Commuting in the Metro and My Everyday Workout Routine

TEN months of living as a freelancer made me appreciate public transportation once again. I mean, a PhP 10.00 PNR train ride from Sta. Mesa to Buendia within 30 minutes versus a nearly PhP 200.00 GrabCar fare covering almost the same distance (with big chances of getting stuck in a traffic)? Imagine the savings--both time, and money!

Is EDSA really an avenue or a national parking lot?

But then I had my "A-ha!" moment, and it was better than just saving money. The past five days after going back to the work force as a full time employee, and commuting everyday since Day 1, made me realize one thing about the public transpo situation in the city: the Metro Manila Public Commute System is the average Filipino's everyday-workout routine.

Here's how:

• Cardio - The seemingly endless walk to your next jeep/van/bus terminal, vertical marathon to get to your MRT/LRT station will definitely make your heart race and make more blood circulate in your body! Partner that with--
• Weights - This one might be gender specific, but, are you a female who carries two, big, stuffed bags during commute? Now, you know what I mean.
• Endurance - Falling in line for--at the very least--thirty minutes at a serpentine queue, moving towards the ticket booth or the next jeep/UV express van that you still can't see yet, all the while standing up, shifting your own (and your bags') weight from one leg to another (this one's my weakness!) to get a comfortable position if any is still even available.
• Calisthenics - Have you tried keeping your own body balance without any flat surface to lean against, or a stationary object to hold on to? Or pushing yourself into a crowd until you're inside a train car, maybe bending as far as you can--here and there--to wiggle through the narrow openings in between people?
• Sauna - Metro Manila climate will make you sweat like heck, especially during summer! Brace yourselves!
• Shower - In your own sweat! (Yuck!) Can you do it?

Do you see what I mean? Depending on your location, destination, vehicle and foot traffic, you could have an hour or two of a full body workout. With that in mind, you don't really need to sign up at Gold's Gym or Fitness First anymore! You just need to commute to your office more. Just to be honest, I am seriously expecting to have lost a significant amount of weight by my fourth week of everyday commute to Makati. 

Are you from Metro Manila? Or somewhere else? Do you experience the same "workout routine" on your way to work? Please do tell us about it! I'd love to know if this Commute Workout is just a city thing..