A Tale of Two Buses

Ahhh summer.

That time of the year again when you're out in the beach or in some favorite vacation spot chilling with your family and friends.

That time of the year when you have nothing to worry about school if you are a student.

That time of the year when you can just bask in the glory under the sun and make things happen.

So there's this wonderful place in the Philippines called Baguio City. Known to be the country's summer capital, my intrigue over why it is called such will eventually be answered once I touch down there next month (I've been there, though, like a few years ago on a very cold November, but that obviously wasn't summer).

Here's a quick background about the city: Baguio city is an elevated metropolis in the center of Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines. The climate in the city is as cold, or maybe colder, than the usual places that you would often visit around the country. 

To get to Baguio, there are apparently a lot of ways. And they all differ in number of hours of travel, plus the fare and the availability of schedules.

One way to get there is the simplest mode of transportation, cavemen are definitely good at this - walking. By foot you might get there from the capital city of Manila in about a week, depending on weather conditions, physical capability and stopovers as needed. If you want to lose weight effectively, going uphill from the capital city to Baguio is once strong recommendation.

Another way is through a bicycle. With the force of gravity strongly against you, and the strength to make every pedal towards the entrance of the city, I'd give you about 4 days from Manila. Make sure to have your  wheels checked once in a while because it's gonna be a long ride.

The bus is one of the most popular options for tourists in getting to Baguio city. From Manila it is like an eight hour ride. Commercial buses are good; private vehicles and tour buses are fun and convenient.

Clearly the fastest way to get to Baguio city is by a plane. In less than 30 minutes from Manila you arrive. So quick it's just like going to work on a regular day.

So what am I trying to say here? This is the situation. I hope you enjoy the ride.

(This is a little fabricated, but it's worth a story - and a point - to tell.)

You are a tourist bringing along a friend, and you wish to get to Baguio to experience what summer really looks like in there. You are presented with a number of options on getting there, the expected times of arrival and how much you have to put in in order to ride.

Based on marketing and stories that people tell about how fulfilling it would be to go to Baguio city and how to get there, you are convinced to take the bus.

As you head toward the terminal, you are in for a great treat! You have been invited to try out the new tour buses available from Manila to Baguio. Talk about having a tour guide with you on your journey to freedom and pleasure! Two buses then stop in your tracks and try to compete in getting you to ride one of the two buses. Even the bus drivers are helping out in your decision making!

But then there seems to be a difference in the two: one bus has a more expensive fare, but it holds a protection benefit wherein if something inevitable happens to you along the way, the company is willing to pay you a sum of money, while the other one doesn't do the same thing.

With careful thinking and an analysis of the situation, you decide to get on the bus with the protection benefit. Along the way you enjoyed the ride with the enthusiasm of the tour guide and the sights of northern Luzon. You arrive safe and sound, with a feeling of security from the moment you got in the bus to the time you left. That is how vacations should be like - well-planned and prepared from the start, and knowing what is best for you.

The same thing goes with personal finance and investments. The point I'm driving you will be explained on the next blog.