Rush Hour 4

Yesterday saw me with a traffic violation ticket, 2 hours of late morning traffic and a taxi ramming the back of my car at around 11:30pm!!!

Since my car wasn't allowed on the streets during rush hour ("coding"), I left the house at 9:00am and started on a trip which I knew wouldn't be pleasant. As expected, I was met with heavy traffic at the Ortigas Ave stretch. It took me 45 minutes for a less than 2KM drive! As I approached the the Ortigas-EDSA intersection, a guy in a blue uniform stopped me.... I was caught!!!

"Ma'am pwede po bang makita ang lisensya nyo?"

"Di ba wala ng 'coding'? Past 9 na ah!", not willing to give the blue uniformed guy my driver's license.

"Ma'am, 10 to 3 po yung walang coding"

"Eh di ba walang coding sa Pasig???"

"Ma'am, QC na po dito..."

"Eh di ba di nyo pwedeng kunin yung lisensya ko?"

"Ma'am, di po namin kukunin yung lisensya nyo. Kukunin lang namin yung license number nyo tapos magbabayad kayo sa bangko"

With nothing else to reason out, I finally gave him my driver's license and got a traffic violation ticket.

Later that night, after watching the bowling tournament of my former office, a taxi rammed into the back of my car! I was stopped at a traffic light and the taxi's brakes were faulty!!!

I had gulped in 3 bottles of beer and I was just a tiny bit tipsy... hihihihi. Knowing this, I was careful in threading the streets of Metro Manila. But being careful doesn't always spare you from disasters because some forces beyond your control might not be as cautious! The taxi offered me 100 pesos for the damages!!!! When I reacted violently, he bargained... "Ma'am, 200 pesos po..." I wanted to laugh out loud! 200 pesos???? I told him to follow me instead to the police station but thought against it and told him to leave. I was alone, tired, and smelt of beer! Going to the police station might have done more damage than good.

In spite of everything, I still managed a good night's sleep. Thanks to the consolation of a good friend.