EDSA: The Full Story on 9TV

MANILA, Philippines - They say that this historic and stressful road has always been a reflection of the ordinary Filipino.

For its pilot episode, The Full Story traces EDSA’s rich history, from the time it was built in 1930s and was called Highway 54 to the time that it has been hailed as a symbol of freedom in 1986 to a picture of immense traffic and road congestion now. In the two-part special, The Full Story probes how the road that once symbolized our democracy is now hurled by motorists’ curses, grunts and criticism because of bad traffic situation.

Pia Hontiveros looks back at the history of EDSA, how the road built to bypass the congestion of old Manila paved the way for the flourishing of what is now Metro Manila.

From haciendas to municipalities to cities bursting at the seams, the history of EDSA is the story of transitions and transformations.

Walking the sidewalks of Cubao, Mitzi Borromeo observes that EDSA is standing at the extremes. There’s too much and too little. There are too much people, vehicle and establishments along EDSA while urban planning is almost non-existent. She discovers how EDSA might also lack law enforcement by concerned government agencies. Public’s lack of discipline is also a major barrier in declogging the main artery of the Philippines.

Sociologist Nicole Curato hopes to challenge viewers to see EDSA in a different light. It depicts EDSA as the exemplar of the Philippines’ biggest problem today, which is inequality. Nicole talked to bus drivers, commuters and developers to contrast the ways in which EDSA is experienced depending on one’s status in life.

David Santos, on the other hand, tells the story of every Edsa commuter who has to go through one hell of a ride before getting to his or her destination. Speaking from the experience of one who takes public transportation daily to work, David  demonstrates the harrowing process of catching a ride and surviving the whole commute inside an overcrowded bus and through chaotic traffic. Along the way, he also describes the gravity of air and noise pollution, and other safety and health concerns that beset Edsa commuters.

Jing Magsaysay takes the steering wheel as he traverses EDSA to discover the beauty, flaws, bumps and the future of the historical highway. He sits down with analysts and experts to explore different proposals on how to ease the traffic situation along the famous thoroughfare.

The five reporters stand witnesses to how the highway has changed through the years. They pen their accounts and memories of EDSA in making an analysis of how EDSA is a mirror of our being a Filipino.

 The Full Story: EDSA, a two-part special, will premiere on Sept. 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. on 9TV. It will have a replay (Parts 1 and 2 back to back) on Sept. 20, from 10 p.m. to 12 midnight.