Life lessons learned from commuting in Metro Manila

The transportation systems in our nation's capital are imperfect, outdated and defective, but most people in the metro have no choice but to use these buses, jeepneys and trains to get from point A to point B.

We know what it’s like to wrestle with fellow passengers on the MRT during rush hour, or to stand in the middle of a densely crowded bus traveling on EDSA—in heavy traffic on a payday Friday. It's a headache.

But it can also be profound… if you try to look at it another way.

A four- to five-hour bus ride from Baclaran to Monumento (traffic included), or a 40-minute MRT ride from North Avenue to Taft Avenue stations (train breakdowns and long queuing time not included) can be a good time to reflect on life lessons that you learn by going through the hassle that is commuting. Here are some of them.

Many of the good things we get in life are privileges. And most of them are stuff we didn’t work for.

Think of it this way: if you manage to get a much-coveted seat on the bus or MRT, it's not because you worked hard for it. It's most likely because you happened to get on at the first bus terminal or train station. To put it simply and frankly—you don’t really deserve to have a seat in the bus or train more than another person, but the circumstances were just right for you to get one. Maybe, just maybe…if many commuters thought of life this way, then giving away their seats for those who need it more—such as senior citizens, pregnant women, the disabled—wouldn’t be that hard, would it?

We don't know when the people in our life will go. Perhaps at least once you've met an attractive guy or girl on the bus, jeep, or train. And if you’re lucky, he or she may even get to sit beside you. Yes, it can be downright awkward to introduce yourself all of a sudden to a person you just met while commuting—not to mention probably creepy.

But these fleeting moments can teach you a lesson about valuing the people you already know. Just like how someone gets on a bus at some random place and then gets off it, seemingly in the same manner of randomness, you meet people—very special people in some cases—at some point in your life, but they too will go… and you don’t know when. The point? Don’t take people for granted.

Knowing the difference between need and want is important. Comforts are luxuries. The taxi is arguably the most comfortable way of getting around Metro Manila next to having a car. Riding a taxi is much better than getting yourself stuck in the sea of passengers on the MRT, right? But the flagdown rate alone is more expensive than a ticket from Taft to North Avenue. The issue now boils down to whether you want to be comfortable while getting to your destination, or whether you simply want to get to your destination, period.

It’s the same thing when prioritizing things in life—you need to see the difference between what you need and what you want, which is honestly easier said than done.

The Metro Manila commute is a microcosm of life—a daily uphill battle. An old Filipino joke goes, “Sa pagko-commute, papasok kang estudyante, lalabas kang mandirigma.” It may be funny, but like most jokes there's a grain of truth there. Jostling with fellow passengers, waiting for that perfect opportunity to get a seat, and getting off at the right station place—these are the fruits of hard work and strategy.

Life is a battle—and to survive each day you need strength, patience, and determination. If you’ve been commuting for years now, congratulations and be proud; you’re a survivor and you’ve been doing great things with your life.

Ang lalim ng hugot, ‘no? — BM, GMA News