gitgit gang

This incident just happened several hours ago. Hope you'd take time to read this so you'll know what to do when and if this happens to you.

Around 730pm, I stepped out of the building on my way to Makati. I passed by Shangri-La mall where I bought a gift for my inaanak. Then I headed to Starmall where I'll be riding a bus going to Makati. I decided not to ride the MRT since I don't want them opening the gift that I bought. After reaching the bus stop infront of Starmall, I dropped by Dunkin Donut's for my marble frosted plus bottled water, just in case traffic sa EDSA and I was starving already. Then, by luck, there was already a bus infront which was about to go. So I hailed it immediately. It didn't really occur to me that something bad would happen.

Actually, if you happen to know the buses going to LRT Ayala Leveriza, medyo ok na sila. Tipong gaya ng Mann Rose na brand new and malamig ang kita yung loob from the outside so parang safe. Ganun yung bus na naabutan ko. So sakay agad ako kasi hindi naman puno. But upon entering parang naasiwa ako kasi nga maluwag sya sa harapan (tipong 2 seats on each side), pero pagdating sa gitna eh 2 seats on one side and 3 seats on the other. So kung yung sa Mann Rose na dalawahan lang eh masikip na yung aisle, what more yung parang ordinary bus na 2 and 3 sa magkabila. So ganun nga yung naabutan ko pero no choice na kasi nakaandar na yung bus. So pasok na ako sa may gitna. Ang nakapagtataka lang eh pagdating ko sa gitna eh tumayo yung isang mama, though papaupuin ako. Pero parang humarang lang sya para di ako makadaan. Yun na pala yung start.

I just felt someone pulling the laylayan of my pants pati medyas ang shoes ko. Kunwari may hinahanap. Eh medyo narinig ko na yung ganung modus so pinapagpag ko ng paa ko yung kamay nya. Then dinumog na ako. May humahawak sa pants ko sa may tuhod, then sa may bulsa. Then may humarang sa likod ko para di ako makaatras. So literally, I was cornered. Ok na din kasi nakapasok ako dun sa isang seat na may 2 taong nakaupo (I assume na di sila kasama since di nila ako hinawakan). I had the instinct na gitgit gang na nga to so what I did was I held on to my sidepocket where I had my phone, and my backpocket for my wallet. Fortunately I was carrying a gymbag on my shoulder and my jacket was on top of the zipper of my bag, basically covering it. Then yung gift eh hawak ko sa kamay ko na pinagcover ko sa sidepocket ko while my left arm was covering the other zipper of my bag kung asan yung isang phone ko and yung sun broadband ko pa (hehe). And while this was happening, nagingay talaga ako. I was shouting na ginigitgit ako and I was telling the driver to stop the bus kasi nga ginigitgit na ako. Weird na hindi pa ako masyadong nanlambot nun sa takot. Ok na din yun kasi kung nagkataon eh hindi ko maiisipang gawin yung mga ginawa ko. Nakakalungkot lang eh yung ibang pasahero just chose to be mere spectators. And the conductor and driver didn't do anything. They were telling me na nasa gitna daw kami so hindi pwede magstop. Eh gago ba sila. Isn't it obvious na may nangyayari na seeing most seats empty while these men were standing on the aisle! So pagtawid ng Crossing pinatabi ko talaga yung bus. Siguro narealize nung mga mama na wala silang nakuha sakin and may mga MMDA pagtawid ng crossing kaya bumalik na sila sa seats nila. And the conductor, patay malisya (also the passengers). Pagbabang pagbaba ko dun ko naramdaman yung takot. What if may baril or kutsilyo pala yung mga yun. So literally, wimpy na knees ko after. But still I chose to walk. Pagkakita ko sa MMDA eh nagsabi agad ako. Kaso nakalagpas na yung bus. Ang masama eh hindi ko nakuha yung name nung bus. But definitely pag nasakyan ko yun malalaman ko agad.

So at the end of all of this, I was still thankful that nothing bad has happened to me. Wala ding nakuha sakin. But lesson learned. Wala na ngang safe ngayon. Kahit na yung mga brand new buses. Hope this reaches out to as many people as possible para maforewarn na rin sila if the same thing happens to them. It really pays to be vigilant and extra careful. Basta take extra care na lang when riding public vehicles, kahit na taxi, bus, jeep, or MRT pa yan. Wala na silang pinipili ngayon.