The ride home

By Glaiza Bernadeth Pinto

I love my bus rides as much as the coming home to Alcala every week from school.

I always take an Amianan bus and I find it exciting when it zigzags through Kennon Road on the way to its station in Carmen, Rosales – it’s like a ferries wheel ride! Their drivers do drive quite fast but I still feel safe because over the last four years I have been traveling with Amianan, to my knowledge it has not figured in any accident. I certainly hope it stays that way because I noted that every bus ride I had taken was always full to its 50-passenger capacity. That is a lot of lives at stake.

I remember vividly, the first time I rode on this bus, the conductor addressed me as “Ma’am”, which I knew is a very common way of addressing a female stranger, customer, or someone they are not familiar with.

But when it was time to pay my fare, I realized he called me “Ma’am” because the conductor actually thought I was a teacher! He did not believe that I was entitled to a student fare until I showed him my ID.

“Ang akala ko po teacher kayo o professional,” he said politely and somewhat apologetically.

I smiled and I did not really mind because I realized that I was in “power dressing” that day for a scheduled reporting to do in one of my classes.”

But in all the many other subsequent bus journeys, conductors still politely addressed me “Ma’am” as they did most other female passengers.

I think that is a good reflection of the conductors’ training and it speaks well of the bus company, which by the way is proudly Pangasinan! It is owned by Edward M. Quiñanes and has been in operation since 1988.

I also love it how conductors never fail to shout out what part of Pangasinan we already are: “Sison, Pozzorubio, Binalonan, Urdaneta, Villasis- Bagsakan, Carmen-7 11 or Terminal!” And they somehow remember where each passenger is due to get off and nicely wake up those who fall asleep on the road trip – like me sometimes.

Those times when I do manage not to sleep on the journey, I find it really nice when fellow passengers initiate a chitchat. I have come across many pleasant people on these rides and even knowing I will probably never meet these strangers again, talking to them helps beat boredom.

I also take the opportunity to shoot photos during these trips – catching moments inside the bus and everyday Pangasinan life on the roadside.

I think Amianan is a good testament to the kind of service and hospitality that Pangasinan can offer to tourists. While tourist spots or popular destinations could be the major attraction in a province, I believe the services sector like buses, lodgings and dining places must also offer complementary support.

And just like me coming home, tourists would enjoy — perhaps even long — to keep coming back to Pangasinan.

(Readers may reach columnist at marifijara@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/roots/
For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)

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