My scheduled traffic court hearing got canceled today apparently due to the current political situation over at Makati City Hall, where the adjudication office is located. It’s too bad because I was really eager to get the whole thing over with.

As a side note, Makati Mayor Binay is in a lot of heat, which to me and to most people I know, is what was to be expected because of his affiliation with the current Philippine government’s opposition group. I personally think that Mayor Binay and company are doing a great job running the city. My traffic ticket woes might have been because of the overly strict “Republic of Makati” ordinances, but then again, I’d rather be caught here in Makati instead of anywhere else. It isn’t his fault that some of these MAPSA traffic guys are just not that competent enough in fulfilling their roles (the majority are competent, mind you, I wouldn’t want to incur their wrath, would I? Ha!). Oh well, at least they’re a whole lot better than most of the MMDA traffic aides out there.

I wonder where our country is headed. With our leaders squabbling non-stop, what hope is there for us? I guess we’ll just have to continually strive to be good citizens, and to pray.

I would want to live by the maxim: Leadership, Friendship and Service. I just hope our leaders do the same.

When it rains, it pours. I had a week’s worth of rotten luck with our car, “Puti”.

Incident 1: Date: Friday, October 6, 7:00PM.
Violation: Blocking the Buendia-Ayala pedestrian lane.
End Result: Traffic Violation Ticket plus my driver’s license got confiscated. I have filed a complaint with the Makati City Adjudication Office and a hearing is scheduled on the 17th.

My thoughts: I was wrongfully charged. It was a little over 7PM when we were driving Eastbound through heavy traffic along Buendia. We were caught between yellow and red traffic signals as we were about to cross the Ayala-Buendia intersection, which naturally forced me to stop. But I couldn’t come to a complete halt immediately because of the cars that were tailgating me. And so I ended up blocking part of the Buendia pedestrian lane and had no way of backing up or moving forward. A traffic enforcer comes up to me, asks for my driver’s license, says some jibberish, doesn’t hear me out, and finally cockily gives me a ticket and says he would’t have given me a ticket if I had just said sorry and didn’t contest the “violation”. Yeah right! I did apologize and I didn’t even lift my voice. I guess some people really have selective hearing. And whatever happened to fighting for what you believe is right? See you in court buddy!

Incident 2: Date: Wednesday, October 11, 5:30PM.
Violation: Illegal Parking. The car was parked facing the wrong way.
End Result: The car got towed.
Damage: Php 1,000.00 towing and impound fee.

My Thoughts: My fault. Sorry. Guilty as charged. Tsk!