PASAHERO ACT 2: Being A Generous Passenger (Part 2)

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

Prov. 11:25

An inspiring day!

Last time I introduced to you the second habit of pasahero- being a generous passenger. It’s basically practicing the lessons found in the Parable of the Good Samaritan which invites us to become generous to our neighbors- especially to people who are strangers to us. This time, I would like to continue by sharing to you how I come up with this idea and how we can practice it together. Allow me tell you the story.

Once upon time, (just to start with a bang) it was an ordinary Monday morning like the rest. Feeling down, tired, in a wishing-a-holiday mode, and with a robot-like step, I rode a jeep to start my morning travel ritual. (By the way, before, my morning travel ritual includes incantations such as, “I don’t feel like working” “I’m sleepy,” “I don’t like my work”, “travel is a waste of time” and the like. I’m telling you, these are bad for your health, so if you’re doing it, please stop it as soon as possible.)  

As the jeepney begins to depart and as I begin to day dream, the unexpected happens.  One female passenger caught my attention- she moves a little to make one passenger sit comfortably. Then I also noticed a male passenger near the driver’s seat busy as if his the “konduktor” (fare collector), extending his hand to get the fare of other passengers . Then I noticed a little girl in front of me giving me her beautiful smile.

Wow, I was amazed by what I’m seeing and it makes me feel inspired little by little. Then from that inspiration I come up with an idea, “why not list all of these things?” These are simply yet good ways to make myself busy during travel and at the same time I can use the time to help others.

So there I was, encoding in my cell phone all the things that a passenger can do to make commuting a good experience. And you know what? Before that day ends, I came out with a list of simple acts of kindness that can be done while traveling. I call this “Jeepney Etiquette”. I already post this lists previously here in my blog but let me post it again together with some additions. I assured you, read and observed it and you’ll definitely have a good time traveling.

            Here we go!

1. Wake-up early.
2. Eat your breakfast.
3. Prepare an exact fare. (barya lang po sa umaga! Plataporma rin ito ng mga kandidato makapagdikit lang ng mga campaign stickers sa jeep kahit hindi pa kampanya)
4. Magdala ng candy or biscuit, 2 empty plastic bag, pati na rin ng libro. (marami itong benefits)
5. ‘Pag may pila, pumila, kung sakaling wala, gumawa!
6. Sumakay at bumaba sa tamang lugar. (Bawal! May nanghuhuli, sabi ng driver)
7.  Iwasang sumabit. (sa pintuan, sa harapan, sa bubungan, sa gilid, o maging sa ilalim ng sasakyan)
8. Pay your fare honestly!
9. Return excess change.
10. Share your seat. Or for elderly, disabled, and children… give it!
11. Gumalaw-galaw baka ma-stroke. (umusod-usod ng kaunti sabi ng barker)
12. Huwag umupo sa may pintuan kung matangkad. (nakaharang kasi ang tuhod mo)
13. Ingatan ang iyong mga dala at sikaping hindi ito makaabala.
14. Huwag nang magpalaki ng katawan kung ‘di rin lang magbibigay ng upuan. (para sa mga macho ‘to)
15. Mag-abot ng bayad...with a smile :)
16. Say please and thank you a lot. 
17. Smile to as many passanger as you can.
18. Ngumiti habang tumatawid sa mga intersection. (tiyak na mapapansin at mai-inspire sa’yo yung mga nakatigil)
19. No smoking! (batas na ito ngayon)
20. Huwag matulog lalo na sa jeep. (‘di pa batas, pero malapit na)
21. Makipag-usap lang ng katamtaman. (may natutulog kasi. Joke)
22. Iwasang bumanggit ng pangalan sa kwentuhan. (lalo na kung negatibo at tsismis ang pinagu-usapan)
23. 'Wag magbasa ng text ng may text, lalo na't hindi kakilala. (nakaka-asar kasi)
24. Maki-'para'. (kapag ‘bingi’ ang driver, sabi nila)
25. Huwag ikalampag ang sapatos kapag nagpapa-gas ang driver (baka mag-spark).
26.  ‘Wag magkalat sa loob o labas ng sasakyan. (mortal sin na ito ngayon, fyi)
27. Tumulong at magbigay ng direksyon.
28. Huwag pag-isipan na mandurukot o holdaper ang lahat ng kasakay mo. (bad yon!)
29. Always maintain a positive self-talk. (madalas kausap mo ang sarili mo pag nagbi-byahe ka mag-isa, wag tatanggi)
30. Iwasang magmadali at matutong magmasid. (feeling turista)
31. Ipagdasal lahat ng makikita mong naka-motor. (keep them safe Lord!)
32. Pray a lot. (highly recommended ko ito lalo na yung ipagdarasal mo lahat ng ka-pasahero mo kapag mahaba ang traffic)

I hope you appreciate and enjoy the list. Again, I invite you to observe them and it will really make your travel time more worthwhile no matter how long it is. And it will not only make you happy but you can have the opportunity also to help others by your simple yet inspiring acts of kindness. If you can also do these together with the first pasahero act (being a generous saver), much better. 

Believe me, it will be an inspiring experience for you. In my case, to tell you the truth, there were times that I’m more excited to travel than going to work. And though it is still the same travel time, same route, and the same fare, it’s no longer a waste of time, but an opportunity to practice generosity.

Before I end, allow me to repeat these words to you which become the foundation of the second pasahero act: “Kapag natutong magpahalaga ang isang tao sa kanyang kapwa pasahero, matututo rin s’yang magmahal kahit kanino”.

Be a generous passenger. ‘Till next time.

Be inspired!

                         

P.S. By the way, if you have some other “Jeepney Etiquette” in mind, feel free to post it here in the comment box. Together let us inspire others to become more of a “generous passenger.” Thank you very much.