the cebu life

UNLUCKY STRIKE

June 30. Last day of the first half of the year. My worst day of the year so far.

The ever reliable jeepneys were on strike – I didn’t know particularly if it was because they wanted another fare hike or if it was because the price of gasoline increased again or it was both.

I decided to do a little accounting early morning. Budgeting can be real taxing especially when at the back of my mind, I already have a plan where each penny has to go. So after a mental balance sheet was done, I dressed up, got my lazy ass out of the boarding house and voila, people are lining up downstairs for the next jeep or taxi. At first thought I though they were lining up for NFA rice but no, it was because the piece of work that delivers them to their daily destinations failed them that day. It was like Good Friday. Good Friday was even better – jeepneys were running down the avenues of Cebu when some jeep drivers realized it was their obligation before God to serve the commuting public even on the day God died for the nth time. But June 30 was a massacre. It kept the city on still. Well, almost. The papers the next day 80% of Metro Cebu was paralyzed. Worse, June 30th was payday and people were supposed to be rushing to the banks, atm machines to withdraw and to lending offices for those whose atms are safeguarded by 5-6 guys. It was also shopping holiday for most. Each passing jeepney was a sight to behold which comes about once in every 20 minutes and filled to the rafters – if jeeps even has that. It took me like an hour or so waiting under the heat of the merciless sun for a ride. At last, Khaosiung bus arrived – a rusty bus reeking of tetanus provisioned by the local government to give free rides to stranded commuters. Faces of late employees waiting for a ride all looked like they have early-morning dyspepsia. Thank God to the Kaohsiung they now look like on the verge of urinating instead of dyspepsia (hahaha) as they readied themselves to get into the bus. We also looked like prisoners on the bus. Despite the crankiness – the full bus rode along the streets of Cebu in style. It was the queen of the road of the Queen City of the South. We were all smiles in the bus like we were going to some field trip. It wasn’t fun really because we were all sweaty and hot but the passengers smiled a lot to each other – especially when the vehicle stops and a passenger comes in sashaying along the aisle to the far-end of the bus. Fifteen minutes after, I was glad I arrived at Fuente.



The worst of the day was having to wait again for 30 minutes at the ATM machine for my turn to withdraw. After waiting a good 30 minutes being the 16th in line, it was finally my turn. Alas, the ATM is out of cash. Whatta luck!..I swore never to withdraw again from that darn machine - the one inside Watsons. If I owned it, I would’ve disassembled the poor thing. Worse, it deducted from my balance which means I have no money to withdraw anymore. What with all the waiting, it was what I got? I had to go to BDO, got the incident reported and informed the lady on blazers with the details. She tried to help me but it wasn’t good customer service at all. She didn’t offer to call their atm center. Instead, she just gave me the phone and let me dial. She didn’t even seem sympathetic – not that I needed it. I talked to a call center rep over the phone who told me about the details which I wasn’t able to get except the fact that I can’t have my money until Friday. I asked what to do because I needed the money like it’s a matter of life and death. She just said sorry and jumped to offering me a case number. Okay, I didn’t exactly say a matter of life and death, I said I have to pay my rent. Maybe that’s why she just said sorry . I wondered if it had been different if I told her an outrageous reason – hmmm, maybe like robbing the bank…tsk tsk…

After all I’ve been thru, I thought I needed a sleep. It was 2pm and my trip downtown was nothing but a burnt skin, tired feet and hungry stomach. I bought a two-piece chicken at Jollibee for take-out and waited another good hour for a taxi and arrived past 3pm at the boarding house. I felt I deserved a hearty meal.




Along the way, I managed to take 2 photos of the Sto. Nino and the Virgin Mary's image glued tightly in front of where I was seated. I thought ' even God doesn't go on strike'. I let the idea pass and I was back to the city's distractions.

I was dead tired. I slept hoping I’d wake up on a Friday.