Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Otherwise
It was an otherwise boring day: The rain, miserably touching everyone’s lives, the usual multi tributary line to the bus door at Metropolis, Alabang with the usual suspects going to work. Then the otherwise boring day shifted. As we approached the Pasay Road - Edsa junction, an old man asked the bus driver to open the door. The driver complied and from the dry, relative safety of my window seat I saw why. The old man urinated at the bus tire, under the rain, in the middle of the road, in plain view of everyone who cared to look. He had about 30 seconds before the traffic light turns green and with luck, he made it back in the bus just in the nick of time.
You’d think you’ve seen it all: bus breakups (live and on mobile), bus break downs, irate passenger/s and/or bus driver/conductor, the small lady preacher that I always chance upon, the fat lady who pays for the empty seat on her side so that her stuff can sit down while others stand up. You’d think you’ve seen it all.
Then three days later, another old man breaks the monotony: he stood by the bus aisle and as chivalry would dictate, a young dude offers him a seat. The old man berates the well meaning kid saying in a loud tone, “I can stand for ten hours no problem!”
As the trip pressed on, the old man would mutter loudly to himself:
“Mas masarap tumayo, mas nakikita ko yung tanawin sa labas!”
(The song “Bebot” by Pinoy-Black Eyed Peas sensation apl.de.ap plays on the bus radio)
“Pinoy Pinay Balot!”
(The song hits the part where the word “Pilipinas” is said over and over)
“Pilipinas, korap (corrupt) naman ang gobyerno! Puro korap! Puro korap!”
Nobody minds the old man because everyone knows that the best way to stay clear of a crackpot is to apply apathy. The old man goes down on Mantrade, and a stranger talks to a stranger:
“Kumunista ata yun?”
“Hinde, rami lang syang frustrations sa buhay.”
There’s just too much judgment in this world, but it’s ok. It would have been an otherwise uneventful trip, and I can’t wait to see the next thing that tops the crazy rantings of the angry old man that I saw, heard and appreciated this morning.
…
curiosity killed the cat: www.discovermagazine.com/columns/20-things-you-didnt-know
# posted by ZeroZen @ 7:03 PM 
Comments:
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Hey, I saw your blog's URL on a sticker you probably intended to be seen in a CHER bus. Well, here I am. And what can I say, I enjoy reading your blog. I actually have a blog entry about commuting on a bus as well.
Check it out here: http://friendsofp.vox.com/library/post/life-on-the-road.html
Stay safe!
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Check it out here: http://friendsofp.vox.com/library/post/life-on-the-road.html
Stay safe!
# posted by 
: 10:59 AM
: 10:59 AM << Home
