The Philippines is a tropical country with two distinct seasons, the rainy and dry season. Currently, it's the rainy season, and I'm currently residing here in Cebu City. Join me on a rainy afternoon as I commute to work. My shift starts at 6:00 pm.
Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines
The waiting area for the jeepney is across my apartment so when I cross the street, I always make sure to do it cautiously by using the pedestrian lane when passing by the street. Safety is a must. Some drivers tend to be reckless.
As seen on the photos, the motorcycle drivers are wearing their raincoats, and the people passing by are bringing their umbrellas and some are wearing their raincoats too. Everyone is trying to keep themselves not being drenched by the rain.
I love the rainy season, and the cold weather. But I love it when I am just at home chilling and relaxing, but, when I am at work, or perhaps on my way to work, I am not such a fan of the rain especially that I am a public commuter and it tends to be so stressful to ride public vehicles especially when it is raining. It even is hard to catch a ride. All jeepneys tend to be full.
I do not ride a taxi because it is very costly and my apartment is just a five minute ride to my workplace so the jeepney is perfect for me. Not only it is convenient, it is also a budget-friendly ride.
It took a while for me to be able to ride a jeepney. I was waiting for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. It was raining so hard. I got my umbrella and wore my jacket, and when a traditional jeepney stopped by, I had to ride it so that I wouldn't be late for work.
Traditional Jeepneys in the Philippines
This is what a traditional jeepney in the Philippines looks like. The traditional jeepney in the Philippines has been replaced with air-conditioned jeeps, which cost 15 pesos for minimum fare compared to the traditional jeep's 12 pesos. But there are still some traditional jeepneys you can see around especially in Lahug area. Although the air-conditioned jeep is more expensive, it provides a more comfortable ride, especially during traffic.
One thing I don't like about traditional jeepneys is that when it is raining, they close all the windows, which tend to get very hot inside. It is very uncomfortable, and I hate it when I sweat so much when going to work, but I have no choice.
Inside a Traditional Jeepney
The rain drenched most of the people who rode the jeepney. All of the people were bringing their umbrellas and some wore their coats. This is what the inside of a traditional jeepney looks like, as the driver put on the curtains for everyone not to get drenched by the rain. Most of the people were sleeping, and I got sleepy watching all of them. Due to the traffic, my 5-minute usual travel went up to 10 minutes. It was raining hard, and the traffic was horrible.
Cebu IT Park, Cebu City, Philippines
I finally got off the jeepney, and I arrived at my destination, which was the Cebu IT Park. This is where my workplace is; a lot of people I saw on the streets were bringing their umbrellas as well. The roads are wet and slippery , and the plants got soaked in so much rain. I then walked to the office where I work. It is just across the street from where the jeepney stopover is.
Oh No!
It is not advisable to cross the street running without any protection from the rain. Getting soaked in the rain can lead to sickness, especially if you are on your way to work and will be exposed to cool air conditioning systems. It is important to always be prepared and cautious. Bringing a handy umbrella in your bag can provide the protection you need from sudden rain showers or hot weather.
Inconsiderate People
Another thing I get irritated the most is when it is raining and when I am walking or standing near the streets, and some vehicles will pass by, and the driver drives really fast and then splashes the water all over us who are standing near the street. I was on the pedestrian lane and was waiting for the vehicles to pass by before I passed safely. One vehicle passed, and the driver was very inconsiderate and splashed the water all over us, who were waiting in the pedestrian lane to pass by. I got a little bit wet by the water that splashed. How much I hate people who do not care about other people around them! Fortunately, it was not that much water, or else I would be going to work splashed by dirt that time. How inconsiderate.
Outside My Work Place
Upon my arrival at the building where I work, I noticed a large group of people who were completely drenched from the rain. It seemed that not everyone was fortunate enough to have the luxury of being dropped off by a car. Instead, it appeared that in Cebu City, motorcycles are the primary mode of transportation for most individuals. This is not surprising since there are many affordable motor taxi services available in the Philippines, such as Angkas, Maxim, Joyride, Move It, and many more. Despite the heavy rain, it was inspiring to see how determined these individuals were to get to work. It was evident that they were passionate about their jobs and were not going to let anything stop them from getting there.
To 19th Floor I Go!
Around 5 to 6 companies are renting the building where my office is located. Our offices are on the 19th, 20th, and 21st floors, and today, we are working on the 19th floor. As I was bringing my umbrella, the rainwater was dripping all over the floor. I noticed other people from different companies were also drenched by the rain, while some were wearing raincoats and jackets. We all took the elevator to our respective floors.
Umbrella Corner
Welcome to the umbrella corner! This cozy little spot is where everyone stores their umbrellas, as you can see in the photos. The pile of umbrellas is quite impressive, with a variety of designs, colors, and types on display. My personal favorite is the yellow one, because it is mine, Lol. I put it here because I had to leave it to dry before packing it away in my bag. As more people arrived, the umbrella stand quickly filled up with a multitude of umbrellas. However, they can't stay here for a long time - after a couple of hours, the hardworking utility staff came to collect and fold them, placing them neatly into their designated cabinets. Let's give a shoutout to these amazing utility workers for all that they do for us!
Since I was early for work, I went to my locker to put all my things inside, and I had a good idea to relax for some time while waiting for my shift to start.
Locker Areas At Work
Back then, our company placed the massage chair in the collaboration area. However, later on, the company changed its location and made it accessible to everyone in a different room. As I have mentioned in my previous blogs, my generous company has provided a massage chair for all employees to use, and we take turns using it.
Massage Chair At Work
I went into the room where the massage chair is located. I brought my blanket with me since I felt freezing, and my jacket was not enough for me to lessen the cold that I was feeling. I have an extra 20 minutes before I start my shift, and each massage chair session is 15 minutes. I put the chair in my favorite massage position and set it for 15 minutes. After all the stress I've been through commuting all over to work, this is probably the best thing I experienced today. I had a massage for 15 minutes.
While lying on the massage chair, I had some realizations triggered by the pouring rain. It's crucial to be prepared for both rainy and sunny days, which means keeping an umbrella handy or wearing sunblock. Another realization was the importance of taking vitamins and staying healthy due to the unpredictable weather. One day, it's sweltering hot, and the next, pouring rain. To avoid getting sick, we must consume healthy foods and vegetables, hydrate with water, and take our vitamins. Lastly, it's essential to have emergency supplies like batteries, flashlights, and canned goods in case of typhoons or thunderstorms. We should always be prepared for any situation that may come our way.
It was the best 15 minutes of my day. I have to go to work now. Ciao!