Naga at Random - In Transit

As stated in my previous entry, I went to Naga City last election weekend. I kept my senses alert in order to observe the political drama that was unfolding there, but I got to absorb more stuff and generate more thoughts than I expected. Not a problem though, as they would all be blog fodder.

I went to my home city by bus, as I usually do. It was an eight-hour trip on the average, so a lot can happen in that period of time. One such unfortunate event was of the bus breaking down in the middle of nowhere. Back in college, I did have a fair share of this kind of misadventures. I remember one morning, when we were on our last leg of the journey to Naga, smoke was suddenly emanating from the underbelly of the vehicle and was filling up the interior. It got to the point that I was breathing through the aircon vent. There's a little exaggeration there, but you get the point.

Speaking of air conditioning, I can't tolerate the frigid temperatures; I prefer the air cool, not cold. Better yet, I'd open the windows; there are some parts in Quezon province where the air is good that you'd wonder how you survive the Metro pollution. I hear there's some sort of pollution field around Metro Manila wherein once inside, the temperature suddenly jumps and the breathing isn't as relaxing as in the countryside (ah the smell of trees and fields and manure).

Back to the broken down buses, those second-hand buses from Japan. In college, I rode Highway Express, said to be the pioneer of the CR-in-the-bus. I put up with the sudden repairs in some desolate location because, as far as I know, they had safety-conscious (slow) drivers. Compare that to speed-crazy Philtranco whose buses would cut the trip to Naga down to six hours or cut short your life. We once passed by two Philtranco buses that bumped into each other somewhere in Quezon province. What's with the need for speed? In night trips, I don't need to arrive early; I prefer that I arrive in either Naga or Cubao with the sun already shining. By that time, the MRT and LRT are already open and jeepneys are plying their routes; thus, I am no longer at the mercy of taxi and tricycle drivers who charge "special" nighttime rates.

Moving on, I guess the frequent repairs and mounting customer dissatisfaction took its toll on Highway Express, and the company closed shop by the time I graduated. I now ride Isarog, another slow-driving bus line. They seem to focus on comfort although I have yet to ride their bus with the Lazy Boy seats.

Their buses break down too, as what I experienced in this recent trip to Naga. I was originally reserved for the single-seater bus, but due to some mechanical failure, the vehicle didn't make it to Cubao. We unlucky passengers were transferred to a double-seater with jump seats at the aisle for that added cramped feeling. Knowing that sitting on jump seats are never comfortable, much less sleep inducing, I was still fortunate to be assigned a normal seat by the aisle. However, assigned to the jump seat beside me was this middle-aged lady. Now, I would just be tormented if I did not show some care, so I offered to exchange seats. She kindly declined. Chivalry is dead. Or perhaps she merely judged herself hardier than this young man with a skeletal build. During the trip, the bus had to make a few stops for impromptu repairs, so much for being a replacement. It crossed my mind to demand a refund, but I am too merciful for my own good, a sad day for consumer rights, to think that the daughter of the owner had been my classmate in a college elective.

All these delays expectedly made the sun rise on our trip while still three towns away from Naga. Heck, we even managed to snag traffic when the bus broke down in the middle of a one-way passage. Now how the heck would the National Highway become one-way? Blame it on the last-minute roadwork courtesy of the local politician who hopes to get re-elected. One consolation was that we arrived to a city that was wide awake, and I got to ride the jeepney instead of a rip-off tricycle.

Speaking of jeepney rides, it seems that after two years of daily commuting to work via the jeepney, I have gotten used to them. Thus on the day of my arrival, instead of resting, I was on the road to places I shall write about in my next post. Add to that the destinations I have reached on foot, an indication that this young man with a skeletal build does have a great walking range or that the big city of his childhood has shrunk in scale in the perspective of the Manila-based grown-up.

On the trip back to Manila, I rode the Amihan bus. In the process of shifting gears to move out of the Naga City Integrated Bus Terminal, the engine just died on us, and the driver had difficulty restarting it! I was about to decide that this break down took the cake among those I had experienced, but the advantage of being in the terminal meant that help was immediate. The engine woes proved to be a minor hiccup as we commenced into a smooth trip through light traffic. This was a day trip, so I got to see Lamon Bay (pictured here) while going through the Quezon towns of Gumaca and Atimonan, arguably one of the major highlights of the trip (it's even more dramatic when going the other way, towards Naga, since at Atimonan, the road descends and opens into a view of the bay, just like in the movies).

Lastly, a Naga-Manila trip's not complete without witnessing "road kill" like the two unfortunate Philtranco buses I mentioned earlier. Well in this trip I saw one right before entering the South Superhighway. A small truck rammed into a roadside Laguna residence, and the carnage seemed fresh because the pedestrian kibitzers were still gawking at the dazed and bloodied driver inside the wreck. Our bus conductor and driver discussed the victim's fate, with one of them declaring that an amputation of both legs would be inevitable.

Pabaon / For the road:

While I ride the bus occasionally, my friend Arlene commutes to work everyday in this mode of public transport. Expectedly, she has a fair share of bus tales starting with this one.

More info on going to Naga is found in the city tourism site. There's a link to an updated PDF file for trip schedules and rates. I also got the map of Camarines Sur in another of its links.

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY COLLAPSE ENTRY

Drifting Thoughts 04

Last Saturday, I was supposed to go out with some DS people for a rare bonding session. It was to be held somewhere in Pasig, in an area I'm not familiar with. I was to test my "pathfinder" skills: the ability to go to an unfamiliar place primarily by using a map and, only if no other choice, asking the locals. Pasig was a notoriously difficult place for me, having been lost there twice, so I "cheated" by exploring the environs with my officemates when we had a lunch out the day before. Besides, the stakes were high this time since instead of just me, I had to accompany a friend going there (although I'd prefer getting lost with good company than getting lost alone). Well all these came to naught when the arbitrary quorum wasn't reached and the activity was cancelled.

All was not lost however for my need to attend a get-together and to practice my path-finding skills. On that Saturday I did get to know of another gathering, this time with my course-mates, over at Quezon Avenue. All I needed to know was the general area starting from the MRT station. I found the destination after a long-distance walk, and had more than enough time to reward my efforts with a halo-halo and to still get restless by waiting for the others.

Our gathering was a sort of sending-off for two of our friends (a third one was absent) who'll be working overseas for a year. After a tasteless dinner at a place that's more apt for a drinking session, we sang until our throats (or just mine) felt sore at the nearby videoke and then made some celebrity sightings at Starbucks-ABS CBN (with no TV for a year, I really had no idea they are celebs; all of them looked ordinary to me).

On the way home at three in the morning, I passed by sidewalk vendors sleeping soundly while their wares are still on display. It was good to know that none among the passers-by picked up those unguarded items. Dear reader, cling on to this sign of hope while continuing with this entry.

-oOo-

Behold the editorial cartoon of the Inquirer last May 3. Were they merely being naive about military stuff, giving the Air Force a good-natured ribbing about its clunky widow-makers, or, now that the military has been somewhat humbled, were they displaying their anti-military bravado, which is reasonably fashionable nowadays? (By the way, the cartoon was badly drawn since the punch line would be read first; better if the kid and the general switch places.)

Let's get the facts straight. Back in the Vietnam War, the US Air Force has suffered Huey crashes from the hands of the Vietcong. How did the guerillas pull it off? Rocket-propelled grenades? Snipers? A well-aimed shot may work, but why waste precious ammunition when one can just lay a web of wires along the path of a low-flying helicopter a la Spiderman? Yup, these flying babies are vulnerable to things that can snag its whirling blades--dramatically reducing their lifting power or tragically diverting them towards a collision course. And yes, the pilots won't notice a menacing wire or string until it's right in front of them. In fact I was actually surprised that a Philippine Air Force official admitted that their Hueys have been "disabled" before by Mindanao rebels using the lowly kite.

More than the issue of antiquated military hardware due to corruption and incompetence, the media has overlooked the issue of safety. And when I mean safety, I do not just mean saving a soldier's life, I mean saving the lives of the flying public as well as those down below. You see, aside from helicopters the lowly kite may also get sucked into one of the engines of a 737 and jeopardize its take-off. It's a very probable scenario; since, like in Cebu, kites are being flown in the vicinity of airports, and while this is prohibited, the rule isn't being enforced. Why didn't the media hyped things up by emphasizing this more troubling possibility? They might be merely ignorant about these things. Or, given the election fever nowadays, are they more attracted to the chance of criticizing the corrupt and incompetent military, and by association, the administration? Unfortunately, the Air Force officer didn't help dispel the impression of incompetence, at least in PR skills, when he himself did not raise this safety issue when he was being interviewed.

-oOo-

Well, look what the Supreme Court has forced the Comelec to reveal: party-list nominees who are identified with the administration, and more than that, have spotty reputations.

The left is not exactly immaculate on the party-list issue. First, they also enjoy government funding in the form of pork barrel. Second, they have the support of the largest private army in this country: the NPA. Lastly, like any traditional politician, they want to horde party-list votes by attacking all the other parties they can discredit. Suddenly being pro-administration or even moderate or neutral is a mortal sin.

Considering that these leftist groups and the administration have been doing attacks and counter-attacks with each other, it would be better to just cancel out the parties identified with the two. One would still find more meaningful parties that are not that obnoxious or notorious but rather silently fulfilling their role in truly representing the marginalized.

-oOo-

Recent developments have troubled my home city. A Comelec Division had ruled on a complaint back in 2004 regarding Mayor Robredo's citizenship. It's an old, overused, futile attack against Robredo, but this time the camp of Luis Villafuerte managed to pull it off.

For the complete coverage, I present Willy Priles's blog. Focus links: Historical Background, Family Drama, Foreboding (see the last part), The Watershed Event. (There's supposed to be an entry where Willy speculates on the election plans A and B of both Villafuerte and Robredo, but I can't find it anymore. Is it deleted?)

I have long been planning to go home this summer. Having missed the opportunity during the unusually long Holy Week break, I suppose the election weekend would be a good alternative since the horde of travelers will not be that massive. But I never expect to come home to this summer tempest. Curiously though, this scandal had strengthened my desire to go back to Naga--perhaps due to the youthful "foolishness" of wanting to be where the action is.

I reply to this madness with a picture originally taken by Randy Villaflor, posted online by Willy, and crudely edited in MS Paint by yours truly:

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY COLLAPSE ENTRY

Fantasia (Part 6)

Pictures nixed from the Ragnarok online website (screenshots).

(Part 1 2 3 4 5)

The first day of the competition at the Citadel of Aqueaon commenced without a hitch. As the other contestants spent their day brainstorming for their speeches, essays and paintings, Romulus expectedly dominated the first part of the eliminations test consisting of History, the Arts and Culture. Daniel got by the test with a respectable score, but what was more significant for him was that he had met some of Helen's friends who were also participating in the contest. Helen, on the other hand, was at home preparing for her visit to the Pillars. It was mid-year vacation for most academies, and with the exception of those attending activities and tournaments like the ones being held in the Pillars and the Citadel the wards are free from their scholarly burden for a couple of weeks.

Early the next day, Daniel was up and about even when the sun had barely risen. The Knights' Master of Codix, Wilbur, noticed his excitement. That day was for the second part of the eliminations with the test consisting of topics in Codix and Magic, his area of expertise. More importantly though, Helen was to leave in a few hours. The sight of the omnibus vessel near the Citadel prompted Daniel to prod Wilbur allow him to go where it was docked.

When Daniel arrived at the dock, however, he suddenly felt unsure of how to proceed. It had been three years since they last saw each other. Would Helen still remember him who, back then, was masterfully shoved to the sidelines? He realized too that in his rush he was still wearing his house clothes.

Daniel had no time to ponder on these jitters, for Helen had appeared by the vessel's port. He beheld the glorious sight of a young lady. She sported shorter hair (looked good on her) and appeared more slender (no more baby fat) wearing her, well, moss green jumper (some things did not change: the color of the Aqueaonian uniform is still comparable to that of the greenery on moist surfaces).

Her face lightened up when she recognized the young man waiting outside. Ah, how her eyes twinkled: the same round expressive eyes that captivated admirers three years ago. Daniel could at first only offer a sheepish smile, overjoyed that she did recognize him. When he had recovered his senses he asked--"how does it feel to be going to the Pillars again?"--anything to start a conversation.

"I feel ok, I guess, since, well, I've been there before."

Both parties engaged in some small talk and a little flattery.

"...and, oh, when you meet Mervin, do send him my regards." Daniel considered himself as being fair when he mentioned his friend's name.

"Mervin who?"

This amused Daniel to quite an extent, but he knew also that Mervin would have an entire two days to re-introduce himself unhindered.

"How do you find the Citadel?" It was Helen's turn to ask.

"It's great; I felt at home instantly." Further small talk about the tournament followed, the better for Daniel to make a good impression in this short meeting.

Then an awkward silence. Was it that Daniel could only look mesmerized at Helen's shy smile or that Helen could only smile shyly at Daniel's mesmerized look?

"Uhm, I think I gotta go, it was nice seeing you again, Helen." A good impression may have been made, but, for a thorough expression of the pleasant outbursts happening in his inner being, Daniel was incapable at that moment.

"Same here. And, yeah, good luck with the tournament!"

More than luck and training, it was inspiration that made Daniel top the eliminations for Codix and Magic later that day.

As the tournament raged on at the Citadel, emotions raged at the Pillars, at least for the new scholastic wards and a handful from Fourth Group R. For instance, there was visibly star-struck Mervin who had been tailing Helen like an escort for the entire day. By late afternoon, they had been staying at the exhibit of A Merry Land, which was popular among visitors, as expected. Dominic had been eyeing the exhibit from his own post at the Guild of Acolytes exhibit and can only sigh: the writers, artists and editors of the literary scroll had broken the monopoly of the guilds of Magic and the Medics, when could be the acolytes' turn?

Dominic had been deep with his thoughts for his guild that he barely noticed a visitor from one of the academies curiously eyeing the portraits of the acolytes in action. "Excuse me, are you the one over here?" she finally asked, pointing to a portrait of Dominic with the High Priest of the Pillars.

"Yeah, it's me," Dominic managed to reply before being overwhelmed by the beauty that was before him: an apparition who had long black hair flow smoothly down to the waist and lips carrying an easy smile. Alas for Dominic, it was a beauty, which like Helen's, had a doting escort who interrupted the conversation.

"Angela, I see you've met Dominic here. He's the holy man of the Pillars." With these words the pompous lad imposed his presence, and turning to Dominic he spoke with a flurry, "by the way, Dominic, this is Angela from the Tower of Aganard." The Aganardians were rivals of the Aqueaonians in Legacy City, as the Greyhounds were the rivals of the Knights in Ceres.

Dominic knew there was nothing holy with how Harvey had introduced him to the heavenly Angela. But at least he was there to do something about it, he thought, unlike Daniel who was helplessly stuck elsewhere.

Actually, Daniel, despite all the limitations imposed upon him by his duty, did not consider himself totally helpless; because, he had a plan. The tournament would end by the next day, and they would return to the Pillars by evening. At around that time, the Farewell Dance would be starting. Even in that small time, Daniel had hoped that he may be able to reverse his embarrassment four years ago. Of course, an announcement of their victory at the tournament would help vastly. He could imagine it: Master Wilbur and Master Dionysus making the important announcement within the program; the victorious contestants, including himself, being presented to the audience, their clout made known not only to the Knights but to the Aqueaonians, Aganardians and other visitors; Helen being invited to dance by him, this time making sure that Mervin and any other admirer would be kept away.

The last day of the tournament came, and the Knights woke up to a cloudy morning. The Wizards of the Empire had predicted a further worsening of the weather until the next day, but the tournament will go on. Daniel never included in his plan adverse weather like the storm threatening EveAlone. He suddenly considered the prospect of being jeopardized even before he could set the plan in motion.

(To be continued)

CLICK HERE FOR THE REST OF THE ENTRY COLLAPSE ENTRY