Conversation with Alex over lunch.
“Mommy, let’s buy ice cream after my Kumon.”
“Argh, I have little cash left (I didn’t want to go to the ATM machine because the queues are always a kilometer long on Fridays); if I buy ice cream, I won’t be able to give much to Sam tomorrow (she’s going out with her friends — again).”
“Hmph!”
“When I was a teenager and I went out with friends, my mother gave me only the exact amount to buy a ticket at the moviehouse and to pay the bus fare to and fro.”
“You commuted?” She was incredulous. She was more shocked that I commuted more than how stingy her grandmother was.
“Sure I did. It wasn’t like this when I was 15. Traffic wasn’t bad. Buses weren’t all that crowded. It wasn’t so dusty on the streets. And the exhaust fumes weren’t that bad either. Less vehicless on the roads.”
She was amazed and I continued.
“In fact, when I was in grade school, airconditioned cars were not too common. Cars were bigger — they could sit three in front quite comfortably. The ceilings were higher and ventillation was good. And because traffic wasn’t so bad, travel wasn’t uncomfortable even without aircon.”
She couldn’t believe it.
“People. There just weren’t too many people back then.”
Yeah, it’s all about the too rapid population growth especially in urban areas. I would have discussed birth control and population management with her after that but we had to go to her Kumon class.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Angela 04.13.07 at 2:38 pm
I used to hear my nanay tell the same stories, and she usually tells us that we (my generation) are lucky that things are easier compared to their time. I actually enjoy listening to her stories though.
rolly 04.13.07 at 2:45 pm
At higit sa lahat, beinte sentimos lang pamasahe from Cubao to Antipolo nung panahon mo diba?
Connie 04.13.07 at 3:55 pm
Angela, some things are easier today; some things were better back then. No perfect generation, I guess.
Tito Rolly, ang naalala ko 25 centavos from Quezon Ave. (Blvd. pa nun) hanggang UP.
Grabe ano?
BatJay, Ang Dating Hippopotamus 04.13.07 at 10:07 pm
ako, 25 centavos ang baon ko when i started school. either hinahatid ako ng daddy ko sa malaki niyang tank, or school jeep ni mang lino na vintage world war 2 jeep. no aircon no anything. hindi ko alam kung paano niya pinagkakasya ang sampung bata.
nakakatawa nga pero tama ka - hindi ko naalala na nainitan ako nung time na yon even though walang aircon ang mga sasakyan.
annamanila 04.13.07 at 10:11 pm
I bet our stories of our youth were as incredible to our kids as our parents’ stories of life under Japanese occupation for example sounded like fiction to us.
Connie 04.13.07 at 11:12 pm
uy batjay, nung kinder ako yung 25 centavos eksakto pambili ng chocovim hehehe
annamanila, oohh, my lola would often tell us about the japanese occupation. kinda explained why she was such a hoarder.
Lisa 04.14.07 at 3:54 am
When I passed the UPCAT, Mom asked me what I wanted for a prize. And because I was 16 and stupid I said, “Mom, I want to be able to ride a jeepney to school!” Guess what? It was only 15 years later, as I was recounting the story, that I realized — sheesh — I could have asked for a car!
At a sari-sari store recently, I asked the manong for a pack of smokes and a lighter. He said P50.00, and we suddenly both went quiet and I said, “Manong, eto nalang ba ang mabibili ng singkuwenta pesos?” If I had that much in my pocket 25 years ago, I could buy 8 packs of blue seal! Ngayon, panukli nalang ang Php50.00!
kat 04.14.07 at 4:19 am
my first experience commuting was when we got to the U.S. (in Los Angeles). I was about 12 yrs old and had to learn to take the bus to go to school, pick up my brother from a babysitter (he was 4), and then i had to bring him home by bus again. i did it for a while before we could finally got a used car (and then i didn’t have to pick him up anymore). the bus was my friend up until i turned 18. and then here in NYC, commuting is the norm. but let me tell you, my brother never experienced that cuz he got rides to and fro!
rhodora 04.14.07 at 8:52 am
I don’t want to tell here how much I had for baon when I was in high school, because that would betray my age! LOL!
With commuting, I required my daughter to take the jeep to and from school during her fourth year in high school, (no more hatid-sundo) as initiation to her life in college starting this June. I was shocked, she could even hardly cross the street! LOL!
Connie 04.14.07 at 1:15 pm
Lisa, you told your mom that? HAHAHAHAHAHA Di ko ma-imagine mukha ni Tita Mitos HAHAHAHAHAHA. PhP 50.00 when I was in college… baon ko na yun for a week ah. Come to think of it, the peso got devalued so fast that by the time we were in UP Law, my baon was more than twice as much.
Kat, I was also 12 when I first learned to commute. But I hated the rush hour crowd so much that I preferred to walk to and from school, heavy books and all hehehe
Rhodora, I need to teach my kids to do that soon. Everyone needs to learn — for their own good. Ummm actually, short tricycle rides, Alex can manage. Pero si Sam, senyorita. Yan ang hatid-sundo.
JO santos 04.24.07 at 8:30 am
Hi Sassy,
This off-topic, I was trying to search since yesterday your post about the inflatable parties, about more than a year ago I think, but i could not find it. Please help because I’m thinking of that concept for my daughter who’ll be turning 6 this June.
JO santos 04.24.07 at 8:31 am
Thanks a lot for your wonderful site who is always a big help for busy mom and wive like me.
JO santos 04.24.07 at 8:32 am
wife pala, typo error, sorry
Connie 04.24.07 at 11:42 am
Jo, that was in another blog that got wiped out when I had technical problems in december 2005. i have the contact info though. i’ll email it to you.