This year’s All Soul’s Weekend turned out to be a long weekend. A very long one actually, spanning four days. An opportunity most people would grab to go home and spend time with their families. Our group, on the other hand, chose to have an adventure in two Cebu islands – Malapascua and Bantayan.
We woke up quite early, around 4AM (though our agreed time of departure was actually 3) so we can avoid the transportation rush. But it turned out everybody had the same idea. When we got to the North Bus Terminal, there were already hundreds of people waiting for buses to go to cities down south. Our destination was the municipality of Maya which was 30 minutes away from Hagnaya, the stop of most people in the terminal.
It was both interesting to witness the rush, as well as be part of it. There was no semblance of order. It was every man for himself. Timid and meek people will not make it through the aggressive throng. While our group was regularly giving and congenial, that morning was time for ruthlessness and cunning.
We agreed that one of us stay in the van lane for possible negotiations with a driver, while the rest stay in the chaos of the bus lane since we were at an advantage. Meaning we can elbow our way through the crowd straight to the door. Though none of us were as eager to get a ride as to enter through windows of the bus. Which was not beyond the others who have already done so with non-aircon buses.
Fortunately, the person assigned to the van was able to negotiate a ride to Maya for an additional 50 pesos. It was desperate measures for desperate times. 21 people inside the van was not very comfortable, but neither was waiting for a ride at the North Bus Terminal. I had to endure sitting on half a butt for most of the ride, but it got us where we wanted.
The waiting for a ride and getting one was definitely part and the beginning of our adventure to Malapascua-Bantayan island.