Jeepney and the Pinoy
I admire us Filipinos’ ability to survive–and even thrive–in scarcity, but trying to squeeze nine people in a jeepney that can fit at best 8 1/2 people is really ridiculous (well, the idea of a 1/2 person is in itself absurd to begin with). It is understandable that the drivers just want to maximize their profit, but to sacrifice the comfort of the passengers for their own ends is, well in my opinion at least, not quite right. Protest you can, but then end up in the losing end because there is always someone willing to endure the discomfort just to get to his destination in the soonest possible time. So if you’re running late, what recourse do you have but to give in and squeeze into whatever space there is left. On the bright side, at least you can execrise your arms and thighs while you’re at it.
Nothing epitomizes more of our penchant for quick-fixes and short-cuts than how we get on and off of buses and jeepneys. Passengers would hail buses and jeepneys anywhere and anytime, unmindful whether they are in designated loading and unloading areas. Same with passengers getting off these PUV’s. Worse, drivers and conductors not only don’t seem to mind, but they prefer this kind of behavior. Trying to follow proper traffic rules is really a futile exercise when it comes to commuting in Metro Manila. Just try catching a bus or jeepney in Cubao or in Commonwealth Ave. in Quezon City and you’ll see what I mean (I’m sure there are worse places than these two). MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando knows this too well so what better way to stop people from being in places they shouldn’t be than to put fences, right? So he did exactly just that, and to some extent it worked, but on a wider scale, it was a miserable failure. We always find a way around obstacles. If we can’t overcome it, we try to undercome, and if it still doesn’t work we try to leftcome or rightcome it. Call it persistence, resilience, perseverance, ingenuity even. Now if we could only put our talents to good use…
But despite all our shortcomings, we do have our innate altruistic nature. Just pass on your fare to anyone in front of you and more often than not there will be someone ready to extend his hand to pass on your fare to the driver. No questions asked. And, despite what many people say, chivalry is not dead. When there are no more seats available for women or the elderly, there will be someone who’ll be willing give up their seat. Ain’t that heartwarming?
I think the government should promote more the jeepney for tourism. I mean not just the fact that it has become the trademark of Filipino qualities, positive and negative, but the experience when riding a jeepney (and buses too) is a microcosm of the way of living of Filipinos. Almost everything is there, from the admirable traits to the embarrassing nuances.
