The Megaphone

June 14, 2008

There’s this intersection in Noveleta where traffic tends to get jammed. You must be thinking, “oh, traffic jam, cool, it’s everywhere” but think twice to include the fact that Noveleta is a very small town near the heart of Cavite—where cows are still used to sell trinkets, goats roam freely in green spaces—ideally, traffic jams should be unheard of. But there’s this intersection, and it makes impossible things possible. I’ve been stuck there for a record time of thirty minutes.

 

No, but really, the lack of discipline by the drivers and the absence of the proper authorities to regulate the traffic are to be blamed. In this intersection, there are two spots that mini buses use as mini-terminals in the narrow, two-lane intersection. I know right! Only in the Philippines, swear. The drivers (while playing Bon Jovi cassettes or Love Radio in full volume) amble along waiting for passengers, not caring shit about the rest of the world waiting for them to move the hell out of the way. Of course, it totally helps that there are no traffic lights in this intersection.

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