Neglected Opportunities

       Opportunities only knocks once. This reminds me of my jeepney ride this morning. I was given an oppotunity to ride early in a jeepney but I neglected it. Someone offered me to ride on the front seat but then there were already two passengers in it so I neglected it. When, I glanced back someone already sit on it and he was still accommodated in such a small space. Since, I rejected the offered I waited again for 15-20minutes for me to be able to have my jeepney ride.

How To Stop a Jeepney?

          Jeepney passengers conveys a lot of ways in stopping a jeepney when they already reach their destination. It could be through sound, hand signals or a combination of both. Upon reaching their destination, passengers usually say "para", "lugar lang", "sa yellow box lang" or for some they whistle, or make a sound by tapping a coin to any metal part of the jeepney or by knocking on the jeepney ceiling. Some konduktors also have hand signals, a finger pointing downward,to relay to the driver to stop the jeepney at the next corner. Others, whistles and tap any part of the jeepney. These are only some of the ways of relaying the message to the driver that a passenger already reach its destination and must stop the jeepney.

Long Wait

           I traveled one hour this morning from a supposed to be twenty minute ride. I went to Calinan to attend a Sunday Service at my brother in law's church. From our house to Calinan, it only took 20 minutes to reach the church. But after the Sunday Service, I rode a jeepney which waited its passengers in every corner. I couldn't count anymore how many stops that we made.It was really a test of patience. Good thing I came from a Sunday Service that somehow I didn't mind or get angry with the situation. I understand that they have to do that to compensate for the high cost of fuel right now. Well, that had been my jeepney ride for today.

Why Jeepney Ride?

            Why Jeepney Ride? Of all the topics to choose from, why jeepney ride? It all started when I was in college. My teacher in writing subject gave us an assignment to write any topic we want. Since jeepney ride is an everyday activity for me, I wrote about this topic. I was so hopeful that I would be able to convey in my write up the things I experienced during my jeepney ride,  but I was wrong. My teacher told me that there is nothing interesting in a jeepney ride because people doesn't always interact in a jeepney ride. Passengers do not mind each other in a jeepney and that how was I able to have some learnings from such.

               This blog is entitled Jeepney Ride. I created this a year ago. As of the moment, this would be the 17th post. In terms of earnings, it already accumulated $17.65 from link ads in posts since its creation. I admit this is an experimental blog for me to prove to myself that my teacher is wrong. If I would be given a chance to revise the title, I would still choose Jeepney Ride. Jeepney ride starts and ends my day and I find joy in every jeepney ride because it brought me to the places where I want to go which are the things I want to convey to my readers. This has been the reason behind the title Jeepney Ride.

One Peso Fare Increase

        February 2, 2011 was the day the one peso fare increase was implemented. From the minimum fare of seven pesos, it is now eight pesos for the first four kilometers and the one peso rate per kilometer is as ease. The senior citizen and student discount can still be availed with no id-no discount rule. Sometimes, jeepney "konduktor" strictly implement this rule that they would ask for the senior citizen id before they would let the elderly avail the discount. It would sometimes be the cause of arguments between passengers and "konduktor" in a jeepney ride. With the one peso fare increase some protested, but for me it is only justifiable because of the increasing price in fuel. One peso could not empty our pockets but if it is combined it would be enough for our jeepney drivers to sustain their daily living needs.