They say that when one door closes, another one opens. This train door refused to close.
But for Facebook user James Cubelo, it’s become a chance for a viral hit — and to draw attention to inefficiency.
Late evening on Mar 10, the 19-year-old graduating student of Technological University of the Philippines uploaded a minute-long video of his experience on Manila’s Light Rail Transit-1.
At 6pm that day, he and his classmates were at Central/Arroceros Station waiting for the train heading to Baclaran. They noticed that the train had started moving slowly while the door in front of them was still open, so they called the security officer, who instead of signalling to the driver, told Cubelo and his friends to just hold on tight.
Was the guard serious or joking? “Seryoso siya pero wala na ring magawa,” Cubelo told Coconuts Manila. He likened the experience to an amusement park ride. “Ano to! Star City lang ang peg, ganun!”
Though shocked and nervous at first, the Fine Arts student made the best of the situation by borrowing his friend’s phone and making a video of his experience — starring him and his infectious laughter.
Cubelo, who leaves school this March, says he has been taking the same train the past four years but this is the first time that this has happened.
READ: Abaya denies responsibility for crazy LRT incident
One stop later, at United Nations Avenue, more passengers entered the train and the door still refused to close. “Syempre mas iba na ang Intensity level… Pero umandar parin ito ng nakabukas ang tren, ni walang nag stop, o tumawag sa driver, ganon.
“Tapos ang bilis pa ng takbo, at kung makikita nyo din, Mas delikado ngayon kasi yung mga nasa harap ng open door, as in konting galaw lang, may possibilities na mahulog. nakaka-hiya naman sa mga foreign students na nakasabay namin, naranasan pa nila to! So ayun, nagpatawa ulet ako para bawas stress, at takot. ganon. nag video ulet.”
The tdoor eventually started functioning properly again at the next stop, on Pedro Gil Street.
“Duon nagkaroon ng testing sa door, sa wakas with help of God, nagsara ang naging kalmado na ang byahe namin hanggang EDSA station… bow!”
Though we offered to buy the rights to his second video, Cubelo declined. “Actually sir, mas prefer ko pong i-upload sa Facebook ko, kasi gusto kong personally ma reach ang Management ng LRT,” he told Coconuts Manila.
His takeaway? “Well, thanks God, buhay pa kami now at safe!!! HUY! KAYONG MGA STAFF SA LRT1, UMAYOS-AYOS KAYO HAH!”
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