Mogwais, Mongrels and Gremlins

We all started the day as Mogwais but thanks to the Mongrels in Malacañang, we transformed into Gremlins.

The 29th commemoration of the People Power Revolution last Wednesday was certainly uglier, generated more anger and caused far greater grief among the working population of Metro Manila than the original “EDSA 1.” The irony of it all was that P-Noy and his Yellow Army were now the “bad guys” or villains. They had turned the affair into an exclusive “Yellow” event and what could have been an opportunity for Noynoy Aquino to bash Arroyo, Enrile, Estrada and Revilla all over again, turned into a Metro Manila wide barrage of criticism and curses. If horns, headlights and curses were bullets, I doubt if anyone at the EDSA monument would have survived to tell the tale.

Initially, the MMDA was blamed by motorists and media for converting Metro Manila roads into a giant parking lot. But by mid-morning people had figured out that Wednesday’s disaster was a tactical decision to insure that the EDSA event would not be overrun by walk-in protesters who had nothing better to do on a non-working holiday. The P-Noy misadministration decided to simplify the event because weeks ahead advisers were already saying “Lalangawin” as in poor attendance and those who might go will probably be activists, critics and relatives of P-Noy who have decided to call for a change in leadership.

It seemed such a good idea until the Mogwais that we were, turned into Gremlins stuck in traffic.

For the unfamiliar, Mogwais are fuzzy cute cuddly and gentle creatures that came to being in the movie “Gremlins.” The rule for ownership of Mogwais is Never expose it to direct sunlight which burns and kills them. Never bring them into contact with water because that causes them to multiply, and Never, Never feed them after midnight.

Yesterday many of us left for work as nice smelling as Mogwais. We presumed normalcy on the alternative roads and expected a good day ahead of us. What we did not expect was that a 20-minute trip would turn into a two-hour torture, desperately jostling and jockeying for position, almost hopelessly looking for short cuts just to get nearer to our destination.

As 7 a.m. turned into 8 and turned into 9, the bright sun rose higher and higher, hurting our eyes, browning the glutathione induced white skins of office girls and causing migraines. Sun light kills Mogwais but for us it was an unwanted reminder that we were all late for work, missing out on appointments, forced to cancel business meetings and opportunities to make money and earn money. By 9 most of us were screaming, cursing and building up a vocabulary of insults, curses and hate words for the exclusive members of the P-Noy Misadministration.

Unbeknownst to us, water had appeared on our foreheads, our palms, our back and crevices that heretofore were dry. Water had built up in our kidneys, bladders and caused excruciating pain as we slowly turned pale, hungry and angry. We wanted our food like all Mogwais but we could not. Not on a highway to hell, not on an unknown street with kilometers of cars behind you whose drivers don’t want obstruction or further delay. So we listened to the radio where broadcasters appraised us of the similar fate and suffering of others all over Metro Manila. That was how Mogwais were turned by Mongrels in Malacañang into Gremlins. 

This is the story of how the P-Noy Misadministration ended up “biting their nose in order to spite their face.” This is how the Student Council by the Pasig River wanted to turn away 850 dissatisfied customers and ended up creating millions of angry Gremlins who spit at their pathetic “Sorry” and their petty stupidity. This is how they brought to our attention that they have become the worst thing they could ever be: they have become the very thing they hate the most: their enemies.

Like the Arroyo administration that they hate, they now block and prevent people from using parts of EDSA to air their legitimate grievances. Just like the Arroyo administration they now use the powers and resources of the Presidency and the police to discourage and prevent protest by virtue of executive orders or police lines. Worse, they also now feign innocence to cover the malice in their actions.    

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Dear Doctor X,

Yesterday, I set aside time to be able to consult with you. I showered and dressed up in order to be presentable. I drove several kilometers spending P50 to reach the medical establishment you hold clinic hours on certain days of the week. I paid P50 for parking at the 7th level so I won’t have to walk so far because of a back injury I have. Then I took a number filled out a form, and made myself comfortable knowing I was half an hour early for your 10 to 12 clinic hours. As ten o’clock neared I saw how the staff started to call you to determine your ETA. Either they wanted to be sure you would be on time or you are a habitual slacker who does not follow clinic hours.

I was prepared to wait and ready to give you 5 or 10 minutes knowing the reality of Metro Manila traffic. But when they told me that you won’t be in until one hour and 45 minutes, I was shocked and then not shocked. This is not the first time I’ve encountered and experienced such unprofessional conduct. I can only hope and pray that one day you find yourself in extreme needs and on the other end of such rude behavior. In the mean time I shout out to the PMA to please put up an online or call center facility where patients can report these people who tarnish the practice and the title. They should be fined or penalized because their conduct adds insult to injury.

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