Ang Kawalan ng Disiplina sa mga Kalye ng Pilipinas at Mga Panukalang Hindi Naipapatupad ng Maayos

Ang Kawalan ng Disiplina sa mga Kalye ng Pilipinas

at Mga Panukalang Hindi Naipapatupad ng Maayos

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

 

Lahat ng gumagamit ng kalye ay dapat disiplinado, subalit dahil sa kawalan ng tiyaga, at ugaling palusot ng karamihan sa mga Pilipino, maya’t maya na lang ang mga napapabalitang disgrasya – nabundol na pedestrian, bumaligtad na sasakyan, nagbanggaang mga kotse o trak, nabanggang motorsiklo, at ang pinakamatindi ay bugubugan o patayan ng ayaw magbigayang driver…pati ang alagad ng batas na nagpapatupad ng mga patakaran ay sinasapok din ng mga mayayabang na driver. Sa panig naman ng mga nagpapatupad, nandiyang sila ay pinaparatangang nangongotong!

 

Ang problema naman kasi sa mga gumagawa ng plano ng kalye ay hindi iniisip ang kanilang ginagawa. Ang mga pedestrian overpass ay napakalayo sa mga nakasanayan nang babaan ng mga tao, kaya kaysa mag-overpass pa na kalahating kilometro ang layo sa isang waiting shed, nagbabakasakali na lang ang mga apuradong mananawid sa animo ay pakikipag-patintero sa mga motorista habang tumatawid sa kalsada. Noong panahon ni Cory Aquino ay nagsulputang parang kabute ang mga waiting shed na halatang pinagkitaan ng mga tiwaling kongresista at senador dahil ang karamihan sa mga pahingahang ito ay nagkakahalaga ng isang milyon.  Kung saan saan na lang sila inilagay, basta maibalandra lang ang pangalan ng mga tiwaling opisyal na ito na nag-donate daw, ganoong pera ng bayang pinagkurakutan naman ang malinaw na ginamit . Makaraan ang ilang taon, pinagbawal na ang pag-abang ng mga sasakyan sa mga overpass na ito at wala man lang directional sign kung saan dapat mag-abang ang mga pasahero. Na-expose pa sila sa init at ulan…samantalang ang mga korap na mga kumitang opisyal ay abot-tenga ang ngisi dahil sa laki ng mga nakurakot.

 

Sa panahon ngayon, nauso ang paggamit ng motorsiklo, kaya nagpasiklab ang noon ay pinuno ng MMDA na si Tolentino sa pagtalaga ng mga “motorcycle lanes” sa iilang lugar. Subalit dahil matigas ang ulo ng mga nagmamaneho ng mga motosiklo ay hindi rin ito nasunod dahil tuloy pa rin ang animo ay ahas na palusot-lusot nila sa trapiko. Bandang huli, ang mga lanes na ito ay nawala. Naglagay din ng yellow lane para sa mga pampasaherong bus, subalit dahil ayaw pumila ng karamihan ng mga bus driver na nag-uunahan sa pagdampot ng pasahero ay hindi rin ito nasunod. Maliit lang din ang multa kaya malakas ang loob ng mga bus driver na sumuway.

 

Naglagay ng mga plastic barrier sa mga main road tulad ng EDSA, at tulad ng dapat asahan, dahil sa ugali ng karamihan sa mga Pilipino na reklamador, ay tila nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig ang proyekto. Ang matindi pa, tinatanggal ng mga sira- ulong motorista ang mga barrier kung walang traffic enforcer na nagbabantay lalo na sa dis-oras ng gabi. Ganito rin ang nangyari sa pagsara ng ibang U-turn slots upang tumuloy-tuloy sana ang takbo ng mga sasakyan at upang mapigilang makasagabal ang mga lumilikong sasakyan sa daloy ng trapiko. Inereklamo ito ng mga motoristang nagmamadali at ang gusto ay mag U-turn agad sa unang butas na makikita.

 

Malinaw na kahit anong batas –trapiko ay hindi maipapatupad ng maayos sa Pilipinas, maliban na lang sa loob ng Subic Business and Commercial Center na dating US base sa Olongapo. Ang napapansin pa ay may mga Pilipino na kahit nangungupahan lang ng kuwarto ay may sariling kotse, kaya ang ginagamit nilang garahe ay kalye. Yong mga nakatira sa subdivision na “row housing” ang tinitirhan na walang garahe ay ganoon din ang siste – sa kalsada ang paradahan kaya ang masikip na kalyeng pinagpipilitang two-way ay naging one-way. Yong mga nasa subdivision pa rin nakatira subalit sa “single detached” na bahay nakatira o simpleng bungalow kaya may garahe pero para sa iisang sasakyan lang, ay gumagamit din ng kalye para sa pangalawa at pangatlong sasakyan na nakuha sa hulugan nang napakamura. Sa halagang thirty thousand pesos kasi ay may pang-down payment na at ang buwanang hulog ay ten thousand lang, kaya maski call center agent o ordinaryong empleyado ay kaya nang bumili ng kotse.

 

May panukala noon pa mang panahon ni Marcos tungkol sa pag-kontrol ng pagbili ng mga sasakyan subalit hindi na ito naipapatupad ng maayos. At may mga batas ding ginawa para sa mga paggamit ng motorsiklo, subalit ganoon din ang nangyayari – walang maayos na pagpapatupad.

 

Ang tanong ko….yon nga lang simpleng non-smoking sa mga public transportation lalo na sa mga jeepney ay hindi tinutupad ng mga driver at pasahero, at lalong hindi naipapatupad ng mga pulis-trapiko, ang mga patakaran pa kaya upang lumuwag ang trapiko at maiwasan ang mga sakuna? ….only in the Philippines yan!

 

 

Phil-Am Relationship as the Most Volatile And Sensitive Issue to Blog About

Phil-Am Relationship as the Most Volatile

And Sensitive Issue to Blog About

By Apolinario Villalobos

I have always been careful when blogging about politics, more so with Philippine-American relationship, but still take the risk by going to the extent of coming out with hard-hitting views against local politicians, and sometimes the United States. The Philippine politics is just a small fleck compared to the global politics that involve superpowers, like the United States. In most cases, third world countries like the Philippines, become pawns when these superpowers discuss matters for their own benefits and advantage. And, in this global political play, many things are involved, some are even unbelievably happening. Manipulation of the weak by the strong becomes the norm.

On the other hand, the issues between the Philippines and the United States as regards mistrust, betrayal, etc. are deeply- rooted, so sensitive that most writers stay away from them, unless they are ready with hard proofs to prove their allegations. In Manila, all we see during rallies of leftist groups are anti-American slogans and even US flag-burning rituals, enhanced by chants about being a US “puppet” of whoever is the current president of the country. This scenario did not change since the time of the early presidents. Even the supposedly spirit behind the “People Power Revolution”, Cory Aquino, was not spared. There are so many underlying reasons for these that require thorough presentation before they can be understood and appreciated. Of late, noticeable are the absence of most of the principal participants of the first People Power Revolution during its subsequent commemorations. There are big reasons why they are suddenly distancing themselves away from the supposedly historic event. And, they are about politics that dwell on the Philippine-American relationship.

Basically, the Philippine system of governance was born out of the American ideology. Unfortunately, not even the several changes that the Philippine Constitution underwent, have successfully transformed it into one that centers on a “pure” Filipino ideology, based on the people’s cultural diversity and economic needs. Even the latest ratifications during the time of Cory Aquino, contained biased provisions that are still tainted with American influence. This is the reason why there is a general feeling of ambivalence among the Filipinos today, on the move to ratify the Constitution drastically, to make it a truly Filipino Basic Law. For, how can that be possible with general apprehensions in the light of the corrupt image of the administration and the two law making bodies? Mistrust and perceived betrayals are again the reasons.

In addition to the aforementioned reality, the economically and militarily frail country is faced with threats from different sectors. This weakness, though not expressed out of pride, could be the reason why the government entered into the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States which in the eyes of many is biased in favor of the latter, especially, on the aspect of custody of erring members of the US contingent while on Philippine shore. Specifically, for the US to hold in custody their soldiers who committed a crime in the Philippines, though hearings are conducted in the Philippines, is for many Filipinos “foul”. The Jeffrey Laude murder has emphasized this supposedly “biased” provision, a replayed situation, since the early Nicole rape case.

The current Agreement is the second for the same purpose – joint exercises on the shores of the Philippines. The question is why did the government hastily finalize the agreement without considering the lesson from the Nicole rape case? Was there an oversight?…or was it done deliberately? If only those who represented the Philippine government observed utmost care and sensitivity to the general sentiment of the Filipinos, there could have been no problem on the issue of custody. Also, had there been more care on the part of the local government of Olongapo in giving appropriate caution to the locals who view the “liberty” or “rest and recreation” binges of the Americans after the joint exercises, as a source of revenue, finger-pointing may have been avoided. As reported by field radio reporters from Olongapo, the city is divided in their feelings toward the Laude case. Those who are earning honestly from the American soldiers on “liberty” or leisure are blaming those who use questionable ploys to earn.

Jeffrey Laude was suspected as a sex worker who initially went into bargaining for his/her service as mentioned even by a friend, before going with the suspected American soldier to the motel. And, yet, he/she is supposed to be scheduled for marriage to his/her German fiancé. During later interviews, another friend of Laude denied the sex worker issue. In the first place, Laude was not supposed to be hanging out in such kind of joint, if he was fair to his/her German fiancé. So who committed fault here?

The latest issue on the Visiting Forces Agreement, muddled by the Laude case has just added more lesions to the already stinking issue about Philippine-American relationship. Ironically, as I have mentioned many times in earlier shared views, the purported nationalistic Filipinos who cry anti-American slogans are themselves, dreaming of holding on to a passport stamped with a US visa. And, where was the Commission on Human Rights on the day when the Laude case exploded? Did the CHR people come out in place of the President who has no habit of going to wakes of people he does not know? Is the act of the CHR, another belated cover-up, which is the tendency of the present administration?

I personally perceive the Visiting Forces Agreement as a ploy to show some borrowed muscles to the Chinese who keeps on advancing on the western maritime front of the country. It is unethical for the President to express this. As regards the issue on custody, how can the US allow its citizen to stay in a stinking Philippine jail some of which are pitifully filled to the rafters? The Philippine government extends assistance to its citizens that have figured in drug activities in other countries, even go to the extent of appealing for the calling off of a death sentence. So how can the US be blamed for protecting its citizen, too, and who still has to undergo trial, yet, on a foreign shore? Also, there is another question on the fickle justice system of the Philippines. So how can the US government leave its citizen at the mercy of such system, by letting him languish in a stinking jail for a case that may take years to be resolved?

Finally, Atty. Harry Roque should know better than instigate his client, the Laude family into loudly protesting the supposedly injustice committed on their member, Jeffrey, by the suspected American soldier. The mother and the sister of Jeffrey even went into dramatics by insisting that they just want to ask the suspect why he committed the crime. What if the American will tell them that Jeffrey did not honor the agreed cost of service by asking for more after their act, or that Jeffrey tried to steal something from him? Will Jeffrey’s mother and sister accept the allegations calmly? Nobody in his right mind will commit such crime without any reason at all. The question on the gender of Jeffrey is out, as the sexual act was supposedly concluded which implied acceptance on the part of the suspect.

On the other hand, as a lawyer, Atty. Roque should show restraint for the sake of reason and fair justice. No amount of shouts can put the suspect in jail, this early. Trial has not yet even started, but, Atty. Roque acts as if verdict has already been handed down in favor of the suspect.

I am not taking sides. I am just amplifying realities already presented by the different media for fair information of the public. If ever conclusions have been drawn by viewers, I would like to presume that these are their personal opinions that should be respected. Sensitive issues should be perceived with open mind so that due and diligent scrutiny can be made. There are so many factors that must be considered, aside from the immediate ones that surround them. Some may not even be visible unless patiently researched. They are deeply-rooted and cling to other issues that involve security and economy of countries concerned. Most importantly, we should not resort to finger-pointing.

Ang Kawalan ng Simpatiya ni Pnoy sa Pagkamatay ni Laude

Ang Kawalan ng Simpatiya

Ni Pnoy sa Pagkamatay ni Laude

Ni Apolinario Villalobos

Sa sagot ni Pnoy na hindi siya pumupunta sa burol ng taong hindi niya kilala, nang tanungin siya kung pupunta sa burol ni Jeffrey Laude, ipinakita niya ang kanyang kababawan at kakulangan ng karakter bilang pinuno ng isang bansa. Si Jeffrey Laude ay hindi namatay dahil sa isang ordinaryong sirkumstansiya, kundi sa kamay ng taong bahagi ng isang kilusang sakop ng kinalamang pambansa, ang joint forces exercises, sa pagitan ng bansa at Amerika. Dahil sa nabanggit na kasunduan, nagkusa sana siya sa pakikiramay sa pamamagitan man lamang ng mga salita, at kahit hindi na siya dumalo sa burol. Ang mga inaasahang dapat niyang gawin ay bahagi rin ng makatao niyang obligasyon.

Lumilinaw ang tunay niyang pagkatao na unang napansin dahil sa kawalan niya ng simpatiya sa mga Pilipino na kasalukuyang dumadanas ng matinding kahirapang dulot ng mga nagsiritang presyo ng pagkain, kurudo, kuryente, tubig; pag-alagwa ng krimen; at kahinaan ng kanyang mga gabinete, lalo na ang may kinalaman sa mga trahedya at kapakanan ng mga Pilipino sa kabuuhan – ang Department of Social Welfare, Department of Transportation and Communication, at Department of Energy. Balewala sa kanya ang lahat sa kabila ng mga nagsusumigaw na headlines ng mga diyaryo at pagbatikos sa radyo at telebisyon. Akala niya ang pinapakita niya ay “katapangan” niya bilang isang pinuno na hindi nagpapadala sa mga “sulsol”. Sa mata ng mga Pilipino, ito ay kahinaan sa pagtupad ng obligasyon bilang Presidente.

Alam na ni Pnoy na ang Joint Forces Agreement ay isang mainit at maselang isyu dahil maraming Pilipino ang ayaw nito. Dapat ay may mga nakahanda siyang dapat gawin kung may mga hindi magandang pangyayari kung sakali, na may kinalaman sa kasunduan. Dapat ay naging leksiyon na ang kaso ni Nicole noon na ginahasa ng isang Amerikanong sundalo na bahagi rin ng joint forces execises. Subali’t dahil sa kahinaan ng sistema ng kanyang administrasyon, naulit na naman ang pinangangambahan ng sambayanang Pilipino…at mas masahol pa dahil hindi lang puri ng isang Pilipina ang nasangkot kundi buhay pa.

Ilang Nicole pa ang magagahasa at Jeffrey Laude ang mamamatay, bago mabuksan ang isip at mga mata ni Pnoy upang maunawaan niya na isinubo niya ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino sa one-sided na kasunduan sa Amerika? Sa anong bansa pa siya makikipagsundo na ang isasalang niya ay kapakanan ng buong bansa?