Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Consider these when riding a bus...

Monday morning, around 8:00, I rode a San Agustin bus going to Manila. My fare was P43.00 and gave a 500 peso-bill to the conductor, that's all I have in my wallet. That was their first trip I guess, so wala pang panukli. The conductor wrote 500 at the back of my ticket and said he'll be back for my change. Few minutes after, I fell asleep. The moment I opened my eyes, we're already in Baclaran. I got off the bus in Buendia and I forgot my change!!! It was time for lunch when I realized what happened. I almost cried (secretly) sabay sabing "Lord, P457.00 din un!"

I looked for my ticket and searched for San Agustin's telephone number but it wasn't there. I didn't even know the bus number (wheew!). I grabbed the telephone directory but I didn't find it. I called the emergency hotline of PLDT but the number they've given me was unreachable. I looked at the ticket once again and found San Agustin's TIN (Tax Identification No.) so I called BIR and they gave me the telephone number (different from the first one). I dialed the number but it's not working too! I just prayed, "Lord, bahala ka na po." Then I went back to work.

I was supposed to stay in Manila but I decided to go back to Dasma having this in mind, "sasakay ulit ako ng San Agustin at magpapababa sa terminal nila," and I did. I sat beside the driver (sa may hagdan na halos kasi standing na) and opened the matter to him and to the conductor as well. When we reached the terminal, I met the conductor and he gave me my change. Thank GOD!

Now, I need to consider these things when riding a bus:
1. Keep the ticket. (It's really my habit not to throw my ticket until the end of the day and now I see the importance.)
2. Get the bus number. You can also see it on your ticket (the first 4 digits of your ticket number).
3. As much as possible, pay with a smaller bill.
4. If you have a change, let the conductor write it at the back of your ticket and let him sign.
5. Check everything before getting off the bus.




The bus tickets issued by Erjohn & Almark Bus Line is better than San Agustin's. Almost all the important details are provided (except the telephone no. wheew!), including the driver and conductor's name.

I learned so much from this and hopefully it won't happen again.


10 comments:

leeflailmarch said...

Whew! Buti you got your change back. Nung last akong sumakay sa Erjohn and Almark na bus, 'yun mismo ang ginawa ni manong konduktor: minarkahan niya 'yung ticket ko with the amount I gave him and signed it. At least may sistemang proper na sila, no need to remind them and to ask them to do stuff para ma-ensure na masusuklian ka. And basta hindi na 'yung numerous na di-punit o di-butas na ticket, okay na ako. Basta electronic na.

giL =P said...

grabe...buti nakuha mo pa...
muntikan na rin mangyari sakin yung ganyan eh...
hehe
laki pa naman nung sukli! haha

Anonymous said...

Napansin mo din? Mas gusto ko mag-issue ng ticket ang Erjohn kaso mas mura naman sa San Agustin. Hehe.

Anyway, Kwentuhan tayo minsan. Marami kong unforgettable bus experience! Some cool, some irritating! Hehe.

KheN said...

@ myk: electronic na nga ang karamihan sa bus tickets ngayon which is better. Kaso kahit nilalagyan nila ng mark ang ticket (amount na binayad) minsan nananadya pa rin silang hindi manukli agad hanggang sa makalimutan na ng pasahero... sabi ng father ko. Kasi nga naman kung magkano ang total amount ng na-issue nilang ticket yun lang ang i-reremit nila at the end of the day. It means to say kung may excess, sa kanila na yun. Unless may magcomplain na pasahero at balikan ang sukli nya (gaya ng ginawa ko). Kaya tuloy minsan di ko maiwasang isipin na sinasadya nila..hmp.

KheN said...

@ ate gil: oo nga te gil eh... sabi ko nga hindi talaga ako matatahimik! makakabili na ko ng red ribbon cake dun ha! Kaya pala ang bait nung konduktor sakin (kinuha nya kasi yung isa ko pang hawak na bag nung bababa na ko, eh hindi naman mabigat) may sukli pa pala ako sa kanya! Aha!

Hay naku sorry po Lord, nakakapag-judge tuloy ako.. :(

KheN said...

@ ann: oo mas gusto ko ung ticket ng Erjohn. Mas mababa nga ba ang fare sa San Agustin? Wala yatang difference.

Sige kwentuhan tayo minsan. Dami ko ring experience sa bus. hehe!

leeflailmarch said...

Ahh, I see. Ganoon pala 'yun. Bad. Tsk, tsk. Well, there are those people talaga.

weena said...

ui, i got an email na may raket yung mga conductor tsaka bus driver pagdating sa pagsusukli... di ka susuklian tapos pag hiningi mo na yung sukli mo, they'll deny na you gave the amount... tapos pag nagsabi ka sa driver, ganun din gagawin... what's worse, they have a third party na magsasabi 'e miss, wala ka naman talagang binigay na ganyang amount!' di shempre, tatahimik ka na lang kasi may 'false testimony' ng involved.

hehe, ako din maraming bus experiences. pero solid talaga ko sa Erjohn/Crow/Golden Dragon (isa lang owner ng tatlo).

Nakasakay na ba kayo ng Golden Dragon? ang astig pag nakita niyo, parang first class na bus. lcd pa yung tv nila. basta, ang astig. hehe.

KheN said...

@ myk: totoo yan kaya dapat maging careful na lang tayo.

@ ate weena: nareceive ko rin yang message na yan through email. Yan yata yung bus lines na may route na Cubao-LRT...basta parang ganon. Grabe talaga! Sisikapin ko na lang magbayad ng exact.

Correctness! yun din ang bus line na gusto ko sa lahat - Erjohn/Crow. Kaso 'di pa ko nakasakay sa bago..ung Golden Dragon. Sabi nga ni ate, very comfortable daw. Minsan sana maka-tyempo ako. :)

Unknown said...

May number ba kayo ng san agustin? yung gumagana?

thanks