I Will Never Ever Stay on the Right Side of the Bus


*This is an isolated case - but it can happen to you*

And the urban legend is true. I thought it's just one of those tales that has been exaggerated over the years until I experienced it first-hand. I am cutting my current series just to let everyone know about this incident. read it I love bus rides and could spend a whole day traveling by it. Last April 13, 2013 at around 11:55 p.m. we were on the road with a broken window. How did that happen?

Me and two of my co-teachers, fresh from a very wonderful camping trip, loaded a bus in Daet that is bound to Cubao. It was 4:30 p.m. We all specifically chose to stay on the window side of the bus. Lito was on the 3rd row, left side of the bus. Ice was on the 2nd row, right side of the bus. And I was on the 3rd row, right side of the bus. The ride was steady and slow and the view was great. We had two appointed bus stops for some needed refreshments. And then lights off. It was 10:00 p.m.

It was late at night and everyone seems to be having a peaceful rest. The bus wasn't full so Lito and Ice practically owned their respective rows to get a decent sleep. Except for me, there was a guy beside me who was also trying to get to sleep. And then I doze off with my head resting on the window. And then it happened...

A loud glass breaking sound (just like in the movies) woke me up and then the bus stopped. My head bumped into the glass window and I shouted, "Oh, Sh*t!" in a very alarming manner. I was stunned for a minute. Held on to my head. Eyes were shut. Feeling all the broken glass on my body, I started to panic. Until the guy beside me held me and asked me if I was ok. I suddenly opened my eyes and brought my hands down near my face. I was expecting to see blood everywhere but thank God there was no trace of any. The guy was still dusting my body with shattered glass as I try to check my head of any injuries. There was a huge lump on my head and the guy checked out if there's a wound or whatever. He felt the lump too and told me that it seemed that there was no wound. He told me that the impact of my head banging on the window might have caused the lump. I sighed and quickly thanked God for shielding us from the broken glass.

I immediately checked out my friends and they were both ok. I checked out what had happened and found out that the window of Ice was shattered. That was the window of the seat in front of me. A millisecond away from my window. That could've been my window. 



My friend's seat on the left. Mine on the right
Apparently, we were on a highway at Sariaya, Quezon. At around 11:55 p.m. someone (crazy one) threw a stone on our bus and hit the window of my friend. Good thing was that Ice was sleeping with half of her body on the other seat. If there's somebody seating beside her, she would probably be resting her head on the window and all the worst possible things might have happened. We hugged each other and transferred on the left side of the bus with Lito. 

The driver, conductor and some of the passengers were still looking out for the culprits. After 10 minutes, they came back (no culprit on hand) and asked us if we were ok and then we proceeded to the Sariaya police station to file a police report. This would alert them about what happened and would lessen the financial obligations of the bus driver and conductor to their company. 




It took us almost 40 minutes to get the bus checked by the policemen. They also asked us if we were ok. The three of us were still in shock. I called out Jay and my mom and told them what happened. I assured them that everything's alright.

After filing the police report, we were told that the aircon will be turned off and that we could open our windows for the duration of the trip. We were not transferred to another bus. We endured the rest of the trip with paranoia that something would happen again. The three of us squeezed ourselves together on a row on the left side of the bus. We were still talking about what happened while pieces of shattered glass were still on the floor of the bus. The supposedly 9-hour bus ride turned into a 12-hour one. Nonetheless, we all went home in one piece. 

*********

I dunno who in their right minds would have the guts to do such thing. I don't wanna think about his/her/their intention but this enlightened me that this is really happening. I was so used in traveling to and fro Zambales and never did I hear of the same incident ever. But then I remembered a trip to Bicol 3 years ago. While seated on our assigned seats, he told me to bring down the window shade while explaining me of the same incident that he heard long time ago. Apparently, the urban legends were true. It is really happening. Like in-your-face really happening. 

I am so thankful that Ice was sleeping on the other seat (or else I dunno what might have happened to her). I am so thankful that it wasn't my window (although it was 6 inches away from me and my face). I am so thankful that the guy beside me was kind enough to assist me throughout the whole ordeal and even remove some broken glass on my head and body. I am so thankful that the glass technology of bus windows are great, they break into pieces like broken ice (even the smallest piece didn't scar me, I even had some on my tongue).


Traumatized? No. Such things will only make you cautious next time. Again, this is an isolated case and it just so happen that we were right there when it happened. It could've been the bus before or after us. 

Will I ride a bus again? Yes, but I would definitely try to secure a window seat on the left side of the bus. It might not be an assurance that crazy people wouldn't throw stuff on that side though.

It's summer and let's enjoy our trips and be cautious at the same time. Be safe y'all.

58 comments :

  1. OMG buti na lang ok kayo. Yung lolo ko lagi niya advice sa akin to seat sa left part at sa gitna ng bus. Gets ko yung logic na sa gitnang part mag-stay kasi kung mabangga ang bus, the big possibility is mabangga sa harap o likod. Stick to the left na lang ako. Am I right? Hehe just trying to make you laugh :P

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    1. haha. natawa naman ako. to the left, to the left... am i right? hihi

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  2. May mga nangbabato tlaga sa part na yan; and kahit saan naman ata eh. Diyos na bahala sa kanila. It's good you're all safe.

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    1. oo nga marx, kala ko sa south lang pati pala sa norte meron din. ay naku naman talaga ang mga taong ganyan noh?

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  3. Thank God you're ok. kaya ayaw ko ng long travel by land, naesxperience ko na rin maaksidente on our way to Baguio. Buti na lang ok kami pero ang tagal ng biyahe namin kasi need kami itransfer sa ibang bus.

    kahit san naman may nambabato, ilang beses na rin nabato yung sasakyan namin. nakakainis ang mga yan,

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    1. yes michi. salamat talaga at ok lahat. at totoo nga talagang nangyayari itong mga ganito :(

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  4. Hala! Thank God hindi nangyari samin to last month while on board the bus from Daet to Manila din although nasa left side kami naka-upo. Ang nababasa ko lang yung cases ng binabato na bus pa-North, meron din pala sa part na to. Buti naman at ok kayo.

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    1. hi gabz! yes, buti nga talaga at ok kami. ako naman ang akala ko sa south lang usually eh mukhang pati sa norte meron din pala :(

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  5. Tsk tsk tsk. Good thing no one was hurt...

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    1. yun na lang talaga ang pinagpapasalamat naming lahat...

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  6. And now I remember...kaya pala on the way to Daet from Manila, pinapababa ng conductor yung kurtina ng bus on both sides para daw "safe tayo". Baka ito pala ibig sabihin nya na may nambabato. :(

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    1. too bad hindi kami nasabihan. ay naalala ko, nakabalot ang ulo at katawan ko sa malong kaya siguro less impact din ng mga shattered glass. buti na lang :)

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  7. Good thing you're safe. Upo na lang kayo sa aisle seats next time.

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    1. hi michy. kahit mahirap makanakaw ng tulog sa aisle feeling ko mas ok dun. pwera na lang kung holdapan ang magaganap. :(

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  8. That one went really crazy! I just hope and pray that this won't happen again to anyone. But, at least you are all safe, and that what matters the most right? :)

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    1. yes renz. more than anything. buti na lang talaga walang nasaktan. may mga moms with babies pa man din sa bus. buti hindi sila dun nakapwesto sa seats namin.

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  9. Thats a good sign that God is watching us. Whatever their intentions, no one know and Im glad that you all guys were safe.

    Siyempre alam ko yan pakiramdam na posibleng mangyari ulit so I dont know if you cud still sleep the entire sleep but whatever it takes, all of you went home safe. Pray lang tau before and after..God is with us always. :)

    [thekidwanderer.blogspot.com]

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    1. salamat arnie. feeling ko praning ako next time na pagsakay ko ng bus (which is sa sunday na). pero masasanay din naman. siguro. :)

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  10. Yikes! Katakot naman yan :( I'm so glad to hear you're okay Carla.

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    1. hi nina! yes we are all fine. at nakakatakot nga talaga in fairness :(

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  11. scary experience. Glad you are okay. I always sit on the left side for no reason at all but now I get the logic why I should stay on the left side. be safe always. we still have the whole world to travel to. :)

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    1. ako naman ann mas gusto ko sa right kasi mas gusto ko sumandal sa right side? weird pero ngayon sasanayin ko na sa left. hihi

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    2. Alam ko na pala why i always sit on the left side and sa likod ng driver....kase feeling ko pag may aksident mangyari...ang laging iisipin ni driver is to save himself...kaya feeling ko okay lang sya sa gabi.... :)

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    3. yan din sabi ni mudra. dapat daw sa likod ng driver :)

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  12. glad you are safe maam, ingat lang po parati. have a safe trip.

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  13. nakakainis yung ganyan, hndi ko alam kung ano napapala nila pag nambato (pleasure!??? peste sila!) I remember i had the same experience sa bandang Coastal, someone threw a bag of water sa bus, then another incident, nambato ng bote sa may coastal road and ended up tinamaan yung isang pasahero, sugatan tuloy, and on my trip back from Baguio, may nambato rin ng bus..bwisit talaga yang mga yan

    Glad that you're all OK.

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    1. hi darwin. grabe naman yung bote! at hindi ko alam kung anong nakukuha nila sa pagbabato nila ng mga ganyan. kakainis lang talaga.

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  14. I'm glad that you're okay! Buti na lang may nagmalasakit at bukol lang nakuha mo. I'm also relieved that buses now have tempered glasses, safest yan by far for me since it breaks into pieces without so much jagged edges on them. Anyway, thanks for sharing this to us no matter how traumatic it was. Gusto ko pa mandin umuupo sa window seat. Good suggestion ang to put the curtains down. Safe travels always dear!

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    1. hi mai! uuy. tempered glass pala yun. parang sa snorkel mask. galing. hihi. basta pag matutulog ibaba ang curtains at mag cover ng kumot, jacket o kung anuman. hihi

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  15. Traumatized? ofcourse not! nagising ako sa sigaw ni Carla, akala ko anu na nangyari sa kanya gulat ko na lang ang mga bubog nasa lap ko na. Thank God umalis agad ang katabi ko, right after ng paglipat nya ng upuan I turned my head on the left seat. Sayang talaga hindi nakuhaan ni Sir Lito ang eksena mo chong!yun ang kulang sa documentation na ito..hahaha. love you chong! sa uulitin na trip ulit :)

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    1. kulang nga ang documentation. haha. funny lang talaga at hindi mo alam ang lahat ng nangyayari bilang bongga ang tulog mo. ikaw na ice. haha

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    2. hahaha! oo chong, bongga talaga ang tulog ko nun super, anu ba yan natatawa ako kapag naaalala ko ang paggaya sayo ni sir lito :))

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    3. etong si lito pang-asar pa eh noh. haha

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  16. I'm so glad that you guys were all safe. Thanks for sharing about this too, since I'm personally one of those who love sitting by the window in buses. The worst I've experience in sitting by the window is seeing roaches crawling by the side. Anyway, let's all be cautious and yes, put the curtains down for added protection.

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    1. hi sumi. may ganyang experience din ako. yang mga ipis sa bus. kaloka. haha. feeling ko ok naman sa window side pag umaga siguro noh?

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  17. shocks traumatic pala yan experience mo. Medyo natakot tuloy ako kasi i always want to sit on the right side of the bus

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    1. me too. ang sarap sumandal sa kanan. parang nasa kama lang. ngayon sasanayin ko na sa left :)

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  18. Grabe sa window seat pa naman gusto ko umupo palagi! Its good to hear na di ka nagkasugat or ano man... hay now i know.

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    1. hi jherson. ang galing lang kasi talaga ng technology ng mga glass ngayon. walang kagalos-galos kahit isa samin ng friend ko. galing

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  19. Hala :( it's good that you're safe. And this always happen then sa jeeps sa Manila area (near PNR train)at night. Before I saw a kid throw a rock in the jeep that I was riding, good thing it just hit the body of the jeep. Pero the driver didn't stop na, I think they're used to it. Huhu, left side na lang din ako uupo.

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    1. hi arlet! gosh pati sa jeep may ganyan?! grabe. so saan tayo dapat umupo sa jeep? scary :(

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  20. sa eroplano kaya merong ganyan na nambabato, sa left side na lang din ako uupo miski sa eroplano.

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    1. yun nga din naisip ko jerome eh. baka lahat ng tao sa lahat ng sasakyan eh left side na ang piliin. haha

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  21. my gawd! andami ng praning talaga sa earth! shux!!
    im glad you're all ok though..:)

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    1. thanks mhaan. ewan ko ba sa trip nung mga yun...

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  22. RISK TLGA sumakay ng bus at kaakibat tlga ng pagbyahe ang mga bagay na may nangyayari na di kaaya aya .... goo thing ur all safe.. thank u for the reminder!

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  23. I remembered our bus travelling along concepcion, tarlac bound for manila when it was hit by a big rock. It hit the left side where my brother and lola were seated. My lola was holding the hand bar? To support my sleeping brother. Her arm was broken on impact and needed surgery immediately.

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    1. awww. i feel sorry for your lola arjielois. di ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit nila ginagawa yun. haaay

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  24. Good thing your okay. I'm aware of this incidence kc one of my friend also encounter this.. kaya pag mag long drive at aabutin ng gabe at naka sakay sa bus I don't stay on the right side...sayang naman ang ganda ntin kng masira lang..echoz:)

    Ingat lagi:)

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  25. This happened to us while we're on our way to Puerto Princesa (from El Nido). At around midnight, the bus hit a stone and so the window on the right side (2nd or 3rd row) shattered. tsk

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