"Oh, sibogi lang, palihog lang sibog.. dili lang ta mag side view"
In the Philippines, one of the major mode of public transportation is through riding a Jeepney. The etymology of the word Jeepney came the words, "jeep" and "knee" because from the earlier times, Jeepney's were smaller and has crowded sitting already and passengers must sit knee to knee.
According to history, the Philippine Jeepney's did not come from our own because the idea of Jeepney as transportation came about when Filipino's used their creativity and intelligence transforming Military Jeeps that American soldiers sold and gave to the locals before they left the Philippines into full scale transportation Jeepneys. From the original jeeps, the locals refurbished them extending them longer to accommodate more people, adding metal roofs and adding colors and styles from paints to hood designs.
To this day, Jeepney's are much bigger, styled, colorful, enhanced and improved. It has been long gone the days of extending military jeeps because the Philippines now are manufacturing jeepneys from independent jeepney manufacturers and factories to supply the need of the riding public with a better and bigger inexpensive transportation.
The "knee to knee" scenario has been already erased because riding a Jeep now is of much ease because it's bigger and comfortable. That's why this rant was formulated due to MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE because as you all know and i would like you all to know, ever since I started school, I have been riding the jeepney from home to school and even to everywhere i would like to go. Why Jeepneys? Because it's cheaper and Buses and trains are not yet accessible here in Cagayan de Oro City, unlike in bigger cities in Luzon, say, Metro Manila where Buses and Trains caters many of the riding public for transportation. Taxicabs are available but, hey, as a student, my allowance won't fit, it could not even fit for myself, much more fare for Taxicabs.
Maybe it's just me, but i always notice one common thing in riding the jeepney, almost everyday of my life; and that is, OTHER PASSENGERS ARE IF NOT SENSITIVE, VERY INCONSIDERATE TO OTHERS. Why? because as i said i always ride the jeepney and just last night, i was seated right next to this woman who seems not to be bothered at all because she seated sideways, placing her knees on my thighs already and just making my sitting uncomfortable because it's too tight. Let me explain this in a systematic way.
ONE. Guys, i mean Boys, whatever.. We all understand you always have to put a front to others that you are brusque in all ways we all can imagine. Right? And it has been long standard operating procedure for you male species to sit with your knees apart, farther as much a possible, where one part is inside the jeepney and the other knee is way beyond the jeepney. Yeah, i know i exaggerated, but that is just to put emphasis that you OCCUPY SPACE TOO MUCH! It's okay if the jeepney is not yet OVER CROWDED, but when the clocks hit rush hour time, expected that passengers in full volume and scurrying to ride the jeep to be where they have to be. The big jeepney suddenly turns into a small box, and you GUYS does not seem to recognize and see the need for a bigger space to make way for other passengers.
TWO. Ladies, yes, you are too sometimes are inconsiderate especially when you're in groups. You tend to sit in a way that you consume space too much. The jeepney is not like your sofa, where you can sit sideways or in any way, but you bear in mind that you have sit in a proper manner for others to sit comfortably as well. My point is, be lady but don't be inconsiderate. DON'T SIT SIDEWAYS!
THREE. Mommy's, Grannies and almost everyone, please for the LOVE OF GOD, be considerate. There are these Mom's who are very insensitive, yes they will always favor their child but is it too much to carry them in your laps? Grannies, i know, you need to be prioritized, but did that mean you need not to just be the way you want to be, it is not that if we are given a right, we are responsible for that? you should already have known that. PEOPLE!!! Please, please, this is real, don't smoke inside, don't ride the jeepney if you're that too drunk because you can disturb others. Please be sensitive enough to others because you are not the only person inside, there are a LOT of us.
LASTLY, Kuya Driver and Kuya Konduktor, please, you're not blind i'm sure, don't push it if it's already full. You always say this, "oh, ali, upat pa kulang!" and i turned to look inside the jeep that people inside are like sardines in a can already, too tightly fitted. Please, consider this.
What would i like to point out is, yes, we cannot regulate all these and i cannot evade riding a jeepney(LUCKY ME!), let's all look back to our manners. It is very important to look and see for others and not just for ourselves, because i bet you people, if you're the one's to be discomforted by all these, you will feel how i felt.
It's a public transportation, so always remember, it's PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION! (you know, it's yours alone, buy a car then)
Happy Riding :)
* all historic information are deduced from here.
*picture from charmaineblog.blogspot.com and tumblr.
K.leah
misskulot.blogspot.com
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