I stand 5 feet and 11 inches. Most Filipinos envy my height. They think of it as a blessing. I also do think of it as a blessing on occasions like getting the dried clothes from the sampayan and how easily spottable I am during a crowded concert but for riding transportations in the Philippines, somehow it is a curse.
I stand 5 feet and 11 inches. I do not mind when a row in a van should only be 3 people then 4 people gets squished in it. I do mind when they modify a 3-row van into a 4-row van because my knees are already hitting the next row in the front. Imagine that situation for a 3 hour van ride from Tacloban City to Borongan. Still there are those who are commendable for not modifying their vans like the van from Iloilo City to Iloilo Airport.
Knees hitting the seat at the front seats from Balangkayan, Eastern Samar to Tacloban City, Leyte
I stand 5 feet and 11 inches. I do mind how expensive airfare is in the Philippines but I also know how much time I can save with them. I also mind on how weirdly the seats are closely spaced apart that it gives me the same knee problem as the vans. Where being at the window seat may also become a curse when I wanted to get to the lavatory. Maybe I should try accepting the responsibility of seating beside the emergency exit.
Knees hitting the seats at the front during my flight from Tacloban City, Leyte to Manila (ZestAir)
I stand 5 feet and 11 inches. I love long bus rides and the views that comes with it especially when riding down from Baguio in the afternoon. I do mind on how closely spaced apart the seats are (again) like the bus from NAIA 3 to MRT Taft Station.
Bus from NAIA 3 to MRT Taft Station
I stand 5 feet and 11 inches. I do not mind getting squished on the sides by passengers when a 10 seater seat of a jeepney gets cramped with 11 people. But I do mind on how low a ceiling of a jeepney is. Mostly when the nearest seat to the door is already occupied. But when it is not occupied, my legs become an instant door that blocks passengers from entering or leaving the jeepney. Maybe I should do toploading often.
I stand 5 feet and 11 inches. I do mind on how expensive a tricycle fare is compared to riding jeepneys but I do know the fact that it creates a job for many. What I really do mind about them is somehow many of them are getting lowered these days. The sidecar’s roof is too low that whenever we hit a bump on the road I also hit my head on the roof. Maybe I should try toploading in tricycles too.
Toploading on Tricycles at Guiuan, Eastern Samar
I stand 5 feet and 11 inches. I do know that this types of problem may lead to injury especially when exposed to frequent long trips. But I do know that when transportations adjust for someone like me there will be less passengers per trip. Less passengers means, less income per trip. Less income per trip may lead to increase in prices. Increase in prices may lead to people not being able to afford the basic commodity called transportation.
I stand 5 feet and 11 inches. No matter how painful it is to travel the Philippines, I still love this country and I will still proudly travel around it often.
Tangkad mo pala? Ka-height mo BF ko. Awang-awa nga ako whenever we travel in buses. I always get him the premium seats in planes, but in buses, wala talagang choice. Buti na lang ako, 4’11 lang haha
Buses talaga yung malaking problema namin. Either kumuha kami ng pagkamahal-mahal na deluxe buses or isang pisngi lang ng pwet namin ang naka-upo para naka-diagonal kami at hindi gaano tumatama yung tuhod namin. 😛
wow. inspiring story Josiah and entertaining too. I am 2-3 inches shorter than you. And thank God I am slim and flexible to adjust for such situations haha.
Thanks Edmaration! slightly flexible lang ako. hehe
hayst! nainggit lang ako sa height mu. haha nice article, made me smile! nakakatuwa tlga mga naiisip mu! 🙂
Thanks Gael! God bless sa pagpursue sa dream mo. Suportahan ka namin. 🙂
same here. 5’9″ naman ako and almost ganun din ang aking problem masakit kaya sa tuhod 😀
Yung sinakyan ko na van from Tacloban City to Balangkayan hindi ko na kinaya. Nagrequest ako na lumipat na ako dun sa wala na naka-upo na row para lang mastretch ko yung legs ko at mawala ang sakit. 🙂
naiitindihan kita kasi kahit hindi ako matangkad pero nararamdaman ko yung sakit ng paa pag nasa mahabang byahe sa bus. kaya siguradong mas lalong mahirap para sayo.
Yup Dong, dagdag din sa amin yung sakit din sa paa sa long bus rides.
wow kapre ka pala. hindi ko nabiyayaan ng height mga utol ko super tangkad ako lang ang petite.hahaha 😛
Bigla ko tuloy naisip na kumuha ng tabacco at sindihan. LOL!
Tatangkad ka rin Chinchan! 😀
Eek! Parang dilemma ng foreigners visiting SE Asia. Sis ko matangkad, di rin makatagal sa bus trips 🙁
Gaye, most nga ng nakakarelate mga foreigners. Pero sa ngayon dumadami na rin ang matatangkad sa Pinas. Kaya kapag nakikita namin na medyo malikot sa upuan ang isang matangkad na tao alam na namin na masakit na tuhod niya (or kailangan niya na pumunta ng toilet) 😛
ako naman ang problema ko eh sa sobrang liit ko at iksa ng limbs ko (i’m 5’2″ by the way), laging hindi ko abot ang floor either sa bus or sa plane…
Masakit din ang hindi mo abot yung floor, sa ilalim ng mga hita naman ang sakit niyan.
mahirap nga yan.. ako nga na hindi matangkad, ayaw na ayaw ko talaga ng long bus rides kasi nga ang hirap kumilos, what more sa isang van pa… waahhhhhh!!! 🙂
hurray to me, then? i’m only 5ft! hehe! pero hirap talaga kung walang legroom. i just came back from baler and the van that we have doesn’t have any legroom at all. pandak na ako nyan ha. hehe! what more pa sa mga kasama ko.