Priority Over Numbers
Forget what mathematical logic ordered. I wished that 23 –and not 22– came after 21. It was, after all, Michael Jordan’s (or LeBron James’ if you’re a next-generation basketball fan) number that was printed on the piece of cardboard I had taken from the counter of Mercury Drug, and which would then give me the right to face the lipstick-smeared lady by the cashier and order my paracetamol.
But 21 was taking long. Too long. Whoever had taken that number must have been filling a really odd prescription. Maybe a technical problem was holding up the cash registers. Or was it that they were determining what the order was: Simeco, Senecot, or Xenical? They all sounded the same. Whatever the case was, neither my bladder nor my patience could take it anymore. There was no bathroom in sight. The rest of the employees in uniforms all looked busy doing something else. And, based on the snail-like pace at which the drugstore’s transactions were being made, 22 seemed an eternity away. Thus 23 seemed two eternities away.
Priority Numbers. I used to encounter them only whenever I would book and buy a plane ticket out of town.
Now, the system is being applied everywhere – well, not everywhere, but increasingly more prevalent in the Philippines than how it used to be. Sir, Madame, please take a number and we’ll serve you later. Whether I go to a drugstore, a photocopying centre, a computer service shop, an airline ticket office, the Dickensian post office, the barber’s, the savings bank, enrolment at the university, neighbourhood-friendly Bayan Wireless, the local water supplier, or even the blood bank, I’d have to wait in line with a number to hold and a paperback to read. There’s no getting around or ahead of the line, no matter what your name is and how much money you’ve got. In today’s digital age, you see, we’ve turned even ourselves into digits.
Not that I’m against it; the early bird, of course, always deserves to catch the worm. A fantastic justice system! In fact, I am waiting for the day when taxi queues would employ the same scheme. No more long-, smooth-, bare-legged women or wealthy-looking Caucasians with fat wallets for the drivers to give a lift before me. Forget sophistication, eliminate discrimination. Arrive first or wait your turn.
But I am not going to wait to pee in my pants before I am called. No matter if the order is paracetamol or a cross-country trip, “Priority” should just as much be the operative word as “Numbers”. Otherwise, a 23 flashing across the screen will mean nothing at all.
Hi Migs. A good one. I always liked Forest Gump.
I think, if you’ve ‘got to go, you’ve got to go’.
Migs… Yeah, I understand what you are saying… Going to the pharmacy in Manila is simply an experience, especially with a headache needing Panadol and having to pee as well.I think the number system brings some order to disorder, however. For example, in Manila I have been to Mercury drug that had the system and that had simply a “free for all” at the counter. The longer I am in Asia, the more I realize that the concept of queueing is foreign, not just in the Philippines… Have you ever been to an Airport in India? Just standing there and watchin 6 people trying to go down an escalator at once reminds me of a slapstick comedy… Why the rush? Is the 1/36th of a second saved so important? Speaking of the airport, why, when boarding, is there a mad rush to get on the plane immediately? Will the plane depart faster? Is there a benefit to taking your aisle seat first and having to then get up to let someone else sit down? I will say this… After living with the people in the Middle East and having the local arabs simple push to the front of any queue like they were Mohammed returning from the dead, the number system doesn’t bother me so much… But I understand where you are coming from..
BY THE WAY, in the taxi queue did you try showing some leg yourself??? You never know!
I was in Metrobank this week and was only five ahead of me and that was an hour!!!!
Hi Migs,Wow what a system you have there,here in the Uk, if you know the product you want, i can be in and out in a couple of minutes no problem.However i do live in a small town,i’m sure it probably takes a lot longer in the cities here.Maybe your solution is to send someone else on the errand for you,ha ha,regards Chas.
Hi Dr. Sponk: You’re so right! Unfortunately, after I left Mercury, I couldn’t find a CR that was within a kilometre!
Hi John M: Your leg-showing comment cracked me up! It’s also interesting to note that Asians (not just Filipinos) have a totally different sense of time from Westerners. We rush at the most unimportant times, and procastinate at the most important. Hopefully, a more orderly Priority Numbers system will help change that for the better.
Hi John: Don’t start with banks. Being a freelance worker myself, I encounter enough inconvenience with ID issues and stuff like that - not to mention 10-minutes-per-customer queue movement.
Hi Chas: Thank you very much for sharing your experience there in UK. John G also told me that it’s much more convenient there, and that the Priority Numbers system is more widely-used and effective. Unfortunately, here in the Philippines, I’m not powerful enough to send people on errands, because usually I am the one running them!
Hi Migs, I understand you so very well. btw; yesterday I was in a Philippine bank, I should get number 122, to wait and in cash some checks regarding my German tutorials in USEP, Davao City. When number 45 has been called, the security guard offered me to help being able to leave the bank earlier. I smiled and told him in Bisaya, that I am ashamed…
After five minutes I left the bank with my cash…
Hi Klaus: Ha! That’s not fair! How come I have to wait so long before I am called? Kidding aside, I do wish that banking here in the Philippines would become more convenient.
Cheers!
Hi Migs, I know you are kidding. I am sure that banking couldn’t become like this for every one. For example: this bank branch I have to cash in my cheques is the main branch. When ever you go there, you will see hundreds of people waiting with a priority number…
Hi
Just found this post and is very interesting. I think the queue thing is quite normal anywhere. BUT.
I am the white chick that gets the taxi first! Not proud of it but here is how it started. I left the mall one afternoon, it was raining, and I joined the back of the queue. Happy to wait, after all we all want to get home.
Then I notice, there is a certain sector of the popluation (not just here) that EXPECTS to go first, the 50-60 year old ladies (ok so I am nearly there, and I was brought up to respect my elders). They just go to the front of the line. Then some people bumble out of the mall and “pretend” they dont see the queue and go to the front. Right, now its over an hour and I have gone no further forward. I also need to pee, have a smoke, get out of the traffic fumes. I am irratable and fed up. So I give the guy that works for the taxi company a tip and get a taxi.
Next time he sees me and I get a taxi as I step out of the door. I now feel no guilt, if everyone stayed in the queue (or had a number) there would be no problem. Until then, I will tip. Other people could aswell.I’m not wealthy, I just budget the tip into my grocery amount.
it is almost like it is a competition to get the taxi first and you can see the victor gloating as they pull away.
The other option if you only have a few items is to walk a half a block and catch a taxi there. So much less stressful.
Hi Klaus: Yes, it’s good that you woke me up from my dreams of banking utopia. Just this morning I went to the bank and the queue was ridiculous!
Hi Carolynn: Thanks very much for your comment. I agree with you that tipping is very helpful. The next time I do the marketing I’ll tip the guy who works for the taxi company. Especially in cases when I’m carrying 6 liters of water. If I don’t have that, then maybe I’ll walk home - to take your suggestion and make it even more thrifty!