The most outstanding and popular driver of the barrio was Mang Badong. He was considered outstanding for he worked for a prestigious bus company that plied between the towns where the barrio was located and the city. During those years, to be a driver for a big bus company was the ambition of many young men in the barrio. Truth to tell, there were very few who could drive mother vehicles, much less a big regular bus.
Mang Badong drives Bus No. 29 for the transportation company. His regular trip was in the early morning, leaving about four-thirty and arrived the city by nine-thirty that same morning. The bus would then leave the city by ten forty-five to arrive in Poblacion by four-thirty in the afternoon. There were other buses plying the same route at different schedules from the same company, as well as two other competitors. In terms of gross income, Bus Number 29 was the top earning, considering the inconvenience of the schedule. The secret of the steady good income and the “big difference” was the incomparable driver, “Mang Badong”.
Mang Badong was not from the barrio, nor from the town. He became a part of the barrio when he married one of the most eligible bachelor girls thereat. He settled with his wife in the barrio, and being a regular driver, he became a highly respected man in a place where most of the population were land tillers. Wearing his “Pershing-like” cap and his well-pressed khaki uniform, Mang Badong would always catch the eye of the residents and would always get a cheerful greeting. The barrio residents always considered this driver, heave set and friendly, a rare asset. The regularity of his pay as a driver made his credit acceptable in all local stores and even among the ambulant peddlers coming to the barrio daily. Farmers whose income was irregular during those times were poor credit due to uncertain harvest season.
Any passenger desiring to take the first trip to the city or part of the route simply had to inform Mang Badong about it and for sure, the following morning, Bus 29 would be there waiting in front of the passenger house.
“Wake him up, Mang Badong, or we will be late”, snorted an irked passenger one early morning as the bus was waiting for a passenger in front of the latter’s residence.
“Would you like me to do the same to you as you suggested? Besides, we are half an hour ahead of our schedule. Give allowance for those romantic couples.” Mang Badong would reply in humour amidst the laughter of the other passengers. The irate passenger would take the remark in good stride and would join the rest in big laughter.
“Sorry to be late Mang Badong” pooled the passenger as he hurriedly climbed the waiting bus still rubbing his eyes and clutching his briefcase.
“Be my guest”, the driver would say and the bus then moves in the early cold morning.
The sound or sight of Bus 29 on the road was the signal for most of the barrio residents that it must be four in the morning. This bust was always on time regardless of the weather and road conditions, seven days a week. The passage of the bus would herald the start of the long day and the barrio folks would be on their early morning chores. Aling Sabel would start cleaning their yard, while Aling Felipa would start the fire for her native cakes in front of their house. The others would take their carabao out of the corral for farming. By that time, the small bakery owned by Hama would be opened, and hot “pan de sal” would be available for breakfast.
Can you get this item for me in the city, Mang Badong?” Aling Epang would request the good driver of Bus 29. Mang Badong would do this with a smile not only for this woman but also for many others. In fact, a family would send foodstuffs, wood fuel, a letter, or even a small boy to a relative in the city. Without Bus 29 and its obliging and extraordinary driver, many of these requests would not be possible and for free.
Bus No. 29 was always clean as a whistle and in tip-top running condition. This was due to the fact that its driver was a trade school graduate in automotive maintenance and repair. Before taking off, Mang Badong would always inspect the engine carefully like an airline pilot going over his aircraft checklist. There never was a time that Bus 29 stalled on the way due to engine trouble. The strict observance of regular servicing contributed to the truck good roadworthiness.
“Mang Badong, the bus is now clean” a young boy would inform him after giving the bus the once-over. These boys both in the city bus station and in the town where it stayed overnight did the cleaning. The boys never asked for payment, they just enjoy cleaning Mang Badong bus that is the greatest and most important driver of the company. On the other hand, coming from a poor family himself, as he was once a truck cleaner, helper, and shoe shine boy, Mang Badong would always give the boys some reward in terms of candies, cookies and spending money much to their satisfaction and delight. Due to Mang Badong’s relationship with these young street urchins, Bus 29 was always immaculately clean even on a rainy day.
“Badong, I am promoting you to Supervising Inspector,” the Transportation General Manager told him when the driver was stationed in the city waiting for passengers. “You will be on your own, and you can travel at your own desire. This will also mean increase in your salary,” concluded the General Manager.
Mang Badong could not say a word, after gaining his composure, he said, “Sir, I do not deserve such a promotion. If you will allow me, I would prefer to drive in manner I can serve you and the company”. The Manager could not believe why such offer would be refused but he was deeply impressed with the candour and sincerity of this veteran employee.
“Well, I will grant your request but anytime you want the position, just let me know. By the way, you will get your increase effective this date,” still perplexed. As the top earner of all the company’s buses, Mang Badong even felt that he did not deserve the new pay increase. In fact, his pay was higher than many high ranking administrative officials of the bus company.
“Folks, lunchtime, and we will be here for thirty minutes,” announced Mang Badong to his many passengers as he stopped in front of a restaurant along the bus route. This was on the return trip of the bus after leaving the city about quarter to eleven in the morning. Many regular passengers knew that they had to stop to take lunch along the way. The restaurant offered free meals to driver, conductors and inspector for bringing passengers to their restaurant. Some passengers preferred to buy their lunch from the peddlers. Ambulant peddlers always flocked to the buses the moment they stopped at the designated passengers stops and terminals. This was good business. Before the bus left, packages were given to the driver and conductor of the bus in token of the good business they had extended for bringing in paying passenger-customer.
“I am offering you the position of Chief of Police,” the incumbent town Mayor told Badong inside his office one afternoon when the arrived. “Your integrity, your stamina, and educational background qualify you for this position,” ended the Mayor.
“I am sorry to refuse you offer but I am just cut for being a bus driver-no more no less”, replied Mang Badong. Many thought that he should have accepted the offer. Others said that he could not let his many good customers down. On the financial side, Mang Badong should be receiving more if he stayed as a driver than Chief of Police. The later position had power and prestige but with political and work implications. This meant that he could lose his job if he displeased any political official, or his performance was not satisfactory in the eyes of the political lords.
“Integrity and dedication alone could not make me succeed as a “hepe de policia” muttered Mang Badong later as he left the Mayor’s office.
Mang Badong’s dedication to his work was legion. Management had been advising him to go on leave but never did. In view of this, he was compensated for his unused leaves, an exception to company. The General Manager was also flooded with praises for this particular driver, verbally and in writing. For many years no one complained that they went hungry. He would offer free meals for sandwiches to any passengers who are short of cash.
“I owe my promotion to Mang Badong,” declared one of the former conductors of Bus 29. This held true also for many others conductors who served this man. Mange Barong was strict anyone who served him as conductor should learn the job thoroughly. One conductor became an inspector, another, a dispatcher, another traffic manager, and many others who were upgraded due to the good intensive training under this dedicated drier. All of these bus employees with or outside the company considered Mange Barong their mentor and guardian. They always answered him with “po” or “sir”.
Then the Pacific war broke out, all the buses and freight trucks of the company were commandeered by the military. Mang Badong was one of those civilians who ferried the troops to the front lines. When the war situation worsened Mang Badong came home without his vehicle. He had no problem returning, as he knew the way back having been a driver in those areas where the troops went. During the Occupation, Mang Badong did not drive any buses. He simply stayed at home, whiled his time with his children which he missed while he was busy in his job. He also did gardening, carpentry, and experimentations with charcoal and alcohol-fed vehicles. He was very happy with what he was doing although he terribly missed his regular work of plying between the bus routes during the pre-war days.
“Mang Badong, the Liberation forces are here,” shouted the driver’s nephew. True to the wild rumours, there was a convoy of trucks and other common vehicles with troops in the main road. Mang Badong was more perplexed when he saw the new trucks used by the military-the weapon carrier, the six by six, the personnel carrier; the ten by ten heavy-duty trucks. For the first time, he saw the four by four jeeps carrying heavy loads as well as personnel. The barrio folks were exuberant with joy on that day when the liberation troops came. Recovery and rehabilitation then started from the rubbles of war.
Mang Badong went to the city to rejoin the surface transportation firm he used to work for. He got back his job but business was bad for people had no money an aftermath of a war. After some time, the bus owner died and management was transferred to the heirs, since then the company was not the same. Mang Badong being a loyal employee continued to work despite the hardships and the many problems besetting the company. Never in his life was Mang Badong so unhappy.
“We are taking over this firm,” announced one heir executive, who won a court suit. The new management issued new rules and regulations. Under the new dispensation, emotions, relationships, and precedents were never considered. Mang Badong was not able to get Bus 29 among the new trucks put out. Mang Badong was never treated special anymore, he was considered like the rest of the drivers. He got shifted, reassigned, and sometimes put on days off. Mang Badong missed the good old days, the friendly peddlers, the welcoming restaurants, and the contented passengers. Intrigues and dissentions within the organization crept; employees were fired indiscriminately, and conditions became unbearable for him and his co-employees. Then union appeared.
With a big growing family to support, Mang Badong stuck to his driving job. Gone were his contagious smile, the good rapport, and the copious energy. He still worked with dedication and never complained. In fact, his eldest son joined him as a driver in the same company under different management.
In one of his early trips, Mang Badong collapsed on the wheel while driving. He was rushed to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment. With his body paralysed, regained consciousness; all he asked for was about the welfare of his passengers. A few days later he died.
Mang Badong’s passing ended the colourful story of “Bus 29”, and most of all, its unique and incomparable driver.