Last night, I was browsing Reddit and I came across a thread wherein on Bisaya student was asking for help on how he can alight a jeep. He is currently here in Iloilo City for college and while boarding one time, he said “Para Lang” but the driver did not stop.
Ilonggos were kind to respond and unanimously advised him to say “Sa Lugar Lang” next time.
But aside from “Sa Lugar Lang” how else can a passenger manifest that he is about to alight a jeep while in Iloilo?
Sa Lugar Lang
Sa Lugar Lang could be the most direct translation of “Para Po”. In Iloilo, it means “I am alighting at the designated unloading area.” You are telling the driver to stop “in place” (sa lugar). It is not in the middle of the road but in the spot where they are allowed to unload their passengers.
Sa Babaw Lang
Sa Babaw Lang is like a heads-up to the driver that you intend to alight at the next loading area. You can use this while you are about to approach an intersection or you are currently in the middle of a block of a street and you want to alight in the next corner of the street. It can also be used alternatively with Sa Lugar Lang. “Babaw Lang” could also translate to “in place”.
Sa Bangga Lang
Sa Bangga Lang is more used in the residential areas where the passengers are alighting from the main road or the road where the jeeps are allowed to pass. It could mean a block or an eskina/eskinita that leads to a footwalk or a thoroughfare that trisikad (pedicab) or tricycle are the only ones allowed to pass.
By using a coin to tap or knock the handrail or ceiling or by flicking them
If you are about to alight and you are far from the driver and you are too shy to shout, experiencing sore throat, or have a weak voice, you can take a coin and tap it on the handrail or ceiling to create a sound. Some would also flick their fingers on the handrail or ceiling, but I find it a little painful so a coin would be a good alternative. The sound created is a good signal to the driver that somebody is alighting.
By whistling
This alighting strategy is mostly common to the guys who prefer to hang in the jeep mostly on rush hours going home. Some passengers would whistle to signal the driver that they were to get off. This is more convenient. They might not be heard because they are too far from the driver and they cannot use their hands because they are holding onto the jeep so they will not fall.
Additional tips:
Add Palihog (Please) to sound more courteous.
You can add palihog or please whenever you want to step off the jeep. It sounds more like you are making a request than making a command. But this is not mandatory.
Sa Lugar Lang palihog.
Sa Babaw Lang palihog.
Sa Bangga Lang palihog.
Take note of the loading and unloading areas.
There are designated loading and unloading areas around the city. We can also ask the drivers if we are allowed to alight. For first-timers, please do not be angry if local passengers will sometimes call you out if you insist on stepping off in an area where the jeeps are not allowed to stop.
Make sure you have paid the fare before leaving.
The jeepney drivers are serving the public every day and they also struggle to meet the ends. While some have their stories to share about their “P.I.” experiences, let us start making a habit of paying the exact fare before leaving.
