Cat's Guide to Driving in Metro Manila

Hi. My name is Sugar. Driving in Metro Manila became more dangerous lately (I like to watch a lot of news on TV, you know?). And, I always wonder how Merzy fares in those perilous streets everytime she drives out in the morning. Her mother's trashbin even flies sideways when she takes out the car from the garage sometimes. I sit nervously on the window sill at night, waiting for her and praying that she comes home safe, especially during rainy days.

She forgot too many times to check her water reservoir and tires. She drives her car even in flooded areas. She honks even at pedestrians. Crazy, if want my opinion. But I love her to bits. She buys my favorite Mackerel flavored Friskies regularly and cried when I'm sick. She tries to get my litters, Bruno, Matilda and Sunshine, even though they're still too fragile to hold and I am scared to death she might drop them.

Here's my view on how to be safe on the streets:

Dealing with Stray Animals on the Road

1. PEATC and LTFRB need to look closely at major highways (i.e., Aguinaldo Highway) for the burgeoning number of squatters along the area and their wayward animals. They pose dangers to motorists.

2. Note to other pet owners: If you can't be responsible for your pet (e.g., let them roam even in highways), don't take one home. Road kill is on an uptrend even for my own kind.

3. Honk at the animals for at least 20 meters away to alert them. Our natural instinct is self-preservation but it would be impossible for us to run if your bumper is hairlength away from our fur!

Big Car Bullying

1. Public utility vehicles especially jeepneys, buses and trucks can be really nasty on the road. These drivers need to take some orientation seminar on road ethics!

2. Traffic authorities need to remind them to stay on the right lane. Maybe an implementing circular or ordinance to make the enforcement more forceful.

3. Take the offense: Keep distance and honk if they tailgate too close for comfort or try to swerve na alanganin.

4. For those monster, gas guzzlers SUVs that overtake you and snatch your rightful lane just because they're big, make their renewal of registration license a little bit harder next year by texting their irritating driving habits to LTRFB at 0921-4487777. In situations like these, do not get angry (because you will be late or get killed in case the big car driver is a psycho. Who in his right mind would counterflow and bully you out of your lane if they're not otherwise mentally deranged?) ---better to get even.

Corrupt Traffic Enforcers

1. According to Chairman Bayani Fernando, traffic officers or policemen should not take your driver's license. If you have an infraction, just take the ticket and pay them at any Metrobank branch. Let's make the traffic enforcement clean!

2. Kotong enforcers seem to be nowhere in sight during lunchbreaks, high noon at rainy days. Be extra careful during merienda times, breakfast and early evenings --- these leeches are on the prawl.

3. As a motorist, spend extra time familiarizing yourself with road signs, road courtesy and traffic rules. It's your first defense against corruption.

4. Never attempt to beat the red light in dimly lit intersections. Most traffic enforcers are just nearby hiding out in the dark or trees.

Rainy Days

1. Check your brakes and bring flashlight in car to check how deep are those flood waters before letting your car wade through it.

2. Stay in the middle. It's the best policy.

3. Apply a rain guard repellant on your windshield and side mirrors. Better to be safe than sorry.

4. Open your headlights and stop if it becomes zero visibility. Drive within the 20-40 kph range if road condition worsens.

5. Memorize the potholes, manholes and humps in your daily route including possible safe car parks where you can leave your car in case the rainwater becames too high.

The sad thing about humans is that they don't have nine lives. It really puzzles me why they can be so reckless on the road.

When Strangers Became Family: Best APG Bondings

APG Members with PGMA

We all met at the PICC during the Asia Pacific Group Conference on Anti-Money Laundering in 2006. A significant milestone with the Philippines' removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist. The event was keynoted by no less than PGMA. We served as liaison officers for the Anti-Money Laundering Council of the Philippines.

Thad and Pearl: Certified APG Loveteam!

While the event was generally successful, it had its share of logistical nightmare: lost flights, missing delegates and annoying executives. From these constraints, our plain his and hellos turned into whining banters, to extended chats and finally into meaningful conversations.

With Venus, Thad and Sir Toby at Josephine's

We hanged out a lot even after the conference. Initially just to catch up on each other but later turned out into a regular social exercise.

One of mga biglaang dinners with Sir Toby, our Jedi master

The sense of family is not exclusive to blood relations. Extended affiliations with strangers can blossom into meaningful friendships that are similarly founded on love, trust and joyous camaderie definitive of any family unit.

When Strangers Became Family: Best APG Bondings 2

One of the highs of being a part of the APG core group is having Iya and Pearl around. They're the best event organizers and can really through a fit to get everybody out of their busy schedules to attend our regular getos. It's nice because it's a chance to catch up and makipagkulitan with friends who became almost like a family to you.

Videoke session, Macapagal Boulevard

Videoke session is one of the group's favorite past time. Best singers: Olga, Jacke and Eli. The rest of us were just hang out for moral support (in case di nila maabot yung ibang notes :P).

Since we have a grand database of each other's details (e.g., birthday's and what-have-you) courtesy of Iya, we make it a point to be with each other's best moments or even kahit wala lang --- bored, stressed or naaliw lang. Last June 14th, we treated Thad for a lunchout at EDR before he leaves for a two-year study leave in Tokyo, Japan. (Real story: we felt guilty because we missed the dinner he threw for the group a night before at San Miguel by the Bay).

Thad's Despidida at EDR

With Pearl around, we can get really semi-rowdy even in places like EDR where there is higher probability to have some of your bosses also lunching out. But, who really cares?

Me and Iya in B&W (Ok pala effect)

Iya and myself have gotten close through the years because of our mutual love of writing and of late, blogging. Btw, she just launched her new book --- Bound to Last (available in Powerbooks).

New vegetarian Ms. Ding. Not sure whether she's happy with the meal.

Ms. Ding, one of our elder group members, recently turned vegetarian due to health reasons. But knowing from an aunt who is a staunch vegan (one who doesn't eat anything that came from animals and animal by product or simply anything with a face), vegetarianism is a tall order and I admire those who has the discipline to live the lifestyle although is not always a fun experience. You'll have to pass up fun family reunions because you can't eat the lechon among others. Right now, I'm happy being a carnivore (although I am trying to minimize the slaughterhouse violence by eating less red meat these days).

Soup of the Day, EDR

The meal was not exceptional but the ambiance of the EDR is good for it to be considered an ideal watering hole of highly opinionated and talkative APG members.

Vegetarian Dish daw (Parang di masarap :P)

EDR's Lechon Kawali, Thad's fave dish.

Thad: "Hmn, parang kulang sa akin ito? Tingin mo, Pearl?"

Thad promised to keep us posted of his funny experience in Tokyo for a year in a half. Although Pearl said that if he misses us, he can also send his excess lapad (student allowance) along with his emails to the group so we have sufficient funds for future getos. It was a day filled with laughter and good memories. To Thad, best of luck to you.