Metro Manila is ranked number five in the list of the World’s worst traffic, and number three in Asia. Since January of this year, commuting time has worsened from an average of 46 minutes in 2015, to two hours daily going to your destination. During a torrential rain that usually leads to flooding, commuting time worsens to a punishing four hours at a standstill.
There was a time when my drive from Antipolo to Pasay City would usually take me an hour and a half. Due to the LRT-2 extension project that runs from Masinag to Ligaya in Pasig City that started last year, commuters from the East side of Metro Manila endures a two hour travel time everyday from Masinag, Antipolo to Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. On a bad day, the whole stretch of Marcos Highway becomes a sea of vehicles whose movement grinds to a snails pace 25 minutes to traverse a kilometer of road.
That being said, this writer has learned a thing or two on how to be productive in a traffic jam. Maybe you should try these tips to relieve yourself of the stress and make your drive to and from work a more tolerable one.
Podcasts and audio books
Advancements in In-Car-Entertainment (ICE) now allow most of us unlimited internet and multi-media access. The time we spend in traffic might as well be used in entertaining ourselves with audio books or podcasts which cater to our tastebuds. My personal picks are the stand-up comedy shows of Russel Peters and youtube videos of Autocar U.K. testing the latest cars to hit the automotive industry. You can also listen to a Bible audio book to enrich your spiritual being.
Call your parents or relatives
Sitting idle in traffic for hours may prove to be a considerably useful time to catch up with your parents or your brothers, sisters and your friend whom you missed during the last reunion. Openly talk with your Mom or Dad because that EDSA or C5 traffic will provide you with hours of talk time, thus strengthening your bonds with family and catching up on your siblings. Just remember to be safe, do this with a hands free system okay.
Make a video and upload it
Amuse yourself and your Facebook friends by posting a funny video about the traffic situation. There are a lot of mobile apps such as Facebook Live, Dubsmash, Viners, and Vimeo which may help you dub a short minute video clip of yourself making some funny commentary. Who knows, you might just be the next internet sensation.
Share a ride
What better way is there to make being stuck traffic more fruitful and productive than to have a buddy ride shotgun with you in your car? Time will pass by without you even knowing it as you talk about everything from your slave driver of a boss, down to that hot office mate who looks like a Playboy model. Better yet, ask an office crush and maybe by the time she gets off on her next stop, you two are an item already.
