Friday, 05 March 2010
The Big NM - Network Management for Filipinos
I am sure that most of us have experienced riding the LRT and MRT more than once. I must say that the LRT and MRT already became significant part of our transportation system since it is cheap and fast. People from different social classes are riding these trains mainly for convenience.
I was an avid train commuter when I was in college and now that I’m part of the working force, riding these trains became more frequent since I don’t have my own car and I don’t know how to drive. I think more people will agree that this way of commuting is much better than the others (buses, jeepneys, FX’s, etc.) because almost everyone can afford it and it can take us anywhere we wish on a short span of time.
According to a famous search engine, these trains accommodate almost 600,000 people everyday. Riding the LRT and MRT can only cost us P12.00 – P15.00. Like what I’ve said it is cheap and fast (if there are no technical problems or long queues). I think these trains are very essential to our lives because no one can escape the fact that for over 30 years, this transportation system has been giving most of us convenience and unforgettable experiences.
But let us also admit that there are disadvantages on riding these trains as well.
The most common conflicts people encounter inside the LRT and MRT are long queues on the ticket booths, technical problems, robbery and small fights because of inconsiderate passengers. Let’s leave the problems in technicality and queuing to the management because they are the one’s who are greatly responsible for this matter. I think it is more interesting to talk about the behavior of different passengers because most of us are forgetting the rule of right conduct. Although good manners and etiquette were defined by so many scholars and in so many ways, I still believe that this is a common knowledge we all need to be aware of.
Practicing right conduct is something we can all do regardless of our age, social status, educational background and whereabouts. It maybe hard for us to absolutely do this but what matters most is the will to master the art of humanity.
Based on Dr. Michael Brein’s research, we, human beings have the idea of enhancing our self-esteem by means of travelling. It is when we travel that we grow as a person. Sometimes, we portray an image that can make other people think that we are superior to them. As a travel psychologist, he knows that we all want to feel good about ourselves and we wanted to be admired by the people we encounter.
This can explain why some people show arrogance inside the LRT and MRT. Some people think that they are more superior than the others, that’s why they fight their way on a rude manner. Since people want to enhance their self-esteem, they tend to think that one of the best ways to do so is to actually belittle a person. People don’t realize that they ridiculous while fighting with someone because of riding the LRT and MRT. I think the more they boost their confidence and esteem, the more they lose their manners.
These trains are slowly becoming a place where people truly show their alter egos. Even if someone is wearing a coat and tie or a classy dress, their attitude towards the whole trip and the people around them are the opposite of how glamorous their appearances are. Like what I always tell my friend, some people lose their ethics whenever they are inside the train. For whatever reason, some passengers have the urge of being mean and ill-mannered. Indeed, this is a free country but it is not an excuse for us to forget that everything around us should be bounded with respect.
Today is year 2010. People are expected to be more civilized and smart. But why are we acting as if we’re from a different place? An era where there are no rules followed. An era where people are using their fists instead of their minds. An era where people are acting like animals, killing to survive. An era where no one dares to step aside for the sake of their neighbor.
A simple train ride can make us realize that there are some habits that we all need to drop. Habits and attitudes that are embarrassing to be inherited or witnessed by the new generation. Nobody is perfect but we are always given a chance to right what’s wrong and to make our everyday journey more significant. On a simple note, these trains are just means of transportation where a lot of things happen within its boundaries.
But if we will take time to study the reasons behind these trains’ existence, maybe we will all realize that these trains can actually help us see the different realities life has to offer.
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The Big NM is a promising online network management established in January 2009 by a network of professionals and experts from all regions of the Philippines who are dedicated in humble service of the Filipino people.
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Peter Allan C. Mariano
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1 comment:
The elites of the country do not ride the LRT/MRT so they don't care how they are run. The fact that there are only RARE instances of melees and a few untoward incidents is a tribute to the fantastic PATIENCE and ethical composure of the Filipino riding public.
The Manila LRT/MRT is the WORST transportation system in the world. It is a far cry from the Metro of Paris where everything is managed logically and efficiently by people who think of the welfare of the commuters.
I salute the Filipino riding community for enduring patiently the humiliation and hardships of queueing up (with queues pouring out into the streets) and then suffer an interminably long wait for the trains and forcing their way into the cars which are packed so tightly like sardines in a can.
The management of LRT/MRT DOES NOT CARE about its customers, at all.
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