Commuting 101

With the gas prices getting higher by the cents these days (current pump price for unleaded is anywhere from 34.90-35 per liter) , one has to master the art of commuting in order to get places. I've been commuting every since I was allowed to...probably since I was twelve...which makes it almost half my life! *lolz! and I just realized that just now!* From the padyak (the man-powered version of the tricycles), tricycles, jeepneys, shuttles (mapa-fx pa man yan or yung van type), buses (me aircon man o wala), taxi, lrt, and mrt, I've ridden them all. I think the only public transportation that I havent ridden is the kalesa probably because I dont frequent the areas where they ply their route.

During the 12 years or so that I've been commuting, here are some of the things I learned:

Lesson 1: Planning your rides. They say that time is gold. And with traffic in Metro Manila, planning your rides could spell the difference between you being a "pauper" or "millionare". If you're in a hurry, choose the fx over the bus. The fx has only 10 pax seating maximum capacity while the bus has 60 to 80 if the conductor wants to make a killing for their boundary. Once the fx is filled, it rarely stops to let down passengers as most of those who take the fx ride it until its last stop. As for the bus, with its expandable capacity, stops at every person that the driver thinks would like a ride. The shuttle-van, although very similar to the fx that it rarely stops until it gets to its destination has some drawbacks one of which is that you have to que in line to get a ride. I have no qualms about queing and all but it gets really frustrating and down right aggitating if the shuttle takes like forever to get back to the terminal. The other is that it doesnt leave until it is filled, unlike the fx who moves along with traffic to get its passengers. This is okay if its around the rush hour but a no-no if its on the tail end of the same as there are fewer commuters, hence the long wait. Another option is taking the LRT or the MRT. Among the public transportations, these two, hands down, would have to be the fastest ride you can take to get to your destination. The only things you have to deal with is the long ques to get a ticket, which you can elimate by buying the store value ticket that's worth Php100 that's equivalent to around a maximum of 8 rides); the transfers you have to do to get to a station because although the MRT and the LRT are on the main artery of Metro Manila's main thorough fairs (EDSA and TAFT Ave, respectively), they aren't exactly accessible on foot from most major bus stops, Baclaran in particular; and finally, the occassional techinical difficulties that the systems encounters. Now, if your pocket is quite full, then you can just flag down a taxi and bribe the driver with an additional Php 20-50 if he gets you to your destination on time. But be it as it may, you should still give around an hour and a half to two allowance cause traffic is really unpredictable in this city. Besides, its always better to be early than to be late.

Lesson 2: Choosing your ride. Remember the addage "don't judge a book by its cover"? Well, that dont pretty much apply in this case since what you are affronted with when you see them "flying" by you on the streets is their "cover". Philippine jeepneys are known all over for the flare and audacity of their graphic art, not to mention their loud and often times cracked (sabog) sounds system that plays anything from classical (yes, I've had the fortune of riding one), heavy metal, stuck in the 80's, caters to the yuppies and not to forget those novelty (I hear this is what they are called) that are heavily laden with sexual innuendo (sakayan kita, sa lahat ng gusto mo, basta sakayan mo rin akohhhh!) music. Where can you find tin horses with multi-coloured plastic tails on the shiny hoods, religious icons and family portraits for body detail and names for trim sitting side by side with stickers of scantily clothed women announcing to everyone who would notice that driver's are sweet lovers underneath which is a reminder that God knows Hudas not pay? Only in the Philippines! Just stand on any corner of any main thorough fare here and surely, you'll find an "art" on wheels pass you by. The rest of the commute-fleet have followed suit. You can now find frilly curtains in buses, fx and van type shuttles. Even padyak and tricycles jumped on the band wagon by hanging mini crocheted curtains that would fit and highlight their small "windshield". Now when you stick out half your arm to call them to a stop (sorry ladies and gents, bus, or in this case jeepney, stops are unknown to this part of the world), pull over the one that looks like its road worthy. You know, something in between one that has just been rolled out Sarao's assembly line and one that yells its scrap iron. It hard to explain in words but you'll know it when you see it. Promise!

Lesson 3: Knowing your fare. The basic fare on a jeepney is Php 7.50. For buses, its 8 and 10 respectively for non-aircon and airconditioned buses plying the SM/Lawton/Sta.Cruz. If you're not sure how much your fare would cost, praticularly if your riding on a bus, it is wise to ask the driver how much. If, on the other hand you doubt what the driver said, you can check out the fare matrix (written in such a way that its only a fellow driver could undestand how it works) that should actually be visibly displayed inside the vehicle as required by the LTRFB. If you dont see one, you are actually entitled to refuse to pay the fare; another directive courtesy of Chairman Lantion from the LTRFB. As for fx's, the ones plying from SM/Alabang Metropolis to Lawton would set you back anywhere from Php 10-40 depending on where you are going down, their basic rate being the same with aircon buses. Shuttles (the one going to Ayala) on the other hand can cost you anywhere from Php 50-70 depending on the terminal where you got on. The basic rates for the first two public transportation are lower for students and seniors citizens as they are given a 20% discount on their fares. While the discount for students and senior citizen is already mandated by the law, conductors of buses dont automatically deduct the same from the fare, that is even if the commuter is uniform or is already old and grey. This unscrupulous practice thereby forces the commuter to be vigilant about demanding what should have been a given in the first place.

Lesson 4: Safety first. Enough said.