Ika 2 ng Hulyo 2008

I had intended to take it easy today. We had dinner at a resto last night to celebrate my daughter's birthday. I prepared for work unhurried and left the house around 8:30am.

I took my shuttle service. At this time, not much people are going to work. There was a ready van when I arrived at the terminal. I had a few nice options on the seat to take. Choosing where to sit in the shuttle service is a privilege for the first 8 passengers depending on the vehicle type. So far, there are two types to choose from with some derivatives for each with the following description:

Regular Van - normally for 15 persons including the driver but made to fit 19 persons regardless of size; can be hot or cold depending on the weather, newness and condition of the vehicle, i.e., the farther one is from the aircon vents which is usually situated just above the seat on the first row (body) and naturally also in the dashboard facing the driver and the two passengers beside him. There are three exceptions to this type. One is a van sitting only 15 persons for what should only be 12 persons. The other two sit only 18 passengers, one has only one cabin seat for passenger in front while the owner of the other decided not to let another passenger sit only half his/her butt on the third row.

L300 FB - normally used a delivery van, there are a few remaining units being forced on us riders. Mostly old and dilapidated, depreciated to the max, their salvage value is probably zero if not negative. This crap, errrr van resembles a public utility jeep with its benchlike seats facing each other. It can sit 15 persons including driver and 2 passengers in front. An exception is one van whose owner had the body refabricated to extend the length and sit 7 instead of 6 on each side. The owner/driver must have utilized all contraptions to keep these road unworthy vehicles up and running. On a cold rainy day, a sick and shivering rider can be given warmth instantly. On a hot summer day, one is given a hell of a ride.

In the case of a regular van, the first 8 (6 for the small van) passengers normally choose the three rows and the seats beside the driver. The back row is avoided like hell. The extension seats are not for those with faint hearts and personally chosen only by the courageous, those who are doing penitence or with strong tolerance for pain as metal parts sometimes protrude and poke your behind, those who are late for work, and usually passenger number 9 and above. It is worthy to mention that the sun which rises from the east also add to the inconvenience of passengers seated on the extension seats. The seat between the driver and another passenger has its own advantages and disadvantages. While the passenger occupying such seat are given unlimited access to the aircon, this is match by a hot sensation on his/her behind because he/she is sitting on top of the vehicle's engine. Thus, a spa sensation is created.

In the case of a L300 FB van, there are really no choice seats because you all experience hell.

Passengers number 9 and above have the option to wait for another vehicle if they feel they don't have what it takes to ride the vehicle on hand. Passengers often opt to be late for work than risk injury riding the L300 FB van.

Ah to be among the privileged few is a rarity for me. When I opened the van(this is the small type sitting only 15), there are only 2 passengers inside. I sat beside an elderly lady in the first row. As passengers came, another elderly lady decided to sit beside me on the extension seat. As it was filling up, the two ladies while strangers to each other were talking with me caught in the middle.......... so I had to nod or smile at some points. As soon as the van was filled up, we went our way.

I decided early on to sleep until interrupted by a woman loudly talking on her celfone behind me. The lady at my right blurted out, "courtesy in a public conveyance". I tried to get back to sleep. There were also two women conversing at the back...... then another call for the same woman on the phone. Too tired and sleepy, the noises drowned out as I slept the rest of the trip.

I must have been patronizing these shuttle service for so long. I have seen people....drivers, owners, passengers come and go, grow up and wide, get married, have kids, and a few left permanently.

PS: Bakit nga ba kelangan dinig ng lahat yun pinag-uusapan nila? Me style naman ng pag-uusap na simple lang at di nakakaistorbo sa iba. Di naman kami kelangan sa usapan nila, so please spare us your antics and your dirty linens. Masyadong maaga or gabi na para jan. Tuloy minsan pag nakikita ko sila sa terminal eh parang kilalang kilala ko na sila.

Bukod sa mahal na gasolina at iba pang incidental expenses sa pagdadala ng sasakyan, isa sa dahilan sa pagsakay sa shuttle service ay upang makapagpahinga, maextend ng konti ang kulang na tulog, and maiwasan ang stress ng traffic. Sana maintindihan ng mga kinauukulan ito.

1. Kung kelangan ka makipag-usap sa fone, hinaan mo naman ang boses mo. Di ka nman siguro nagauaudition sa oratorical contest.
2. Kung makikipag-away eh punta kayo sa pribadong lugar at ayaw namin madamay.
3. Kung bingi ka eh wag ka gumamit ng celfone at baka lumala pa yan.