Habal-habal
Sobrang scary! It wasn’t my first time nor was it the second. The first was about 2 years ago with mace and telen. Earlier this week, mace and I also took the habal to mintal. In both occasions, it was just from UP to mintal. This is the obvious disadvantage of going to UPMindanao. Rare jeeps in campus and none at all if there are no regular classes and taxis probably never heard of the school in the middle of the bukid.
Earlier today, I finally managed to go to school again (I couldn’t without being driven as I don’t know how to get there!) but since the driver was busy began to worry about how I’ll get home. Ate linlin, the secretary, said she wasn’t sure what time the driver will finish his errands but I should just call. Uh ok. What’s the number here sa office? Armed with that number, I bravely went to school on my own (hatid ni ariel) and asked to be left there. While I was in my class I remembered that my parents said they’ll be coming down from Bukidnon on Friday. Hmmm… I texted mama to ask if they could pick me up from school. Unfortunately, they had a change of plans and will not be back until Saturday. Uh oh.
The class got dismissed early around quarter to 12 so instead of taking a early lunch or work on the activities, I decided to took for my other teacher. I figured if get to talk to her before lunch, I wouldn’t have to stay in school the whole day. I might even get home in time to join Alec in his summer workshop and perhaps get a chance to talk to his teacher (work on my research paper –probably about adhd and be a concerned ate at the same time!). Luckily, I was able to talk to ma’am Claire and after a few minute I was on my way…home?
Now, the problem is how to get there. I texted tita belen that I planned on joining them to Brainworks but they won’t be leaving for another hour at least. I also tried calling the office but nobody was answering the phone because it was lunch time. So I took a leap of faith and tried to figure out how to get out of this place.
Obviously, I needed to get on a habal to mintal. From there I have various options. 1st, I can cross the highway and try to look for another habal –one that goes to elenita heights (uraya land), the development that borders the medrana property on the mintal direction. 2nd, ride a jeep downtown and go from there. I can go all the way to SM or get down in Bangkal then go up again to Catalunan Grande. But it just didn’t make much sense.
Before long, a habal noticed me approaching from the walkway…”miss, sakay ka?” I nodded my head and just before I got on the motorcycle, asked him “kahatud kag Grande?” I don’t know what came over me but I figured if I needed to commute and ride the habal, I ight as well make it a very special trip and ask to be brought home directly. Buti nalang he agreed.
It was a scary ride. The route was mountainous, some of which are not even paved (but not much fortunately!) and it had lots of sharp turns AND did I mention you would be riding behind a man you don’t know (ergo also don’t want to touch or be close to) at high speed without a helmet?
I got home safely or at least in one piece. Total cost 50 pesos and about a quarter of my life. Hehehe
