The Passengers

As a student, day by day, I pay seven pesos for the jeepney to take me away and make me okay. I read the signs and see between the lines. While sitting close with fellow passengers, it's better to think that its noise is music and its air is magic. Personally, my favorite seat is near the jeepney's door for me to get out easily. Anyway, when you are stuck in the jeepney for thirty minutes, and before you end it with "para sa tabi", you observe and encounter different people during public transportation. Some of them are still look in a fresh condition. Others are looking into the distance, sleeping, or texting, but the passenger I irritated most is the one who has deadly armpit odor. Let us welcome the jeepney passengers who are in their own different ways. Each of them is a real "pasaHERO".

The passengers who lost in their own world of music is the music addict. You can call them as "musikhero." They listen music through an earphone. Usually, these passengers lost in thought because of looking into the distance and trying to find the meaning of life through song. That's why you cannot disturb them easily. There are times, I wonder if there is really music playing. However, I have to understand their lack of understanding of the world and avoiding it through plugging their ears with headphone.

The student who usually has a book and photocopy of the lessons is the "aralhero." Aside from having dark eye bags, his/her eyebrows become one when the jeepney bumps and stops. He/she reads and murmur throughout the ride. Oh! Reading in a moving vehicle is bad for the eyes but he/she doesn't mind the risk just to make sure he/she will pass the exam. Sometimes, he/she falls asleep on his/her way to school while reviewing. Also, as a result of skipping a meal, his/her stomach is like a tiger when it growls.

The smoker in the jeepney is the stubborn person. If you are sitting beside this "pataybagahero", you are unfortunate as he blows the poisonous gas. He has no conscience because he does not think of the health of his fellow passengers and he just look away from the others to feel less guilty. So, for the smokers, please do not just read "No Smoking." Be considerate.

The path blockers are the passengers who carry something big and heavy. They are the "dalahero" and we should not blame them by what they carry even sometimes, they block the path towards the jeepney's door. It's a good idea that we help them in getting in and out of the jeepney. Also, the path blocker should sit near the driver's seat for them not to disturb other passengers.

There are times that you will be in a tight situation. That is when the jeepney's passenger capacity has maxed. At that moment, others say that the jeepney looks like a tight can of sardines which is waiting to pop. This situation serves as an advantage for the perverted person. As "manyakhero", he is skilled in trying his hands to get a feel from girls. It's easy to perceive that he is pretending to cross his arms and to make his hands brush to the unknowing victim.

The old one is the "matandahero" who is grouchy, know-it-all, happy, and the judge in the jeepney. You will identify this passenger by his/her wrinkles. As usual, the eyes of this passenger are covered by a small framed glass. This old one is also nosy and tries to butt-in to other passengers' conversations. Warning: If you are with your friends who are too loud, be ready for a lecture.

The in-a-relationship passengers are present too in the jeepney. The "magkasintahero" hold hands and sometimes, the male rests his arm around the female. They are one of the topics for gossip in the jeepney. They also receive bad looks from the conservative passengers. However, we must treat them with respect and remember the statement "Gossip about them, and soon you'll be the one who they gossip about."

Another passenger you'll be with is the "nanayhero" or the mommy with babies. The little child climbs in the jeepney followed by an older woman with a baby in her arms and groceries on the other hand. I know you notice the mommy with their younger versions. You will observe their being annoying and wild while the mommy is calling out to them. We should understand these passengers because some of the mothers have stressful lifestyle. Helping them is nice one.

In every place, there are gossip worshipers even in the jeepney. All we know about these persons is that they talk about trifling talks especially of other persons' life. That's why you can call them as "chikahero" all the time. Well, the jeepney's gossip worshipers are the people who just bump into each other and start talking almost at the same time about their kids, their husbands, even their neighbors, and anything else in this world. Although, sometimes we get annoyed with them, somehow, they share details about significant things.

The last but not the least of the jeepney passengers are the "tropahero" or the clannish group. These passengers travel in groups thinking that they have the jeepney all to themselves. They always pay their fares together. As usual, one of them collects and counts the money before handing it to the driver. They talk and laugh at the most terrestrial things. As a result of their noise, other passengers think that this group produces noise pollution. So, you should minimize your noise if you belong in this group.

During the public transportation, it is better to think about the saying "It is not the destination that is important, it is the journey." In spite of all, I am thankful to see and experience the real life of being a jeepney passenger. Because of these different passengers, I feel the meaningful journey with them. They are part of our journey all the time. All we have to do is to appreciate one another. The most important is that we are living life through the best way. Have a happy trip!