On riding the MRT

Girls, you are well aware of the male-female ‘segregation scheme’ (yeah, that’s how MRT personnel call it) which dedicates a specific coach to women, senior citizens and people with disabilities (PWDs) and that is located in the first-most coach where the MRT operator is situated. So, main message is, ride that coach but if you choose otherwise, don’t complain in the ‘male coaches’ for whatever things. Yes, guys are being somehow rude already but you chose that coach so be ready with the things that go along with it.

The MRT force tried to designate a coach to prioritize women, senior citizens and PWDs (although I know one coach isn’t enough for the female population) and you deliberately did not choose the priority coach. Especially when you’re riding during off-peak hours or even the not-so-peak hours, you don’t have the right to complain UNLESS of course it’s already a deliberate women abuse moves acted upon you.

To All Passengers

1) You know how it feels seeing spacious areas inside coaches and people inside not even conscientiously moving to allow entry to more passengers. So if on your next ride, you happen to be on the foot of those people inside, move a little, give some space to allow entry.

For passengers entering the coaches, if you already see that there is really no space for the volume of your body to get in, no matter how slender you really are, please don’t push people inside. You don’t want to get pushed anyway when you’re inside.

SILVER RULE: Do not do unto others what you don’t want others to do unto you.

I guess the silver rule is very much applicable to riding the MRT. (Mind you, I was not mistaken when I wrote Silver Rule, because it really is the Silver Rule. The Golden Rule is “Do unto others what you what others do unto you”. Yeah, the positive mode.)

2) When entering the MRT station itself, as in passing by the guards and turnstiles (it’s what you call the thing we pass through via badging our MRT tickets - I learned the term in my previous office because it has turnstiles too), please be diligent enough to open your bags for inspection. I know the guards aren’t always consistently checking the bags but in the face of law/policy/guideline, we should really be opening our bags for inspection.

Special note to those bringing PACKED items

It is MRT policy to ‘open’ (as in tanggalin ang scotchtape/wrapper at tignan kung ano nilalaman) so please stop battling with the guards. If you don’t want this hassle, don’t ride the MRT. Take a cab or whatever.

Oh, when allowing the guards to open the item, do not be sarcastic and say ‘Ano ba yan. Kita naman sa box label/image kung ano yan.’ Restrictive items intentionally being brought in by imp strangers are really disguised in a lot of ways. Malay ba namin kung isa kang masamang estranghero na mapagpanggap lang na inosenteng pasahero na umaasal epal sa mga gwardya.

To the GUARDS

Please be diligent as well in performing your job. (I wonder if any MRT guards will happen to read this post. At least, MRT personnel man lang to relay this.) Don’t be diligent only when there is a recent incident of threat or actual violence occurrence, etc. (Oh, I remember, this goes to guards also inside malls.)

You don’t expect passengers to be cooperative if you yourselves are not really constantly diligent in performing your job. If you want utmost cooperation from us, be persistent and perpetual in what you do.

Pregnant Women/Senior Citizens/PWDs-related

I know the world has evolved a lot. Filipino values and culture are dwindling and is extra evident in Metro Manila (sorry for singling out Metro Manila but that’s how I perceive it).

When riding the MRT and we really see, like totally, undeniably see old men/women, weak on their knees – they are riding the MRT for some reasons; one reason maybe they couldn’t afford a cab so no matter how they want a better transportation, their means just won’t allow it – let us please be valiant and proper enough to stand and offer our seats, especially if we aren’t feeling any physical illness/weakness at all, like our feet don’t hurt, we don’t feel dizzy, nauseous, etc. If we’re perfectly fine then let’s thank God for that, be happy and share our seats. Let’s give the elderly respect and gentle consideration.

This does not go to healthy men only. This goes to everyone young and strong. Let us offer our seats to senior citizens, pregnant women and of course, PWDs as well.

I was laughing inside my head because Kuya MRT personnel was announcing inside the station: “Wag po natin lamangan ang ibang pasahero, nagbabayad din po sila. Di lang kayo.”, “Isipin po rin natin ang kaligtasan ng ibang pasahero sa baba (pertaining to train waiting area).” That was his message to north-bound passengers trying to cross the entrance area by the guards/turnstiles when there was a stop entry and only south-bound passengers are momentarily allowed to enter. I laughed because Kuya was too emotional about it. But I get him. He was trying to get through people to be sensitive enough to other passengers. And I guess that’s the most important thing: to have enough malasakit to each and every one.

written June 19, 2013