10 people you meet on a night trip bus

MANILA, Philippines – On a provincial bus, a single trip could take anywhere from 2 to 14 hours – or even more. 

If you’re headed somewhere far, like Cagayan Province or Baguio, taking the night trip is usually the more popular option. The ride is usually faster, much cooler, and you could sleep the whole way if you wish. (Read: INFOGRAPHIC: Travel hacks for bus commuters)

If you can stay awake long enough, you’d discover that the night trip buses tend to be filled with very interesting characters. Some of them are also present on day trip rides, but during the quiet evening trip, with nothing else much happening, they’re much more fun to observe, and even get to know.

You might have met these 10 types of people on the night trip bus. Share your night trip stories with us too.

1. The one who needs your support

Since night trip buses need to fill up before leaving the terminal, you’ll never find yourself wanting for a seatmate. Most night trip passengers are sleepers. Some go the extra mile and use your shoulder as a headrest. Lolas are extra fond of doing this.

2. The ones who need a remote

This is the happy, noisy barkada finally embarking on their much-needed getaway. Unfortunately, they passed the time in Starbucks Araneta Center while waiting for the one who’s always late. Now they can’t sleep and can’t stop talking to each other – much to the annoyance of other passengers who wish they could be put on Mute. 

3. The one who’s here-but-not-here

It’s pitch dark outside, and yet this passenger keeps his eyes firmly fixed beyond the murky depths of the glass window, often with those ubiquitous white ear buds in place. Sometimes, he’s having an animated conversation with someone on the phone. Usually, he’s lost in his thoughts. Either way, he zones out.

4. The ones with the North Face gear

These ones are especially hard to miss in their cargo shorts, neutral-colored tops, and 3-foot tall backpacks fit for a hiking expedition (they’re probably headed to Mt. Pulag though). If they’re foreign tourists, they talk really fast in their own language and you can’t tell if they’re discussing their itinerary or complaining about everyone else on the bus.

5. The one who’s trying to make it

If it’s a Manila-bound bus on a Sunday night, it’s usually filled with 20- or 30-somethings who came home for the weekend. Their bulging bags contain carefully wrapped baon that will tide them over for at least three days before payday. The load is always heavier on the way back, literally and figuratively.

6. The one with excess baggage

They’re the ones who do a weekly pilgrimage for business goods. They’ve probably just come from Divisoria, or else what would explain those humongous sacks that they’re now asking the conductor to load into the side compartment? Or they could just be preparing for a wedding. We can only speculate.

7. The ones who need a room

This is the overly affectionate young couple celebrating their anniversary in Baguio or finally being allowed to go on a “just us” trip by their parents for the first time. Either way, as far as they’re concerned, this bus ride is already the start of the whole romantic rendezvous.

8. The ones who forgot to eat dinner

At the midnight stopover in Dau or Turbina, they’re the first to step down and make a beeline for the 24-hour cafeteria. They proceed to order the largest goto or nilaga with extra rice, and then take their sweet time finishing it until the driver honks the horn because everyone else is already in their seats. 

9. The one who looks like That Thing Called Tadhana

There’s always that ridiculously good-looking person who happens to be traveling alone. Your eyes may or may not meet. But in your head, the whole story has already unfolded: how you’re suddenly sitting next to each other, telling each other life stories, and even getting off on the same stop, because this can only be fate, right?

10. The ones who make us believe #MayForever

These are the incorrigible elderly ones who still insist that they’re strong enough to take public transport. They’re the ones who paid their unica hija a visit in her rented apartment over the weekend. Lolo still insists on letting Lola sit first, and they muse out loud how things are so different now while holding hands. We just want to keep listening to them forever.  – Rappler.com

Graphics by Nico Villarete