Two MMDA bribery in Just One Night

Last night I, with a friend, went to SM Megamall to buy some laptop accessories. The traffic was so heavy. It took me 1 hour from Makati to get to Ortigas. At around 8:15, In EDSA front of Megamall A, the bus lanes' traffic was not heavy so I switched lanes in order to prepare for a right turn going to parking lot. As my view hit the MMDA officers at the right, I saw one waving at me, asking me to stop. I asked the violation, he said driving on a bus lane. He asked for my license and car registration. I switched on the lights to find the registration but then it wasn't there. The MMDA officer told me that this violation will cost me Php350 upon claiming and 200 for not bringing the registration. I was waiting for the ticket but  the officer kept asking me the same question over and over again, "O ano na gagawin natin ngayon?". He asked me to turn off the lights so I turned off the headlights pero hindi pala un ang ibig sabhin nya. He was asking me to turn off the light inside the car, and that's when I noticed he was not intending  to give me ticket, but he was implying something else, DINERO-OKANE-MONEY-PERA. Well in my part that's quite an advantage coz it will relieve me of the hassle of going to Guadalupe to claim it. Then I said it, "pwede po ba bayaran ko na lang yung fine?". That's when the MMDA officer put a smile. Then he said, "Bale php500". I didn't have that much money so I haggled, "Bka po pwede 350 na lang?". He said, "O sige". I gave him 350 pero napalaki yata ang bigay ko. The MMDA officer said, "May pera ka pa ba?". I said "wala na po akong pambili ng pagkain". Naawa rin cguro sya sa kin or bka standard na ang 200 so he just gave back my 150. After that I drove as quickly as possible.

Around 9:45pm I got out of the parking lot and my was was going to makati. I was so scared the same thing would happen. I was so careful I didn't go to the bus lanes. Pero as I approached robinsons galleria, I remembered there was no U-turn slot except the one in fron of Robinsons. I looked for offcers but I saw no one because there were so many buses blocking my view. There! After turning right I saw a bunch of them catching so many "violators". I saw one waving at me, AGAIN! He asked me where I was going. I said I need a U-turn slot. i asked my violation, he said alanganing na ang pag switch ko ng lanes. Sobrang magulo ang patakaran nila!!! Just a few meters away kung saan ako nahuli bawal sa bus lanes. Pero dun sa part na un pwede na??? WHAT am I supposed to do. I was so confused na di ko alam kung saan ako pupunta para maka U-turn kasi nga may part na bawal at may part na hinde??? I really hate those MMDA. IMAGINE it was around 10pm at may nanghuhuli pa!!! Ayun hindi na ko naghintay pa, sabi ko na bka pwede kong bayaran na lang. Mejo matigas tong isang to kasi gusto 350. 150 na alng money ko at that time so sabi ko bka pwede 200 na lang After some negotiations ayun pumayag din at nanghiram pa ko sa friend ko ng 50. That 400 pesos I paid to those morons was my last money 2 days before pay day. Umuwi tlaga ako na Php18.00 ang perang natira. I really hate those kind of people. They're not just doing their job, they're over-doing it. I'm sure mas malaki pa ang kinikita nila sa kin. If they can catch let's say 10 cars (which is impossible kasi dami talaga nila nahuhuli) they can get as much as 2000, TAX FREE!!! Sana mahuli sila. Those people stay near Ortigas Station MRT. 2 groups sila dun. one in front of MEGA A, and one dun near the right turn going to ADB avenue. To those who will be able to read this and know where to report those bastards, please do so. I think they should be put to a big STOP! They don't deserve our money.

Lo and Behold!!!

I just got this text from a very reliable source

************ 

God made Benildeans too rich

then UP students too brainy

He combined both to make Ateneans, too airy

 A little perfection was when He combined Ateneo and UP

A breed of slightly rich, competitive yet humble individuals.

God named them after a saint. He called them "Thomasians"

but then He noticed that it was too saintly imperfect, there's something missing.

So He added LOOKS to be perfect…

Lo and behold!!!

He named them:

"LASALLIANS"

:)

*****************

Can’t Complain…

I got this forwarded message from my friend Christmas… shocking but true….

Being a child once more…

I just got home from U.P. I'm really really tired. Since napaaga ang dismissal namin, nagkatuwaan kasi kami ng barkada ko sa U.P na maglaro kami ng luksong baka, then laro na tayaan pero uupo ka para di ka mataya, then finally we sticked to syato(a game using a long and short sticks). Di ko na explain ung details nung game….. Ayun nagpunta pa kami sa kakahuyan para lang manguha ng mga sticks and para kaming mga tanga na naglalaro sa gitna ng Sunken Garden tapos nagsisigawan pa kami sa sobrang tuwa. I was teamed up with Bryan and Sofi, against Jack. Henry and laarni. First time ko ulit maglaro ng mga games na to since grade school yata. Sobrang pawis na pawis ako at hiningal talaga hahaha. Akala ko mamamatay na ko sa pagod.. Natalo pa ang team ko sa syato kaya ayun parusa!!! Actually naburot talaga kami.

It's really nice to reminisce the things that we did when we were very young. I can say that people easily gets preoccupied by their jobs, studies and other activities, without even realizing they are missing a lot especially having fun. From the time I entered University until now, I really seldom experienced what having true fun is all about. And this kind of fun didn't even require us to give out money. All we did was shouting, running and laughing. Although nakakahiya kasi nasa gitna kami ng field. But I don't care what other people say. Kasi I know they felt somehow envious na nagagawa namin un without considering our age and where we were at that time. 

You know what, I'm encouraging you to try it, especially if you are not the sporty type of person. Just bring your friends along, then try U.P Sunken Garden, or other spacious area or field then magkatuwaan lang kayo na mag-game. It will really wipe away your stress and worries. Wag na mahiya na magmukha kayong tanga or whatever. Just go with the flow then you will surely love it and definitely do it again and again and again…

Next friday we plan to play tumbang preso

What’s Wrong With Me?

I browsed my friend edict's blog site ediqve.i.ph and I have read his latest entry about those children that he encountered during the community service. I was surprised because during our community service, which was required by De La Salle University, we were not given the task to visit and help poor and oppressed children. At first I was thankful because I really didn't want to mingle with those kinds of people kasi I'm not good in communication. Baka iyakan ko lang sila dahil naaawa ako sa kalagayan nila. Ayoko naman na isipin nila na kinakaawaan sila kasi I know masakit yon.

 I really feel guilty whenever I see children and elderly na naka-stay lang sa isang lugar, waiting for someone to offer some financial help. Almost all of the time I see people in this kind of situation I always feel like crying kahit nasa LRT or jeep ako. Pero I really hate myself because wala naman akong actions na ginagawa for them aside from giving out some amount. But I know that really won't help them kasi temporary lang un. Cguro ipambibili nila ng food tapos wala na. naiinis ako sa sarili ko kasi I always want to be of help, pero mas naiisip ko pa rin ang sarili ko. It's really depressing. Is there something wrong with me?

One time I was in ortigas, I saw two very old women walking, holding a "tunkod" on their right hand and a plastic bag full of damit, i think, on the left. Then a few days after, while going home I saw them in Monumento, Caloocan. I was really shocked because they were walking and walking but going nowhere. From then on almost everyday ko sila nakikita in monumento, just walking, holding the same things. Who knows maybe everyday they go back and forth from both ends of metro Manila…. or father. Those women are about 60 to 70 years old and I think they are from a province. I coudn't do anything naman kasi I'm inside a bus. I really want to do something for them. But I could not alway give money naman kasi I'm still a student. Kahit naman ako nagigipit din.

It's really sad when you want to be of help but your actions are not reflecting it. Naiinggit nga ako sa ibang friends ko na talagang all out when it comes to helping people they hardly know. All I could do is pray for them. But I know that's not enough. I can't leave everything to God.

I really don't know how to end this article, but I really do hope na someday, may mailalagay ako dito in response to this, kasi I don't want to end up being helpless as well…