Bus to Lucena
By: Boom-Boom; Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
Image caption: On the JAC Liner BACK from Lucena passing through Laguna, 14 February 2025.
The dope thing about these five hour bus rides from Manila to Lucena are the snacks.
Once it gets past Alabang, it all starts and stops along the highway. Folks waving the bus down from the side of the road. Passengers getting off at the pharmacy or wherever. And the vendors hop on with their stacks of snacks. Each town and region has their own specific specialties. Some made for eating immediately, some for pasalubong, so you don't show up where you're going empty handed.
Too many to name. The common classics: mani, casuy, chicharon, itlog. You're on a good route if you get espasol, pinagong, siopao, toasted siopao, empanada, bibingka . . . all impossibly piled up on their shoulders or neatly arranged into thermal containers or dangling from some dangly contraption.
The fragile granny; the born tito with his tsinelas half off his toes and shirt half up his belly; the sturdy woman with the thick fingers and towel over her head; the other woman with the stylish top, dark makeup and gold tooth; the wiry kid in Orlando Magic shorts, a fan of red 20s weaved through his fingers; the other kid in full denim, air force 1s, a white tee, rings, chain, and praying hands with rosary tatted on his neck.
They all straddle thru the shifty aisle. Barking their wares in sing-songy phrase, extolling the freshness, the temperature. "Bagong luto!" "Mainit pa!" Or repeating the thing again and again “mani, mani, mani, mani! Mani, po! MANIIIIIII!” A clever one might just hold the thing up to your face, saying something irresistible like, "kain na tayo.” Then softly, "buko pie." Holding it there a little longer than you're comfortable with, just smiling, "sir, buko pie o. Buko pie, sir.” A quick downward nod with pursed lips. A gentle blink.
All while the driver goes hard on the gas, then hard on the brakes, downshifts, hard on the gas, stops, Picks his teeth, snaps his tongue.
Conductor’s watching another loud clip on his phone with that damn pinoy laughing effect again.
Boom-Boom is a glorified busboy working in Toronto. He's a slow eater. Boom loves naps on the bus and sports anime.
Artist Links:
Instagram: @laowlaowpantz
Food Stuff: @tulaymeansbridge
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