Wednesday, March 23, 2011

THIEF ON A BUS

I don't really want to make this a big deal. But, I decided to write it anyway. I just felt the need of telling it to anyone who could read this blog. I work in a different shifting schedule as a Call Center Agent. Last month, our team was very lucky to be one of the top team's of our company. We are given the chance to choose our desired shift for the team. Since, we are sick and tired of working at night, our team chose the morning shift. Finally, this month of March up to April, we've got the morning shift! Our work starts at 6 in the morning 'till 3 in the afternoon. So, I have to wake up at 3:30AM, leave the house at around 4AM, and get on a bus before 4:30AM. I often walk down the streets with just one eye being opened, when I'm still very sleepy. It is really a huge sacrifice for me. I'm pretty sure, people in the same plight of work would agree. But, what happened to me today was really unexpected...


THIEF ON A BUS

Since, my travel time from our house going to work, usually takes an hour or more, going back home after shift, takes around 2 more hours. In my everyday life, my mode of transportation is a bus. Once I get on a bus, I would start taking a nap and enjoy it for almost an hour. Today, I got on an air conditioned bus of CHER at around 4:45AM. I am a regular customer of this bus company for more than 5 years now. And, I have no complaints about them, they are one of the best bus company here in the Philippines. When the bus started moving, I decided to take my usual nap. When all of a sudden, the conductor asked me to pay right away for the ticket, which is quite unusual.  He gave me P30 worth of tickets. I gave him a P100 bill. But, he showed me some other P20 bills on his hands, while telling me that he'll come back with the change. He didn't even look at my face, he left hastily. But, I still managed to tell him that he still got my change. So, to cut the story short, he owes me P70. I had no other money in my pocket at that time, other than the P100 bill I gave him. For security purposes, all I bring every single day when I go to work is just P100 up to P120 (That's just around 2.5$). And, some ID's and bank cards. I also always bring my own food, and a tumbler, to get a free coffee and water at the office. It was very clear in my mind that I wasn't day dreaming. I am fully aware that I gave him P100 bill, since, that's the only amount of money I bring every single day, for the past five years. Which is just enough to take me to my workplace and get me home. I don't bring extra money, since I have my bank cards, I could easily get to an ATM, If ever I need to. From LETRE to ORTIGAS, or from ORTIGAS to LETRE, fare is just P30 (Which is just around 0.80$). When the bus stopped in CUBAO, I realized that my change was not yet returned to me by the bus conductor. I waited a little bit more, and he never go back at the back part of the bus where I was sitting. It gave me the hint that this person was trying to do something stupid. After we passed GREENHILLS, I calmly approached him and asked for the change of my P100 bill. He looked back at me, and told me that he'll give me my change for the P50. I answered him back, and said to him that I gave him P100 and NOT P50. He then told me again, "Sir, what you just gave me was just P50!!!".... What the hell? I told him again, that it wasn't true, telling him that, "I just bring P100 every single day, and there's no way for me to forget my change"... When he got convinced that he couldn't really fool me. He finally gave me the P70... Although, I was disappointed, I still told him in a very nice way, that he could have given me the change a bit earlier or write something in my ticket, so he couldn't just accuse me of something. He made me look like a fool; other passengers looked at me as If I was the "bad guy". But the truth is, I was actually the victim of this thief on a bus...

I just felt so bad, I could have just given him the money If he just asked me for it in a nice way. No need for him to lie or make up stories, it's just money. If I could help, I would, as long as I can, as I always do for anyone.. I also always return the excess change of their bus conductors, which happened to me several times now. I understand how difficult it is to earn a living, here in the Philippines... But, taking advantage of the situation or anyone will just make the situation worse. If ever this happens to you, whether you are in a cab, jeepney or on a bus, don't hesitate to stand up for your right. It is not just about the money. Because, If you won't do it, for sure, they'll try their luck and do it to other passenger's. There are so many kinds of thieves. So, beware! Some uneducated and greedy bus conductors might take advantage of you, If they see you sleepy or just being alone. This also served as a lesson to me. Peace!




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12 comments:

khantotantra said...

strategy na yan sa mga bus. Kaya dapat mas maigi kung smaller bills. 20 and 50's plus dapat may barya ka sa bulsa. Akala kasi nila mauutakan nila lagi pasahero nila.

isp101 said...

@khantotantra -Oo nga, I learned my lesson. Kaya nga simula ngayon, magdadala na rin ako ng smaller bills at coins. May mga salbahe din talagang mga kundoktor ng bus na kapag nakita nila na inaantok pa ang pasahero, susubukan nilang gulangan. Hayyyy... Tnx for dropping by! =)

Lulu said...

hai'st naku.. hindi lang salbahe kamo.. most of them are maniac.. grabe.. mga wlang respeto sa kapwa at pasahero.. tama lng ginawa mo JoMi, if I where in your shoes i might do the same thing..

Good Filipino said...

waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHhh kagabi nga lang naholdup kuya ko buti na lang naglaban sya.. bugbug mga holdaper eh... sa bus naganap bandang cubao na yun eh

halojin said...

style nila yun minsan... hmm kaya mahalaga na laging may dalaa kang barya! kahit centimo pa yan.. nga pla kuya jomi sorry if now lang ako nakadalaw ulit panu ba nman kasi defense namain kahapon! kaya sobrang tinutukan po nmin! ayun po! GOD BLESS

Myx said...

i agree with the last sentences. it's really hard to deal with people nowadays. they're abusive in such ways.

by the way, can we exchange link kuya :D

isp101 said...

@Lulu -Marami talagang bastos na kundoktor, I've seen tons of them, sa araw-araw na pagco commute ko, i can't count it anymore... We always have to pray, that's the only defense we have in this wicked world...

@csseyah -How's your kuya?! I hope he's ok. Mahirap din lumaban, lalo na kung mga walang DIYOS yung mga tao na yun... The best defense we can do is, to pray hard, lalo na bago umalis ng bahay, at maging alert in all times.

@halojin -Hello, Jon2x! Oo nga, dapat may mga dalang coins lagi at smaller bill, para maiwasan mga ganitong sitwasyon. Pasado na ba sa defense nyo?! I hope so! God bless!

@Myx -I've just added you on my FRIENDS list! Tnx nga pala sa mga mouthwatering recipe! =)

Nonoy said...

Marami talgang mga ganyan. merun nga rin ngang mga umaakyat sa bus tapus humihingi ng donation kunwari, pero wala naman palang donation yun. nang dedelihensya lang. extortion kumbaga. Nice post Jom.:-)

Yen said...

What a bad experience, ang layo pla ng biyahe mo. My mode of transpo is bus also, and I also ride aircon bus,but from annapolis to evangelista lang. 30 minutes ride. I have same experience as yours, 3 times na nga e, but the last time the conductor delay my change, I told him " I payed early so to avoid hassle, so don't make me wait for my change, Its no longer my problem if you don't have change,ako pa ba ma mromroblema ng isusukli nyo sakin." hay ganun nalang nasabi ko. Sabi sakin "susuklian naman kita" . I said " I know, at dapat kanina mo pa binigay yan at di na kayo dapat i follow up, katwiran nila, malayo pa naman daw ako, Malayo ba ang isang station na nalang?. Hahay, di ko tlaga mapigil ang sumagot, since nasa likod lang naman ako ng driver nakapwesto, kaya di masyadong halata na nakikipag argue ako. Nasabi ko tuloy, "ganun ba, next time wag kayo maniningil kagad pag alam nyong malayo pa naman ang destination ng passenger niyo. " Antayin nyong iabot namin ang pasahe namin sa inyo para di kami naaabala. Kakasira ng make up agang aga bibisitin ka ng mga konduktor na yan.

isp101 said...

@Nonoy -I agree, marami din ganun nowadays, nagbibigay pa ng envelope. Minsan, mas malalaki pa katawan sa akin, 'di nalang mag trabaho. Or, minsan naman, ginagamit pa ang salita ng DIYOS, para lang mamalimos... I would rather give FOOD, instead of money to those who are really in need. Tnx for dropping by, Nonoy! =)

@Yen -Most of them are just playing stupid, they think they can fool anyone. Tama yun, one station is not that far, dapat nga after nila iabot ang ticket, sukli agad ang kasunod. 'Di na nila dapat pinapatagal. Kasi gusto nung mga mapagsamantalang kundoktor, makalimutan nalang natin yung sukli hanggang makababa tayo. Eh kaya nga tayo nag ba bus, kasi mahal gasolina ng kotse at parking fee! Hayyy... Tnx for sharing! =)

pinoyphp said...

i learned something new today! yay! ingat ka na lang sa sus*nod jomi:)
sorry kung ngayon lang ako napabisita sa blog mo.

isp101 said...

@pinoyphp -galing ako sa site mo, I've learned very important as well, mahirap na maligaw sa bundok! hehehe! tnx for sharing! =)

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