The Beauty of Buses

As we all know that Buses are one of the most effective transportation devices in the Philippines. Why? Not all places are accessible to LRT/MRT, jeepneys are mostly used in short trips unless its rented, and taxi's are not affordable to everyone. The geometry of buses can bring at least 50-60 people on one trip. Some buses have aircon and others have none. Some have new seats and others have.. well, i don't want to describe haha. You make your own judgment. But, what inspires me to write about the life inside a bus is the atmosphere and peacefulness it gives to passengers like me.

I study in UP Diliman, College of Engineering. During the weekdays, I go to school for my classes. The usual transpo routine I have everyday include buses. The moment I enter the bus, I always look for available seats. Very random I must say. The beauty of buses is that, it allows you to think as many thoughts you have before you get off. There's this certain quality about buses that gives you peace even for a short time.

I always think of my to do list for the day before I arrive to school. Will I go to the library and study, hang around in UP ACES (best org I've ever had), or will I meet my girlfriend and eat lunch with her if she's available. Lots of thoughts, can't sort. When I have an exam on that day especially if its a Saturday, I always think of ES 13 whether if I will pass the exam, will I be able to answer it on time, will I blank out, or will I fart whatever. ES 12 for Mondays. Same goes with ES 13, will I pass, will I blank out, the usual. Before I don't consider myself as an average student because when I studied in Mapua since I'm a transferee, I'm a Magna Cum Laude standing. Then when I transferred to UP, my first year able me to become a Cum Laude standing. But as sems gone by, I just became an ordinary average student having a GWA of 1.8-1.9. Won't tell you the exact, its confidential haha. Moving on, I'm a GC person. There came a point that I'm sitting in the bus, thinking about what grade will I get in the subject, I bring out my sci-cal and calculate my assumed grade for the course. Yes, people. I'm computing grades while I'm in the bus. That's the beauty of buses. You can think everything.

There was a moment I was so bothered about the exam. I was sitting in the bus on my way home, I saw this note in front of me,

                   "092056743xx, Imma cute gurl, text me, meet me, mwah."

I was like, what the fuck? Well, its normal. Vandalism is normal for people in public places unfortunately. I saw this note once in a CR at CAL (College of Arts and Letters),

                   " I masturbate to his image <then a picture beside it>"

There are people who are bored with their lives haha. Moving on. It was very distracting for an hour or hour and a half of travel time in the bus and all you can see is the note written by some bored person. That's the beauty of buses, it's democratic.

I also want to share what I saw in the bus once. I saw this sticker note or whatever they call it. Its actually a friendly sign to everyone and a reminder.

                     "No ticket, No pay."

I don't know if I understand it well, but the message I got from the note was, "Walang ticket, Hindi ka babayaran." HAHA. Later I realized, that it was actually, "Walang ticket, Walang bayad." If they've written it as, "No pay, No ticket." Then, it would be clear that they will not receive any ticket if they hadn't pay the right fare. That's the beauty of Buses, there's a lot of stupidity, still you're the only one experiencing it. HAHA.

For everyone who drives a car on the way to school. Don't waste the opportunity to ride a bus and see the nature of it. Not only its affordable, but also a time for you think about anything you want. It's a free country. But not a free bus. :) Still, a peaceful transportation device (with aircon). Haha.

Every breath you take

There is a brighter side to every story. Lagi nating tatandaan iyan. Minsan nagkakamali ang mga tao at dumarating sa punto na nagiging martir na sila sa mga kasalanan na nagawa nila for the sake of humility. Bakit nga ba kailangan maging humble sa lahat ng bagay? Bakit kailangan na ibaba ang sarili, aminin kaagad ang mali with little explanation without being defensive? Sabi nga nila, less talk, less mistake. Pero I doubt it. Sa mundong ito, hindi nawawalan ng point of view ang mga tao. In the first place, kaya nagkakaroon ng side to every story ay dahil magkakaiba ang perception ng tao sa mga bagay. Hindi man maging vocal ang mga tao na kailangan sabihin nila ito to let every one know na ito ang pinaniniwalaan nila. Merong iba na tahimik lang. Tahimik na hindi sumasang-ayon sa mga bagay na nakikita niya. Ano nga ba ang tama? Pipiliin mo na lang ba manahimik at maging safe o maging vocal at magtake ng risk na magkamali?

Every breath you take, you have to take the risk. I take chances. That's why mas gusto kong maging vocal at magkamali dahil I don't want to have any regrets na hindi ko nasabi ito or hindi ko nagawa ito. And yes, you did commit some mistakes but it's part of life that you have to deal with. You can be humble. But you can never let yourself beaten up by others opinion. You have to have some sense of direction. And that comes from being vocal. Take chances. Risks in life will never give you freedom. These are learning experiences that you have to know and realize. Thus, always think that there is a brighter side to every story.