It started last January 18, 2016. Valero street was no longer a Loading Zone. In fact is also became a No Unloading Zone. And then Hell came in a Handbasket.
For the average Makati CBD commuter, it does not start upon getting off the UV Express. It commences at the peeking of the sun at dawn. Thousands would be at the UV Express Terminals or makeshift terminals from all points of Mega Manila. Be it in Cavite, the foothills of San Mateo, Rizal, Marikina City, Pasig City, Fairview in Quezon City and even in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. It is well known that thousands of Makati based workers emanate from these places. So at the crack of dawn, newly bathed, properly dressed and carrying their laptops, baon and other essentials, they fall in line. The terminals are not the efficient types wherein one really knows the exact time each UV Express Shuttle will arrive. Sometimes they come, sometimes they do not. It is like one of those Stephen King short-stories, the revolt of trucks, toys that come alive and the suspense of the unexpected. Thus, schedules are subject to the vagaries of whatever the gods of vagaries tend to throw at these mortals who are lined up.
The lines get longer, the sun gets higher and it is already hot. Or the lines get longer and the rains get stronger. Really, if there were a scale on what the sorriest, most miserable creatures in the world, these commuters will give them a run for their money. And you know what? They may grumble among themselves but in reality they do not organize to make their complaints heard to the gods of the barangay, municipality or the gods of the UV Express. In fact, they may be better educated and well mannered, but the barkers and dispatchers whom are not qualified to clean their shoes shout at them and make them line up like cattle. All these insults are ignored, just so that one can ride so as to get to work.
Then one has finally ridden the shuttle. A shuttle that was designed for 14 has 18 cramped into it. A Mitsubishi Adventure that has capacity for 8 has 10 packed in it. One may get the ride but yes, one still has to suffer the discomfort of being like lemmings in shiny metal boxes as Sting would sing it. The traffic has to be endured and it is also a fact that being boxed in in cramped spaces adds to stress thus, one has not even arrived, a significant amount of strength has been siphoned off starting by standing in line and also by the effort to breathe inside the cramped shuttle. And then the Golden Mile of Ayala Ave. is it hand. Gleaming spires of steel and glass and one has arrived. But alas, unlike before, one gets to be unloaded at the front of the old Prudential Bank building, the building with those pillars (alright, I am old!). One can no longer get off at Valero where it is closer to RCBC Plaza. The writer has talked to many kindred souls about it and their opinion was mostly negative. It is a walk of 15 minutes. It may seem fine now since we are still benefitting from the Amihan, but come summer and Habagat, the thought makes one jumpier than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I almost slugged a wag who said that it was good exercise for me, I was recovering from pneumonia and someday I will deal with these health nuts. But I digress, once one has reached one’s building after that “Death March”, one’s strength physically and emotionally and mentally would have already ebbed and one knows that one is busier than a one legged man in an ass-kicking contest.
Hereunder is the Traverse:
And it gets repeated everyday!
So who do we turn to? Shall we pray to the gods of MAPA? ALI? UV Express? Imhotep? Lao Pan?
Who can deliver us from these daily travails. We would be very thankful if the old Unloading/Loading arrangements be restored. We do not ask for more. We buy our own Starbucks Coffee.
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