The road, ranging from a busy highway to a quiet avenue, is like an open book about a certain place or a nation in general. A nation’s history consisting of its long years of struggle to attain and preserve its freedom and to achieve a better economic and political status can actually be encapsulated in that one single place. The present state of a nation, including the way of life and condition of its people can be observed through its roads. It’s like a plane mirror that can only reflect an image of the object placed in front of it----nothing less, nothing more.
Philippines, from its country lanes to its superhighways, has a rich history when it comes to the evolution of its roads and its transport system. Being an archipelago, transportation is a vital force that drives this nation into action by connecting all its three major islands. However, long before the RORO (Roll On, Roll Off) and the boom of low fares offered by plane companies, the streets all over the country have witnessed a steady transition when it comes to its forms of transportation. It is interesting to trace this transition and ponder on what it tells about the life of its people at a particular time.
The evolution of transportation in our nation is interesting enough. What’s more is that lately, I’ve come to observe that it may be a unique feature of our country but it in one way or another, it shares the same features in the evolution of the transport system of other nations.
With the increase in the number of Filipinos working abroad, most particularly among neighboring Asian countries, it is a comfort to think that there are bits and pieces of foreign culture that somehow, remind these migrant Filipinos of our homeland. Here in Thailand, the first observable thing that makes this foreign place somehow closer to home is its almost identical modes of transportation to the Philippines.
A Taste of the 18th Century Rolls Royce
The occasional thumping sound of the horse’s hooves on concrete roads coupled with the ringing of the bell to call the attention of tourists and locals, add a small-town charm to the streets of Lampang, a northern city in Thailand. The colorful horse-drawn carriages with the drivers in cowboy costumes is a normal sight in this place as this form of transportation is not only for tourism purposes but is a typical form of transportation in this city.
The first few weeks of getting used to the sight of horse-drawn carriages traipsing Lampang’s busy streets together with motorcycles, cars, and buses was an equally awkward and amusing moment as we are used to seeing horse-drawn carriages we call as kalesa only in major tourist spots in our country like Intramuros or during fiestas and cultural celebrations.
The kalesa gained popularity during the Spanish regime in the Philippines. It must have acted as the 18th century Rolls Royce of the Philippines as it was only the affluent people, which include the noble and the officials, who could afford to experience a kalesa ride. At the moment however, with just Php 500 or less in Intramuros and some tourist spots in the country, anyone can enjoy the luxury once enjoyed only by the elite group of the Philippine society.
Panay’s Version of Hogwarts Express
The first few weeks of getting used to the sight of horse-drawn carriages traipsing Lampang’s busy streets together with motorcycles, cars, and buses was an equally awkward and amusing moment as we are used to seeing horse-drawn carriages we call as kalesa only in major tourist spots in our country like Intramuros or during fiestas and cultural celebrations.
The kalesa gained popularity during the Spanish regime in the Philippines. It must have acted as the 18th century Rolls Royce of the Philippines as it was only the affluent people, which include the noble and the officials, who could afford to experience a kalesa ride. At the moment however, with just Php 500 or less in Intramuros and some tourist spots in the country, anyone can enjoy the luxury once enjoyed only by the elite group of the Philippine society.
Panay’s Version of Hogwarts Express
For Ilonggos, long before knowing about MRT and LRT and even long before the invention of the bullet trains, we had our Panay Railway Transport System. This 117-km railway line connects Iloilo City to the Province of Capiz.
I would remember how the older folks in Passi, my hometown, would talk about how they used to travel by trains. For someone who has idealized an actual functioning railway system into something like the Hogwarts Express, I was too amazed with the idea of traveling to different points in central Panay by train since the railway is just about a hundred meters away from our house. Since the operations of this railway ceased around in 1985, I only witnessed the bagon during my early childhood years as the remnant of what once used to be as a fully functioning railway transport system.
As much as we love riding the modern subways because they are traffic jam free, but the old models of trains appeal more to most of us because of their charm. Connecting Bangkok to its different provinces is a railway system very much like the Panay Railway Transport, based from actual descriptions of those who were able to experience it and also from old articles and clippings. Yes, the travel might be slower as compared to when taking the bus, but it’s a whole lot cheaper, safer, and more comfortable especially when taking night trips since they offer overnight bunks to passengers.
The Taxi of the Masses
I would remember how the older folks in Passi, my hometown, would talk about how they used to travel by trains. For someone who has idealized an actual functioning railway system into something like the Hogwarts Express, I was too amazed with the idea of traveling to different points in central Panay by train since the railway is just about a hundred meters away from our house. Since the operations of this railway ceased around in 1985, I only witnessed the bagon during my early childhood years as the remnant of what once used to be as a fully functioning railway transport system.
As much as we love riding the modern subways because they are traffic jam free, but the old models of trains appeal more to most of us because of their charm. Connecting Bangkok to its different provinces is a railway system very much like the Panay Railway Transport, based from actual descriptions of those who were able to experience it and also from old articles and clippings. Yes, the travel might be slower as compared to when taking the bus, but it’s a whole lot cheaper, safer, and more comfortable especially when taking night trips since they offer overnight bunks to passengers.
The Taxi of the Masses
For those who have grown up in the province, the tricycle (we say it as trisikel, or trisikol) is a vital part of the day-to-day chores and activities. The tricycle is a motorcycle with a built-in sidecar and is supported by three wheels for mobility and balance.
Who could have grown up without riding in a supposed to be 5-seater vehicle, filled with 8 or more people not to mention the sacks of vegetables or charcoal or any other goods tied up on the roof of the side-car and on every available space? And when the driver starts to stand to induce more force when the road is uphill or downhill, sometimes, you would just wish for a faster and less fearful form of possible death. Moreover who haven’t experienced the tricycle “joyrides” during their student days in which you would all beg manong driver to bring you all home, only that the poor manong driver doesn’t have any idea that your homes are on different points around the town area, as if strategically placed far away from each other? Each one of us has our own tricycle stories and anecdotes. I remember that during my first conscious tricycle ride, the fare was just 50 cents and that was back in the early 90’s. Now about 20 years later, the rate has reached to Php 8.
Tourists might be slightly amused upon seeing the “taxi” sign on a vehicle very much like our own tricycle on the streets of the major cities in Thailand. Locally called as tuktuk, so named because of the sound of its engine, this vehicle has a maximum seating capacity of 3 persons. Although the fare is not exactly as cheap as our own tricycle, even more expensive than the real taxis because of their tourism appeal, tuktuk is highly recommended for touring around a busy city like Bangkok as it can easily weave in and out of the traffic.
The Undefeated King of the Road
We are a “jeepney” nation. With just a spare change of Php 7.50, one can almost go to any destination around the city inside the range of 4-5 kilometers, and just add more or less one peso per succeeding kilometer. The jeepney has come a long way from being a World War II surplus and has undergone several transitions while retaining the Filipino creativity, innovativeness, and ingenuity. Although its existence is being threatened by government regulations and rising costs, the fact that it still floods the different streets in the Philippines proves that it’s still the undisputed king of Philippines’ roads.
Thailand has its own jeepney-like vehicle locally called silo. However, unlike our jeepney which is covered by a magnitude of colors and almost resembles like a moving work of art with its paintings and stickers following a specific theme, the silo is monochromatic----usually yellow, pink or dark blue in color. It is way smaller with a seating capacity of only 9 persons. Although it makes you feel like a little bit closer to home because of its “jeepney-feel”, but here’s the downside of riding the silo---the fare within a 5-kilometer range is 20 baht which is more or less 28 pesos.
Thailand has its own jeepney-like vehicle locally called silo. However, unlike our jeepney which is covered by a magnitude of colors and almost resembles like a moving work of art with its paintings and stickers following a specific theme, the silo is monochromatic----usually yellow, pink or dark blue in color. It is way smaller with a seating capacity of only 9 persons. Although it makes you feel like a little bit closer to home because of its “jeepney-feel”, but here’s the downside of riding the silo---the fare within a 5-kilometer range is 20 baht which is more or less 28 pesos.
No comments:
Post a Comment