Interestingly, the trike drivers also don't tell you how much it costs to get to the place you want, so you basically pay what you want. To get to work, I usually pay 70 pesos ($1.33) for the three-kilometer ride.
The first ever jeepney ride I took was at 4:00 AM and it was with a few Filipino friends, so they helped me through it. The first time I rode a jeepney by myself during the middle of the day, I was so nervous and scared. I had no clue about the cost or how to get the driver to stop when I wanted to get off. It was very much a learn-as-you-go process. Now, I take jeepneys occasionally, but only if they aren't super busy. I hate cramming myself in with so many other people. It's hot enough already and the jeepney crowd just makes me sweat more! I normally only ride one jeepney because I know its route by looking at its color. The jeepney routes are as elusive to me as they are colorful! There is an app that will tell you the routes, but only if you live in Manila. Here in Angeles, I have to ask someone the routes or risk ending up in a completely different area of town. This is why I always ask my host mom which jeepneys to take.
The first trike I rode was also with Filipino friends, so I learned by watching their interactions with the trike driver. I wasn't as scared to try the trike by myself as I was the jeepney. In fact, I felt a sense of independence the first time I went alone. It felt like I was proving to myself that I could get around the city on my own whenever I wanted to.
