As a commuter, I am among the hundreds - or should I say thousands - of people crowding the MRT stations of EDSA, Metro Manila's main thoroughfare, everyday. And of course, this weekday, if not daily, routine could have been a tremendous challenge for me if not for some do's and dont's which I learned after a year or so of faithfully patronizing one of Metro Manila's popular, albeit second only to the ubiquitous jeepneys, public transport.
Here are my 7 Habits of an Effective MRT Commuter:
1. Always keep a stored value card with you, or better yet, always keep a spare card. Otherwise, you might spend half of your travel time cuing by the counter amidst a sea of people, especially during rush hours. Stored value card saves your time and money (bonus rides are truly a delight!), and spares you from the sweat and inconvenience met by rushing commuters once they step inside the MRT station.
2. Be patient. Taking public transportation is always about being patient. When I was in Cologne, Germany, one of the guys I befriended while waiting for my train in the station told me that in his country, patience is very much needed if you take public transport. There, trains arrive in some stations in 20-minute -- or even 30-minute -- intervals. So one should always be prompt to catch his train lest he should wait for another half an hour the most. Dilly-dallying is a no-no. But here in the Philippines, you find jeepneys, buses, tricycles, and padyaks everywhere, so much so that people have enough excuses to slack off and waste time in the morning because, anyway, they can always ride the noisy tricycles that pass by their houses or hail the jeepneys or buses at any given corner of the street. No wonder why the streets here in Manila are all clogged by these public transports that are poorly regulated and so notorious in disobeying simple traffic rules!
3. Once inside the train, don't stay between the doors if you want to have a peaceful ride. People coming and going in each station are very eager to do so, so much so that they are ready to topple anyone along their way: so keep out of their way! Go straight inside the train and look for a vacant seat (you're lucky if there still are) or grab a hand rail which you shall hold on the rest of your ride. One reminder though: don't forget to wash your hands or apply an alcohol or hand sanitizer after if you don't want to get the latest disease-causing microorganism in town.
4. Beware of opened windows. To cut costs, the MRT Authority might have decided to turn off the air conditioners of the coaches at some hours of the day. Sometimes, they are put it off in the morning. Commuters on their way to work sweat like pigs inside the coaches, notwithstanding the throng of people that makes things much worse. Or sometimes, they are turned off in the afternoon. People going back home after a day's toil at work will find their plight even more toilsome jam-packed inside coaches, deprived of much needed oxygen (this is a serious threat!), space, and comfort. So the next time you take the MRT, beware of opened windows for they bode a hellish ride. And one last tip: think twice of taking the second or middle coach; it's the one whose air conditioners are always turned off.
5. Beware of snatchers. Snatchers in the train, as any other snatchers you find in every corner of the city, are very crafty and dexterous. They can actually slip their hands into your pocket without you feeling it. The next thing you know is that your wallet is already in somebody else's pocket or your cellphone is already being sold in Greenhills. So as much as possible, keep everything in your bag and guard it with your life.
6. Be a gentleman. In so many instances while in the train, I have seen seated men pretending to be asleep or taking no notice whenever an old lady enters the cramped coach and stands in front of them while trying to balance herself as the train moves and grip the hand rail which dangle too high for her arm's reach. These were such poignant scenes, but nonetheless disappointing as it shows how unmanly these men are.
7. Enjoy the ride. Taking the MRT can be a worthwhile experience. My weekday trips to Makati have made me familiar with the sights of the Metropolis (at least those that are within my eyes' reach). The elevated railway offers commuters a good view of EDSA that is almost always cramped with vehicles, a quick glimpse of the busy areas of Cubao and Magallanes, an impressive panorama of the Makati and Ortigas skylines, and - to the lucky ones - some picturesque moments with the beautiful Manila Bay sunset which, at one instance, cast its reflection on the polluted Pasig river, creating a very romantic scene that made me think that Manila might be, after all, not as ugly as I thought.
