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I Know Where the MRT Cards Are

Rona — Fri, 21 May 2010 09:47:48 +0000

This is long overdue. 2 months ago, I was complaining about the unavailability of the MRT stored value cards. It’s frustrating to see in the stations the poorly-made sign boards (more like used papers) that says “Stored value cards temporarily unavailable.” A couple of weeks of MRT cards scarcity, B was lucky enough to buy a few cards when it finally became available and by few, I meant 10:

Yes, we hoarded MRT cards because there is a need to. One station didn’t allow us to buy more than 2 because according to them, the cards should be available to the others. The other station let us buy at least 5. Go figure.

I Love You MRT!

Rona — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:01:14 +0000

I saw something on CNN. It was Christiane Amanpour interviewing somebody about global population. She mentioned China, of course and then Japan. When Japan was brought up, a video clip was shown. I never thought I would say this most especially after months of bitchin’ about the MRT but, after watching that video clip, I really can say that I LOVE OUR MRT! Dug up the vid and then some to better explain a seemingly impossible thing to be uttered by a Metro Manila MRT user:

These guards are craaaazyyyy. One of them said, “Sorry, take the next train please” then they started pushing one student inside. I don’t understand why they wouldn’t just let that one student get off the edge too and take the next train along with the others?

This one’s a killer, literally:

I was laughing when I first saw this one but then I realized that this is similar to what happens in the MRT minus the forced packing. I won’t complain anymore when people behind me would push everyone in front to get in cause honestly, who doesn’t do that anyway? If you’re the one behind, it’s pretty sure you have done a great deal of pushing and feigned innocence at the same time. That’s a tip by the way to not get in trouble if the one in front of you goes ape shit with anger. Less complaints, more gratefulness. I mean, did you see that white coat by the end of the clip? It was draped to the window!

Who’s Storing MRT’s Stored Value Tickets?

Rona — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:15:16 +0000

What the hell is going on with the MRT, man?! The stored value tickets haven’t been available for almost 2 weeks! My last card would be exhausted come Monday. I have been worried about it the entire week but fortunately it was finally available in Buendia station this afternoon. I asked for 4 100 pesos-loaded cards but the lady won’t allow me to hoard. She told me that the most that she can sell me is 2. Fine, I said. It’s totally understandable but come on! It’s not my problem if i can afford to buy 5 cards because I do not want to freaking line up all the freaking time! These stored value cards will surely not be available again soon. For a regular MRT rider like me, it is very inconvenient and stressful. I am not saying that the MRT is convenient itself. The speeding can of sardines is far from it. Sure it will take you from north to south and vice-versa in 30 minutes but sometimes, one can only take so much. WHAT’S GOING ON MRT?! Yesterday, an office mate who also takes the MRT told us that there was this guy who got pushed by another guy. One guy punched the other. I do not know the exact details but the important part is that the one who got hit bled all over the train. And then today, a similar incident happened again only this time the fist fest started in Quezon Avenue station and ended in Santolan. A girl cried because she got hit too. How I wish I was there to see it. Maybe they have had enough of the stress that the MRT brings them and they just took it out on the next thing that triggered their last remaining thin nerve. I hope that they felt better after throwing fists at each other. I won’t be surprised if I’d hear a story soon of girls pulling each others hair all the way from North to Taft avenue.

CAT FIGHT!

Heard in the MRT today:

“Pwede ba yung iba pumunta naman sa gitna? Mukha kayong mga pinto eh!”

So What Was It Again?

Rona — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:31:10 +0000

It’s Friday again. Woo. On my way to work yesterday, I saw an old schoolmate in the MRT. During college, she and I used to be gal pals but something happened and we just started ignoring each other until we graduated. We talked and caught up on each others businesses as if our college drama never happened. Most conversations that I have with people that I ran into after not seeing them for a really long time veers towards awkwardville. Surprisingly, ours didn’t go to that direction and I can’t be any more glad and relieved. We were so busy yakking away that we didn’t notice that seats are already available in front of us. Consequently, those who were standing up besides us gave us an annoyed and puzzled look and took over the empty spaces. I told B all about her when she finally got off at Guadalupe station. I was telling the story of our college drama but I can not recall what is the exact reason why we stopped talking. I bet it was so stupid and inane because I really don’t remember. Heh.

Taxi Driver, Plugged

Rona — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:46:16 +0000

Starting this year, I was either late for work everyday or absent. Yesterday, the HR person called my attention for all the absences and tardiness that I have accumulated. She says that the Management is going ape-sh!t because of the number of hours that was wasted because of my ~~rebellion~~ self-imposed schedule. Now I will have to make an effort AGAIN to wake up at 6 freaking AM from Monday to Friday to be able to make it to the MRT before 7:30 and be at work by 8. I really am hoping that I can do this even for just 1 week straight.

On our way to work this morning, B and I flagged a cab on the other side of a narrow road while we were walking towards the busy street ahead. This conversation transpired while negotiating for a ride:

This taxi picture is not mine. Just took it off somewhere in the 'net.

Cab driver rolled down his window.

Cab Driver: Saan kayo?

Doesn’t it piss you off when a cab driver has to ask first where you are headed to BEFORE they let you in in their cab?

Me: MRT!

At this point, B and I were already slowly walking away because we’ve had enough of these kind of cab drivers to know that this one isn’t any different.

Cab Driver: Camachile?
Me: MRT!
Cab Driver: Pasig?

We are totally losing interest and started ignoring him.

Cab Driver: Ah ewan!

WTF? Like it’s our fault that he can’t either understand or hear us. Maybe he needs some serious ear cleaning. He’s a cab driver so I’m pretty sure “MRT” has been uttered to him one too many times. I wonder how many passengers he has taken to the wrong place. This reminds me of this cab driver who took me to Aberdeen Court when I know that I said “MRT Quezon Avenue”. That was pure bloody horror.

Gritty and Grunge. This Is My Twilight Zone

Rona — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:11:36 +0000

So I decided not to go to work today because I don’t want to. Monday was too sh!t crazy for me to go back out there in the jungle the next day after. It’s just too soon. Saw something weird on TV before I fell asleep last night. Beyonce was running and singing ‘You Oughta Know’. I think it was at the Grammy’s. Her clothes were too fab for that song. She is too fab for that song. How I miss grunge. The music that came along with the plaids, corduroys and torn jeans were the music that I still know by heart until today. Damn you Kurt!

B works in a hospital which is just a good 15-minute walk away from where we are renting and she has been pampered with that luxury for 2 years. She got assigned for 5 months to a hell of a hospital in the bowels of gritty Manila so starting yesterday, she will be riding with me in the MRT every morning. Monday was too harsh. B is still in denial of the modes of transportation that she has to use so she automatically shut down and refused to go out to work today too. I totally understand her. It’s an episode of Twilight Zone for me whenever I waste my time riding the train. Who am I kidding. It’s a freaking marathon from the time I sit in a cubicle until I get home. Hell even my lunch breaks are mini episodes.

Ah. Tuesday. See you slackers at the mall!

Thoughts on MRT and LSS

Rona — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:21:41 +0000

I take the MRT route from Kamuning to Buendia when I go to work. It’s a good 20 to 25 minute ride and it is within those idle minutes where some things about my life are put into perspective. It’s also a time when I think about inane things and wonder about stuff that I should probably not wonder about. I blame the things that I see and hear as I ride in the sardines compartment…

-those guys behind the control buttons of the MRT. The one in front, yes. They always wear shades, I noticed. Sometimes I wonder if they are asleep.

-”please avoid pushing as you get on and off the train…” says the upbeat woman on the PA system. I don’t think anyone is listening.

-where the hell are the ticket vending machines? Is there really a need for a human being to dispense tickets?

-there are like 10 turnstiles and only 4 are working. What is up with that?

-Manny Villar’s campaign ad keeps on playing. You know those singing kids very well. I’m sure you have sung it yourself at some point. I found myself humming the damn song as soon as I get off the train. Clearly, I am victimized of LSS (Last Song Syndrome). This is not good. Urban Dictionary defined LSS as:

To listen to music before going out of the house, and having the last song you hear before leaving stick in your head all through your journey, and beyond. Is usually accompanied by subconscious humming. This syndrome is particularly dangerous when the song happens to be the most pathetic, crappy, albeit catchy song ever.

Really not good.

MRT-Riding, People-Pushing, Biometrically Scanned, Nine-To-Fiver

Rona — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:57:42 +0000

Barely a month ago, I became a zombie nine-to-fiver of Makati City. From Monday to Friday, I have to join in the riot for a cramped space in the MRT to be able to register my fingerprint in the biometric scanner exactly on or before 8 AM. Before resorting to mass transit, I thought of driving my out of whack 1994 Nissan Sentra to work. I’m currently renting in Quezon City. I was laughed at when I asked some people about my chances of getting to Makati City before 8 AM. So far, I have learned that when riding the MRT, most especially during rush hours, you have got to have major bad ass skills if you want to get to your destination in one piece. If you don’t, you are either going to be crushed, pushed, bulldozed, shoved, rammed, elbowed or squashed by fellow commuters who obviously know how to survive the ordeal of getting inside the train. Fortunately, these bad ass skills can be developed as you keep on riding the MRT. I’ll share them in my future post. It’s a Friday, end of the work week. I can’t be anymore excited to stay up late and not worry on waking up early tomorrow. My car is waiting for me to get revved up.