I was annoyed at Dalin’s terminal back in the city of Cauayan last May because of this incident.
It was around 8:00 o’ clock of the rainy evening of May 2, 2010 when I and a friend of mine, Simeon Viray, bound for Manila headed up to a bus parked on Dalin Liner’s terminal in Cauayan City, Isabela.
I took the first available seat and which was seat #3 of the first row of bus number 2629404 when all of a sudden the bus conductor told me to get off and change my ride after he found out I don’t have a reservation for the seat. The thing is, I already went to their ticket booth earlier to ask for a reservation but the receptionist told me that I shouldn’t bother for one because handicapped people are privileged with a seat on the bus and that’s on the first row (the seats behind the driver and the seats right after the door).
So I refused to let go of the seat and just held on to it for a few minutes while wondering why am I being kicked off mine. But the conductor incessantly bogged me down by announcing above everyone’s ears that I should transfer and get me another bus for the seat that I am on is reserved. “Yeah”, I told him, “this seat is reserved for people with disability” (though I don’t consider myself disabled). This went on for about 20 minutes or so but finally I gave up but not after firing back “all I know is that there is a law saying this row of seats are for people like me (with physical disabilities) and since your (their) ticket personnel said I shouldn’t bother for a reservation therefore I have the right to be sitting here.”
So I said bye to my friend Simeon then got off and change my bus (still a Dalin bus) and believe it or not, Déjà vu! The exact same thing happened on the second bus! I told the conductor (of the second bus) I just alighted from the first bus because it was only for those passengers with tickets for reserved seats, now I thought this is a regular aircon bus taking passengers off the road without reservations. “Yes” the conductor replied “but the seat you’re on is reserved for us! That’s where the driver and the conductor rest after their shift (the driver takes a rest while the conductor becomes the driver).” Now I am really pissed off!
I looked around and the other seats are filled already. I can’t take the other seats further behind because, well, who knows how hard it is for people with one leg to move around the bus, and it is even worse when the vehicle is moving. So I just went silent, took the stairs down getting off the bus and after seeing one of the conductors I smiled at him and asked “will there be other busses going to Manila at this hour?” He nodded but has that wondering look in his face.
I crossed the street and waited to catch another ride. My friend Simeon (he was on the first bus) texted me asking whether I got a ride already, I replied no. Actually there are three bus companies I like when I’m traveling between Manila and Cauayan City, they are: Dalin, the most affordable at only 350 to 400 Pesos; Victory, I guess this is the most comfortable but also the most expensive at 471 Pesos; and of course there is Florida, I like this one because it is as affordable as Dalin but as comfortable as Victory (and they’re also the fastest). But on this particular night, Florida is hard to catch.
By 10:28 o’ clock into the night, a Victory Liner bus stopped in front of me. I got on it; I looked around to see it is half-filled then I saw the conductor sitting behind the driver’s seat stood up and said “bosing, dito ka na umupo sa pwesto ko (boss take my seat)” which I did. After I was seated I looked on the opposite seats (the ones right after the door), an older woman occupied it but then the conductor blurted, “on the next stop you will switch places with her. That seat she’s on is especially reserved for people like you!”
Then my friend Simeon texted me asking how I’m doing, I replied “man, from now on I will be married to Victory Liner!” and Florida will be my little flower girl. You know, Florida busses are white busses painted with pink flowers! Perfect for a flower girl.
As my way of boycotting that Dalin bus company, I promise to never get a ride on them anymore!!! In this one night of very troublesome experience with them I can say they are inconsiderate to people and insensitive of their passengers’ need. They don’t recognize the weaknesses and as I see it, they don’t even care about the comfort of their passengers. Perhaps they are thinking that moving people with their vehicles is just a matter of getting them from point A to point B, irregardless of the conditions of passengers.
I admire those companies (and the people who composed them) who give a high regard for the people and prioritizes values than profits, they are the kinds who give honor to their services. Having said that, I would like to thank Florida and Victory Liner. Keep it moving! Literally
My left leg was amputated above the knee after I was hit by a truck back in July 4, 1994. That truck was a property of the then Vice Governor of Tagum City.
