Weekend Commuter Chronicles 002: Halleluiah!!!

It didn’t rain for last weekends commute to Manila but surprisingly, the crooked policy of the crooked V changed! I don’t know if it’s official and I’m not sure if it’s back to normal for good but they started leaving the air conditioning or maybe just the blower on while on stopover in Pampanga. I didn’t bother to talk to the conductor because they might realize they just forgot to turn off the air conditioning on my trip to Manila. But on my return trip, they really left the air conditioning on or again… maybe just the blower.

It’s a welcome development even if it’s just the blower as the weather last weekend was the usual hot humid tropical Philippines. With the price of diesel going down plus the expected 5 pesos rollback in September (if the worldwide price continues to drop), I expect the crooked V to permanently revert to its original operating procedures. And maybe, even a rollback on the ride fee!

It’s weekend again, should I still wish for the rain to come?

Weekend Commuter Chronicles 001

In another and most probably my last chat with a bus conductor who they themselves cannot voice out their frustration with the crooked V (Victory Liner).  I learned that there are two types of air conditioning system being used by the crooked V buses.  One is the old system wherein buses have a separate engine for the air conditioning.  The reason for such a system I assume is so that the bus main engine can deliver all of its horses in moving the bus.  Two engines running at the same time result to high consumption of fuel and such is found mostly on old buses.  The other system is dubbed as the “direct drive” air conditioning system.  As the name implies, the bus engine gets to run the air conditioning system much like the ones found in cars.  Supposed to be, this is a more wasteful system but only at the start of the engine.  Due to advancements of engines (diesel), they are now the preferred choice resulting to lower fuel consumption.  The new crooked V buses use this system, buses made by Hyundai. 

 

So how did my last two weekends commute turned out?  It was OK… comfortable.  Unfortunately the crooked V hasn’t budge and the crooked policy is still on.  Thank the Almighty for the rain that made the ride cool and comfortable. 

 

This coming Saturday… Rain! Rain! Don’t go away!… come this weekend and not some other day!