Van Terminal

Van terminal at "isawan".

By Taga Ibaan Ako

Today. Three-thirty in the morning. Three of my colleagues, working overnight with a project, we walked out of the house headed to Ibaan’s isawan, where van terminal is also located, for coffee. There are actually two “7-11” small sari-sari stores open 24/7 beside the stairs. We brought with us my SLR cam, hoping to capture anything in sight worth posting.

Reaching the terminal, as we approach 7-11, seeing white vans lined up and almost taking the whole area, we started taking pictures around while one of us went on to buy Kopiko Brown Coffee. The group of drivers was having their own coffee at one table with both discreet and loud voices discussing road and driver’s stuff. We’re almost done and ready to go back to bat cave when the group’s leader approached us and asked why we’re taking photos.

Down town 7-11 for at the terminal for 24/7 Ibaenos.

Well it’s a natural reaction. It’s expected. So we’re made to explain the reasons for our intrusion of their crib. I told them we’re to post the photos at Taga Ibaan Ako to promote what we have in Ibaan. And that even at wee hours of the day, our hard working drivers are already at standby for early Ibaeno commuters. Somehow, that froze the alarm they felt when started flashing bulbs on their vans. We, for ourselves, were also relieved of the tension. Eventually, our discussion led to a short interview of their plight as van drivers.

According to Mr. Florent, the van drivers association president from Brgy. Bago, at that early, they’re drawing lots to determine the sequence as to who would take the first trip at 4:30am, to be followed by succeeding drawn number. Drawn lots’ deadline is set at 3:00am. Only those present at the terminal during that time will be allowed to participate at the draw lots. Whoever comes in after 3:00am will take the last numbers of the sequence. Fair enough.

Vans on standby for the first trip.

And since the first trip is slated to leave at 4:30am, whoever get the first lot can still go back home to take a nap, a cup of coffee or to change clothes for the day’s work.

The association has actually 36 members. They’ve been divided into three groups of 12 members each. To avoid crowding at the terminal and to give everyone equal chance, each day day, only two groups are to take the road, the other group on a standby for the following day. The system works like that of what is commonly called as “coding”.

Our discussion eventually went as far as to their status with the current terminal. Mr. Florent told us that their use of the place is only on a temporary basis, with the duration of a business permit issued to them by the municipality. They are aware of the fact that place is owned by the government. Although it may affect their operation, they are willing to vacate it in case the local government uses the area for some purposes. In that case, they’ll have no other option but to look for a private place that will house their vans for a terminal. They only ask that they’d be given early notice before the local government executes whatever plans it has for the location.

Van drivers drawing lots for their turn at the terminal.

Ibaenos are just too glad to have vans, with a terminal, to be at their service. Sometimes we complain with over loaded and poor air condition system of the vans before they leave the terminal. Much more when we’re directly rubbing elbows with other passengers. But not much of us know or understand the real score about being a driver. Hopefully, this short article gives us a clearer picture driving a van for public transportation.

As much as we wanted to talk with the group, we can’t stay any longer with lots of work still waiting for us back at the bat cave. We bade goodbye and exchanged pleasantries with each other. And hopefully, we can have another round of interview, with a cup of coffee. 

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Thanks to Sir Florent and to the members of van drivers association for allowing us to take pictures and for the short interview (I wonder who got the first trip today).