The Truth Trip

“I do recall that every moment spent was wasted time
But then I chose to lay it on the line

I want this all my life…”

The maroon passenger van left the wet terminal at around 4:15 in the afternoon. All I had with me was my overnight kit, an extra shirt and high hopes that I’d be able to get a ticket for a concert of a lifetime. As I stared at the blurry scenes of the road on the way to Naga City, my mind raced back to the very start of this fan trip.
The year was 1978 and I was about to enter senior high. The music of the times was folk rock. Most of the guys in school were into Eric Clapton and CSNY. To stand out, I needed to lay my hands on music that would tow me away from Saturday Night Fever and make me “one of the boys.” First step was to learn to play the guitar. And so I did.
“A Horse With No Name” had only two basic chords and was the easiest one to learn. The next was “Ventura Highway” that could be acceptably played also with two chords. I later understood that it had actually more than four. When I soon became skilled to play the keyboards, I made sure that America songs were on my list. To familiarize myself with their music, I borrowed the LP ‘History’ (America’s Greatest Hits) from one of my friends. I started collecting their albums whenever and wherever I found them. I got hooked to America from then on.

By the time I got back to my senses, the van had entered the outskirts of Naga. I began to be uneasy. A couple of weeks earlier, word got around that the tickets were already sold out. Did I travel for more than an hour for nothing? Nevertheless, I stuck to my original plan and that was to hang-out outside the University of Nueva Caceres (UNC) Sports Palace and just listen in.
I met up with my friend Alex, who is also fan, at the San Francisco Church. Both of us had no tickets yet and he agreed to my plan just in case. When we arrived at the site, the large crowd I expected to see was not there and it was already 6:45 PM. To our delightful surprise, tickets were still being sold at the gate. We hurried inside and looked for the best seats our tickets could afford.
I only realized that my dream had come true when I saw Dewey Bunell, Gerry Beckley and the rest of their band begin playing. I just stood astounded all throughout the event. There they were, right in front of me, and in person: the band I have admired for more than thirty years. What made me bowl over was the song ‘Old Man Took.’ It is one of the most inspiring songs I have ever known. Although I prayed for it, I never expected them to play it that night.

When they made their bow, I began to slowly make my way out through the crowd who were asking for an encore. By the time I was outside the gates, Gerry Beckley came back with his acoustic version of ‘All My Life.’ As I walked alone towards UNC’s main gate, Dewey Bunell was singing ‘A Horse With No Name’ with the whole band. Like all their other songs, it is a part of the story of my life.

“On the first part of the journey
I was looking at all the life
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
There was sand and hills and rings
The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
And the sky with no clouds
The heat was hot and the ground was dry
But the air was full of sound

I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain

After two days in the desert sun
My skin began to turn red
After three days in the desert fun
I was looking at a river bed
And the story it told of a river that flowed
Made me sad to think it was dead

You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name'
Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain

After nine days I let the horse run free'
Cause the desert had turned to sea
There were plants and birds and rocks and things
there was sand and hills and rings
The ocean is a desert with it's life underground
And a perfect disguise above
Under the cities lies a heart made of ground
But the humans will give no love

You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name'
Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain..."


The music of America is indeed the perfect combination of melody, lyrics and values. That night I became a more inspired musician and most importantly, an enhanced human being.

The Loner

As I walk down the streets of pain
People stop to call my name
I just look down and close my eyes
While they try to say something nice
I don’t care what these idiots say
I just want to go my way
I wish they would leave me alone
Under the rain and cold to the bone

I am teary-eyed, don’t look at me
I want some peace, don’t talk to me
Don’t smile at me, I’m feeling down
Just leave me be to roam about town

Past the shops I go through the center square
Up the hill and back when there’s no one there
The graveyard seems to keep me company
They don’t stare at me, they leave me be
I lay myself in the alleys of dirt
While suspicious folks are on alert

I am teary-eyed, don’t look at me
I want some peace, don’t talk to me
Don’t smile at me, I’m feeling down
Just leave me be to roam about town

Do not be mean but understand
A man like me cannot command
The whole wide world as we can see
And all its troubles so leave me be
Just let me through when we meet each other
I would appreciate it if you won’t be a bother

I am teary-eyed, don’t look at me
I want some peace, don’t talk to me
Don’t smile at me, I’m feeling down
Just leave me be to roam about town

(Photo from: upload.bebo.com)

Street Suckers (Part 2)

The moment these diligent drivers arrive from Daraga then turn into Penaranda Street, their predicament starts. Whether or not passengers voluntarily board their vehicles is not the issue anymore. For every passenger, a driver should have to give his share to these leeches. Most of the time drivers choose to forego the loading and unloading zones located (on both the access points of the large store) literally controlled by these unscrupulous individuals. As a result, they risk losing precious clients in this highly competitive business of public transport.

The continued existence of this group of roadside bandits has long been brought to the attention of the authorities but still they continue to thrive. The earlier resolution was to field a couple of foot patrols but these roaming cops have to contend with hide-and-seek antics. The fiends were able to pattern the patrol’s routine and soon they were at it again. Later on it was agreed that an officer known for his tough stance against street punks was assigned to the area. He however became “too friendly” with the bullies so they became bolder. The notoriety of this enforcer doubled when word floated around that he had a cut from the loot. To makes things worse, he allegedly confiscated the licenses of uncooperative drivers. It was also alleged that this cop had the drivers secure the release of their licenses in his residence. The drivers had no choice but to comply if they needed to continue feeding their families. To date, no one has confirmed nor denied these allegations. The officer in question was later reprimanded and reassigned to another beat but was spotted again in the same area a week prior to this column’s receipt of the letter. It is widely known that cynics believe that there are no such things as coincidences.

Meanwhile, there is an organization of drivers and operators that is supposed to look out for their welfare but it seems that it has limited itself to strikes and protests against fuel hikes. Even the Traffic Division of the Legazpi Police appears to be useless with regards to the issue. Do the besieged drivers have to go higher for the problems to be acted upon?

There are two evident issues at hand: first, the loading and unloading zones behind LCC Mall are not terminals. It is for public function and should not be under the supervision of anyone else except the city government. Any group or person using the designated areas for any other reason should be made answerable to the city government. If for instance the areas are to be converted into satellite terminals, the move should undergo the regular process just like any other statute and that includes proper consultation with all those affected. That suggestion however is not feasible because it opens up all new serious concerns like traffic congestion and privatization. If these persons in question are acting as agents of the city government, they should at least be wearing identification cards to prove such.

Second, no driver should be made to pay a single peso to anyone when he loads passengers in these zones as he has already paid the required dues to the powers that be. Any collection beyond that in the name of traffic maintenance or anything else may be considered illegal. It could even be classified as pure extortion that could result to arrest if one is caught in the act. If a driver gives any amount voluntarily is beside the issue as that would encourage others to also prey on the public vehicles in other thoroughfares.

Finally, there is a very strong possibility that these street suckers are being coddled or at the very least, being permitted to practice their trade. If this is true, we do not need to do the math to surmise that the protectors are making a reaping out of the problem. No one will ever believe that those who are in-charge have clean hands unless they themselves get rid of these vicious vampires soon. The longer they delay, the bigger the suspicion.

STREET SUCKERS (Part 1)

For the first time, this blog received a letter this week. It came from a jeepney driver. Part of the letter was omitted for space and the most important part has been edited to suit the format of this site.

“Ako po ay isang tsuper na matagal nang namamasada dito sa Legazpi. Sa trabaho ko pong ito napa-tapos ang aking kaisa-isang anak na ngayon ay isa nang public school teacher. Mahal na mahal ko po ang aking trabaho at dahil po dito patuloy po akong kumakayod kahit wala na po akong pinapa-aral. Ang akin pong idinudulog ay hindi lang po para sa akin kundi para din pos a aking mga kapwa tsuper na tinitiis na lang ang problema.
Maaring alam na po ng karamihan na diyan po sa sentro ng lungsod, ay marami pong naglilipana na mga “barker” na humihingi po ng patong na limang piso sa tuwing may sumasakay na pasahero. Sa totoo lang po, kahit po wala sila ay may sasakay at sasakay lalo na kung ‘rush-hour.’ Ang nakakalungkot po ay kahit na hindi nila tinawag na pasahero basta sumakay at insigida limang piso kaagad ang hinihingi nila sa kawawang driver. Pag-hindi bumigay ang tsuper, ito ay kanilang binabantaan ng masama.
Dagdag pa nito ay iilan ang mga pwesto ng mga ito sa lungsod. Dalawa sa LCC, isa sa may monumento at dalawa sa may doughnut outlet kung saan okupado nila ang tig-isang kanto. Kung ang limang pwesto na ito ay hihingi ng tig-lilimang piso iyan ay malinaw na 25 pesos sa isang round. Kawawa naman ang mga driver!
Ipinaabot na namin ang problemang ito sa mga pulis at nangako naman sila na ito ay bibigyan nila ng aksyon subali’t nauulit parin ang mga pangyayaring ito lalo na kung walang nakabantay sa mga bandidong ito! Ano po an gaming gagawin? Hindi na po talaga namin kaya na patuloy na maging biktima ng mga sakim na barker at dispatcher!”

Last Sunday, this writer was able to confirm that there are indeed several self-proclaimed dispatchers at the mentioned areas. Before we go into the specified issues ventilated by the sender of the letter, please allow this column to dish out its manifestations on the matter.
Our first stop is Penaranda Street behind this popular mall downtown. Drivers have to stop to unload shoppers exactly at the rear entrance as it is the most accessible way into the said establishment. After unloading, these jeeps also pick up passengers who have just finished shopping. This action unfortunately costs the drivers five pesos. If one refuses to pay up, he receives, at the very least, a volley of threats and invectives from these vultures. Continuous refusal to give in may invoke worse actions. Most of the time, the driver is forced to shell out. Others, wanting to save up and avoid an altercation, do not stop at this site anymore.

First of all, this road is not a jeep terminal. The public utility vehicles (PUVs) are supposed to load and unload commuters only and not park and wait for customers to fill their jeeps. The reason most PUV’s do not leave until they are filled is mainly because of these street suckers who prey on the drivers who try very hard to honestly earn their keep. Traffic obstruction is of course another issue to contend with. (To be continued...)

(Photo courtesy of www.batch2006.com)

Stop PGMA's Con-Ass!

Final Failure

“We are at the critical point of human existence.” So goes the words of former US vice president Al Gore during his presentation, An Inconvenient Truth. That was three years ago. How far have we gone? Can we face ourselves in the mirror and honestly say “We did our best?” Has there been any improvement? I doubt it. This is one of those rare moments when this writer must get straight to the point.

We are not doing enough to uphold Republic Act 8749 otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999. In Legazpi City alone, there are still quite a number of motor vehicles belching out black smoke like there was no tomorrow. Any pedestrian would attest to the fact that there are still jeepneys and tricycles that have been granted franchises but are still perennial smoke-belchers. This cursed condition is not only limited to public transport but also to some private cars and delivery trucks. The problem persists despite the existence of anti smoke-belching stations and the pronounced firmness of the mandated agencies. Sadly, there are ailments from these offices that need to be cured.

In addition, the local governance seemed intent at first to fully implement an ordinance banning smoking in public conveyances. But even that is slowly dwindling. Some drivers and passengers still continue to violate this statute unimpeded. This writer is a witness to countless infringements of drivers and passengers alike. In one instance, a driver (Loop 1) immediately lit a cigarette while in transit the moment he reached Brgy. Bogtong, a spot which is still well within the city limits. There is an old saying, “When the cat is away, the mouse will play.” To field more enforcers may be a good reposition but not the final solution.

There are still other desecrations against the natural world and they do not need to be pointed out to make a statement. These two above-mentioned examples alone are basis enough to conclude that we still do not comprehend the crucial phase our environment is undergoing now. We still do not have the faintest idea of how dangerously close the human race is to extinction. The point of no return in which Gore so eloquently described in the film may be this moment. It is the condition wherein the damage to the environment is already irreversible. The polar ice caps will continue to melt at a faster rate. The sea levels will rise and the coral reefs would now be totally unsupportive of marine life. Natural calamities would keep on increasing in strength and frequency. New life threatening viruses and diseases would persist and repetitively plague the globe. And that will be just the beginning. What comes after that is too horrifying to picture.

If that is the case, then, we miserably failed. We failed not only ourselves but the entire existence of every living thing on the face of the earth. And that is the final failure mankind will ever commit. (Photo courtesy of www.sciencecastle.com)

The Fart King

He is known as Manuel to us
Reputation not for his intellect in the class
But for something else far more distinctive
Whiffs of several kinds you can never forgive

At sunrise comes the first blow
A premonition of a day to follow
While still in bed he screeches
You’d think it went through his breeches

In the shower of the early morn
The second bomb engulfs the dorm
The third while we are all donning our clothing
The fourth on the way to the chapel for praying

After each Bible verse he goes
Out his back and to everybody’s nose
Even the celebrant priest is in dismay
Whenever the wind carries it his way

At breakfast, in class and even during snacks
We wished on our heads we all wore sacks
For there is no immediate way of stopping
The royal smell of the Fart King

We count to more than a hundred at the day’s end
The Guinness’ Book of World Records would surely bend
We go back to our bunks in the dormitory to rest
Poor Manuel tries to control it with all his best

As everybody settles down to sleep
The beadle warns our mouths to keep
While silence lands and out goes the light
A last hurrah disturbs the night!

(Photo courtesy of www.sodahead.com)

Dragon Defender

The call came on my cell phone around four o’clock in the afternoon. I had just risen from my nap and quickly answered it. It was Reggie (not his real name), an operative of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). I knew immediately that there was something going on. He immediately gave the description of an unmarked car that was to pick me up at a shop near my house in about 30 minutes.
I recalled the first time I met the guy while I gathered up my gear. It was less than a year earlier in Naga City and during another drug-sting-operation. I was thrilled for having been chosen to cover another undertaking by the said agency. After checking if I had everything I needed, I proceeded to the rendezvous and got the ride after a 15-minute wait.

After another 20 minutes, we arrived at a village on the outskirts of Ligao City. The throng of onlookers by the road made me suspect at first that the mission was over, not yet anyway. Reggie met me at the entrance to a dusty side road and cleared me through the cops guarding the perimeter.
A few meters away, a man being frisked came into view. I found out that the suspect and his wife were the targets of a search warrant. To make sure that they got their marks, the agents earlier conducted a ‘buy-bust’ exercise and were able to collar the husband selling a couple of sachets containing shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) to a poseur-buyer. Amazingly the pregnant wife and the six small children were able to escape. It was believed that they were being cuddled by sympathetic neighbors or relatives nearby. Unfortunately, the warrant only covered one house and nothing more.

This is just one of the daily routines of PDEA agents in their continuing battle to rid the Philippines of illegal drugs. By allowing members of the media to be embedded in their activities, they are sending a message that their job is not that easy as others may think. It is tiring, dangerous and most of the time frustrating.

I never fully understood what they meant by ‘frustrating’ as the drugs they recovered were substantial enough to build a formidable case in court. Later, a source whispered to me that the agents believe that there is a possibility that the suspect was being protected by one of their own. At that moment I knew that I had a real story on my hands.

(AUTHR'S NOTE: This is just a prelude to a formal article about to be written. How soon it will be finished will depend on how soon the critical facts are gathered and properly documented. All photos courtesy of PDEA)

Acrylic Art

When one is in between jobs, time is not scarce. How this treasure can be spent depends on an individual's mood, intellect and imagination.

This is exactly what I went through.

What started as a simple activity to ease my boredom turned out to be one of the greatest discoveries of my life. The passion still continues but a journey back to that time is what I need to analyze the present and look forward with high hopes to the future.

For me, painting is not only an expression but a window into a person's innermost thoughts and emotions. It is almost a perfect picture of the way he looks at his existence in relation to his environment.

These are just five of the several frames I have created at that chapter of this book I call 'Life.'