Maybe age is catching up with me in terms of catching buses
while moving from one place to another because I now get muscle pains like I
never did before. While I keep a wary
eye on dispatchers (barkers, some say) who assure you the bus is arriving soon
(karong taud-taud); or porters who
always say they don’t have change so you end up giving a whole bill, it’s never
long when an angel comes along.
The aircon Rural Bus from Tacurong was just pulling off the
ramp in Kabacan when I got out of the van from Cotabato City this particular
Tuesday morning. The conductor told me
there were no more seats available but I am never a complainer for standing in
a crowded bus. Like many Filipino
commuters, I am just grateful enough there’s a way to get from one point to the
next.
As I eyed each row to be occupied, I reached the last row of
seats at the back (The Balcony). I just
did not get an empty seat, the person beside it was Ray John! He video documented
our climb to Kansad Gadung, a Teduray Sacred Place in 2013. RJ’s current assignment was with the Dulangan
Manobo of Kulaman, Sultan Kudarat. Needless
to say there was a lot of catching up more than a year hence while enjoying the
moving landscape.
* * * * *
Wednesday morning the Rural Bus to Tacurong was De Luxe,
meaning non-aircon. No problem. The same thing, I am just one of the many
Filipino commuters that are grateful for any means that can get us from Point A
to Point B in one piece, non-aircon notwithstanding. Others pushed me to go to the balcony; which
was also full. I can stand in the
middle, no problem, so they squeezed ahead.
Securing my backpack in the overhead loft, I get settled – standing up.
When the bus was already plying the highway,
a young man stood up from his seat and said, “Aglayan lang ko, Maam”. Meaning, I can have his seat because Aglayan
was just a few minutes away; and Kabacan was 5-6 hours ahead for me. “God bless you,” I tell him and he smiles.
* * * * * *
The Weena Bus in Kabacan was aircon, alright; but a handful
of passengers standing in the front aisle would not budge even if there was
plenty of space in the middle. I
squeezed myself; and got settled – yes, standing up. Two young ladies called my attention and told
me the three of us can sit in two seats designed for two. Hmm – half of my butt did; but not long
enough, a young man some three rows behind said he’s going down and I can take his
seat. I said my thanks to the young man, the two young
ladies, they smiled and I moved. I felt
sorry for those who did not budge.
* * * * *
The tricycle driver from the Magallanes Terminal did not
have change for my ten-peso coin. No
problem, keep it. His face showed a sign
of relief.
* * * * *
Four rather-full multicabs in Mabini did not want to go to
where I asked them. I tried to wait for
one more and if there’s none I can probably walk back the next block where passengers
are just coming in. Then a motorcycle pulled
up in front of me and offered me a ride.
My brain processed for some milliseconds and I realized it’s a neighbour
whom I haven’t seen in ages. He happened
just to pick up some vegetables for supper on the way home.
We had a happy exchange, saying he kept tab on Facebook though
he does not interact much. When I
reached the corner to the house, I alighted and tapped him on the shoulder in
gratitude and told him, “You’re an angel.”
He smiled.
* * * * *
Long hours of travel on public transportation have always
been a given in this country, especially in the countryside. While nothing much has changed over the years
except for the models of the buses and the cemented roads, people’s lives
remain the same: passengers in terminals scamper each time a bus arrives to see
where it’s headed to; barkers shout the destination of incoming buses instead
of putting up arrival and departure schedules; conductors negotiating with some
passengers that if inspectors come in they say they already have tickets; and
so on and so forth.
Why government at all levels have not achieved systematizing
public transportation is beyond me still.
Meantime, I took note of the passengers who are headed the same
destination as mine – so that if they scamper and return to their seats, it’s
not our bus yet. No need to be stressed
out. So much human activity is happening
there’s no time to get bored.
Indeed, if government cannot establish systems, people cope.
Cotabato City
30 April 2015
* * * * * *
Aveen Acuña-Gulo posts herself on
Facebook as a Monumental Operations Manager (MOM). She is a Bukidnon-born
Cebuano mother of three (3) Maguindanao-Ilonggo-Cotabateño children; who will
always be a child at heart even if she is a hundred years old.
She wrote a column “The Voice” for the Mindanao Cross
from 1991-2006.
She likes to challenge stereotypes. “Don’t worry
about my opinions,” she says. “It won’t make a dent to the
conventional.”
