" A Traffic Jam Scene"

     Yesterday I witnessed a monstrous traffic jam along the stretch of Pedro Gil St. in Sta. Ana-Paco bounded areas. The incident happened at around past 11a.m. and became worse around 12 p.m. Because it was almost lunchtime you would expect that temperament was also at its peak. The heat coupled with the eagerness to be home and have lunch were a surefire trigger to have one's blood boil. Tensions were gripping the area as drivers tried very hard, but in vein, to nose out everybody to get free from the traffic mess. I was bound to the direction of Paco area but seeing hopelessness in my attempt to reach my destination I decided just to go back to my place in Sta. Ana. I made a successful U-turn but as I was already positioned to go back a taxicab which was on the counter side of the traffic flow block my way. It was a head to head face off. I did not budge because I was on the right of way and neither did the taxicab in front of me. I felt that the volcano inside me was already about to erupt, but I still kept my cool because my wife was with me. But seeing the cab driver smiling as if nothing serious was happening I began to feel the magma in me now inevitably rising, and fast. I remember what the character in one of my favorite tv program when I was young was saying before he turned into a violent creature, " Sir, please don't make me angry, you will not like me when I'm angry!". I got off the car the car and was already about to confront the driver when he decided to back off. It was either he saw the fire in my eyes or felt compassion to the white-haired old man in front of him that made him changed his mine. And so I was able to escape from the "warzone"
      But what caused the deadly traffic jam that could have led to to a near street bloodbath? Unbelievable but true. A production outfit of one tv giant network was having a taping in the middle of the road! Every motor vehicle was forced to a standstill and every person in the neighborhood was out there in the area to witness the taping and have a glimpse of their favorite stars. So the situation became more chaotic.

      I cannot help but asked myself the following questions: 1) Why did the local/barangay officials issued permit to the production unit considering the time and place of the activities. 2}Why would the executives of this giant tv network allow their production personnel to inconsiderately conduct a taping on such critical time of the day in a very busy thoroughfare at that? Its inconceivable that a giant network who prides itself and the entire media to be one if not the most upright institution in our society would be so callous to to ignore the sentiments of the motorists on that day. Its insane but it is common occurence  in our country.

      Yesterday, the people were clueless. There was no direction. There was not a single traffic enforcer to handle the situation. Discipline was lost. A case of  "to each his own". This traffic situation is just a typical reflection of what our country is - a "headless chicken"