kwentong barbero .com

1.  They live in the fast lane.Not true.  Manila people are waiters.  Either they are waiting in line to the nearest food chain, to the CR, bus terminal, or MRT.  While waiting, they become reflective of their psychological and spiritual side.  They think of things like “Ano kaya pagkain pag-uwi?”, “Magkano nang pot money sa 6/45 lotto?”, “Sinong mas sexy kina Katrina Halili saka Angel Locsin?”  One third of their lives are spent in traffic jams which make them pensive people. 

2.  They are mall rats.Not true.  One, they are not rats.  Two, they go to the malls not to go on a binging spree or spend until their credit cards get maxed out.   They don’t even spend. They are there to chillax (chill + relax).  The temperature is mercurial in the city and the best place to stay is in the malls. 

3.  They have low regard to the older generation.Not true.  One bus driver demonstrated me how to respect the elderly.  We’re on the busy streets of Ayala Avenue and an old lady had to alight from the bus.  So the driver slowed down in front of a waiting shed facing Rustan’s, amidst the impatient drivers behind him shouting him to move forward.  He didn’t budge until he’s assured the old lady had safely got off.  That was a simple gesture of love, yet an awakening for me.  The bus driver just sent me to school to re-evaluate my values. 

4.  Chivalry is dead.Not true.  On busy hours, I still see men offering their seat to the elderly.  Ok, sometimes.  They don’t do it to the ladies because the ladies want equal footing.  Ladies say something about girl power, so the gentlemen are giving what the ladies want.   Besides men are becoming cautious the ladies might think they are hitting on them.  Better safe than sorry.  If you see men pretending to be asleep just so they won’t offer a seat to the ladies, it’s for good reason.  So that women won’t jump into a conclusion of any malice intent.   

5.  They don’t know bayanihan spirit is.Not true.  When you ride a jeepney, chances are, you are at the farthest end from the driver.  You just say “Bayad po”, and somebody extends a hand to give your fare to the driver.     

6.  They are dishonest.Not true.  In jeepney, nobody checks if they already paid their fare.  They pay because they believe in paying the worth of the service they are receiving. 

7.  They are territorial.Not true.  They are happy, easy going people.  They love socializing and being around with people.  In MRT, it’s always jampacked and they like huddling together (like they have a choice).  They consider everybody as part of their one big happy family. 

8.  They get kicks out of duping others.Not true.  You ask a direction and they would be very glad to answer.  If  they don’t know, they say so.  Even if you don’t ask them and they overhear you asking, they would butt in to give you landmarks and additional details.   

9.  They are too busy to help.Not true.  See those Red Cross volunteers holding cans in MRT and others scattered in tollways?  .  They take time to help the undernourished and helpless.  They take the courage to ask for the small coins you have in your pocket so that others may live. 

10.  They have a strong desire for attention.True.  They go to the province holding mineral bottle like there’s some shortage of water.  They give you the “I have a mineral water and I am rich” look.  The mineral bottle is their status symbol other than their cellphones.  So that when the promdis see them, the promdis would gaze in awe and wonder what’s inside that crystal clear container.  Even if the bottle is already empty, they still hold them until others get annoyed to them.  They brandish the bottle as if saying “O we’re from Manila and we don’t drink tap water”.