Vigan

Vigan, for me, would have been the best place in the Philippines to take a ‘kalesa’ (horse-drawn carriage) ride, but I did not. It was an opportunity missed, but I took what was a far second best option --- the tricycle. So here are my shots of the streets of Vigan aboard the tricycle.

I did not have an idea as to how much the fare cost. I simply just gave 10 pesos for a short afternoon trip from the Plaza to my hotel since I felt that 10 pesos would be reasonable for the distance traveled and the locale I was in . The driver did not complain and sped off. Afterwards, I confirmed with the hotel personnel the fare. He added that drivers would charge more at night. Well, the idea that streets lengthen at night  is not exactly new to me. 

Not taking the kalesa was not a complete  loss, however.  Vigan is best enjoyed on foot. The ‘old’ district is a little more than a square kilometer I think. It was a delight to be walking on the streets of Vigan, particularly Crisologo Street. I would occasionally cross paths with foreigners, but frequently with local tourists. The colors and scents emanating from the souvenir, craft and food shops confirmed the thriving tourism in Vigan, and it was not even a weekend when we went there. Vigan’s appeal rests on the feeling and mood it invokes in its visitors. The place is a tremendous source of Filipino pride for me. To be able to freeze a town’s architecture and structure that showcase a lifestyle that mirrors Filipino life then and now is a feat worth recognizing. UNESCO came ahead of me in recognizing the town’s charm when it inscribed Vigan as a World Heritage Site.

As I said, Vigan is best explored on foot, and this I did with much passion. So here are my ‘on foot’ photos.

They have these trykes, too.

For P150, you get to tour Vigan. I would have spent this much for the experience if time permitted. Our schedule was full.

Calle Crisologo

Oops...This one was taken from the hotel balcony.

Jeepney Argument

One topic led to another, and eventually to the issue of traffic congestion in Manila. 

“They should just ban all jeepneys, and stop being sentimental about them.”

My face cringed. Someone saw my expression and asked me what I thought of the statement.

“I am a commuter,” I said vehemently. 

Jeepney rider

Another jeepney rider

“I am a semi-commuter also, but jeeps just cause much of the traffic. And of course there is the issue on environment,” a car owner who occasionally commutes said.

I could not take a word more, and tried to compose an argument in my head.

The traffic problem in Manila is not only attributed to the existence of jeepneys. 

Before I could even say anything as if I was ready for some debate, the talk on jeepneys ended, and a new topic emerged.

That brief sharing of opinions gave me a glimpse of how the people around me think on that subject.

Perhaps, if you’re on the driver seat, you see things differently as compared to the things seen from the passenger seat. Perhaps, a driver who has forgotten how to commute and has no recollection of commuting or being poor would not understand why I reacted strongly. 

I will not forever defend the jeeps, but I know very well why I and countless other Filipinos take them. The jeeps are not perfect, this we already know, but unless we have other options, we will keep on enjoying our jeepney rides.

It was a topic so close to my heart that I talked it out to another person later that day. 

“The (jeepney) body has to be modified. It should fit more people. Environmental laws should be applied to all jeepneys. It’s a pity we have “Clean Air Act” but public transports violate this law. But to totally take them off the streets would be a loss to our heritage,” he said as I sat on the passenger seat of his car. 

I thought he made sense, and he did not sound arrogant.

For as long as (1) I don’t have a car, (2) there’s no efficient mass transport system servicing the entire metropolis, (3) my desire to continuously have an affinity with the common people is not taken away, (4) I am poor, and (5) I want to, I shall take the jeep. And if you happen to ride with me, say ‘hi,’ will you?

FX Rider

Airport post

Checking in at Zamboanga International Airport

Zamboanga Airport

At Zamboanga International Airport 1/1/12

Morning flights to Manila were diverted to Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, Pampanga because of the heavy smog enveloping the airport area, the three airlines announced in their Facebook accounts. I was alarmed upon learning about this in the early morning of the first day of 2012; I am flying back to Manila in the afternoon. At nine in the morning, I was relieved to find out that the operations in the country’s premier airport had been back to normal. I just imagine the celebrations, the smoke, in Manila the night before. Zamboanga, of course, had its share in the revelry. When the morning broke, our maid, Manang, already cleared the house of any remnant of the revelry, and I partook of what’s left of the Media Noche dinner, took a bath, packed my things and readied myself for my flight back to Manila.

Again, I am writing this blog post at the airport. It’s an hour before my estimated time of departure, and there is no way of saying if we are leaving on time. Airline advisories have informed passengers that there might be delays brought about by the closure of the Manila airport in the morning.  I am not going to be surprised if our flight is delayed. I shall make use of the time contemplating and doing other things to while the time away.

The pre-departure area is slowly creeping with people. ABS-CBN’s ASAP is on, and my attention is divided between finishing this post and watching the dance and song numbers. And if I have a short post, please understand that I have chosen to watch TV. Hehehe! It’s ten minutes before our scheduled boarding, and there has not been any sign of a plane leaving. I think we have a delayed flight. 

For a 40-peso terminal fee, you get a fan in a not-so-well-lit pre-departure area.

I shall post this in Manila the moment I get an Internet connection. For now, I leave you with this greeting: “Happy New Year! May 2012 be a great source of many things for us!”

 In Paranaque 1/1/12

 I arrived safely; the sky was clear and not a trace of the smog that caused the airport to close. Oh well, a new year has begun. And yes, our flight was two hours delayed.

No tube for us. The stairs we must take.

In view: Cebu Pacific Baggage Carousel

I like how the fluorescent lamps reflect on the floor

Mass at the airport