This morning, I was able to get to the terminal at almost 9:00. As I was waiting for the next FX to come along, I heard a Visayan rendition of a popular song played in parties and discos.
At first, I thought the song is about a party that the singer and his companions joined one night. They had fun in that party and later on the lead singer asked one of his friends for a prepaid load of three hundred pesos so he can call someone to say hello-lo-lo-lo-lo.
The music got stuck in my mind and I sang it, or at least a part of it, in the office. One of my officemates knew the song an since she is Visaya, she told me my interpretation of the lyrics was wrong.
What the song actually told is that, yes the guys did join a party and had fun but among those served for them to eat is what we call "butete." They ate the butete and were poisoned by the food. It resulted to them feeling dizzy (nahilo-lo-lo-lo-lo).
On my way home, I now have a better grasp at what the song means.
As luck would have it, I heard the song again as the radio station the jeep I was taking was tuned in to played that same music.
It was bad enough that I was playing the song in my head in the office, now, I am still playing it in my subconscious up until the time I am about to sleep.
Sheesh!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
Of work and play
During the commute home, I had nothing to do but worry about an unpaid service rendered to our office. While in my stressful and distressing thoughts, I overheard four people talk about work and play.
There were two males and two females. One of the females is obviously the most senior employee since they address her as ma'am.
When they boarded the jeep, they began their discussion about a sports event where they came from. The two girls must have played in that game since they were both wearing uniforms. The two boys were probably just spectators because they were in the usual friday outfit of collared shirts and jeans.
After a few moments of teasing the "players" at how they fared in the game, their discussion shifted to things that happended in the office. They were laughing about how one of the guys was surprised by their boss with a question and gave an answer that is not in any way related to what was asked.
After a few minutes of office talk on the subject of questions and answers, they shifted back to the game that afternoon. This time, they talked about their other officemates and how they played.
The senior gal got off at her stop leaving the three others continue the journey with me.
Since the remaining three seems to be going to the same area, they changed topics to who lives where and who lives near to whoever. They even discussed who the town mayor of the last girl is.
In a minute or two, all three got off at the same stop to take another ride to where they are going.
And that ends their talk of work and play.
There were two males and two females. One of the females is obviously the most senior employee since they address her as ma'am.
When they boarded the jeep, they began their discussion about a sports event where they came from. The two girls must have played in that game since they were both wearing uniforms. The two boys were probably just spectators because they were in the usual friday outfit of collared shirts and jeans.
After a few moments of teasing the "players" at how they fared in the game, their discussion shifted to things that happended in the office. They were laughing about how one of the guys was surprised by their boss with a question and gave an answer that is not in any way related to what was asked.
After a few minutes of office talk on the subject of questions and answers, they shifted back to the game that afternoon. This time, they talked about their other officemates and how they played.
The senior gal got off at her stop leaving the three others continue the journey with me.
Since the remaining three seems to be going to the same area, they changed topics to who lives where and who lives near to whoever. They even discussed who the town mayor of the last girl is.
In a minute or two, all three got off at the same stop to take another ride to where they are going.
And that ends their talk of work and play.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Most unfortunate
This morning I arrived at the PUV terminal at around 8:20 hoping to get on board soon and be on my way to the before 9:00. But what greeted me is a very long line of fellow commuters waiting for their turn to get on board.
I was debating with myself if I will go and wait in line or if I should take another way to the office. I chose to wait in line.
By experience, if I take a jeepney to Pasig City, then take another FX to the office, it will probably take me more than an hour to get to the office.
I asked the dispatcher why the line grew longer than usual. He said that there is an on-going boat race along the Pasig River and most roads used by the drivers on their return trip is closed. the boat race is part of the celebrations for Araw ng Pasig.
I had no choice but to just wait. And it is past 9:00 already.
Waiting it out, I was able to get on board after 30 minutes and be in the office in another 15. What a way to start the month...
I was debating with myself if I will go and wait in line or if I should take another way to the office. I chose to wait in line.
By experience, if I take a jeepney to Pasig City, then take another FX to the office, it will probably take me more than an hour to get to the office.
I asked the dispatcher why the line grew longer than usual. He said that there is an on-going boat race along the Pasig River and most roads used by the drivers on their return trip is closed. the boat race is part of the celebrations for Araw ng Pasig.
I had no choice but to just wait. And it is past 9:00 already.
Waiting it out, I was able to get on board after 30 minutes and be in the office in another 15. What a way to start the month...
Right turning vehicles keep right
As far as I know, the rule in a highway without a traffic light is that vehicles that will turn right must stay on the right lane and those crossing will keep the middle or left most lane wherever applicable. This however, does not hold true in C-5.
Everyday that I commute from home to the office, when we get to the corner leading to Valle Verde Subdivision, our PUV always has a hard time turning right on that corner. Well, the traffic is usually heavy in the part of the highway but it is not the volume of moving vehicles that gives us a problem turning right. It is those educated and mostly professionals who drive their cars along the right lane even if they are not turning right.
It always amuses me to see these driver in nice cars, wearing nice clothes looking all educated. And yet the education seem to have been placed on the backseat just to be on the lane where the vehicles move faster.
And what's bad about it is that if you get to cut them off so you can turn right, they'll get upset.
As the expression in one of the jokes I received through email says: the nerd of this people!
Everyday that I commute from home to the office, when we get to the corner leading to Valle Verde Subdivision, our PUV always has a hard time turning right on that corner. Well, the traffic is usually heavy in the part of the highway but it is not the volume of moving vehicles that gives us a problem turning right. It is those educated and mostly professionals who drive their cars along the right lane even if they are not turning right.
It always amuses me to see these driver in nice cars, wearing nice clothes looking all educated. And yet the education seem to have been placed on the backseat just to be on the lane where the vehicles move faster.
And what's bad about it is that if you get to cut them off so you can turn right, they'll get upset.
As the expression in one of the jokes I received through email says: the nerd of this people!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
New facade
Mayor Fred Lim of Manila making putting his own make-over of the Pasig river shores. I chanced upon a project being undertaken under the Quezon Bridge near Quiapo market.
On my way home from a meeting at the Presidential Management Staff Building in Malacanang, I took a jeep plying the Pasig-Quiapo Echague route from Arlegui to Quiapo's Quinta Market. At the back of Quinta Market right beside the bridge is the Quiapo Terminal of the Pasig River Ferry.
Between the passenger waiting area and the pontoon dock is a beautification project being undertaken by the Manila City government.
The wide area about a quarter of a kilometer long is being paved with red and off-white stones. This walkway stretches from the edge of Quinta market bordering FEATI university up to the point where the river is met by another stream.
I don't know yet how this will look like when the project is done with all the displaced settlers under the bridge and beside Quinta market. And how will this sort of a promenade be accessible to the public without compromising the security of the ferry terminal.
An update is forthcoming!
On my way home from a meeting at the Presidential Management Staff Building in Malacanang, I took a jeep plying the Pasig-Quiapo Echague route from Arlegui to Quiapo's Quinta Market. At the back of Quinta Market right beside the bridge is the Quiapo Terminal of the Pasig River Ferry.
Between the passenger waiting area and the pontoon dock is a beautification project being undertaken by the Manila City government.
The wide area about a quarter of a kilometer long is being paved with red and off-white stones. This walkway stretches from the edge of Quinta market bordering FEATI university up to the point where the river is met by another stream.
I don't know yet how this will look like when the project is done with all the displaced settlers under the bridge and beside Quinta market. And how will this sort of a promenade be accessible to the public without compromising the security of the ferry terminal.
An update is forthcoming!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Those who are first become last
There are times that you feel unfortunate to at the end of a long queue of people trying to get a ride to the office. And there are times that you feel very lucky to be first in the line or in the first group to board and leave.
An of course, there are times that even though you were the first one to leave, the driver of the vehicle that is last to leave drives a lot faster than yours.
Just this morning, I was lucky enough to leave before 8 that will assure me that I will arrive at the office right before nine. While we were on the highway (C-5) just past the u-turn slot near Valle Verde when suddenly, an FX AUV tried to bump us. It turns out that the "rammer" is a coleague of our driver. They both belong to the same transport association. And this second AUV is supposed to have left about 10 minutes after we were on our way.
Lo and behold, a third AUV was also there and overtook us.
In the end, our AUV, that left around 7.45am was the last to reach my stop. And I thought I was lucky to be in the group that went out first.
And so, the first, became last. Haaay...
An of course, there are times that even though you were the first one to leave, the driver of the vehicle that is last to leave drives a lot faster than yours.
Just this morning, I was lucky enough to leave before 8 that will assure me that I will arrive at the office right before nine. While we were on the highway (C-5) just past the u-turn slot near Valle Verde when suddenly, an FX AUV tried to bump us. It turns out that the "rammer" is a coleague of our driver. They both belong to the same transport association. And this second AUV is supposed to have left about 10 minutes after we were on our way.
Lo and behold, a third AUV was also there and overtook us.
In the end, our AUV, that left around 7.45am was the last to reach my stop. And I thought I was lucky to be in the group that went out first.
And so, the first, became last. Haaay...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Lovers are they?
On my way home tonight, I took an FX from Megamall. I took a seat at the back along with a couple who I thought to be married.
As we waited there for the vehicle to fill up and when it eventually left, I came to realize that they were not married and may be just friends. I figured this out when I heard the lady describing her daughter to her friend.
I never really thought of them as having an affair but merely chancing upon each other at the mall and since they are probably neighbors (since they discussed neighborly things). At any rate, the lady was, well, sort of a little sweet to the guy . Patting his leg, leaning on to him makes it look sweet. But then again, I do not know the depth of their relationship so its not really my business.
So, that is the more telling part of my commute today. Hope to be able to share some more in the future.
As we waited there for the vehicle to fill up and when it eventually left, I came to realize that they were not married and may be just friends. I figured this out when I heard the lady describing her daughter to her friend.
I never really thought of them as having an affair but merely chancing upon each other at the mall and since they are probably neighbors (since they discussed neighborly things). At any rate, the lady was, well, sort of a little sweet to the guy . Patting his leg, leaning on to him makes it look sweet. But then again, I do not know the depth of their relationship so its not really my business.
So, that is the more telling part of my commute today. Hope to be able to share some more in the future.
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