Fear?

Traffic-free Ortigas

A day after a bomb exploded on a bus along EDSA in Buendia, taking the life of five of its passengers, I took a bus ride to Manila. I wasn't hesitant to take the bus because I felt that a bomb explosion taking place a day after a bomb incident was not very likely. It created fear, however. At the bus terminal, I particularly chose to sit in front near the door, thinking  that it was the safest place to be in. My place gave me a better view of the passengers coming in. Staring at people's faces is a rude thing that I do, but this time, doing it was more for vigilance than anything. I looked at their bags, too. I knew I was not being paranoid. Or was I? Fear, as I mentioned, got the better of me. I observed the bus conductor if he was checking not only the tickets but the baggage as well. In brief, I was particularly worried for dear life.

Law-abiding pedestrians

The incident in EDSA was purely evil, a work of terror, and they successfully instilled fear. It might take a few days until this cautious attitude would wear off. No person deserved to live in fear, and no person deserved to die due to a devil's work. I'd like my next bus or jeepney ride to fear-free. Good that I had a good friend sitting and chatting beside me as we traveled the whole stretch of Alabang-Zapote Road to the equally-busy Taft Avenue in Manila.

At Robinson's Manila, the sight of many foreigners, white men mostly, with local ladies was a comforting picture to an already bad image the country had been getting (I am not hinting that sex trade might be our saving grace in luring international tourism, though.).

What transpired at Rob-Manila was the usual Filipino malling experience that included watching a movie, eating some fastfood and doing a lot of window shopping.

I made it safely back home after an hour of FX travel. That was my Happy Teachers' Day Celebration.

On carnapping and car ownership

Ortigas

 News nowadays makes it appear that owning a car in the country holds big risks. The news on carnapping and the killing that goes with it could send shivers to any car owner. In light of the recent crimes involving cars, a cop even suggested not to buy cars. I will be heeding that suggestion for now as financial limitation sounds to be a 'poor' reason for not having one. hehe. But I'll surely get my hands on my own automobile once PCSO has drawn my lucky combination.

As of presstime, the law agency is declaring the recent killing of two car dealers as nearly 'SOLVED.' The heinous act committed onto those two could really make people demand for the death penalty. I won't even think of being thankful for not owning a car, for no person, car-owner or not, not even an animal, should be subjected to any form of monstrosity.

Carnapping has been a lucrative job in the country since the time when demand for cheap cars rose. Everybody wants to have a piece of luxury in a country where luxury is god. Admittedy, I am part of that 'everybody,' and I also share in the rest of the population's interest in cheap cars because no teaching job could ever afford me a brand new one. Like most people, I'll probably settle for a pre-owned car, preferably a car whose owner I know. So, if you are reading this, and you a have car that you want to sell, introduce yourself to me and we will talk in five years, ok?

Kidding aside, anyone can be a victim of crime. There really is no way of saying when tragedy strikes, in the same way with luck. Much as I would like to hit it big with lotto, I know that it will never happen. It starts with betting, you know, which is something I don't do. Vigilance has to start somewhere else, too.



Makati



Jeepney crimes

A September 24, 2010 Inquirer.net article about crime incidents involving commuters in Paranaque and Taguig came out. An excerpt:

   Police on Friday warned the public against crimes committed in the areas of Taguig and Parañaque, especially those carried out on commuters.

   The warning was issued following the arrest Thursday night of three suspects who were said to be victimizing jeepney passengers between the East Service Road in Parañaque City and SM Bicutan in Taguig City.

Isn't it too early for these kinds of crimes to be rampant? If I remember it right, these crimes should reach its peak in a month's time, in October or November, when people's wallets have their fill of their bonuses. For criminals, those months including December are their peak season, so they, too, can extravagantly enjoy the birth of our merciful Lord and Savior.

In reality, there isn't much that poor commuters can do when they are faced with gun-pointing devils whose purpose is to get their hard-earned money by use of either force or fear. I hear stories that jeepney-riding criminals indiscriminately take bags, wallets, cellphones and jewelry from passengers; they do this quickly. To prevent further harm, police advise not to fight back and to just give in to the criminals' demands. The whole of the 13th-Month Salary just for the robbers? No way! Something can be done.

One good money advise I learned is never to bring big amounts of money. I don't get to do this since I never get to hold big amounts of money, unless you consider a teacher's salary big. When I get my salary, I only withdraw small amounts or transfer the whole amount to another account. These transactions I do in secured locations like banks and malls. How about in the absence of banks? How do you carry money when you are in transit?

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I hear the most inventive ways to carry money. People particularly from the province who come to the big city bringing with them loads of cash in their person and market vendors after spending the day from work do any of the following:

1. They stick money inside their underwear specifically inside the bras of women. It is always amusing to see them pay the fare as they get the money from their bra!
2. They fold paper bills nicely and place them inside their shoes. One-hundred pesos worth of coins will simply not work here. Caps may also be used.
3. They use unconventional money containers such as plastic shopping bags and handkerchiefs.

For people carrying luggage, they have what it takes for them to be good smugglers, drug couriers and customs tax evaders! They surely know how to hide stuff! Known and unknown hiding places are among the underwear, inside document envelopes and books, and inside small unassuming pouches and small hidden pockets of the luggage.

Despite the precautions commuters take, there is always an existing threat coming from these bad elements. I would really like to think that with our vigilance and the police's response, all the criminals will be stamped out soon. But, of course, you perfectly know that this is just my wishful thinking.