No discipline at all

I never quite understood why Labor Day required more labor for the workers by marching on the streets and asking for what they want. It is a holiday and workers should spend resting like spending time with their family and relax for just a day. But then when I had my short summer trip to one of the municipalities in the south, I understood why year after year it is always the same cycle. I understood why, despite all the hardships of the working class, we never moved forward as a nation.

Me, and a group of 12 other youngsters were preparing to have a quick break in Alcoy. None of us have been there except for one, who lives there. Preparing to leave for an 8pm trip, nobody knew the ins and outs of the South Bus Terminal. When the lady and her male assistant who asked for P5 never smiled back at us nor even looked at us, I sensed that something was wrong. They only extended their arms in the act of asking for the fee and tore a piece of paper, which was the proof of payment. I was disappointed. I wish a peso paid for their smiles. They were not happy.

While waiting for the bus to arrive, we were patiently falling in line hoping for the next bus. When it arrived, people from left and right were squabbling and pushing against each other just to get a seat. Even when the bus was still running towards the parking lot, a number of commuters already ran towards it, throwing their bags through the window so they could reserve a seat. We were horrified at what happened. From young professionals to ordinary commuters, they were doing all the same thing. When the second bus arrived, we followed what the others did. It was maybe for vengeance or for the reason of going to the destination in a jiffy. But we knew it was wrong.

We got seats in the second bus but a woman in her early 30s who was carrying a baby was pushed so hard that she fell to the ground. A pang of guilt struck us and we felt angry, too. People were so selfish.

This is the reason why we never move forward as a nation. We don’t have the discipline. Even as simple as falling in line could have made things better. Things get worse when the young ones witness what the elders are doing and follow it. It just goes on and on, nothing changes. The administration of the terminal didn’t even mind the lack of a system. It only takes common sense to know that we must fall in line. When we only think of ourselves and our needs, we tend to forget common sense and this makes us barbarians with no discipline at all. It is as if scrambling for seats is already accepted by everyone at the terminal. The commuters never complained. The authorities never bothered to correct the chaos. Bayanihan doesn’t exist anymore.

In celebration of Labor Day, let’s look back at all the actions the working class has done. Our lack of discipline is not helping them at all.

**Published in the Freeman newspaper on May 1, 2012