By: Jun A. Alindogan

Times have dramatically changed. Information is now disseminated at unprecedented speed,  and all technological programs and innovations relate to communication. Transportation is no exception. While online transactions are intended to be convenient, this comfort can occasionally lead to social complications. Streamlining the process may require time, as human error remains a significant factor despite technological advancements.  Choosing various modes of transportation is typically determined by budget, time, and effort, particularly given the volume of daily commuters. In my childhood, transportation options were limited but still enjoyable, as there were fewer passengers compared to today’s generation.

My hometown is adjacent to another coastal town that is now part of Metropolitan Manila. I am not sure if there are still public jeepneys that travel from my hometown to this city. When I was younger, there was a terminal near my mother’s workplace as a teacher, making it convenient for her to commute home as the jeepney passed through our village. There was a small wooden bridge that connected our town to this municipality known for its freshwater fish, crabs, shrimps, as well as farmed-raised oysters and mussels. The journey to this market typically took around 15 minutes over rows of fishponds along the way.  I always enjoyed this trip.

In our hometown, tricycles were initially few in number, as jeepneys were the most accessible mode of transportation. However, over time, tricycles have become more common than jeepneys, particularly due to their ability to navigate elevated alleys and narrow paths to various villages.

When I was left alone in our ancestral home, as my siblings relocated to the South, I usually had breakfast at a porridge and piping hot noodle house just a few blocks away. However, that store closed after many years of service. A friend, who is also a tricycle driver, would pick me up at home and take me to another porridge shop that served beef, located across from my cousins’ residence.  More than the delicious food it served, I looked forward to the homey conversation with the owner every time I visited the store and the close bond I developed with my driver.

Prior to the introduction of jeepney routes from my hometown to the city, I recall my father traveling on a yellow-orange colored wooden bus named De Dios to audit the books of various companies for which he worked as a freelance bookkeeper. The terminal in the city was located next to the bookstore where my uncle was employed as a sales clerk. In our town, the terminal was situated near a stone-water tower and a small river port. When my family visited the last carnival floor in the only mall I knew as a child in downtown Manila, we would always take the De Dios buses for their convenience. I am unsure why this bus line disappeared.

A memorable childhood experience was riding on double-decker buses along a main thoroughfare in Manila, where I could see trees, skyscrapers, parks, and the bay, along with other local tourists. Over time, it was phased out due to profitability concerns and mechanical issues.

During our annual summer vacation to Sorsogon, I vividly remember the trains we took from Manila to Albay. The coaches were equipped with an air-conditioned family room that included a dining table, beds, and a toilet, aptly called sleeper trains. The journey offered beautiful views of verdant coconut plantations, rice farms, rivers, and mountains, all part of the rustic scenery. As a child, I experienced motion sickness during long bus rides; however, I felt quite comfortable on the trains. I wonder why provincial trains were phased out in favor of highways over time.

During my teaching years at a seminary near the North Triangle area of the city, I recall enjoying juicy chicken burgers with vegetable toppings at a local fast food joint. Afterward, I would hop on a red, open-air wooden bus named JD Liner, which transported me to its northern depot, where I took a jeepney to my suburban home. It was a trip I often looked forward to, as I loved the wind caressing my face and hair near the windows. Sometimes, I feel dizzy on air-conditioned buses because the space is constricted. Over time, the bus service was discontinued.  Online sources report that the liner closed down due to severe financial losses due to the oil crisis, labor union strikes and fierce competition from the government-owned Metro Manila Transit Corporation (MMTC).

Today, private transportation typically operates online, ranging from motorcycle rides to electric cars that can be booked with ease. I occasionally use these services; however, the trips have become purely mechanical. Mobility primarily concerns how individuals navigate multimodal transport systems to suit their preferences, lifestyles, and circumstances. It is also closely linked to how transportation relates to planned experiences of enjoyment or fatigue. Times have changed and so are the routes and landscapes which have been altered significantly. Perhaps this is due to nostalgia, as I am now a senior.

While it is often said that good things never last, I firmly believe that positive experiences can be revisited, no matter how fleeting. It is the ability to remember beautiful moments that inspires individuals to move forward, even in the face of loss over time.

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Manuel A. Alindogan, Jr. or Jun A. Alindogan is the Academic Director of the Expanded Alternative Learning Program of Empowered East, a Rizal-province based NGO in the Philippines and is also the founder of Speechsmart Online that specializes in English test preparation courses. He is a freelance writer and a member of the Freelance Writers’ Guild of the Philippines (FWGP).