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On Commuting and Getting into Traffic
Monday, October 29, 2007
I should have posted this entry during the day the incident had happened but I let this stand still in the Draft box for a while to give way to the fifth installment of my Duenas Visit. I don't want to publish blog entries one day at a time.
Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 100 / flash: off / mount:
handheld
The company car I'm using has an ending number of 9 in its plate number. As per Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP - also known as color-coding or number coding) policy, the car I'm using shouldn't be on the road on Fridays just as cars with plate numbers ending with 1 and 2 cannot be used on Mondays on major thoroughfares, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, 5 and 6 on Wednesdays, and so on. In most areas in Metro Manila, UVVRP or color-coding would start at 7 in the morning until 10am and will resume at 3:00 o'clock noontime until 7 in the evening. Makati and Mandaluyong has a 7-to-7 (12-hour straight) color-coding policy.
Last Friday morning, I was traversing Boni Avenue with moderate vehicular traffic condition when I was flagged down by a Mandaluyong City traffic enforcer before I could enter Boni Avenue tunnel that leads to Pioneer Street. I pulled over and open my right-side window and waited for the traffic enforcer to come.
"Sir, may permit po ba tayo para sa color-coding?" (Sir, do you have an exemption permit for color-coding?), he asked. I replied, "Wala." (There is none.)
"Saan po yung punta nila?" (Where do you have to go?)
"Shaw Blvd. - Pasig." I had to emphasize Pasig because the opposite end of Shaw Blvd. is part of Mandaluyong City.
"Sir, coding po tayo," (Sir, your car is subjected today for color-coding) he informed me. I told him, "You see, it's just 6:57 in the morning and color-coding starts 7am."
"Ganon lang din po yon, Sir. Kung makalusot ka dito, mahuhuli din po kayo doon sa Pasig." (Sir, it's just the same thing. If you won't get caught here in Mandaluyong, you'll surely be apprehended in Pasig). The traffic enforcer insisted.
That was quite irrational yet I didn't want to be pissed off at that early morning. I maybe impatient at times but I've known to be tolerant when it comes to talking with traffic enforcers. "Then just let me go. Let Pasig traffic enforcers apprehend me if they see me moving by 7am." By that time, track no. 9 of the album Hell Freezes Over by Eagles was just started to be played in the car stereo - and it helped me to calm down a lot. Not that the song is related to the incident but it's because I Can't Tell You Why by Eagles is one of my favorite song.
"Sir, late yata yung relo n'yo." (Sir, I suppose your watch is late), he said.
I pointed the clock in the dashboard and told him, "Eksakto yan. Araw-araw akong dumadaan dito - nagko-commute." (That's exact time. I pass here by everyday. I am commuting here).
"Iyon naman pala eh! Nagko-commute pala kayo eh. Hindi naman pala kayo araw-araw nagmamaneho!" (That's it. You're just taking commute. You're not in any way driving everyday). He retorted.
I said, "No. I'm using this car to commute from home to work. And I mean, that's seven days a week. And that means passing this way back and forth seven days in a week."
"Niloloko n'yo yata ako. Kung nagko-commute kayo, eh di taxi o jeepney ang sinakyan n'yo. Iba yan sa kayo ang nagmaneho." (You're fooling me, didn't you? If you're commuting, that means you're taking taxi or jeepney which is just different from driving your own car.)
Right then and there, I realized we Filipinos have our own definition of the word commute. We only use the word commute when we take public transport, and even if you don't travel the route regularly. I remember way back in 1993 in Butuan City, a female friend from Carbide Village in Iligan City asked me how did I manage to arrive to our meeting place. "Unsay imong gisakyan, nag-motor ka ba o nag-commute?" (What were you taking for a ride? Is it your motorcycle or you just commuted?) She asked. I was taking jeepney at that time going to see her so I answered, "Public transport." "Aw, mao lagi. Nag-commute lagi ka!" (You see. That's it. You're commuting.) She quickly replied back. And the first few minutes of our conversation was spent for a brain punch-up arguing about the word "commute."
As for this encounter with the Mandaluyong traffic enforcer, I felt defeated. I haven't eaten my breakfast yet and wouldn't want to waste what resources was left with me arguing with him. I pressed the pause button of the car CD player so I can save the remainder of my favorite song I Can't Tell You Why being played for my listening pleasure at a later time. I started to explain, "Ganito kasi yon: ang meaning ng commute is your travelling back and forth from A to B regularly. Kung araw-araw kang pumupunta dito, regardless kung anong klaseng sasakyan ang sinakyan mo, ma-train man, bus, taxi o jeepney, your own private vehicle, o iyang motorsiklo mo, iyan ay tinatawag na commute." (It is like this: the word commute means your travelling back and forth from A to B regularly. If you've come into this place everyday, regardless of your mode of transport, be it train, bus, taxi or jeepney, your own private vehicle, or that motorcycle that you have, that's what we call commute). "And I'm using this car to commute. Needless to say, this is my commuter Revo." I said those lines to add more emphasis. Revo is the vehicle model of my car, a product of Toyota.
"Ang labo niyo. Kaya nga commute eh kasi wala kang sariling sasakyan." Apparently, he's confused and mind was conditioned that the word commute is for taking public transport only and using private vehicle is not commute.
Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 100 / flash: off / mount:
handheld
Traffic is just another word being misused over and over again. When somebody asks, "Why are you late?" or "Why your email didn't arrive yet?" Usually, the answer in Filipino would be, "Na-traffic." (Sorry, I'm lost into translating that line into English.) In my own personal opinion, the statement as constructed is wrong. I define traffic as a movement along a route. Traffic is ever present and responsible for vehicular movement or data communication (as for telephone and Internet connection) to and fro within a certain fixed route. That's why when I'm late for a date and my girlfriend would ask why, I would explain: "The traffic is so heavy along Ortigas flyover." That's instead of saying, "Na-traffic ako sa Ortigas." If she muses when I come on time, I would also tell her, "Weekend karon, 'di ba? Moderate lang ang traffic." (It's weekend right? There's just a moderate traffic.) That's instead of saying, "Weekend ngayon. Walang traffic." I may not be able to arrive to my destination and so do other motorists if traffic is dead.
Now, let's go back to the traffic enforcer who commutes. "Pwede bang makita ang lisensya nila?" He asked that my driver's license be shown to him. I told him, "You see. It's already 6:58 and I only have one minute to travel from here to work before color-coding would start. It would usually take me two minutes from this point here going to our office." I handed him my driver's license anyway.
Looking at my driver's license, he asked, "Taga-Mandaluyong pala kayo, Sir? Taga-rito din ako." (I see you're a Mandaluyong resident. I'm living here in Mandaluyong, too). I didn't know if his statement made sense for me. Nobody would care where ever he lives. One thing is clear with me; he's not living from the outside planet the fact he is employed at the local government of Mandaluyong. And as for me, he shouldn't have doubted I'm not from Mandaluyong as I already explained Boni Avenue is my fixed route from home to work. Anyway, I just lazily replied "Yes." "Saan kayo nagtatrabaho?" (Where do you work?) Another question from him. I cited to him the name of our company and added the location, "Shaw Blvd. - Pasig." Anybody familiar within the area should know that it will only take a minute or two from Boni tunnel to Shaw Blvd. Pasig using a private vehicle early in the morning with a light vehicular traffic flow. And that's what I would just like him to realize. He was killing the only one minute left for me.
The traffic enforcer returned back to me my driver license and said, "O, sige. Kung hindi lang din kayo taga-Mandaluyong, eh, tutuluyan na sana kita." (Okay. If only you're not living in Mandaluyong as well, I should already had apprehended you.) I know that was just his frail attempt at making excuses and to solicit for a "Thank you" note from me out of his own blunder.
And he bid farewell when I started the car. "Sige, ingat na lang ho." (You take care.)
Of course, I didn't say "Thanks." I didn't owe anything from him. He should have apologized to me instead for causing me delay.
And I arrived in our office at exactly 7:00am. Had the
traffic enforcer didn't interfere with my travel, I could have arrived there
by 6:59am.
Technorati Tag:
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Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 100 / flash: off / mount:
handheld
After I parked the car in the office, I walked to Pioneer Street and rewarded myself a Jollibee breakfast meal at Pioneer Center. The song I Can't Tell You Why still ringing in my head...
Labels: travelogue, word watch
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From Tuguegarao to Duenas: The Duenas Visit 2007 (Day 4)
Saturday, October 27, 2007
(fifth of six parts)
Two Beautiful Houses Well Worth Remembered
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec / F-stop: f/7.1 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec / F-stop: f/7.1 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 24mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Of course, there should be three, and Kuya Bebot's house is number one. But other than that, two more houses tickled my interest. And I'm saying those two houses in the photos above are worth to be remembered because I was able to explore their interior via a guided tour with no less than other than the owner itself to guide me. The house in the first photo above is own by Manang Nelda (if I remember her name right). The house in the next photo is own by Ninpha Carumba-de la Cruz, the lady that I had mentioned in the second part of this story as the balikbayan who was recognized the Star of the Night during the Balikbayan Night. While I could have photographed their house design, I refrained myself of doing so as a respect to their privacy. The least I could do is to photographed their house' view from afar. It's also the right thing to do, nevertheless.
The Duenas Tour
In the morning of October 1, my fourth day of staying in Duenas, Kuya Bebot and I visited Duenas General Comprehensive High School, the venue of the photography lecture to be held the following day where I was commissioned as the resource speaker. The event was originally scheduled at this day but due to the coronation program the previous night that exhausted those participants of the photography lecture, the lecture was moved to October 2.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/6 sec / F-stop: f/5.0 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 40mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
We stayed a little longer at the school where Kuya Bebot had a good chat with his friend who happens one of the teacher of the school. From there, we proceed to the municipal plaza. While there, I saw an oncoming tricycle that I had snapped a photographed. If you might notice, every region of the country Philippines had their own and unique design for tricycles and even jeepneys. So, you wouldn't wonder why a plain and simple tricycle was being photographed.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
And old marker also aroused my interest, especially that the family name of of the Municipal President engraved in the stone is Pama - the same family name as of Kuya Bebot. Based on that, I concluded Kuya Bebot's clan must be one of the most powerful in Duenas. And that realization alone should stop me from wondering why Kuya Bebot is a celebrity around town.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 28mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Next destination that we had is the Duenas cemetery. Kuya Bebot intends to visit his parents' and relatives' graves.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 28mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Two beautiful mausoleum caught my attention. Even in this least visited place, beautiful houses still competing with each other's grandeur.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/50 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
My Phone Was Alive Again!
The whole time I was in Duenas, my cellular phone was dead. My carrier Sun Cellular has no service cell site yet in the area. That was the only setback that I had. I couldn't possibly receive incoming communication.
In the afternoon, we had agreed to go to Jollibee in Passi City to place a bulk order for the breakfast of the participants of the photography seminar. The seminar would be in the next morning. Onboard the Honda CRV bound for Passi City, I hopped in with Kuya Bebot, Tito and Doll, the parents of Denden and Abby. When we arrived at Jollibee, I got a strong signal with my phone so my girlfriend was able to contact me. We talked a lot about our individual experiences - her vacation and my vacation.
After I spoke with my girlfriend over the phone, I
decided to take photos in the sorrounding areas. But then, it was already
getting dark. Since I didn't bring with me my tripod, I had difficulty
taking photos at this low-light condition. I tried to take a few shots but
was not satisfied with the result. The least I could possibly get is that
photo of the Passi church below. I was not totally disappointed because I
had visited this place before and had taken a photograph of the church in
film. In fact, I learned from my earlier visit here that the history of the church could be traced back
in the early 1600’s although the present structure was started in 1821-1837. The
architectural style is perhaps undistinguished but might be referred to as
another baroque architecture.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/20 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 800 /
focal length: 25mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
And this was just another snap of Passi before leaving
the scene behind...
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 3200 /
focal length: 24mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
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Labels: travelogue
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From Tuguegarao to Duenas: The Duenas Visit 2007 (Day 3)
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
(fourth of six parts)
The Parade
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec / F-stop: f/8.0 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 51mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec / F-stop: f/7.1 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 49mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec / F-stop: f/6.3 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 52mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Fiesta-Goers
Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 100 / flash: off / mount:
handheld
Foods at the fiesta.
Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 100 / flash: off / mount:
handheld
Fiesta Merchandise at the Town Plaza
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec / F-stop: f/3.5 / ISO Setting: 100 /
focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Imay have missed the parade in the 27th but here again,
I witnessed another parade in the 30th. The day is the actual celebration of
the town fiesta.
As for the fiesta-goers, I noticed
Kuya Bebot and family's visitors are just closed friends and distant family
members and relatives. I was in fact introduced to some of his nephews and
nieces who came as far as Roxas City in Capiz. With a town as simple as
Duenas, I was amazed at flashy cars that arrived for the fiesta. There was
even a parodied locally assembled
Humvee
parked in front of Kuya Bebot's house (please see photo above).
Later at that day, Kuya Bebot
brought her two grand daughters, Denden and Abby to the town plaza to buy
toys. Denden wanted a yoyo and Abby got a different choice. Of course, I
went along and that's how I got the chance of taking photos around the
plaza.
Sony Ericsson K750i / F-stop: f/2.8 / ISO Setting: 100 /
flash: off / mount: handheld
1/8 sec / f/4.0 / ISO 400 /
25mm / no flash | 1/6 sec / f/3.5 / ISO 100 / 18mm / no flash
Patronal Fiesta and Anihan Festival Coronation Program
In the night time, it was the coronation night for the fiesta queen. The event was held at the municipal social hall. Kuya Bebot, his niece Doll (the mother of Denden and Abby), and me arrived at the venue on time. We were ushered to a table intended for balikbayan guests. Upon our arrival, Kuya Bebot's name is being mentioned several times. Kuya Bebot is just one of the most prominent personality in Duenas. I think we were the second set of visitors to arrive in the table to where we were ushered because all of the chairs are empty except for a lone gentleman who arrived ahead of us. I called that visitor the lone gentleman because he was alone in the long table before our group's arrival. And I called him a gentleman because he was so friendly he started to chat with me about photography when he noticed I indiscriminately fired my camera to every scene (just like that photograph of empty stage below). He is apparently a photography enthusiast and own a point-and-shoot camera. He inquired about my SLR. We could have talk more about photography had our voices were not drowned by the loud music. When the program started, I had just found out I was talking to the parish priest of the town. He was being called by the emcee to grace the event. After the prayer, I waited for him to return to his chair which is beside mine, but then, he didn't.
At the end of our long table is the presidential table where big politicians in Iloilo in the person of Congressman Veron, Gov. Neil Tupas, and Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico would later arrived. Mayors from neighboring municipality were also present together with the mayor of Duenas, Bobit Pama, who happens to be a close relative of Kuya Bebot.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec / F-stop: f/4.5 / ISO Setting: 3200 /
focal length: 25mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
The 2006 fiesta queen marched around the audience before
going to her seat.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/50 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 3200 /
focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 3200 /
focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
The PNP Band performed for the live band entertainment.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/8 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 3200 /
focal length: 50mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
The Duenas Central Elementary School Children's
performers
offered vital numbers for the event.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/8 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 1600 /
focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/15 sec / F-stop: f/3.5 / ISO Setting: 800 /
focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/13 sec / F-stop: f/4.5 / ISO Setting: 800 /
focal length: 31mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/15 sec / F-stop: f/3.5 / ISO Setting: 800 /
focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/15 sec / F-stop: f/3.5 / ISO Setting: 800 /
focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/15 sec / F-stop: f/4.5 / ISO Setting: 800 /
focal length: 35mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Denden proved it big that she's talented by making it
with the Duenas Central Elementary School Children's Performers.
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 800 /
focal length: 52mm /flash: fired / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 3200 /
focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 1600 /
focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
The Royal Dance
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 3200 /
focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld
Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec / F-stop: f/5.0 / ISO Setting: 400 /
focal length: 41mm /flash: on / mount: handheld
Rozelle M. Lanceta of Alberta, Canada,
Louisville, Kentucky, USA was crowned
Fiesta queen 2007 at the annual Patronal Fiesta and Anihan Festival.
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Tuguegarao to Duenas: The Duenas Visit 2007 (Day 2)
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Labels: travelogue
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Greenpeace Photo Exhibit, Facial Treatment, and Learning About Photography
Monday, October 15, 2007
The title precisely summarized the experiences during my date with my girlfriend yesterday at the Robinson's Galleria in Ortigas Center corner EDSA. First thing that we did is visit the Greenpeace photo exhibit found at the second floor. Highly regarded lecturer/photographer and MIP fellow GM Sabado aka Doc Ger participated the event. My mobile phone camera quickly captured my girlfriend's moment while staring at Doc Ger's entry. Since the photos in the exhibit are for votation, we had to choose and vote for the photo that best suited for the theme and criterion of Greenpeace. My girlfriend and I ended up voting for a photograph featuring a boatman who is using bamboo raft to transport goods along the river. The photo was taken at the Wawa Dam in Montalban, Rizal last January 2007.
Awestruck with those excellent photos on display, my girlfriend asked me how those photographers "created" such outstanding photos. I gave her a brief demonstration about composition technique and finding the right elements in photographs. I also inspired her more by telling her she too can learn the craft in time.
Fast forward to facial treatment clinic (also in Robinson's Galleria, 3rd floor), my girlfriend wanted to give photography a try. So, while I underwent facial treatment, she took a few shots of me using my own Sony Ericsson mobile phone camera.
The photos above are not my own but was taken by my girlfriend. Other than resizing, cropping and other post-processing technique were not applied to these photographs. I wanted to retain the originality of the photographs so based on the photo qualities we may judge whether my girlfriend has a hope in photography. I cannot imagine she will also one day be posting photos at MIP competing MIP's finest in the female membership; Ms. Belle and Jennie Dy. :)
I'd like to hear what you have in mind. Comments are very much welcome...
Technorati Tag: Labels: photoshoot
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