harrowing experience

mrt commuters would know the rush hour experience, i.e., 6-8am and 5-7pm. they would also know that segregation has been in practice since a few years back (not sure of the exact dates though), meaning the first coach is reserved for females, and males who are senior citizens, physically disabled, accompanying children or pregnant women.

since i moved to tandang sora last month, i have become one of the mrt statistics. and im loving every day i ride the train. i always enter through the 2nd door from the front. my station in quezon avenue is just second from the 1st stop, so most of the time, i get to sit (and even safely sleep!) throughout my entire ride to magallanes.

last week, though, i was forced to do the unthinkable. as i was getting past the turnstile, a vacant train was coming in. if i wanted to secure a seat, i had to run all the way to the 2nd door before the warning buzzers go off. but i didnt feel like running, so i just walked my normal pace. i was already near the 1st coach, but i hadnt heard the buzzer yet. a split-second decision made me jump into the 1st door of the 2nd coach (read: males'). i hit the door just as it was closing, and it almost closed in on my arm (or was it hand?).

it was a vacant train, so there were only a handful of males seated. then somebody motioned to me, and i was so relieved to see a female passenger! when we reached the 3rd station, more male passengers came in, but it was in cubao station when it was really the mob! i moved closer to the female passenger as if in helplessness. i even overheard one guy say, "mga lalaki naman lahat eh... pasok!" apparently he was still at the door and wanted to push everybody inside so he can get in. they had probably been waiting at the station for some time.

i just bowed my head and closed my eyes. it was then that i felt a little scared. these were all guys! the only other female there was seated beside me, and i was secretly praying that she doesnt get off before i do! the guy standing in front of me was polite enough to keep his personal space from me, but at times, i felt his knees brushed against mine. it felt really uncomfortable!

super lucky for me, my seatmate was also to get off at magallanes, so she even served as my 'shield' against the male passengers who were still standing. in fact, the train was still almost full, unlike in the female section. i didnt want to be pushing or brushing against them. when i finally got out of the train, i vowed to myself never to take the males' coach again... for all intents and purposes, when an empty train comes into the station while you are still at the turnstile, run!! or walk leisurely and simply wait for the next train to arrive.