Habitual bitchin’

Right after learning that the BOC or Bureau of Customs had donated and turned over the 600,000 car plates to the Land Transportation Office, I had imagined that it would be the bit of good news that many car owners would welcome after years of delays and plate payments made. How wrong I was.

It seems that without batting an eyelash, the habitual haters, critics and self appointed experts simply can’t help their addiction for bashing and immediately dished out sarcasm, suspicion and derision. Given that the current head of the BOC, Commissioner Bert Lina and the new LTO Chief Roberto Cabrera had nothing to do with creating the license plate mess and are trying to create a solution and are risking their necks skating on thin legal ice, the very least we can ALL do is to simply watch and wait until we all receive our car plates, be thankful and try to show a little support if not appreciation.

However complicated and frustrating the situation may be. There is no denying that the two gentlemen are trying to resolve the matter. They deserve help not curses.

While I understand people being angry, unhappy and annoyed, this latest development has also revealed to me that some people and not just in media, are hopeless addicts to their opinion and bashing of government for the simplest of sins not in the interest of better public service, but rather to make themselves look good, intelligent and authoritative. Good deeds and good calls deserve praise nothing else.

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Speaking of limited knowledge, Leni Robredo has been asking or wanting to know why Chiz Escudero failed to do something about DAP and PDAF as a Senator. The question is also an accusation, both of which cannot be “answered or be pinned” on Chiz Escudero because the Senate and the House of Representative is not managed or controlled by one person or one party and certainly not by a mere committee chairman.

If Robredo insists on asking such questions she should ask her party mates why the Freedom of Information bill or the Anti-Political Dynasty bill never prospered in spite of the fact that her Patron Saint PNoy promised to push for them. Was it because the system demanded for several millions per Senator or Congressman, or was it because the Promise Maker was also the Promise Breaker?

While writing this column, the second Vice Presidential debate has yet to happen but Robredo should call to mind the wise words of one who said, “a person who lives in a glass house should avoid throwing stones at people.” Be careful about provoking people because they could turn around and ask questions about Mamasapano, Yolanda, Napoles and Mar. Stick to what you can and want to do. Picking fights is not your brand. That is the teaching and trademark of TRAPOS acting as Debate coaches.

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During the recently concluded Manila International Auto Show or MIAS 2016, I had a chance to experience what I call “Auto Education” courtesy of my friend Dong Magsajo who insisted that I walk through the Peugeot booth. I’m glad I came back and walked through because unlike the static display of many exhibitors, the Peugeot exhibit was a short but highly educational walk through starting with a image of an antique tools for wood and metal works in a wooden cabinet reflecting that things were handcrafted then not machine or robot made. Then photographs of old bicycles, coffee grinder, and mentions of nail clippers for horses and humans and sewing machines showing the diversity of products that manufacturers made versus specialization today.

Then followed the development and changes of the company logo portraying a Lion, and antique Lion head presumably a hood ornament in 1923, a full-bodied lion in 1925, a modernized almost art deco version in 1936, a 1948 version with extensions over the hood. All of it represented the importance of art and continued development of the corporate symbol or image.

Then on to a mural about the 200-year history of Peugeot, the fact that they were the first to use the “Numbering system” to mark different models through the decades, something many think is a “modern” idea!

The exhibit was short but it was unique and praiseworthy. In a sea of products, noise and pretty models, I got to know more about a company and its history in less than five minutes. Car manufacturers and distributors in the Philippines should do more of this type of exhibits so that the public can better appreciate the long history of cars, manufacturing and car culture both here and abroad. Congratulations to Peugeot.

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I hate to end this article on a negative note but I have to call the attention of the people managing the World Trade Center – Metro Manila because of certain things that work against their image and their name. First their obligation and responsibility should not be confined within the four walls of their exhibition pavilion. Second they should provide for the safety, comfort and convenience of their visitors especially women, children and the elderly.

WTC-MMla regularly fails to coordinate or take charge of traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian headed to the WTC-MMla. They may be coordinating with traffic authorities but the enforcers don’t show up until later and by the time early birds go to World Trade, the traffic is all clogged up. WTC-MMla should post their own traffic enforcers.

Considering the amount of people walking into the World Trade for every exhibit or event, one would think that years after being built there would already be a covered and elevated pedestrian crossing that is child friendly and convenient for the elderly. Even the walkway from the main road along the driveway is not covered to block off the hot sun or the pouring rain. Many customers of the World Trade Exhibition Center are PUV consumers and pedestrians and should be given the courtesy of having a covered walkway.

Worst of all, WTC-MMla is not friendly to the elderly, PWDs or pregnant women who don’t even have a place to sit while waiting for a ride or once they step out of the exhibit pavilion. There are no drinking fountains and no visible toilets once you are outside the building. In order to be World-Class WTC-MMla needs to think outside the box, literally outside their box.

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