I Paid For 3 Seats On A V-Hire
Yes, I bought 3 seats on a Grand Tours Van - all for Me, Myself and I!
Sumusobra na ba ako? I don't think so. I just did not have much of a choice. In fact, on hind sight, good this happened, so I have a new topic to tell you Pinoy Travelers!
I got super ultra excited (of course la!) stumbling upon this scene at the terminal.
Three of their buses were around (can you see the 3rd one across the street?)! Surely, therefore, dapat one of them would be going to Catbalogan that I could catch, right?
Wrong! They were waiting for 2 more, as 5 of them were "specially hired" by an NGO for some community activity! Mal Viaje! Para akong binuhusan ng ice-cold tsunami!
The next available van that still had my 'desired van seats', was that one at the back (barely seen in that photo), departing at 12NN - meaning 64 minutes more of waiting!
Ah! All I could exclaim (in my mind) was "nga manunulay" hahaha!
Let's dissect and discuss...
Why is that? Oh, a bus has a wider legroom than in a van. The seats are also higher. That means I won't be cramped in a seat at almost in a fetal position during the trip.
Buses also have lower compartments (estribo) for big bags - at no extra cost.
Not to mention, buses are taller than vans - for good views of the outside world!
Plus, the notion that buses are slower than vans - is passé with Grand Tours. Those are not big buses; they are usually full too - so they seldom stop to pick passengers.
If buses are not anymore that slow, and I was not in a hurry anyway, why didn't I just ride the real big bus instead? I asked my self that! Reply: ahgi kahubya binurubalhin!
Did you know that? Big buses may only use the Transport Terminal at Abucay (across Robinson's North), but reputable V-Hires have their own hubs at downtown Tacloban.
It is not easy transferring from one terminal to the other. Especially that commuting from downtown to the bus terminal (3kms) is via those tiny multicabs or trikes, only.
Tutal, I originally intended to ride a van, and expected to buy 3 tickets anyway. I only incidentally accidentally saw their buses at the terminal so they distracted me hehe!
Now children... because I was on a van (as usual), here was what happened:
Hindi kaya ng powers ng tuhod ko!
There were also 11:15, 11:30 and 11:45 trips - kaso Seats 1 & 2 were already taken. No can do! You already know why that is, right? Mahirap maging Tall Pinoy Traveler!
Oo oy! Pag mahaba ang ano mo. Kaya dapat, mahaba ang ano mo!
So I booked the 12NN run, seats 1 and 2 (as usual).
But why did I pay for 3 seats as said in this story's title? Ang maleta ko, remember?
V-Hires are commuter vans designed for quick-commuters who normally have small bags or folders they can comfortably place on their laps, for the duration of the trip.
That's a fact. No space for check-in luggage. Hindi yan bus, eroplano, barko o truck. Yet, since Pinoys are ingenious, they/we even found space for those, inside V-Hires!
That would usually be under the seats especially at the back row; by the door (beside seats #5 and #8); or behind driver in front of seats 3~5 IF you 3 seated there all agree!
Plus, the space between Seats 13 & 14 (Grand Tours only, not Duptours nor Vanvans).
Yet, in any of those ample choices, my maleta wouldn't fit! So, I paid Seat #14 for it.
Thus the story, why I paid for 3 seats on a single trip!
Maybe I should do a separate article about these commuter vans, but for now...
A V-Hire is a van, that is also called a UV Express or GT Express. At times, they are also referred to as Shuttle - which is technically wrong in public commuter context.
In my experience...
V-Hire or VHire is mostly used in the Visayas & Mindanao - although the Warays are more accustomed to using the company names like Grand Tours, City Tours, Embe, Vanvan's, Gutsco, Turbanada, Borongan Transport, Reptours, and many many more.
I think it has to do with finding them since they don't have a unified terminal in many or all localities. Sample? You don't say 'terminal' if Duptours ka sasakay. Malayo yan!
Mind you, all these vans have "UV Express" written on their sides!
UV Express or UV is mostly used by people in Luzon though I still hear GT Express or GT in the Ilocos and Cagayan areas. Some (esp in Metro Manila) do use Shuttle.
Yun ang sinasabi kong technicality, because a shuttle serrvice franchise operating like the point-to-point public conveyance like UV Express is bawal. Shutle is private.
Oh well, supposed to be hehehe! Example: Shuttle service ng company or school or economic zone - ganun lang dapat. It's not a shuttle if its "to whom it may concern".
Di ba sa Palawan? Shuttle. But we don't know a franchise kung shuttle talaga or UV!
Anyway, in any place in the country... "VAN" is the generic term!
Interprovince or intertown travel in the country still considers the bus (aircon man or hindi; fast or slow; madalang man o madami) as the main passenger transport mode.
These VHires you see plying routes in every direction, started as, and were originally intended for, frequent commuters, mostly carrying documents, laptops or small bags.
Special Ride or Express Service kumbaga. Parang sa elevator ba!
Nagkataon lang na andami nila and at times they accommodate some luggage. But, they're not for anyone who needs a ride. Buses may have no limits, but vans do. At,
Misis, hindi sila backward. Ikaw ang backward kahit sabi mo taga Texas ka pa! Nag demand ka ba na lagyan ng luggage rack ang bubong ng L300 na VHire? Hiyay nala!
Hindi papuntang kabundukan ng Marfa ang mga V-Hire hoy!
Kaya hwag kang mag-huramentado kung walang malagyan ang balikbayan box mo na puno ng shampoo, o ang 35kg maleta mo na fake LV. On vans, buy an extra seat.
Otherwise, go ride the bus. Alam mo ba kung saan? Wheh? Ako alam ko hahaha! Or, pwede ka rin naman mag-jeep. Wag ka makisiksik sa van tapos aangal ka. Mindset!
Same message dun sa mga Manong Sabongero! Walang space ang kahit ano pang VHire for a bayong of 2 manoks - kahit Atty ka! Babayad ka ng seat? Eh ang amoy?!
Okay, enough of that. Let's go to a new place. Next!
Sumusobra na ba ako? I don't think so. I just did not have much of a choice. In fact, on hind sight, good this happened, so I have a new topic to tell you Pinoy Travelers!
The story
Continuing from my last story.., after that brunch at Hotel Lorenza, I went straight to the VS Grand Tours Terminal in Tacloban, so I could get a 2-hour ride to Catbalogan.I got super ultra excited (of course la!) stumbling upon this scene at the terminal.
Wrong! They were waiting for 2 more, as 5 of them were "specially hired" by an NGO for some community activity! Mal Viaje! Para akong binuhusan ng ice-cold tsunami!
The next available van that still had my 'desired van seats', was that one at the back (barely seen in that photo), departing at 12NN - meaning 64 minutes more of waiting!
Ah! All I could exclaim (in my mind) was "nga manunulay" hahaha!
Let's dissect and discuss...
Why a mini-bus is better for me
If I had a seat on any of those buses (especially if it was seat no. 1, 2 or 3), I would be much "willing to wait" (hmm, parang sa Jollibee ang phrase na yan, a) - kahit 2 hours!Why is that? Oh, a bus has a wider legroom than in a van. The seats are also higher. That means I won't be cramped in a seat at almost in a fetal position during the trip.
Buses also have lower compartments (estribo) for big bags - at no extra cost.
Not to mention, buses are taller than vans - for good views of the outside world!
Plus, the notion that buses are slower than vans - is passé with Grand Tours. Those are not big buses; they are usually full too - so they seldom stop to pick passengers.
If buses are not anymore that slow, and I was not in a hurry anyway, why didn't I just ride the real big bus instead? I asked my self that! Reply: ahgi kahubya binurubalhin!
Did you know that? Big buses may only use the Transport Terminal at Abucay (across Robinson's North), but reputable V-Hires have their own hubs at downtown Tacloban.
It is not easy transferring from one terminal to the other. Especially that commuting from downtown to the bus terminal (3kms) is via those tiny multicabs or trikes, only.
Tutal, I originally intended to ride a van, and expected to buy 3 tickets anyway. I only incidentally accidentally saw their buses at the terminal so they distracted me hehe!
Now children... because I was on a van (as usual), here was what happened:
V-Hire is life
At 1056H there was still the 11AM van (isa na lang daw aalis na) - that I did not take because its only available slot was Seat #12. Alam mo ba yan? Left side of last row.Hindi kaya ng powers ng tuhod ko!
There were also 11:15, 11:30 and 11:45 trips - kaso Seats 1 & 2 were already taken. No can do! You already know why that is, right? Mahirap maging Tall Pinoy Traveler!
Oo oy! Pag mahaba ang ano mo. Kaya dapat, mahaba ang ano mo!
So I booked the 12NN run, seats 1 and 2 (as usual).
But why did I pay for 3 seats as said in this story's title? Ang maleta ko, remember?
V-Hires are commuter vans designed for quick-commuters who normally have small bags or folders they can comfortably place on their laps, for the duration of the trip.
That's a fact. No space for check-in luggage. Hindi yan bus, eroplano, barko o truck. Yet, since Pinoys are ingenious, they/we even found space for those, inside V-Hires!
That would usually be under the seats especially at the back row; by the door (beside seats #5 and #8); or behind driver in front of seats 3~5 IF you 3 seated there all agree!
Plus, the space between Seats 13 & 14 (Grand Tours only, not Duptours nor Vanvans).
Yet, in any of those ample choices, my maleta wouldn't fit! So, I paid Seat #14 for it.
Thus the story, why I paid for 3 seats on a single trip!
Trivia 1: Commuter Van Terminologies
I'm not sure about "all" readers, but it came to my attnetion, that some of my friends and family mismo, do not really truly understand some of the terms I've been using!Maybe I should do a separate article about these commuter vans, but for now...
A V-Hire is a van, that is also called a UV Express or GT Express. At times, they are also referred to as Shuttle - which is technically wrong in public commuter context.
In my experience...
V-Hire or VHire is mostly used in the Visayas & Mindanao - although the Warays are more accustomed to using the company names like Grand Tours, City Tours, Embe, Vanvan's, Gutsco, Turbanada, Borongan Transport, Reptours, and many many more.
I think it has to do with finding them since they don't have a unified terminal in many or all localities. Sample? You don't say 'terminal' if Duptours ka sasakay. Malayo yan!
Mind you, all these vans have "UV Express" written on their sides!
UV Express or UV is mostly used by people in Luzon though I still hear GT Express or GT in the Ilocos and Cagayan areas. Some (esp in Metro Manila) do use Shuttle.
Yun ang sinasabi kong technicality, because a shuttle serrvice franchise operating like the point-to-point public conveyance like UV Express is bawal. Shutle is private.
Oh well, supposed to be hehehe! Example: Shuttle service ng company or school or economic zone - ganun lang dapat. It's not a shuttle if its "to whom it may concern".
Di ba sa Palawan? Shuttle. But we don't know a franchise kung shuttle talaga or UV!
Anyway, in any place in the country... "VAN" is the generic term!
Trivia 2: Caution for the Karens
Just a gentle reminder to those feeling entitled (e.g., ikaw na asawa ng kano; ikaw na successful daw sa Makati; ikaw din dancer sa Shinjuku na feeling sikat) and your likes.Interprovince or intertown travel in the country still considers the bus (aircon man or hindi; fast or slow; madalang man o madami) as the main passenger transport mode.
These VHires you see plying routes in every direction, started as, and were originally intended for, frequent commuters, mostly carrying documents, laptops or small bags.
Special Ride or Express Service kumbaga. Parang sa elevator ba!
Nagkataon lang na andami nila and at times they accommodate some luggage. But, they're not for anyone who needs a ride. Buses may have no limits, but vans do. At,
Misis, hindi sila backward. Ikaw ang backward kahit sabi mo taga Texas ka pa! Nag demand ka ba na lagyan ng luggage rack ang bubong ng L300 na VHire? Hiyay nala!
Hindi papuntang kabundukan ng Marfa ang mga V-Hire hoy!
Kaya hwag kang mag-huramentado kung walang malagyan ang balikbayan box mo na puno ng shampoo, o ang 35kg maleta mo na fake LV. On vans, buy an extra seat.
Otherwise, go ride the bus. Alam mo ba kung saan? Wheh? Ako alam ko hahaha! Or, pwede ka rin naman mag-jeep. Wag ka makisiksik sa van tapos aangal ka. Mindset!
Same message dun sa mga Manong Sabongero! Walang space ang kahit ano pang VHire for a bayong of 2 manoks - kahit Atty ka! Babayad ka ng seat? Eh ang amoy?!
Okay, enough of that. Let's go to a new place. Next!
#EasternVisayas #TravelPhilippines
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