True Gentleman

In one of my jeepney rides, I was lucky enough to be able to meet a true gentleman. I was the last person that was accommodated to ride in the jeepney. It so happens that I would not fit anymore in the small space available in the seat of the jeepney. This true gentleman offered me to sit properly so that he would be the one that would settle himself in that small space. As the ride goes on, I observe that he was already sweating, his knee was a bit shaking and his grip on the steel bar was so tight. Even at that state I never heard him complained. I should have been the one that is experiencing what he is facing that time which made me admired his concern for women. It is a rare scenario in a jeepney but a proof that there is still a true gentleman.

Fully Loaded Frontseat

My jeepney ride today beat my current record on the number of passengers in the front seat. Usually there should only be two to three passengers in the front seat so that the driver would not find difficulty while driving. Guess how many did I encounter in today's ride in the front seat. Well, we are five in the front seat. That's a lot and I could not move anymore. We became five in the front because a teenager with her sister ask the driver to accommodate them for they had been waiting for a jeepney to stop by for several minutes already. Thankfully the teenager and her sister rode the jeepney for a short distance only. Wow that's another memorable jeepney ride.

Not a Gentleman

Gentleman are now few in these days. I would not believe on this for there are a lot of gentleman that still surrounds me but in one rainy jeepney, I was so disappointed with this man. It was raining and as expected, only few jeepneys are available in those times. I had been waiting in my usual spot just below the office for a jeepney. This particular man had been there already. Several minutes had already passed and several jeepneys  had already passby but were full of passengers. One jeepney stopped and this particular man together with the two ladies were running and chasing after the jeepney. This man really push his way to get inside the jeepney just to secure his seat even if he was already bumping the ladies. The other lady was not able to secure a seat so she step down from the jeepney. This shows only that in securing a seat inside the jeepney, expect that only few gentleman will arise.

New Route

We are now in our new office and it means a new route for me. My jeepney ride was lessen by one ride in going home and the jeepney would passby in  our office. I would just have to wait just below our office and I could get a ride in my way home. With this new route for me, I sometimes could not believe that I already get home. Unlike before that I have to pass by a mall before I get home. With this new route, it would be less expensive for me, less traffic, less hassle and more relax time.

Traffic Caused by Election Rally

     I was so exhausted by a heavy traffic caused by an election rally. It is already campaign period and I could not believe it that they held their rally in an intersection of a busy street. They really block the way that it caused a heavy traffic. My supposed to be forty-five minute jeepney ride became two hours. My co-passengers were already exhausted, hungry, angry, sweating and others almost fainted. Due to the severe traffic experienced by the commuters, other passengers who where also voters in this coming election sweared not to vote those candidates who held their election rally there. Too bad for them but they should really be considerate to those affected by the election rally they held. They should think for a more strategic location where they could held their election rally wherein there would be no effects like that. I just really hope it would not happen again. 

God Bless Our Trip

      A sad news came up this afternoon. A passenger van hit a passenger jeepney resulting to the death of a lot of passengers. It happened at our neighboring town at our province. The accident was fatal for what was left to the van was the flooring part only. It was cut horizontally in the middle by the accident. Mostly of the passengers were nursing students. I am sadden by the news and it is alarming for I always travel going home riding passenger vans. Hope this would remind drivers to be very careful and watch out their speed in driving. It is always my prayer for passengers out there that may God bless our trip.  

Violation

       On my way home, there had been a lot of law enforcers at the street. They came from LTO (Land Transportation Office) who were strict in implementing the laws and regulations among private and public vehicles. The jeepney, were I rode on my way home, did not escape from them. They stopped the jeepney and declared some violations. It delayed our trip for a while. I overheard that the violation incurred was overloading because the "konduktor" was already sitting on the middle of the jeepney and not on the passengers' seat. The violation would entail some fees and fines as well. I think the law enforcer was right in imposing the violation. They were only concern on the safety of the passengers. The safety of the passengers should always be the first priority of jeepney drivers. 

Friendly Chat

      It was a coincidence. I was able to have as a co passenger my schoolmate before who was also staying in the same village where I lived. When we are still students  we always ride on the same jeepney that even if we are not classmates we got to know each other. While on our way, I was able to have a friendly chat with her. We have talked about being newly married, the experience, struggles and adjustments encountered  I was happy to see her. It was only lately that I was able to knew that she already moved together with her husband to their new house in the nearby subdivision. We are so engrossed on talking that I barely noticed that I already arrived on my destination. Hope in my next jeepney ride, she could still be my co passenger so that I will barely notice the time of travel. Till my next jeepney ride guys!. 

Sweaty Ride

      The weather was so hot and the traffic is so heavy. Today's jeepney ride had been a very sweaty ride. I already see sweats dripping from the  elbows, face, neck and other visible parts of the body of my co-passengers. Added up by the heavy traffic, the jeepney is already not moving and I cannot feel the wind anymore or anything that would extinguish the warm air. I could really feel that my face is perspiring as well as any parts of my body. It was so hot and there is this sticky feeling that would want you to soak yourself on cold water. Thankfully the traffic last only for a couple of minutes and the jeepney ride went on. 

Precious Shoes

        One floody jeepney ride, one passenger caught my attention. He was a student and was barefooted. He was holding his shoes in his hands amid the cold weather, the flood and the jam packed passengers inside the jeepney. How precious those shoes must have been for him to prefer to be barefooted than to soak those shoes on the flood? The shoes that must protect his feet had not serve its purpose but its the other way around. It might be his only shoes that it must not get wet in order for him to be able to use it on the following day. It is a common scenario in an impoverished nation. Some students experience this and endure this just to finish their studies. Luckily, when I was a student there was no flood in my province or in  the place where I stay here in the city. I was not able to experience this one but I take good care of my shoes because my mother could not readily provide me new shoes in case it would be ruined. The prices of shoes is too expensive for us. The student who was holding his shoes reminds me of my years as a student. It has been a jeepney ride in the memory lane. Till the next ride guys. Bye for now.

Chasing Time

       Now that I am staying away from my workplace, I am always chasing time not to be late from work. In going to work my transportation entails two motorcycle rides and two jeepney rides. If I would not be late, I could let go of one motorcycle ride and just walk that short distance from the jeepney stopover towards our office. Luckily, I was not late since the time I transferred to my mother's house. Well, thanks to my husband who always drives for me in going to the office whenever he is in the city. When he is not around, I must wake up early in order not to be stranded in the traffic or wait for a couple of minutes for a jeepney ride. I must not be late or else there would be a deduction in my payroll. I hope my everyday jeepney ride would go smoothly away from traffic and most importantly away from accidents.  I promised my husband not to complain about it because what I am experiencing is a small sacrifice compared to others. Goodluck to my everyday jeepney ride and hope chasing time would be minimized.