Byaheng Jeepney.

Commute? It’s more exciting in the Philippines!

Sa sobrang pagka malikhain ng mga Pinoy, ang mga US military jeeps noon ay nagawa nilang jeepney ngayon. Mga  jeep na may samu’t saring kulay at disenyo, personalized din kasi nakasulat ang mga pangalan ng kapamilya, may radio at speakers para sa sounds, may rosary at sampaguita na nakasabit at kung ano ano pa. Marami na ring innovations, may mga jeepney na parang bus ang design, may “pull the string” kung papara na, may mga airconditioned at meron naring E-Jeepneys.  Wala sigurong Pinoy ang hindi pa nakaranas na sumakay sa jeepney kahit 1 beses sa buong buhay nya, kung meron man.. I feel for them, they missed ¼ of their lives.

Sa araw araw siguro na pagsakay ko sa jeep, nabigyan ko na ng labels ang mga taong nakakasakay ko. Well, ganyan talaga... observant eh!

1.       The frowning face – Eto ang mga taong pagsakay ay maayos naman then in a spilt of seconds, nakakunot na ang mga noo at di na maipinta ang mukha, tingin ng tingin sa relo dahil nagmamdali na at nagpupuno pa ng pasahero si Manong Driver o kaya nama’y bad trip na sila sa  traffic kasi hindi halos gumalaw ang jeep.  Minsan nakakainis sila tingnan dahil sa contagious nilang mood.

2.       Chillax – Eto ang mga taong pagkasakay at pag abot ng bayad, isusuot na ang earphones at makikinig ng music. Yung iba naman nakatutok lang sa cellphone nila O kaya naman may dalang kung anong gadget  at maglalaro hanggang makarating sila sa kanilang destination. Hindi sila naka frown at chill lang dahil may sarili silang mundo.

3.       Sleepy Head – Obviously, eto ang mga taong pag umandar na ang jeep, hudyat na  yun ng pagtulog nila. May taglay na psychic powers tong mga to dahil nagigising na sila pag malapit na silang bumaba.

<photo: courstesy of gossip guy blog>

4.       Chikadoras – Kabaligtaran naman ng katahimikan ni Sleepy Head, eto ang mga taong walang ginawa kundi mag chikahan throughout the ride. Madalas kahit sila lang ang nag uusap, lahat ng tao sa jeep parang kwinekwentuhan nila . Sa lakas ng boses nila, bago sila bumaba updated ka na sa latest happenings sa office nila, sa bahay nila o sa buhay ng taong pinag uusapan nila.

5.       U-si – Eto ang mga taong imbes na sa kalye nakatingin ay pinipili na lang na pagmasdan ang mga pasahero. May mga nakikinig sa usapan ng chikadoras, nakikibasa ng text ng katabi at kung ano ano pang paguusisero.

6.       Lovers in Jeepney – Mga couples na pag sumakay ay parang walang ibang tao sa jeep kundi sila. Nakapulupot na nga na parang mawawala ang isa’t isa, maya’t maya pa ang harutan at lambingan. May mga kisses moment pa sa noo, balikat, pisngi o kaya sa labi. Kairita much! TSE!

#bitterlang

<photo: courtesy of life in photos blog>

 <photo: courtesy of youarenotvictorplatton.blogspot.com>

7.       Martyr – Eto ang mga pasaherong nagsasuffer sa pagiging chubby ng iba o sa kaartehan ng iba sa pag compress at pag – usod. (Pero minsan, wala na talagang space, ipipilit pa.) Dahil sila ang huling sumakay, kailangan nilang pagkasyahin ang kanilang sarili sa pag maliit na space. May suspense thriller effect to, nakakatakot kasi parang anytime mahuhulog na sila sa upuan.

8.       Play Safe -  Eto ang mga pasaherong, wala lang. Pagkasakay, nakatingin lang sa daan o kung saan man hanggang makarating sa pupuntahan nila. Tulaley lang sila pero ang isip at imagination nila malamang naka travel na sa outer space.

Ikaw, anong kwentong jeepney mo?

Why Benigno S. Aquino III and not Benigno C. Aquino?

Why Benigno S. Aquino III is the name printed in our Philippine peso bill and not Benigno C. Aquino?

When Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas launched the new look of our Philippine peso bills, many were amazed by the redesigned banknote features. The heroes and past presidents of the Philippines were presented in younger images. Many of the most famous tourist spots in the Philippines were also added, which can also help in boosting tourism in our country. Also, BSP added more security features making it hard for bad elements to come up with fake bills. 

When these new bills were finally released, admit it or not, we all want to have it. I'm pretty sure when your first new twenty peso bill was finally in your hands, it rested in your wallet for a long time. It's nice to look at the new designs and features of the bill. However, I don't know if any of you noticed that the name of PNoy indicated in the new peso bill is Benigno S. Aquino III. Well, we can consider the Aquinos as one of the most well known family in the Philippines. Ninoy is our hero, Cory is the first ever female president, Noynoy is our bachelor president. Lastly, tell me... do you know anyone who doesn't know who Kris Aquino is (and her famous son.. Bimbi)? Anyway, what I'm trying to say is that we all know that Cojuangco is their middle name. So, why Benigno S. Aquino III and not Benigno C. Aquino?

The answer is simple, tradition.

Ninoy’s Father, Ninoy and Noynoy are all named Benigno Simeon.

The President's grandfather Benigno Simeon Aquino Sr. used Simeon as his middle name instead of Quiambao. Likewise, the president’s father Senator  Ninoy also go by the name Benigno S. Aquino Jr. The president uses S instead of C to follow the tradition. If he uses Benigno C. Aquino, he is the only Benigno C. Aquino in the family. The suffix III will no longer be needed to differentiate his name from his father and grandfather. The option is either Benigno C. Aquino or Benigno S. Aquino III. Obviously, the president prefers the latter. This practice is common in the U.S. where they used their second name as their middle name instead of their mother’s maiden name.

What I find admirable in my research is to find out that although our President may took pride of his name, he humbly directed all government agencies “to refrain from associating the President’s personality and identity in their programs and projects.”

Amazing, isn’t it?