The everyday life of some students and employees as a commuter, particularly in the metro can be unpredictable and sometimes, even perilous. If you’re one of the thousands of metro commuters, then you already know that there are a lot of things that can happen within those exhausting hours of journeying across the the concrete jungle. Be ready for any misadventures, and equip yourself with these travel-friendly tools.

1. Umbrella – With our country’s climate, one thing you will never regret bringing is an umbrella. It doesn’t matter whether you come out of your house to scorching heat or gray skies; an umbrella is the perfect ally against our country’s unpredictable weather. Choose an umbrella that is light and compact yet durable. Make sure to pick one with a big canopy so that it can better protect you from the heat and precipitation.

2. Drinking Water –Too much heat without drinking enough water can cause dehydration or heat stroke. Prevent this by making your drinking bottle a regular fixture in your bag. The higher the temperature, the more water you should consume. But don’t go too trigger-happy on this; drinking excessive amounts of water can lead to health problems, such as water intoxication and hyponatremia, a condition of having insufficient salt in the blood.

3. Cardigan or Cover-ups – Although the sweltering heat in our country can be unbearable at times, some forms of public transportation possess air conditioning of super low temperatures, usually present in those bus rides at night. Too-cold temperatures may cause headaches, colds and body pain. Prevent yourself from getting the shivers by bringing lightweight cover-ups such as shawls and cardigans.

4. Loose Change – Don’t expect that you can always get a change for your 500-peso bill in public transport. Spare yourself from the “papalit-hunt” by bringing with you a small purse filled with coins.

5. Emergency Kit – If a hygiene kit is necessary, so is an emergency kit. Make sure you always have a small Go Bag, which contains the following things: biscuits, pocket whistle, small flashlight, spare pens, rubber bands, plastic bags, power bank, a small container, lighter and glue and scissors. To be stranded somewhere or stuck in traffic due to the volatile weather is always a possible scenario, so these little yet important things may come in handy.