My Funny Jeepney Story
If you are from the Philippines, I guess you can tell a story or two about your jeepney experience just like me. What I am about to tell you was funny experience in a jeepney or perhaps a very embarassing story.
For context, a jeepney is a public utility vehicle in the Philippines. A regular jeepney can cater sixteen passengers but if they need more sales or people do not want to get late for work or school, it can cater more than twenty.π
During peak hours, you have to chase the jeepney as fast as you could as if it is the last one in the streets.π And when inside the jeepney, you have to endure the skin-to-skin contact with other strangers or passengers. Sometimes, only one of your butt can sit, the other one has to wait for a long time. π
Jeepney Story! Hey, I am Sorry!
From our house to Tintay Terminal, I would ride a tricycle. And from Tintay to Parian, Colon, I would ride a jeepney - 13C. That was my everyday route for three years so I could attend my 7:00 AM class at Cebu Technological University.
I was 20 years old. I didnβt have a girlfriend because I was so busy with my life - college and my work in Jollibee as a service crew. My average sleeping hours would be four hours only. So, that was the reason why I used to sleep in the jeepney.
Okay, so I rode the jeepney one school day. I was very sleepy. Even if the road was bumpy, I could not help but close my eyes to sleep. I only opened my eyes if the jeepney stopped to pick up or unload other passengers.
The jeepney made a stop somewhere in Cabancalan, to pick up new passengers. I opened my sleepy eyes and noticed new passengers - college students and young professionals of both gender.
I couldnβt remember when I fell asleep again, but my last memory of the jeepney stoping was at (USC) University of San Carlos - Talamban. I must say, I had the best sleep ever because USC-Talamban is far from Asilo Church. It is like 20-30 minutes ride, if the road is not so congested with vehicles.
Anyways, the jeepney was already in Asilo when I opened my eyes again because of the voice I heard so close to my ears that said:
Bai, munaog nako. πππ
I opened my eyes and I noticed that my head was on his shoulders. I panicked! I was sleeping on a manβs shoulder who was also a complete stranger.
I apologized to him and he just smiled, said he was okay with it and went. I looked at the other passengers and they all had that judgmental look! Imagine a man sleeping on another manβs shoulder who are complete strangers! ππ
I was so embarrassed, so I slept again! I could not take their judgmental look anyway! ππ΄π΄π₯±
PS:
To that man who allowed me to sleep on his shoulder, Thank you so much and sorry! Sorry because I could not promise not to sleep again in the Jeepney! π
All photos are made in Canva.com
The Author
Christian Yocte is a public school teacher in the Philippines who also loves other interesting things like making digital and traditional art, exploring new places and destinations, writing journals and musings, and a lot more. He currently resides in Cebu, Philippines. Join him as he ventures different places, shares his masterpieces, and makes his life more meaningful.
If you like this post please give it an upvote, a nice comment, and a reblog. It would also be great if you follow him to keep posted on his next post like this.