Genesis Bus- Baler Trip Schedule

I love going to Baler but the hassle thing is the long travel time it takes to get there and the bus schedule to Baler that Genesis has. Problem solved thanks to Atty. Ely Cresencio's initiative.

A repost from Atty. Ely Cresencio's note.

Good news! Here's Genesis' reply to our request for night trips: 2AM Cubao-Baler. 5PM Baler-Manila. Tell us what you think of the schedule and will relay your comments to Genesis.

August 16 at 12:38pm

Hi Mr. Cresencio,

We have received your letter of request of an earlier trip to Baler for our surfers. We are happy to inform you that Genesis is working on a schedule that can meet the needs of our surfers and at the same time maintain your safety. Our main concern is hitting the mountain roads when it is still dark. It would be very unsafe for you to travel at this time.

However, to address the needs of the surfers and other passengers who wish to leave and arrive early in Baler, we are thinking of scheduling a 2AM departure ( Cubao Terminal- Baler) and will leave 5PM from Baler ( Baler- Manila). We think that this will be the best and safest trip for you. There will still be sunlight when you hit the mountain roads. What is the best time to arrive in baler in order to catch the good waves in the morning?

Sir, we would also like to ask for your help in marketing and promoting once the new schedule has been implemented. We plan to start it the soonest time possible. We will let you know. The more passengers, the better. It will help us sustain and maintain the new trip schedule.

May I ask for your contact number, sir? We'll appreciate it if we can talk to you so that we can get a feedback on the new schedule. You may also reach me at (02) 986 5310/ (02) 4211412.

Best regards,

Patricia Moises-Afuang

For those who haven't read my earlier letter, here it is:

July 11, 2010

GENESIS TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

Ground Floor, Genesis Transport Bldg.

EDSA cor. New York St., CubaoQuezon City

Re: Request for Night Trips to and From Baler

Attn: MS. RIZA A. MOISES

President / General Manager

--------------------------

Gentlemen:

I am writing to suggest that night trips be scheduled from Manila to Baler on Fridays and Baler to Manila on Sundays. The present schedule is very inconvenient for weekend travelers, tourists and surfers going to Baler.

Baler is one of the top surfing destinations for Manila surfers. The problem is that it is very inconvenient to go there because of 2 things: 1. road condition; and 2. bus schedule.

The only buses that go directly from Manila to Baler are those of Genesis. The buses leave Manila and Baler early morning every day and arrive at their destinations between 12 noon and 2 pm of the same day. If one has a 2-day weekend (as most do), going to Baler by bus is out of the question: one will be on the bus in the morning of those 2 days.

The solution is to ride a car, which not all surfers or weekenders have, much less a 4x4 which is a must because of the road condition. That is why most surfers still prefer La Union even though Baler may have reportedly more exciting waves - there are lots of Manila surfers who permanently rent apartments or rooms in La Union (including the undersigned); none of us has permanent abode in Baler.

If buses are scheduled to leave at night, one can go to Baler on a weekend in the same manner as most surfers go to La Union: leave Manila on Friday night after work, surf the whole day of Saturday and Sunday, leave for Manila early evening of Sunday, and arrive in Manila in the wee hours of the morning of Monday in time to catch a few more hours of sleep before going to work - a perfect weekend get-away.

The same schedule will also be very convenient for people working in Manila who visit their families or relatives in Baler, not to mention tourists and visitors.

As it is now, commuters must ride a bus to Cabanatuan and then ride a van to Baler and the same way back. This is not only very inconvenient, it is also longer because of the time spent waiting for the van to have enough passengers (it doesn't leave until its full). Moreover, because of the transfer and the waiting period, one always lacks sleep, which is not good for surfing and work. Finally, vans do not allow surfboards.

I understand the present day-only schedule is a reaction to the poor road conditions making night trips unsafe. But there is already a much safer route: Pantabangan. It is not uncommon during weekends to see surf trip organizers travel this route on the buses they charter – the buses leave Makati at 12 midnight.

Surely, night trips will be very profitable for Genesis and beneficial to the tourist industry and residents of Baler. In fact, it is not perhaps an overstatement to say that such a schedule will boost the surfing and tourist industries of Aurora.

Maybe Genesis can try out first on Fridays (to Baler) and Sundays (to Manila) and see how it turns out. The surfers of Manila will help promote the schedule thru announcements in the internet and by word of mouth (we have a group - the Manila Surfers Association, of which the undersigned is the Chairman of the Board - that can help in this regard).

Thank you.

Very truly yours,

ELIAS N. CRESENCIO