The untouchables

Ha? Ambilis talaga ng panahon!

Parang kalian lang, P50 ang pamasahe sa tricycle mula Robinsons hanggang Laoag. Ngayon, P60 na daw ang minimum! Totoo ba ‘to o gawa-gawa lang ng driver ng nasakyan naming tricycle upang mapagbigyan ang sigaw ng kaswapangan sa kanyang laman?

Tinanong namin ‘yung driver kung ito ba ang bagong pamasaheng inaprobahan ng mga opisyal ng San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte. Ang pa-lecture ba naman n’yang sagot: “Wala namang pakialam ang mga opisyal sa gustong naming pamasahe. Maging si mayor, walang pakialam tungkol dito!”

Ha? Ganoon? Sorry po, bobo kasi kami sa bagay na ‘yan. Pasahero lang po kami.

Matanda po kasi yung driver kaya imbes na makipagdebate kami, dinaan na lang namin sa biro ang mga usisa namin. Baka nga naman kasi totoong legal ang siningil n’ya—mapahiya pa kami! Pinatawad na lang namin at ibinaon sa limot ang kanyang sidecar number. Kinalimutan na rin namin ang apelyido ng driver na si Lolo Adriano. Ehe!

Hay! Buti pa sila lumalaki ang kita!

Kasi kung totoong walang pakialam ang mga opisyal sa ipinapatupad na pamasahe, napakadaling imanipula ng mga driver ang mga pasahero. Lalo na, wala namang magagawa ang karamihan ng “mall goers” kundi sumakay sa mga nakaabang na pila ng tricycle sa labas ng mall.

Pero sana naman, isipin din ng mga tricycle driver na hindi lahat ng pumupunta sa mall ay turista at may limpak-limpak na pera. Mas marami pa rin ang mga tulad naming dukha na nais lang mag-relax sandali, bago muling sumabak sa trabaho’t harapin ang mga problema.

Sa totoo lang, maraming reklamo ang mga pasahero laban sa ilang tricycle driver. Subalit hanggang blotter at pagbatikos lamang sa media ang nangyayari. Halos wala namang nakikitang pagbabago sa mga ugali nilang nakakasulasok.

Bakit kaya? May ginagawa ba talaga ang mga opisyal? Ang pamunuan ng Robinsons, wala bang magagawa laban sa mga pasaway na driver na umaabuso sa mga customers nila? Mga “untouchables” ba ang mga tricycle driver?

Sabi ko na nga ba e! Nag-jeepney na lang sana kami! Dahil sa taas ng pamasahe ngayon, ang tricycle na ang bagong sosyal!

***

BARD NOTES: Special thanks to INWD General Manager John Teodoro, INWD Board of Directors and all employees of Ilocos Norte Water District.

Happy bard-reading to Congresswoman Imelda R. Marcos, Mayor Chevylle V. Farinas, Vice Mayor Michael V. Farinas, Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta, Board Member James Paul “Goro” Nalupta, Mr. Efren Bartolome, Ms. Pia Salapongol, Dr. Chester Puño, Dr. Sme Juancho Estrella and Atty. Yvette Convento- Leynes.

Happy reading also to Provincial Treasurer Josephine Calajate, INEC Director JV Calajate, Ms. Cecil Nalupta and the employees of Philippine National Bank – Laoag Branch, AMA – Laoag Campus, DepEd – Laoag, Video City – Laoag, Runner’s High Specialty Shop, Land Bank of the Philippines and Ilocos Norte PNP.

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