Sat upfront in a bus ride home today. I think the bus driver was new because the ticket collector/ barker dude was giving him tips as we were driving along- go this way, don't pick up passengers here, etc. One comment that surprised me was when he told the bus driver, not to honk his horn as we drove by Guadalupe because it wasn't allowed. True enough, there was a "bawal bumusina" sign posted on on electric pole. I've seen those signs around but never thought anyone would actually follow them. It was an amazing revelation... Filipino drivers following road rules?!
I personally cannot STAND Manila buses and their honking. You would think their crazy driving would be enough to call these giant road roaches, nuisances but you add their gritty smoke belching and their affinity for making noise whenever they can. Buses seem to especially love honking their horns when they are in the presence of OTHER honking buses (why not add to the noise right?) as well as sections of the road that are semi-enclosed (why not magnify an already deafening noise right?).
We drove by the bus stop along Ayala, where the noisiest and most annoying group of buses along EDSA usually hang. For the first time, I noticed not only another "Bawal Bumisina" sign, but the relative silence that filled the air. SO WEIRD. I don't know if it was because there were MMDA milling about, but it the silence of the buses was definitely music to my ears.
It'd be pretty darn lovely if buses could shut their horns up forever.
quite the opposite when you cross the tandang sora fly over along commonwealth.
ReplyDeleteyou're supposed to honk your horn to signal daw the dwendes crossing.
i'm serious!
that's why there are lotsa accidents there, according to a psychic friend of mine.
WHAT?! really?! that's so strange!! i didn't even know dwendes ventured out of their garden homes, let along cross major roads. lol.
ReplyDeleteI've never noticed those signs and the apparent 'silence' it comes with before! Lol
ReplyDelete*GASP* MAICA?!?! did you leave a comment?! lol. thanks :)
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! Sabi mo, eh! :P You comment on my albums it the last i can do. Lol.
ReplyDeleteHey, why am I shown as Maica when my account name is Makillathrilla?
When he first visited from Belgium, where there are serious rules against horn honking, Uncle David kept gleefully honking his horn at random because he was so amazed at how many drivers in Manila do it for no apparent reason.
ReplyDeleteIn Kolkata, busina = survival. If you stop honking your horn for just one second, you're dead. Drivers lean on that horn like they're afraid they'll disappear if it stops honking. Hahaha.
Mimi's Petepete does the same thing when he's here! Drives her nuts. lol.
ReplyDeletehahahahhaa. man, i hope Philippine bus drivers don't get wind of how they do it in Kolkata @_@