‘Uzi’ nation

Last Friday lunch, as we were attempting to flee the “Carmagedon” or the shopping weekend from Hell, we found ourselves being Samaritans on C5. I was actually trying to avoid a slight traffic build up on the left lane when I realized that drivers were avoiding a fallen motorcycle rider who was helplessly lying on his butt trying to figure out what to do with his seriously injured left knee.

Instinctively, I cut through two lanes to get to him and provide our trusty Revo as a warning sign. The guy had crashed after avoiding being pinned by another vehicle on the left lane, his knee cut open and his bike providing him a lame barrier from on-coming traffic. Unfortunately I did not have the necessary “tools” to provide first aid so I tried my luck by calling MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino who actually answered an unregistered number. It goes without saying that Chairman Tolentino immediately sent out a call while sharing fresh info that one of his own MMDA enforcers had just been a victim of a “Hit and Run.”

After the call to the MMDA Chairman, I was pleasantly surprised by a Motorcycle Medic from the LIFELINE Ambulance Company who happened to be passing by and stopped to give assistance. Then two guys from the Taguig City Traffic Enforcers also crossed over to help manage the situation. Then my friend Maynard, a Motoring Journalist slowed down to check if he could help. All in all it took about 15, maybe 20 minutes of our time to stop, help and take off again.

As I drove towards SLEX my wife, my daughter and I started talking about the accident and how people reacted to the situation. Those who were caught in the slow down were obviously annoyed by the traffic instead of thinking or being “Concerned” that there is probably an accident up ahead. Sometimes it would be a good idea to purge our heads from the presumption that any build up or delay is nothing but traffic. Someone could be hurt and it might be someone you know.

Realizing there was an accident, the drivers passing by were consumed by their curiosity, living up to the moniker of being “Uzis” or Usiseros, more relieved that no one was dead and that they would not have to spend hours in traffic. The ugly part of it all was that at the start most people did not bother or could no be bothered to stop to help even when it was clear that I was alone waving traffic to the side with one hand and talking to someone on my mobile phone. Along with the ugly “I can’t stop” attitude was probably the thought in some of their minds that I bumped the guy. Even the Traffic enforcers had to check with the victim if it was a self-accident just to be sure.

This observation made me realize that many motorists in Metro Manila have lost their compassion or concern for their Kababayan a trait that many of the older Filipinos were raised with. I also realized that if we do have a law that requires motorists to give assistance at the scene of an accident, that law has to be revisited and indoctrinated through media, schools and seminars. So many companies collectively spend billions for their Corporate Social Responsibility but very few are willing to be inconvenienced to help people on the road.

If anything the incident won praise from my daughter who told her Mom while I was out of the vehicle that she would want to marry someone who gets out and does something to help. I was so glad and proud to hear that, realizing that my small effort gave my daughter a life lesson because she now wants all of us to take First Aid lessons. Looking back I realized that “In life you either are or you are not. There is no middle ground when people are in need.”

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I already like the guy even before ever meeting him.

I speak of US Ambassador Philip Goldberg who in spite of being a political “spook” or Intelligence type of person is apparently a very straight forward – straight talking diplomat. Very few people expected Ambassador Goldberg to be as candid as he was in personally stating that the US Government had the right and would exercise the right to keep custody of an accused US serviceman as provided for in the Visiting Forces Agreement. What surprised many was the fact that Ambassador Goldberg said it himself and on a national radio network – DZRH instead of someone from the Press office or media bureau or issued by some unknown talking head.

In another interview Goldberg drop-kicked critics of the US decision and the VFA and rubbed their noses on the issue of injustice by raising the ugly and uncelebrated murder case of US Marine George Anikow who was knifed and mauled to death by 4 attackers while trying to defend a Bel Air Village Security guard. Two of the attackers walked while two others got probation for the homicide”. Ironically we in the media did not hear of this, no one reported or howled about it considering we generally lead the lynch mob when bus drivers get involved in “homicides” arising from reckless imprudence.

On the other hand, I would grab this opportunity to suggest to Ambassador Goldberg to review the performance of his people on the ground. I am vaguely familiar with diplomatic protocol but knowing how in the Philippines things are often done through media or public information, it may be worth revisiting the policies, attitudes and performance of the embassy’s “talking heads,” Press Office, Media bureau and those who are tasked to communicate the US embassy’s mission and vision in the Philippines. Someone clearly made an incomplete pass or dropped the ball on the Anikow case. Perhaps this happened because there has been no real relationships made with members of the media and there is a poor appreciation about fighting fire with fire when it comes to court cases and the value of publicity.

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