2019 started strong para sa akin. I was given additional workload sa office which I welcomed with open arms. But yung change, may kaakibat na adjustments sa work schedules at work stations ko. From being on full-time na club-based ako, I had to accomodate 3 days of my week na magrereport sa main office namin. That meant that I had to travel to BGC on those days.
Being the practical guy that I am, I opted to take the MRT to work. Yung pag-uwi was not a concern pero yung pagpasok sa umaga meant that I had to join the morning rush. Taking the MRT sa umaga may look daunting but, honestly, I found myself amused on my first week run. May kakaibang humor ang pagsakay ng MRT tuwing rush hour.
Pero hindi lang humor meron ang pagsakay ng train sa umaga. Nakakatuwa kasi may life lessons ka din na mapupulot habang ramdam na ramdam mo ang closeness ng mga Pilipino. Let me share with you ang mga natutunan ko sa pagsakay ng MRT sa aking unang linggo.
Bawal ang pikon.
Ang hashtag ng lahat ng sumasakay sa MRT tuwing rush hour ay #Laban! Hindi pede ang lalamyalamya sa umaga. Kelangan palaban ka PERO, higit sa lahat, bawal ang pikon.
Para kang sumali ng basketball na may wrestling match pagsakay mo sa MRT. Andyan yung matutulak ka, brabrasuhin ka, maiipit ka, at masisiko ka ng mga sumasakay. At walang pinipili, mapababae man yan o lalaki. Kaya kung pikon ka, di malayong mapapaaway ka.
Ganyan din sa buhay, hindi pedeng pikon ka. Madaming pagkakataon na matutulak ka o kaya’t masisiko ka ng kung anu-anong bagay sa earth. Kelangan marunong ka kung kelan ka dapat lumaban at kelan hindi. Choose your battles, ika nga. Sa buhay kasi hindi laging panalo ka. Maraming pagkakataon na challenging and if mapipikon ka, ikaw ang talo. Kaya laban lang!
Panindigan mo ang choice mo.
One of the hardest decisions sa MRT is yung pagpili mo kung saan pinto ka ng bagon pipila. Usually, ang pinupuntahan ng tao ay yung maiksi at,most of the time, ito yung nasa hulihan. Sa pilang ito ko din napansing pumipila ang mga pinaka-motivated na taong sumasakay sa MRT.
Nakakatuwa ang pagkakaiba ng behaviors ng pila sa MRT. Yung mahahaba ang tinatawag kong “tweetums” lane. Mabagal ang usad pero hindi ganun ka-brusko ang datingan ng mga kasama mo. Habang ang mga maiiksi naman ang “hardcore”. Dito mas mabilis ang usad at bawal ang pikon. Ang mga tao sa parehong pila ay makakarating sa paroroonan, kanya-kanyang timing lamang.
Importanteng tama ang desisyon mo kung saan ka pipila. Di pede yung patalon-talon ka dahil lalo kang magtatagal sa station mo. Kaya kung saan ka pipila, panindigan mo na. Parang sa buhay natin, we need to make decisions and you stand by that decision and its consequences. Mas makakarating ka sa paroroonan mo ng mas mabilis ang mga taong focused kesa sa mga fickle minded.
Ang swerte dumarating sa mga handa at sa tamang oras.
Isa sa mga nakaka-excite na marinig pagnasa pila ka ng MRT ay yung pag-announce na may skip train na paparating. Ibig sabihin nun, sasakay kayo sa isang train na walang laman. Tiyak na makakasakay ka nun at, kung nasa unahan ka ng pila, may upuan ka pa.
Pero hindi lahat ng oras ay may skip train. Lumalabas lang ito sa tamang panahon. At kung handa ka ng bumakbak sa mga oras na yun, swerte ka at tama ang timing mo. Parang sa buhay lang yan, ang swerte ang dumarating sa mga taong handa at nasa tamang panahon. Kaya dapat lagi kang ready sa life dahil when the opportunity knocks, you reap the benefits when you are ready and prepared.
Peer Pressure is real!
Nasubukan mo na ba yung ikaw na ang nasa harapan ng pila tapos, pagbukas ng pinto ng bagon, nakita mong wala ka nang kalalagyan tapos may mga tao sa likod mo na excited sumakay sa train? Nakaka-pressure yun. Tapos nararamdaman mo yung unti-unting kang tinutulak papasok ng train. Magugulat ka na lang na nasa loob ka ng bagon na halos maglips to lips na kayo ng kaharap mo.
Ganyan na ganyan ang peer pressure. Hindi pa nagbubukas ang pinto, nararamdaman mo na ang dahan-dahang pagtulak at pag-udyok sayo. Doon mo mararamdaman kung gaano kalakas ang collective effort para maipasok ka sa bagon ng MRT. Translate that collective effort sa barkada mo in real life situation and, boom… peer pressure is real! Sa sitwasyong ito ko din na-realize na, minsan, it only takes one strong and influential person to get into the train. Again… peer pressure is real!
And the best way to avoid peer pressure?
Tulad sa MRT, step to the side, away from the door, and let them through.
Nasa pagiging pursigido at diskarte ang laban
Since napag-usapan na din naman natin ngayon ang mga agresibong sumasakay sa MRT, ang mga indibidwal na ito ang patunay na mas maagang makakarating kung may diskarte at pursigido ang isang tao. Eto yung mga taong, nakikita na hangga’t may lugar pa ang isang paa ay ipipilit na ipagkasya ang buong katawan. Sila rin yung mga tao na biglang sumusulpot sa kung saan tapos iba- body slam ang mga nagsisiksikang tao sa bagon. Ayun makakasakay sila.
Aminin na natin na kahit nakabwisit, sometimes the whole scene is funny and amusing.
But come to think of it, these people saw the opportunity and with sheer perseverance and tactical moves took on the challenge and got to the goal. I guess ganun dun sa life, daig ng may abilidad ang matalino. If you want to achieve more in life, look for the opportunity, analyze the situation, plan a good tactic, and execute the plan with a brave heart.
No man is an island.
Tutal napag-uusapan na din lang ang mga may diskarte, makikita din sa mga pagkakataong ito ang pagtutulungan ng mga sumasakay sa MRT. Tinutulungan ng ilang commuters na itulak ang pinto para tuluyang maisara ang pinto ng bagon dahil sa siksik na laman nito. Yun ang konting tulong para makaalis na ang tren. Patunay na mas mabilis mapapaalis ang MRT kung tutulong tayo. Isang maliit na bagay para sa mga nakasakay sa MRT.
So totoo yung kasabihan na “no man is an island”. Kung magtutulungan tayo mas madami tayong pedeng maabot collectively. Yung group effort achieves more compared to doing it alone.
And of course for someone who is need of help, there is always someone out there, whether kakilala mo or total stranger, na tutulong at tutulong sayo. Don’t be afraid to reach out and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Pantay-pantay tayong lahat.
Sa pagsakay ko din ng MRT nakita ang pagkakapantay-pantay ng lahat. Walang babae, walang lalaki. Walang bakla, walang tomboy. Walang mataba, walang payat. Walang mayaman at walang mahirap. Patas ang pagtrati sa lahat. Kelangan mong pumila, matulak, at maipit. Swerte mo kung makasakay ka sa bagon pero mas mainam kung makakaupo ka pero hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay ganun.
Ang MRT is one of the equalizers sa atin. Dito mo makikita ang pagkakapantay-pantay ng lahat. There is equality in the world that knows no bounds. We are all treated fairly and we should be treated as equals. Maliban sa unang bagon, lahat ay may pagkakapantay.
At para sa mga iilang babae na minsan ay nag-iinarte na wala na daw gentleman ngayon na may kasama pang pa-picture, hindi lahat ng pagkakataon ay may gagawa nyan sa inyo. Hindi yan isang pribilehiyo na dapat ibigay sa kababaihan. Pagkukusang loob yan. You don’t demand it from the men. Huwag natin gamitin ang pagiging babae based on your convenience. Kung gusto mong nakaupo ka, may grab o taxi na pede mong sakyan.
Always Moving Forward.
Napansin ninyo na ang MRT ay laging moving forward. Kahit saang pinto ka pumasok, sa iisang direksyon lang ang patutunguhan ng lahat – laging paharap. Kaya pagmayroong nagkakamali ng sakay, kelangan mong lumipat sa kabilang train para makarating sa tamang patutunguhan.
Parang sa buhay lang yan, always move forward. Do not dwell in the past because you can never change it. But you can always do something in the present to change the future. Kaya tatandaan, always look ahead and keep moving forward para makarating sa pupuntahan.
The type of bag that you bring matters.
Speaking of the past, isa sa mga napansin ko nitong mga nakaraang araw is the direct correlation ng type ng bag na dala mo sa struggle mo sa MRT. The bigger the bag, the bigger the struggle. So kung gusto mo ng maginhawang byahe pagrush hour, siguraduhin na yung basic necessity lang ang dala-dala mo.
Parang sa buhay lang yan. The past will just keep holding you down. Kung gusto mo makarating sa pupuntahan mo ng mas maaga, leave the baggages behind. Yan yung lesson na gusto impart nung movie na “The Thing Called Tadhana”. If you want to move forward faster and easier, just bring with you your necessities.
Konting ipit at giginhawa din.
Kung ayaw mo ma-late sa trabaho o sa eskwela, kelangan ng konting tiis sa MRT. Para sa akin, kelangan ko lang maipit sa dalawang stations. Sa pangatlong hinto ng MRT, makakaluwang-luwang na at giginhawa na.
Life is the same. Sometimes we need to take a beating initially to reap the benefits. Minsan kelangan natin maghigpit ng sinturon at magtiis. Pero dadating din ang araw na giginhawa ang ating buhay. Do not give up.
Sa pagsakay ko sa MRT nitong nakaraang linggo during the rush hour taught me about perspective. Yung can choose to make your MRT commute a gruelling rush hour trip or you can choose to find the humor behind it. Sa kaso ko, I choose to see its humor that made me think. Ayan, may blog entry na ako.
Hmm… siguro sa susunod, magandang pag-usapan ang humor ng MRT.
It is the start of the year and, just like previous years, everyone is writing out the things that they want to change to have a better 2019. These “resolutions” are aligned to make a better person in all of us by the end of 2019, that’s if we get to stand by the plan way past the first quarter.
Honestly, I love the positivity that embodies the whole concept about becoming a better version of us BUT I also see why most people fail in their resolutions. These “plans” are focused too much on what we want to “BE” rather than focusing on what we can DO to “BE” that kind of person. Case in point, most people resolve to “BE better at work” and there is nothing wrong with this resolution except that it is vague. We need to define what step changes you will take to BE better at what we do and that can mean meeting your deadlines a day ahead or coming to work earlier to accomplish more. Focus on what you can control to BE that kind of person.
I have listed down my own step change checklist for the year and I would like to share with you some ideas on small things that you can do to make a difference. Small steps that will help you BE better and BE a better Pinoy.
Plant a tree.
We all have voiced our concerns about wanting a cleaner environment and the need to BE more environment conscious. Most of us probably have our own metal/wooden re-usable straws, utensils, and cups that we use as our small contribution to being earth-friendly.
Why not level up your contribution by planting a tree this year for a more long-term contribution to your resolution to BE more environmentally conscious? The act is a small thing to do right now that could reap huge benefits to future generations. You can do it with family and friends and you can work with organizations like the Masungi Georeserve in Tanay. It gives you the opportunity to not only raise awareness on one of the most pressing issues that we are facing but to also create a legacy to future generations.
Pick-up trash.
This action requires a shift in behavior that, not only impacts you, but the people who see your actions. Picking up trash and disposing it properly every time you see one is a short-term solution that has a bigger impact to those who witness the act. It sends out a strong message that littering is not okay and that it is everyone’s responsibility to dispose their trash responsibly and properly. It emphasizes the message to you as the doer and to those who witness the act.
In the same way, respectfully calling out people who litter is also a great way to send out the same message. It teaches the person and the people that they are with that littering is not an acceptable and will never be an acceptable behavior. The operative word here is “respectfully”.
Use pedestrian lanes.
I remember shifting my behavior towards using pedestrian lanes during the campaign period of the 2016 Presidential Elections. Campaigning for President Duterte, I realized that one of the major concerns for us Filipinos is discipline. Most Filipinos tend to throw the law down the drain when they are the one on the spot. This is most evident in the simplest laws that we have like crossing the street using the pedestrian lane, for example. We tend to cross anywhere without disregard to both the law and safety.
Using the pedestrian lane is a simple conscious act to obey the law. We need to respect and follow the laws of our country, from the smallest acts to the bigger ones. I believe that we need to start by focusing on doing what is right even in the smallest actions. It speaks of respect and obedience. It is also an act that speaks more to the younger ones about obeying the law. If we want change to happen, change should start with us.
Go local. Promote local.
I have strong appreciation for quality local products. I am always on a lookout for items from local entrepreneurs that I can use whether at work or for my travels. I always check-out local markets when I am out exploring for great finds that I can help promote in my travel blogs or suggest to friends. By doing so, I play my part in helping build the strength of the local economy. In fact, 95% of the gifts that I gave out last Christmas were from local businesses. I use these products and I help promote it to my friends and family.
This is a great step change in behavior that we Filipinos need to make. We should put premium to quality local products instead of the usual imported brands. There are locally manufactured items that are superior in quality. By supporting these local products, we spawn the economy in these communities that provide livelihood and income, not only to its owners, but also to its workers. We help in building the confidence of entrepreneurs to create more products and help the locals in their communities uplift their lives.
I would also like to encourage you to go to your local markets rather than mall groceries for your usual house supplies run. This helps our local “tinderos/tinderas” with their small businesses. Apart from getting these items fresh and cheaper, you also help in sustaining the livelihood of in your community.
Travel more to local destinations.
Since we are in the topic of appreciating local products/brands, let me also encourage you to pack your bags and explore our own – the Philippines. There are a lot to discover and appreciate in our backyard. Discover what makes the Philippines one of the best vacation spots in the world and learn our unique culture and heritage.
I appreciate the increase in the interest and appreciation towards local destinations by Filipinos over the past years. I have seen how the paradigm shifted from international to local spots. I love the fact that the shift opened new opportunities for these communities by the traveling community. I have witnessed stories about how local tourism improved the lives in communities and how it raised awareness on sustainable tourism. We still have a long way to go but if we keep exploring and promoting local destinations, we will get there.
Eat healthy. Exercise regularly.
You can choose to live healthier this year. Again, this is going to be a shift in mindset. Start eating healthier and start a fitness regimen. Do not do it because you are pressured, or you are envious but do it for yourself. Love yourself so you need to take care of yourself.
There are a lot of ways to get healthy and going through the net is overwhelming. The best way to do it is to go to an expert. You can try to get in touch with someone you know and has a background in the fitness industry, or you can try enrolling in a health club if you are the type that needs an extra push to get Remember that not everything you read and watch on the internet is ideal for you. Have the right goal, consult an expert, and keep the discipline.
Give to worthwhile causes.
I have always believed that Filipinos are innately kind and helpful. We go out of our ways to help someone in need even if it means tightening our own belt in the process. There is a certain joy that we get when we lend a hand.
My travels have given the opportunity to personally witness how basic services can be a struggle in certain areas of the Philippines. I have seen how certain ethnic groups have adjusted their lives to provide the very basic to their community even with minimal help from government units. I have also seen how NGOs and private group manage to seek and send out help to these communities. So when you get the chance to sponsor a child’s educational supply or a meal, please do not hesitate to lend out a hand when you are able. This small act can make a huge difference to child’s life and, even, for a community.
These are just small steps that you can take to create a ripple effect to your family and friends. These are small acts that collectively can make a huge difference in our society. The change that we want starts within us. Start small and be an example.
Keep smiling and cheers to a great 2019, dear friends!
adobongpinoy 