For several days I got to play a
supporting role in the madness surrounding everyday life in metro
Manila/Quezon City. I used every form of public transportation except
the kalesa ( horse pulled carriage). Riding mostly public
transportation allowed me to reconnect (suffer) with my countrymen
and experience a fraction of their daily misery called the “commute”.
The jeepney drivers are not just great
drivers, they are also expert mechanics and money managers. Jeepneys
are designed for simplicity. Forget about use of the emergency brakes
(even if it's working). Tires with 1/8 of an inch of tread are called
“brand new”. Left hand on the wheel, right hand alternating
between stick shift, collecting fare, and distributing change back to
the passengers.
Top speed? Who cares, too much traffic
to go beyond 30mph. Engine overheating, no worry, there is no
radiator cap, just a tube/funnel where the driver can add coolant to
the engine on the fly. You want to get off? Just yell “pa-ra” and
get off next time traffic is stopped which is almost all the
time...... then dodge other jeepneys to get to the sidewalk if there
is one.
One of my jeepney drivers was stopped and ticketed for not wearing proper driver attire. Are you kidding me? Proper attire in the blistering hot humidity is an NBA tank top and chinellas (thin flip flop sandals). I was told that proper jeepney driver attire is a collared shirt and trousers/jeans.
Ignore all the honking, it's just an alert here. In other countries, honking implies altercation, road rage and gun shots.
My friend's typical commute to work six
days/week takes 90 minutes one-way for about an 8 mile ride on any
combination of bus, jeepney. MRT, LRT, and on foot. On any given day
one of these modes of transport may go down so expect to “wing it”
to get to your destination. And during all this time, you shield
yourself from pick-pockets, debilitating humidity, inhaling exhaust
fumes and possible assault.
