Endangered (48/50)

It is ideally an expectation for someone to exchange their own little comfort for the comfort of others, especially to those differently capable, since time immemorial.   This was hyped up during the Medieval times where the respect got by ladies can be equally juxtaposed to the treatment of kings and masters. As we venture further into the coined era of postmodernism, common acts of chivalry seem to be diminishing.

Everywhere you’ll see ladies left to open doors, the elderly unassisted as they try to board a moving bus, and the differently-abled made to adapt to the lay person’s lifestyle without much consideration.  The point here is not to highlight how these people should get extra attention rather to see what we, the more able people, can do to help them.

Last night, like all other workday nights, I rode a bus from Espana Blvd. to Sct. Albano St. I was running late (Or probably it was just in my mind that I was running late. I'm a huge paranoid over time) that’s why I rode a ordinary bus. Not that there are extra-ordinary buses but you know, ordinary buses are the ones with al fresco ala pollution ventilation system. The ones more often than not boarded by the usual manggagawang Pilipino. These buses are not the most convenient ones to ride, mind you. And I am in no way advertising these. 

So I rode an ordinary bus whose seats are all were occupied. Most of them in the middle aisle were occupied by, ugh, Male Manggagawang Pilipinos (they shall be referred to from this point as MMPs) whose skins are sticky you don’t wanna touch them after you just took a bath. Everything was going smoothly until we passed E. Rodriguez where several passengers were boarding.  Among the band was a female. I was seated at the back, observing the chaos as the new passengers clung to the hand rails and found themselves a spot in the middle aisle. From my seat, I clearly can see the woman, probably in her early 20’s, trying to reach one handrail which with much effort. This is along a scene where the MMPs are seated comfortably near her watching Bente Kwatro Oras on the TV.

I was feeling very uneasy with that kind of set up. It’s actually one of my pet peeves, watching a girl stand in the bus while males are resting their asses comfortably. It was just not right. So I, without much thinking, offered my seat even though I was at the back to the lady standing on the middle aisle. She immediately took the seat in silence (a.k.a without a work of thanks). Now this is where another problem surfaced. As someone who volunteered to give up a seat, I guess I should not expect anything in return for that. A simple “thank you” from her would highly suffice for giving up a comfortable seat and standing for the rest of the trip amid paying the same fare as she was. But no, she took the seat like it was her right to claim such while I was standing at her side. I don’t regret giving up my seat and as much as possible I tried to understand her paradigm. It was no big issue but this made me reflect on the thought that  if chivalry, as they say is dead, is common courtesy going to follow soon?