A Banca Side Trip

Our finals week is almost over:

Parasitology - Lecture
                      Laboratory
Plant Systematics - Lecture
                              Laboratory
Animal Histology - Lecture
                             Laboratory
Cell Biology - Lecture
                     Laboratory
Technical Writing
Math Analysis
BioEthics

I still have 3 subjects to finish before vacation (oops, wala pala akong bakasyon, OJT na pala).

Ok, back to topic... a Banca (n. /bang-ka/ - a boat) side trip.


Going home from my beloved Pamantasan in Intramuros will take two jeepney rides: a Quiapo-bound jeep and another jeep going to Sta. Mesa. Pero kanina lang, I thought of having the longer route to Sta. Mesa, riding three jeepneys instead: to Ermita, then to Sta. Ana and finally to Sta. Mesa. Luckily, I managed to drag one of my biomate (a classmate in biology) to join me in this detour, she's my kapit-street (similar to kapit-bahay) naman kaya ok lang.

While on our way, she told me that there's a banca ride that will cross the river near Puregold Kalentong, across will be Bacood, Old Sta. Mesa already. This banca ride is not new to my ears, I first heard it from my friend who lives in Sta. Ana (there is also a banca station behind the Sta. Ana Public Market going to Punta).

So upon reaching the Banca station, we paid a 2 peso fare (so cheap, so good). The boat do not run by sail, a paddle, nor an engine. A rope, tied from south bank to north bank of the river, is being pulled by the bangkero. While on the boat, I saw a man swimming on the black water. (Discretion alert!) There were also a lot of unwanted things floating around: plastic bags, candy wrappers, shampoo sachet, hmmm... what else, oh there's a dead rat and a dead cat floating too (so stinky, so bad) hahaha...

The banca ride took 2 minutes from my time bank. After reaching the other side of the river, I felt good. Though this is a not-so-good side trip, it was still a fun experience.


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