(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)
