THE onslaught of strong downpour last night did not dampen the warm celebration of Mam Bingay de la Serna’s 84th birthday.
She was resplendent in her sky blue evening attire, very regal in bearing and her eyes still retained that magic glow when she is dressed to the nth.
She still has that piercing looks, that kind of look that could wither lesser mortals when Mam Bingay is in her natural elements.
Close friends made sure she felt their presence, physical or thru calls or text messages.
But for us, it was a matter of life and death to be present during her birthday celebration.
Di gani mo mo-attend sa akong birthday celebration karong Sabado’s gabii, magkalimtanay na lang gyod ta ani.
And so we attended.
We could not afford to lose her and her friendship.
* * *
As usual, the food was superb, drinks were overflowing and the fun was contagious.
Despite the pestering rains, the guests still enjoyed the warm reception.
Mam Bingay had something in mind.
She called us upstairs for an “exclusive” meet and greet.
And there, we shared the best “meal” of the night.
Tsismisan and tawanan to the max.
* * *
The menu was varied.
Health issues, wellness issues, food issues, medicine issues, the do’s and don’t’s in the bathroom for aging youngsters like us, good and bad sleeping habits and patterns until we settled on the best recipe for the night.
Politics, both local and national.
Siyempre, ga-awas awas ang libak sa common enemy.
Luoy ang biktima, but we all had great time.
And that’s what matters.
Anyway, it was just exclusive for us, girls.
* * *
Probably because of the onset of Christmas, the first time when COVID protocols are relaxed, that traffic congestion is back.
Anywhere you go, traffic is a big headache.
Very hard to find parking space, very hard to navigate the tail to tail lineup of motor vehicles and very risky to just park anywhere because the clamps from the traffic enforcers are a strong deterrent to violators.
There is no shortage of motor vehicles plying the streets because motorists can easily procure their own brand of transport.
They can buy brand new or used (second-hand) motor vehicles and they add up to the long line of highway or street users.
Those who want to buy motorcycles are also off their feet with the very tempting offers from motorcycle dealers, very easy to buy on credit any kind of motorcycle.
Again, they add up to the regular street or highway users.
So the number of motorists is increasing but the width of the street or the highway remains the same.
That already explains why traffic is always heavy.
* * *
And then there are existing and new applicants for tricycles that offer their services to the public.
Misamot kadaghan ang mga 3-wheeled motorcabs kay sayon ra man paliton plus barato ra pod. Daghan sab ang ganahan mosakay kay sa mga karaan nga mga models.
Another reason for the heavy traffic.
Way hunong ang pag-issue sa mga permit to operate sa mga motorized tricycles, bisan hilabihang daghana na ang namasahero.
* * *
And then, there are habal-habal operators.
They operate anywhere, they just bring along one extra helmet and presto, it’s up for business.
They overtake left or right, and they routinely ignore the traffic rule that says slow moving vehicles should stay on the right side of the road.
Most of the time, they occupy the centerline, preventing the smooth flow of traffic for faster-moving vehicles.
Another reason for the slow-moving traffic flow.
* * *
And finally, the DPWH regularly contributes to the traffic congestion.
How?
By their notorious habit of demolishing good roads and repairing them after.
I don’t know if other countries practice the same – destroying good roads only to repair them after. But this is one unique feature of the Philippine infra industry. Destroying good roads, and ignoring the repair of bad roads.
The works take time and traffic is most of the time on one-way basis. Maoy hinungdan taas ang pila sa traffic, especially if they do it on long distances, like half a kilometer long.
* * *
Joma Sison is dead.
And he died in exile in The Netherlands. Despite initiatives from the government to bring him here for peace negotiations, he insisted on having these talks in the place where he is in exile.
And now that he is dead, his comrades are insisting that he should be buried here in the Philippines.
Interesting, right?
Husto ug angayan ba nga tugotan ang iyang lawas nga ilubong dinhi sa Pilipinas?
Nangutana lang.
