The Unwritten Rules of the Society

Group 8

Members:

Gerez, John Mordecai L.

Herda, Merry Joy R.

Lacson, Karissa F.

Morada, Paul Angelo

Nacor, Princess Joy

Uy, Paul Andre C.

Performance Task in UCSP

Description: Conduct an observation about the hidden that govern social interaction in a

specific context. These invisible rules will be identified through behavior of people in

actual interactions and situations.

Examples of situations where one can find unwritten rules.

1. Riding the MRT/LRT

2. Riding public Jeepney or Van

3. Buying food in the canteen

follow them anyway, such rules have been around in the daily lives of Filipinos, such rules

can only be perceived only if analyzed deeply. Unwritten rules are rules wired with the

culture of the country it could have originated from factors such as etiquette, traditions,

lores, or beliefs.

Riding the LRT/MRT:

The Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), such transportations

have been in the lives of commuters living in Manila for decades, every day many

passengers ride in this public transportation for it has proven its efficiency on time

management, because unlike roads where traffic builds up, the LRT and MRT does not

encounter traffic the only drawback is it sometimes fail it is maybe because of its old age.

The LRT and the MRT commuters follow rules provided to them by the management, but

they are unaware that they also follow rules that are not seen, such rules both benefits

them and other passengers all trough out the ride.

First Unwritten Rule in riding the LRT/MRT “be ready for the worst crowd”, in the

LRT and MRT there is always a large number of people who also needs to ride the train

that’s why one shouldn’t expect a train that has a seat and spacious environment.

Especially in rush hours it even comes to the point that people go back to back and chest

to chest.

Second Unwritten Rule, when it comes to seats “First come, First Serve”, if one

has the ability of entering the train first, they have the opportunity to sit on the chairs,

under no circumstance should any man give his/her seat to any individual as healthy as
he is. This brings us to the Third Unwritten Rule, the only time an individual should give

up their seat is when there’s an Elderly, PWD’s, Small Children, or Pregnant Women in

need of such seat.

Fourth Unwritten Rule, “Occupy the Space inside for others to have space when

they enter”. In entering a train there is always an individual not accustomed to such rules

that stay on the doors of the train all throughout the trip, this gives other people a hard

time leaving and entering the train, if one enters the train no matter how near or far one

is getting off on the train be courteous enough to go inside of the train, one can always

ask for a way out in the time that they need to go out.

Fifth Unwritten Rule, Just like in any public transportation “When you are inside,

give way for people exiting the train”, Just as the times when one exits the train, one

should also give way to those that leave the train, no one wants to be closed up by the

door not being able to leave, everyone has their own business they have to meddle with

and it is not nice to be the hindrance of theirs. The Sixth Rule, is slightly connected with

the Fifth it is “When you about to enter, let other people go out first before you enter”,

There is always a watcher that makes sure everybody gets in and out, and but under no

circumstance can the watcher see who is exiting the train so he/she bases on the people

outside once everyone gets in the door closes, if one enters and there are still people

going out there is a chance that the door would close in them.

The Seventh Unwritten Rule, when one is in a hurry “Get one’s ticket ready,for the

train does not wait”, There comes the time where there is hassle buying up Single Journey

Tickets because of the long line, it is always preferable to use the machine for it is more

convenient for those capable of operating it, but if an individual is in a hurry and he/she
always rides the train then it is preferable to get a beep card, it saves one the hassle of

lining up to get a ticket every single time, just remember to load up the ticket at times

when he/she is not in a hurry.

The Eight Unwritten Rule, “There is always the next train”, there comes the time

when one just does not fit because the train is overloaded with passengers, if he/she is

not in a hurry do not step in and wait for the next train, in that way one can have the luck

of a spacious train. The Ninth Unwritten Rule, “If one is in a hurry, do not be choosy”, in

the train there is always sweat and heat because people go chest to back at rush hours

if one is in a hurry one does not have the luxury of choice and should step in, there is a

small chance that the next train is spacious and is not worth the risk of one’s time.

The Tenth Unwritten Rule, “If one is about to get off the train, get ready one station

before”, on the journey it is always important to pay close attention to the train stops and

one should always be alert at the time when one goes out, there comes the time that the

train does not provide the list of the stations and the announcer on the train either has

his/her mic’s volume weak or the sound systems are malfunctioning and gets the sound

inaudible be observant and know when and where to go out, and to avoid the hassle it is

preferable to get ready one station before one’s destination.

Riding the Jeepney:

The Jeepney, it is the symbol of Filipino transportation ever since the Americans

left it on the Philippines after the World War Two and the Filipinos developed it from a

small vehicle to a vehicle that can occupy 16 passengers, The Jeepney is the main
transportation of choice of Filipinos, it is available in all Urban places and in most rural

places as well.

The First Unwritten Rule, in riding a Jeepney, “one must let the passengers inside

to step out of the vehicle before they can enter”, unlike the train where both can go in and

out simultaneously the Jeepney has a narrow opening it is used for both entrance and

exit, at times when one is about to enter always make sure that there is no one about to

step out of the vehicle in order to avoid getting in the way of each other.

The Second Unwritten Rule, “When the Jeepney is spacious and there are only

few passengers, do not sit too close to another passenger”, at times when the Jeepney

has few passengers it is considered rude to sit very close to other passengers, because

an individual can find it intimidating when there is a lot of space and he/she is sitting right

next to him/her, this rule exempts acquainted individuals.

The Third Unwritten Rule, “If you are sitting near the chauffer, be kind to lend a

hand and give their payments”, there is a time when one gets to seat near the driver,

please be kind to give the payments of other passengers, some foreign folks who come

to visit evens calls it being the “captain of the jeepney”, which makes it a privilege to do

so.

The Fourth Unwritten Rule, Unless one is an Elderly, a Pregnant Woman, or a

PWD, “Do not expect other people to give one a seat near the entrance”, This has always

been one of the hassles in riding a jeepney, when there are already a lot of passengers

in the jeepney always expect that they would move towards the opening, for it gives them
an easier time leaving the vehicle, on the other hand one needs to go all the way through

near the driver seat. This is a hassle especially if one carries heavy and bulky things.

Buying in the Canteen:

The canteens better known in Filipino as “Karinderya” or “Turo-turo” , it has been

the place where most middle class Filipino eats, after Sunday masses in the morning the

family would go there, for it does not only offer delicious homemade dishes but gives it

with an affordable price of 50 Php at the minimum.

The First Unwritten Rule, “Ready your payment”, When one has chosen what

he/she would eat ready ones payment in order for the server to finish one’s order and go

to the next costumer, it would be such a hassle to wait for the payment when there is a

lot of people waiting in line.

The Second Unwritten Rule, “The see for yourself policy”, often times

“Karinderyas” do not have labels written down on every dish and what one should do is

open up the dish and identify the dish, but if one is having a hard time identifying the dish

at hand then he/she can always ask the server or the cook unto what the dish is.

The Third Unwritten Rule, “Keep the place as clean as possible”, As the servers

have so little time to clean up make sure to eat as cleanly as possible in order for them

not having a hard time cleaning the tables.

The Fourth Unwritten Rule, “Leave a Tip”, There is no other place where there is

food offered at an affordable price, so if one finds the food delicious, then it is considered

a gift of gratitude to give tips to the servers and cooks for making such a delicious and

affordable meal.