The ill-mannered driver and the buses of JTB Travel and Tours

from Flickr.com

“Di kayo ang pasahero ko non a,” (You were not my passengers last time.) said the bus driver as we boarded. Despite the driver’s muttering, we went on and tried our best to fit our beddings in spaces between the seats. It was almost, I think, 6:45 A.M. when we left the billeting.

Minutes after, the bus stopped for the air conditioning system malfunctioned. We waited for more than thirty minutes until it worked again. The driver himself repaired it as he cussed. He was speaking really loud that those who were in the front seats could hear him. These words remained in my memory: “Kahapon, mga Koreano ang pasahero ko e at hindi nangyari ang ganito. Ang dami nyo kasi e.” (I had Korean passengers yesterday and this never happened. Your number is greater than expected.) “Kung sabagay ok lang mahirapan ang mga Pilipino, wag lang ang mga Koreano,” (Anyway, I’d rather see Filipino passengers suffer than let Koreans undergo the same situation” he added with a laugh that was more irritating than the circumstance we’re dealing with at that moment. Nobody responded among us. He got back to driving and the bus proceeded.

We’re on CAVITEX when the air conditioning system voluntarily turned off again. The driver declared that he could not do anything about it anymore and that we had to wait longer this time as another bus was coming to accommodate us. We waited for more than an hour in a place where there were no convenient stores or rest rooms available. Good thing, we ate breakfast at the billeting and lunch was distributed as we boarded the vehicle. Hence, nobody complained of hunger. However, as the bus was situated in the middle of the road, students could not help complaining about excessive heat. Thus, windows were opened.

The situation inside the bus as we were stranded

The alternative vehicle eventually came and we transferred to it. I thought, we would be spared from agonizing the driver’s cussing but I was wrong for the same man drove the bus.

The bus was running smoothly along Kalayaan Avenue in Makati when a burst was suddenly heard. Tire blowout it was and our bus for the third time stopped at a place where there were neither fastfood kiosks nor convenient stores. Good thing there was a toilet at a furniture store next to the vulcanizing shop; thus, we were given the opportunity to respond to the call of nature. It was midday and the heat was unbearable. Most of us were already hungry when the driver announced that we had to wait, again, as the tire needed replacement, which would be coming from Paranaque. Take note, we were steps away from Bonifacio Global City then. Students were restless and were expressing desire to alight the vehicle to buy food. It was almost 1:00 P.M. and I myself was starving. Sadly, we were not allowed to alight and buy food for safety reasons.

I can no longer recall the exact number of curses uttered by the driver as we waited for the tire to be replaced. However, I think we could have waited happily and patiently if and only if he had been COURTEOUS and cheerful in dealing with us passengers. He was rude and never demonstrated respect to anybody. Further, I don’t understand why the bus was dispatched without the guarantee of safety. Had the buses’ condition been checked before they were dispatched? Imagine, two buses in a row in one day. 

This article was not written to put JTB to shame, rather this is to call their attention on the kind of drivers the company employ and the type of service these drivers extend to the passengers, who needless to say support the business.