DANICA MAE DELLORO
TYPES OF FILIPINOS YOU'LL FIND IN A JEEPNEY RIDE
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6 A.M in the morning. Just
an hour or half later, we’ll have to face this sophisticated scenario that has
become familiar to us: real life mannequin challenge of lined up cars and
deafening sounds of car horns. Plus, the gas pollution that everyone has been
immune of. It’s a complete horror of how hassle it is to live in this place.
It’s still early, traffic isn’t that heavy yet, she thought. The girl usually rides the train on her way to school but this time, she took a jeepney instead. She wanted to sense that fresh air and the trees’ cold ambiance of December. She was lively and innocently full of hope. Her luck, a jeepney stops in front of her and so she gets in.
The jeepney had a radiant atmosphere: a mini Santa Claus and the driver’s seat semi-covered in Christmas lights that reminded her of how much Filipinos love to celebrate Christmas. It’s this holiday that we’re all anticipated about. If there’s one thing that we’re all known about in the world- it’s probably the longest one to celebrate Christmas. The positive atmosphere created a positive expression to everyone. She noticed this woman, with her eyes staring brightly, joyfully and a very heartwarming face. It’s like a common language in this place. The language it speaks- it makes you feel you are welcomed; you are embraced with care and hospitality. It may not have been spoken, but it didn’t have to.
Meanwhile, a woman was being loud for her 3.00 pesos change. Go girl, she thought. Because most of the time Filipinos tend to be just fine with what you serve them. That’s when we fail to distinguish the things we’re getting from what we really deserve. That’s when the oppressors take advantage, when people refuse to question.
On the other part, she sees a man offering his seat to another woman, chivalry ain’t dead, man, she thought. She smiled at the man and thought, you’re lucky if you’re given a privilege by your opposite gender. That’s because gender equality’s presence gradually exists in this society. ‘’Bayad ho!’’ and then an elder shouted. She got her coins, passed it and the rest of the people did the same until it reached the driver. Symbolizes a helping hand, she thought. Filipinos offer the biggest hand in the world and they don’t expect anything in return. Another value engraved in us: help someone in need. We were taught not just to think for ourselves, but also for our countrymen and to love them just as much as we love our family.
She reaches her destination. What a ride, she thought. She came to the realization that we are more than what we think we are. Somehow, somewhere, you have touched someone else’s life and inspired them without even knowing it. The simplicity of our lives remains when we choose to be who we are, because Filipinos are no other than simple human beings that have the purest hearts in the world.
photo courtesy: bestofthephilippines.tum
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