalo pag walang aircon ang LRT/MRT) at trapik
Gitgitan/siksikan.
Iba't-ibang amoy.
Patak ng ulan (lalo't walang cover ang jeep).
Pagod.

Oo nakakapagod, nakakahapo. Nakakawalang gana. Siguro - hindi ko alintana noon ang mga iyon. Game lang. Ganyan talaga eh - umaasa na balang araw, magbabago ang lahat. Uunlad, magkakaroon ng mas kumportableng paraan ng pagcommute.

Mula Sep 2003 at bago mag 3rd quarter ng 2009, maka-ilang beses akong nalipat-lipat ng tirahan. bed-space, solo room, apartment, etc. Napunta ako sa Quiapo, Bustillos, Recto, Malibay Pasay, Evangelista Makati. Na try ko ring mag work sa Ortigas Center (along Emerald Avenue), sa Mall of Asia (halos wala pang mga establishment at madaming tao noon dun) - ano pa't lahat ng iyon, naranasan ko subalit everytime I commute - mapaJeep, FX, Van, MRT, LRT, bus, metered taxi (wala pang Uber at Grab noon), ganoon pa rin ang siste - walang nabago.

Mas lumala; nag multiply pa nga, naging intense.

Pawis.
Alikabok.
Polusyon (lalo pag walang aircon ang LRT/MRT) at trapik
Gitgitan/siksikan.
Iba't-ibang amoy.
Patak ng ulan (lalo't walang cover ang jeep).
Pagod. 

Dumagdag ang mas mahabang biyahe - mas madaming oras na ginugugol sa pagcommute habang tinitiis ang mga nasa itaas.

Kawawang pinoy. (Sa isang normal na Pinoy - yung karaniwang mamamayan). Kahabag-habag.



Fast Forward...

1st Week of October 2019, I tried to commute from Cavite going to Edsa, via bus; then MRT - dropping at Ortigas station; then Grab going to Pasig Cyberpark...

Nakakahimatay...


(to be continued)

Oreo - Ewan Ko Anong Tawag Dito (Comments Please!)

I don't know what's this called... (yes the picture below).

Is it Oreo Iced Cream?
Oreo Iced Drop? (makaluma ahahaha!)
Oreo Iced Stick? (mas luma!!! hahahah!)
Oreo Popsicle? (Ewan ko talaga!)


Kanina kase, I passed by Mercury Drug to grab a drink - because my water bottle is empty therefore I felt the urge to get a bottle of H20 but ended up grabbing an Apple Juice.

Am About to go to the counter to pay when suddenly within my peripheral vision I saw the shades of deep blues compartmentalised in to small rectangles from the see-through ref of Mercury Drug where iced-creams, and the likes were displayed.

As I came to a closer look, I saw Oreo-labeled rectangular shaped ala Magnum sized items. I grabbed one and didn't mind further what it was.

As you can see on the packaging, it's just OREO with nothing else to depict what it could be. Pero sa isip ko, I thought it's the same like Magnum Ice Cream Sticks. So siyempre dahlia mejo mainit ang panahon kanina, I was craving to taste an ice cream flavoured Oreo.

At di naman ako nagkamali... masarap siya! Lasang Oreo (LMAO!!!!) Siempre naman, Oreo 'yung tatak. Pero TBH and seriously speaking, ansarap niyaaaaaaaahhh. (incidentally putting the "ahhhhh" for you to imagine how satisfying it is on the taste, texture, and after feeling of swallowing a bite of this Oreo-nique kind of dessert bar.

Welp, what can I say? I've a new favourite. It's pricey though, it's 61 PHP (more than $1)... What's goodie about it? It crumbles like the real Oreo biscuits, it's like you're eating an Oreo biscuit that's sooper soft to the taste while you get to feel the effect of dunkin an Oreo biscuit in a warm milk. Nasabi kong warm milk dahil whenever I'm dunkin my Oreos I make it a point it's a warm milk para mabilis siyang lumambot. (Nyahahahaha!)


So, parang ganun 'tong Oreo Ice Drop na to - malambot siya pag kinain kalit kagagaling lang sa ref. I think you should try it and compare your experience as opposed to Magnum Ice Cream.



PS:
If the Oreo PH team is reading this, please ascertain what's the proper naming - so when I get to ask from a sales person's perspective I can immediately put a name of what I wanted to buy. Yun Lang.












~ billymacdeus

Coco Martea, Recommended MilkTea House

While the rest of the milk tea houses offer different "pakulo" and hype to garner following, Coco Martea in my opinion is one of its kind.

Backstory: the word "tea" is quite "gasgas" word in lieu to milk tea small business in Ph; we have some amazing and creative minds of pinoy by incorporating "tea" as part of their milktea business name. To name a few... we have these:

Infinitea 

Bon AppeTea 

Prosperitea

MakaTea

FelicityTea

Coco Martea is kind of a pop culture name for a milk tea house because it was derived from Coco Martin - a hotshot, famed local actor in the local showbusiness. I chuckled the first time I heard it from my friend, who's been recommending to try this milk tea. It was the same train of thought that I laughed out loud when I first heard - the names of small businesses i passed by along the streets in Cavite and Las Piñas Piñas. There's this - "Manok ni Kuya", "Itlog ni Kuya", and when I saw Coco Martea... I was thinking in the back of my mind that it's either the owner is a huge fan of Coco Martin or could be an extension of Coco Martin's own Milk Tea Entrerprise.

While Pinoys get to have a slice of the pie in being a milk tea fan, I can't discount the fact to advise that a person should not just indulge in having milk teas everyday but to ensure, a proper qualifying stats should be established to achieve a better experience when sipping a great tasting Milk Tea.

I'm no milk tea aficionado, but for the sake of helping small businesses in promoting their brand and increase awareness in forming habits for a greater good, I decided to finally visit Coco Martea.

Pero bago natin pag-usapan ang experience ko about Coco Martea's cheesecake milk tea, let me share my limited knowledge and mga natikman ko nang mag milk tea brands:

Nagsimula lahat ito nung niyaya ako ng tropa ko sa Gongcha - it was my first taste of milk tea and I was taken aback because the recommended "milk milk tea" flavour is oozing with so much coziness inside my mouth as I devour this freakin amazingly prepared milk tea kuno. Didn't expect that I get to  go back for it and crave for more.

Because Gongcha is barely accessible from my home, my quick fix in cravings was tended by our neighbor Milk Tea House - ProsperiTea - whenever I get to feel the need to sip some milktea, I drop at that place and order their chocolate RSC biggie.

To cut the chase, nung natikman ko na ang Coco Martea Cheesecake Milktea (one of their basics), I almost choked because of two things:

1. My memories of sipping Gongcha Milkmilk Tea called to mind rushing suddenly
2. I can't believe @ 85 Pesos (yes! it came already with hi-grade pearls/tapioca) - this deliciously affordable milk tea is cheap compared to other brands where price ranges to 120 to 140.

To emphasise its affordable price, the 85 pesos is the tallest size; I can say.. based on my taste buds that the ingredients they used is pleasing to the tongue and could invoke memories of good tidings in your mind.

Price List As of October 2019 (may vary overtime)

I was then inspired to write this to let the internet and milk tea fanboys out there that Coco Martea is quite perfect to the taste and is easy on the wallet. I guess you can have your daily fix of milk tea by just dropping by to one of their outlets and grab your suitable flavour.


Coco Martea's Facebook Page





~billymacdeus

Where To Buy Affordable White V-Neck Shirts?

Last Sunday, I was in a haste running to church to fulfil my duty in the choir. And nooo!, of all the things I shouldn't forget, it's my white V-neck shirt. I only realised that when I was already inside the compound of the church.

This white shirt is an important undergarment similar to how you wear your briefs or boxers. So how did I miss it? Initially, I was planning to change inside the dressing room  but because of "I-missed-to-pick-it-up" that shirt in a hurry on my way out of the house, I ended up thinking of a quick fix.

Mentally, I calculated that it will cost me 20 minutes to return back home, which will definitely fail me to attend the choir because I'm gonna end up late by then. I only got 15 minutes before the drill starts.

Trying my luck while saying a bit of prayer - I went straight to "palengke", the nearby town's market (a brisk walk of 2 minutes) and asked the saleslady to get me a White V-Neck shirt real quick.

While handing down my payment, there were three things I immediately reflected:

1. The White V-Neck Shirt with a brand "Kentucky" is the the cheapest I've laid my hands on to. It's only 130 Pesos.
- I'm a frequent buyer of V-Neck Shirts and I normally get a price range of 250 to 350 bucks in malls. And those are already the cheapest, but I couldn't believe this gleaming clean white shirt gets me a really nice deal. So I would suggest, if you're reading this and you need white undershirt next time, go and grab Kentucky in your local market.

2. Kentucky - Yes, It's a brand made in the Philippines!
- As the picture depicts, it is really made in our bayang sinilangan. As I get to feel the fabric, the whiteness and tenderness - I knew the quality is passed my taste. I am familiar with this brand but I wasn't expecting this to be so cheap in price and it's readily available - town markets of PH.

3. My moving forward go-to-place when buying my next sets of V-Neck Shirts would be to patronize our own. It's within my reach, it's not a mediocre quality (in fact, I like the texture and its shade of white) plus, it's helping our fellow citizens grow their business. 

Even in non-enormous ways of promoting this, at least, or in the very least, we get to help out our homegrown businessmen in the country.

Thanks for reading. Hey, if you're enjoying my blog, go ahead and like my page in FB if you haven't done so.

~billymacdeus

Apple Watch October Challenge

Here's for another month challenge. October it is!!!

Posting this that'll serve as a reminder to put more conviction in achieving this before the month ends.

If you're wondering how I did fare last September, check this link for a surprise.



edit:

I finally got my October Award. Thought I ain't bagging it due to limited exercise time and place but no excuses can hinder if you are willing to overcome and achieve.

~billymacdeus