by Telly G. Ocampo
Hire the “pyagyu” and be where you want to go
Welcome to the world of the piaggio. Ug Binisaya,
“pyadjio”. Most people and I are comfortable calling it
the pyagyu. Mahimo pud ug ba-o ba-o. Some even
call it the tricab. Others have baptized it as the big
tryke or the small taxi. Whatever its name is, doesn’t
matter to me. What matters now is its being
convenient, chic, and comfy.
Pyagyu is the bao-bao plying our streets today in lieu
of the tricycle. This is a great innovation in our
transportation system since it has enough leg room an
can accommodate four passengers. According to my
suki, it is a four-wheel drive transpo. Personally, I
declare the pyagyu as one of the best things that is
happening in the towns today. With the pyagyu, we
now have easy mobility and we could now go around
town without any hassle. We just call our suki and,
presto, in a few minutes, the pyagyu would already be
at our doorstep.
As of now, I and my age group, already have a
mobility issue. Most often, our conversations are
concentrated on our health issues like: hearing
problems, sakit tuhod and partial memory loss. But
what is surprising is this: our memories of the past –
even the distan past – are keen and sharp. Tungod ba
kaha kini kay nindot ang istorya sa panahon sa
atong kabatan-on? I am referring to those times
when televisions and gadgets were never the fad.
Now, if I want to see some friends to recall memories,
I call the pyagyu driver to go out and meet my group.
Our suki nga driver knows how to take care of
partially disabled citizens like me. We choose drivers
who own their units of pyagyus. This way, we can be
sure of our security. Kung tag-iya gani sa pyagyu
ang magmaneho sa sakyanan, dili gyud mag-
abusar. Dili gyud paspas magpa vroomvroom, ug
maayo pud sila mopa-uyon ug mo-atiman sa mga
senior citizens with special needs like me.
When boredom sets in, I call my suki and I have two
(2) of them: Jay Ar and Roy. They already know the
three (3) places I frequently go to: the barbequehan
atbang sa simbahan, Crescencia’s; and the
Kinamot restaurant. When I want to see hometown
folks, adto mi sa kan-anan atbang sa simbahan,
and there, one can have the latest hometown news.
Apil na gyud pud ang Marites. Crescencia is open at
daytime. And if I have an important meeting with
some guests to entertain, Crescencia is the place to
be. It’s a little resto in a heritage setting. It is also nice
to go to the Kinamot because there, you can breathe
fresh air and see the shores. The tinola at the
KINAMOT is also superb.
Going back to my Piyagyu trip, I believe that the
quality of the driver is always part of the good
package. I am fortunate because my suki nga driver
enjoys entertaining his passengers through his stories.
Jay-r is, indeed, a good conversationalist. But I am just
surprised why he never joins us for lunch. I learned
later that at noontime, he has to go and fetch his child
from school so that both can join the family for lunch.
Jay-r narrated: ”Kuhaon pa man gud naho akong
anak sa eskwelahan aron magdungan mi ug
pangaon sa akong pamilya. Lahi na man gud ang
mga bata karon. Sa kami pay bata, kami man ang
mag-andam sa among pamahaw ug bawon. Didto
man mi sa Corella nag-eskwela ug high school.
Mangahoy pa mi, magkawos pa ug tubig, ug
hujop-hujop pa tong among dapog. Unya,
manglaba pa mi inig ka sabado. Ang among
inahan, akong mahinumduman, maniguro gyud ug
gama ug nigo nga princess aron makatabang
tabang sa akong amahan. Malipay mi ug ma
Miyerkules kay makakaon mi ug pan. Daku na
gyud to namong kalipay.”
Listening to the narration of Jay-r made me realize
how fortunate I am to have met a driver who knew how
to own responsibilities of the home during his
childhood – a driver who embraces the value of hard
work and education.
Welcome to the world of the pyagyu.
Roy the reliable driver of the “official transportation” of my grandchildren and me. He drives for my friends. too, using the latter’s cars.
This is Jay-r, Roy’s alternate. (Please note that Baclayon’s “pyagyus” are all colored blue. If you wish to hire a “pyagyu” transpo, just go to the parking area near the public market and also near the municipal hall. The “pyagyus” are all lined up under the shades of Talisay trees.