This is not a taxi horror story but please read it though…=)

I can’t help but blog about my jeepney experience last Tuesday.

Since typhoon Karen showered, the whole Philippines incredibly wet that leads to the suspension of classes in ALL levels thought it ran a bit late. People loiter on the street waiting for jeepneys, fx, buses and taxis which are always full when it arrives. LRT’s jam-packed. There’s traffic and there’s flood. Plus, I am on my all-white uniform. However, this does not stop me from going to the mall. LOL! This is where the story starts:

So my friend and I planned to go to Robinson’s Ermita (Pedro Gil). Luckily, we made it there but we waited for almost an hour for a jeep that can accommodate two people. We had encountered several jeepneys but it can only accommodate one so, we let it pass. As our jeepney was traveling along Quiapo area, there was this two old lady with a child who forcefully rode the jeepney though only two seats were available so one old lady was at the center of the jeepney, bent down and trying to fit herself into the seat but there is none. So with her impatience, she just yelled “BUMABA NA YUNG MGA BABABA…” I chuckled silently and looked at my friend. Then, two ladies (around mid-twenties I think) got off the jeepney. Therefore, in the end, the old lady finally got her sit comfortably. I just said to my friend, “SANA PALA GANON NA LANG GINAWA NATIN PARA KANINA PA TAYO NAKAALIS…” Then we both laughed. I don’t know if the lady heard me, it’s just that it entertained me, despite of the heavy rain. LOL!

Just getting something positive out of a wasted situation. LOL!

From the provisionary increase in fare of 50 centavos last May 2008, again the National Economic Development Authority approved another fare increase for public transportation just this week.

It was said that it is due to the continuous oil price hike. While I was heading my way home, I heard the jeepney driver and his wife (I think) converse and it goes this way:

Driver: Umabot na ng singkwenta mahigit yung krudo…
(The oil price is now more than 50 pesos…)
Wife: Parang kada-dalawang araw ata tumtaas yung krudo ahh… Diba nung isang araw nagtaas na, magtataas nanaman yan sa sunod na araw…
(I think, it increases every 2 days, 1 day ago it increases and I think, it will increase again in the following days…)
Driver: Ang sabi nila, sa sunod na linggo pa daw ang taas ng krudo…
(They said, the oil price will increase next week…)

I was shocked that the oil price got for about 54 pesos and with this fact, I now understand the need for increasing the fare for public transportation.

• jeepneys nationwide would now be charging P8.50 from P8.00 for the first four kilometers plus P0.25 for the succeeding kilometers; jeepneys were initially granted in May a provisional increase of P0.50 so another P0.50 would be implemented. As to the P0.25 for the succeeding kilometers, jeepneys would now be charging an additional P1.50 from P1.25.
• ordinary buses in Metro Manila would be charging from P9 to P10 for the first five kilometers plus an additional P0.20 for the succeeding kilometers; and airconditioned buses also in Metro Manila, 20 percent of that being charged by ordinary buses. Reports said this would be from P11.50 to P12.50. As to the P0.20 for the succeeding kilometers, buses would now be charging an additional P1.95 from the previous P1.75.
• an additional P10 would be added to the fare of taxis nationwide, which won’t be part of the flag down rate.

click for full article

While I was riding a bus a while ago, I saw from the news that jeepneys with only 4 kilometers route can now charge 8.50 pesos as a minimum fare even if they don’t have their new tariff.

The fare hike didn’t affect me because I was paying 10 pesos still during the provisionary fare hike and before this fare hike. Please refer to my previous post.

I have been studying at Far Eastern University, Manila for 3 years now, and in those 3 years, I have been riding one jeepney which route is MCU-RECTO. It is very convenient for me since the last stop of the jeep is in the back gate of my school. I just have to walk for I think 50-steps and then I am inside the campus. The ride will take you 45 minutes to 1 hour if there is heavy traffic with a fare of 9 pesos (not including the fare hike again…) if you’re a student or a senior citizen and 11.25 pesos if you’re not.

Since the ride will take me 45 minutes to get to my school, I have to be awake 2 hours before my class time. Yes, you’ve got it. I am really having a lot of time waking up in the morning because frequently I also sleep at dawn because of school works(pfft…). My class starts at 10:30 AM and I wake up at 8:30 AM usually I extend my sleep and wake up again at 9:00 AM. Given the fact that I only got 30 minutes to get ready for school, which is not-so-possible to do because I really am a slow person in the morning taking the jeepney would not be possible anymore.

Now that I am on my fourth year in FEU, I gave up the MCU-RECTO jeep ride in the morning for me not to be late in my class. So, how to I get to school now? I am proud to tell that I am now an official LRT girl second to my mom (click here.) of course. LOL! Taking the LRT is my least likely of the 3 ways in getting to FEU from our house few years for the reasons:

• I have to change rides 3 times
a) one jeep from our house to the LRT (P6.00)
b) LRT from Monumento to Doroteo jose (P15.00)
c) one jeep from Doroteo Jose to Morayta (street) (P6.00)
• Least chance of getting a sit
• There’s a lot of walking to do
• I can’t stole even a minute of sleep
• The fare cost almost thrice compared to the MCU-RECTO jeep

(the thinking, it’s better for me to get late than to pay the high fare rules me. LOL!)

Well, it goes to show that people really did change. LOL! Now, I totally appreciate for a few reasons:

• I don’t get late for class
• The ride only takes 20 minutes
• I don’t get to taste the pollution (exaggerating huh? it’s the truth!)
• I get to exercise in the morning (walking… and standing LOL!)
• I have my stored value LRT card with me
• It’s air-conditioned

Though it cost me around 27 pesos, it’s worth it. I am always late and I have been known for arriving at school at the “exact time”, which is not good. One way of being early is to take an LRT ride (well, at least for me…). I didn’t totally turned my back to the MCU-RECTO jeep because I still ride it on my way home.

*The fare shown here excludes the fare hike recently.