2. KWENTONG KUTSERO First paragraph: Ambeth first introduce a typical scenery today wherein he was provoked to dream about the way of transportation during the old times. He somehow compared and determined the cons of means of transportation today to the means of transportation during the old era. He was inspired by an article in the Ilustracion Filipina of 1859 wherein the article is all about the drivers of colonial Manila. Scenery: Commercial centers – panic buying – heavy traffic – lack of parking space way of transportation: Horses and carabaos Era: During the Spanish time until before the cars were invented
3. KWENTONG KUTSERO Ilustracion Filipina: one of the newspaper during the Spanish era. This newspaper was recently read by Ambeth and the article that he took notice was the colonial drivers in Manila Second paragraph: the article is about the colonial drivers which are called COCHEROS. And the article is said to be written by a leisure class, or the people who is beyond the middle class. In this paragraph, you can imagine on how a family MUCHACHO turned to be a cochero without any driving skills but because of the patience and the amo’s money, they were leraned how to manage a KARITELA or KALESA. other terms for cochero: Quicoy, pancho, porlolo
4. KWENTONG KUTSERO Domestic services: Portero (doorkepper), muchacho de cuarto (katulong), sota (tagapag-alagà ng kabayo ) , cocinero (chief/cooker) What is pescante? Pescante means driver’s seat ( pescar = “to fish”) Cocheros = seeming to be fishing as he holds the reins (manubela/wheels) Will to drive: Amo’s money and their patience
5. KWENTONG KUTSERO Third paragraph: It discusses the Spanish terminologies used by the cocheros on direction Directions by cocheros: Mano (hand) = turned right Silla (chair) = turned left Directions by the Spanish Taxi driver: Izquierda = left Derecho = right Why is that the terms were different? For me, cocheros and some amos are people whom cannot understand Spanish that much, they just get the terms that they know and adapt it to their driving terms for them to have an easy understanding.
6. KWENTONG KUTSERO Derecho: It means to “GO STRIAGHT” How the cocheros manage the direction: Cochero is sitting on the pescante held the reins with his right hand (mano) while his left hand rested either on his seat or its handle (silla). Thus, the amo uttered mano or silla if they wanted to turn right or left. Fourth paragraph: It discusses on how to cocheros handled their horses or caraboas properly (cleaning, feeding, taking care). Buena Mano: Literally means lucky first sale but it is where the Amo compared the cocheros. Literally means before: that the cocheros had a “GOOD HANDS”
7. KWENTONG KUTSERO Different types of cocheros: Ordinary cocheros = feed cheap grass to horses (diesel) bought from zacatero Good cochero = palay mixed with honey (premium gas) Determination of horses: They were distinguish by their colors Colors: El bayo, el moro – black with white streaks on its head or feet El castano – chestnut brown El blanco - white
8. KWENTONG KUTSERO Fifth Paragraph : It discusses about how to drive a karitela or kalesa and compares it to the modern era. How to make a smooth ride: Vehicle stayed on the left side of the road and make their horses move in unison Modern driver’s terms of gearshifts: Primera, segunda, tercera, cuarta, quinta, and atras Cocheros’ terms for speed: Trotando (trotting/run), galope (full gallop), escape (when one is in rush) Communication to horses: Shouts and grunts
9. KWENTONG KUTSERO Communication to other vehicles for warning: Hand signals and shouts Sixth paragraph: It discusses on how the cocheros parked the karetela and on what they are doing when they are waiting for their amos in their respective karetela. How they parked: They parked at shade of a tree to avoid the sun’s heat or the rain. What they expect to do: To secure the vehicle the they slept in the pescante, compared notes to other cocheros about their amos. Gossiping. Kwentong Kutsero Thus this word was originated when the cocheros are gossiping and swifting news to other cocheros.
10. KWENTONG KUTSERO Last paragraph: It explained that the traits of drivers during the old times and today seems to be not so different. Why? Because they were all on-call by their amos day and night and remains faithful. Advice of Ilustracion Filipina: No lidiar con el cochero Means do not fight with the driver. How come? Because if once you try to destroy the driver’s mood, they might change the speed of the vehicle and might cause you to jump off your sit. For me, drivers seem to be tricky often.
