Still on traffic issues: Our readers speak up

We were in Mindanao over the weekend for the 11th annual convention of the National Federation of Motorcycle Clubs Inc. hosted by the Barracuda and Husky Motorcycle Clubs in General Santos City. All told, my bike clocked a total of 570 miles (917 kilometers) from Cagayan de Oro and back. It was a very long and tiring ride, but who’s complaining when that’s what we big bikers love to do?

In fact, for this particular ride, I brought something that I had difficulty using before — my iPod loaded with 3,000 songs — and the miles merely melted away listening to my favorite songs. I used to bring my Walkman, but the problem comes when you have to change the tape or your CD, something that you don’t have to worry with the iPod. But even with the iPod, it was still difficult keeping the earphone inside your helmet because it always falls off.

But I finally found an inexpensive but top quality Altec Lansing earphone from SM Appliance in Makati, which does not fall off and it worked perfectly! So now, riding a motorcycle on a weekend jaunt has become more pleasurable as I can enjoy the beautiful Philippine scenery while listening to my favorite music. But I can’t assure you of the quality of the reception if you’re riding a noisy motorcycle like a Harley Davidson as the roar of the exhaust drowns out the sound from your iPod. Get a BMW instead!

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I thought that the article I wrote about traffic would have put an end to the issue. But since I was out of town last weekend, I didn’t have the time to open my e-mail and when I finally got home, I was literally deluged by letters on this subject. Hence, I’m printing below a few of the letters I got about this very interesting topic. Some are quite nasty and others downright angry.

"Dear Mr. Bobit Avila, Yesterday, I received a text message which proposed instead that all M. M. mayors resign to pave the way for the MMDA to operate the metropolis more effectively under the brave leadership of Bayani Fernando. I passed this on to many people and got amazing support to the idea of the mayors’ resignation and banishment. This message must have reached thousands of Metro Manilans. These mayors are responsible for the state of anarchy that exists here. They coddle the street anarchists to secure their votes.

I say "Abolish the Elective M. Manila Mayoralty System and replace it with an Appointed One like the SBMA." Get rid of the mayors, vice-mayors, councilors, etc! To Joselito Salgado...(expletives deleted!) You cannot imagine the severe traffic that piles up on C5 southbound ever since your idol, Binay, reopened the intersection in Kalayaan. Just shut up Mr. Salgado. We Metro Manilans don’t like you and the likes of you!!! To Binay & Atienza... set the example...Resign Now Please! Mr. Avila, please continue writing about our traffic here. You are helping us Metro Manilans a lot. Also, if you wish to mention my name, first name na lang. Just say "Monching of Pasig".

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"Greetings Mr. Bobit Avila! I’m from Cebu studying here in Manila and I would have to agree that the guy who criticized you about being uninformed about Manila affairs is himself ignorant. Maybe he thinks that Manila is the only part of the Philippines! How sad! If only we can have our way, Cebu would be very glad to be separated from the Philippines because right now, probinsyanos and Cebuanos in particular are being treated as low class citizens...and to think Mindanao and the Visayas are the ones supplying food to the Luzon area. Hahay!

There’s this one incident that really irked me. I was shopping in one of the famous malls here and this saleslady asked me if she could be of help. When I spoke to her, I think she noticed that I’m Cebuano because of my accent and suddenly I got a smirk from her face, maybe she thought that I won’t buy anything. Another thing, when I was in school, my classmate from Manila asked me where I came from and I answered Cebu. She then asked me if there is an airport! Wow, how ignorant! This just shows the kind of people Tagalogs are, very discriminating.

With regards to MMDA, I personally think Bayani Fernando is doing a good job, since most Filipinos are undisciplined, ergo idiot training is needed, just like what he’s doing right now. You know, putting the pink fences all over EDSA for the buses to stay where should be. The problem is Filipinos always complain about this and that, na ang gobyerno walang ginagawa (that the government is not doing anything), etc. We owe it to ourselves to resolve our country’s demise in our own little way, starting with minimizing complaints and doing things more worthwhile like obeying the law, both local and national. You see, great things come from small beginnings. Thank you and more power! Colin Antig, Cervini Hall Ateneo de Manila."

Here’s the last one for this column, but there’s actually more of them.

"Hello... Mr. Bobit! As another concerned citizen of the Republic, let me join the rest of those who believe that Mr. Fernando of the MMDA is "the man" of the hour. I do not personally know both Mayor Binay (as well as the other of his kind) and Chairman Fernando from Adam, but apparently — and no doubt about it — Mr. Fernando is doing well and has done what others had failed to do.

And these old tradpol species whom I perceive to be carcinogenic to Philippine society now want to do away with Fernando in pursuit of whatever political agenda they may have. Thanks to these "tradpols," the country is still rotting and on its way back to chaos confusion, and corruption. Obviously, "tradpols" seem to enjoy and savor over this sad state of the nation. And, as they say, the Filipino people deserve this for putting those people in power in the first place. Is it about the law? As a renowned planner/development consultant commented, "....the country has a lot of stupid laws that are anti-development."

And, by the way, don’t be intimidated for being a "probinsiyano" columnist! Edwin V. Gaita, Negros Occidental"

Thanks to our faithful readers for their concern, support and more importantly, their readership. We’re not trying to promote a Cebu vs Tagalog rift, but these comments are true. It should be told that those who cannot speak Tagalog eloquently are looked down by Tagalogs as low class citizens. They ought to know that God looks at each of us in our hearts, not our tongues.

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For e-mail responses to this article, write to [email protected]. Bobit Avila’s columns can also be accessed through www.thefreeman.com. He also hosts a weekly talk show entitled, "Straight from the Sky" every Monday in Metro Cebu on Channel 15, SkyCable at 8 p.m.