MRT. More fun in the Philippines!

I don’t know what they are playing at, but riding the MRT was never “fun”.  

The first time I rode that dilapidated third-world tin can with wheels, I died. All that heat, sweat mixed with testosterone and fat seemed to suck all the happiness in the air. It gave me a preview of what it might be moments before the Armageddon and it’s not fun. I can still vividly remember that unnamed fatso forcing his whale-body into the train. Forget the laws of physics — matter occupies space — he must get in. I mentally stabbed him 47 times.  

Awhile ago, I braved the odds and rode the MRT again. I expected hardships, I got more than what I bargained for. After two stations, the train stopped due to a “technical problem”. I always laugh when I hear that word during a presentation or party. The way people panic. It’s funny when life screws the prepared. But, when you hear that when you are inside the train. You fear for your life. The train had a ”technical problem” thrice! The most memorable was when it stopped in the middle of the track. I got so worried, I wished for a miracle. Thank god, I’m not an atheist.  

I saw a documentary once about African trains. The Europeans were describing it horribly, bordering on being racist. It was funny until I realized the trains look like our MRT during rush hour. They really do. I felt cheated. Damn the birth lottery!

Seriously though, the MRT and LRT need to improve. Badly. If the only way to do it is though increasing the fare, then so be it. But how things work in this country, you need a major accident first before people care and government acts.