In the Philippines, specifically in Cebu City, the main mode of transportation is through public jeeps. Wherever you go, you can ride a jeep to get there are at a minimal fee. The interior of the jeep is designed with open windows and long bench-like, cushioned seats facing each other. The driver’s seat has an extension for two more passengers. Most jeeps can accommodate nineteen passengers plus the driver. You can ride and get off at jeepney stops.
Through the years the appearance, size, fare, and culture of the jeepney evolved. It is not the same as before, so to speak.
What is quite a concern of this present time is how the society behaves inside the public transport. Take into consideration the moment you extend your arm with your coins between your fingers—hang on there—did you say “please”? A lot of times we just extend our arm and wait until somebody notice (in a few seconds) that we want our fare to be passed on to the driver. When we got our change, we should say “thanks”, too. My college research teacher has this funny or somewhat sarcastic genre of a story about this activity. He was seated a few seats from the driver. A passenger passed his fare and the lady sitting next to my teacher did not bother to take the coins to pass them on. So, out of common courtesy, my teacher reached out a full arm to get the man’s fare. The ritual of passing the fare begins. The lady still does not flex a finger even though my teacher was literally extending his arm across her chest just to take those coins from fellow passengers. Time came when the lady passed her fare to, guess who, the teacher. He was pissed. He raised a brow, gave her a frown and turned his back.
There are a few passengers who treat the jeep like a taxicab or better yet, their sofa. They sit slanting or with legs spread even though the jeep is full. Some passengers won’t mind the inconvenience these people cause. However, there are instances when these passengers will cause not just inconvenience but also a bit of commotion. We pay the same fare; we should be fair enough and be mindful of our fellow passengers.
Smoking is another problem inside the jeep. Though it is prohibited by law to smoke inside a public transport, a few choose to be rude. Dealing with these people can be tough. You need to be nice and courteous to ask them to stop.
Courtesy and common sense might be spelled differently but they should come hand in hand when we are in public places. We need to assess our behaviors because we live in a society which needs us to do our part in a proper way.
