To live in Metro Manila is to build character. It makes one tolerant, patient—and ridiculously optimistic.
We’ve said a mouthful over the past few months regarding the state of the MRT3. Despite the inconveniences—no, the dangers—of using it, people still line up and squeeze themselves into overcrowded coaches just to get to their destination.
And because the glitches happen with such great frequency that their absence would be surprising, people have been conditioned to expect the least from the train service.
Never mind that it’s neither efficient nor safe. Never mind that it has deteriorated even as the number of passengers have increased. At least it’s running, they say.
It’s the same way with traffic.
People have learned to automatically make up excuses for the traffic. It’s Monday. It’s Christmas. It’s Friday. It’s a payday. It’s Saturday. It’s raining. It’s rush hour. There’s an accident.
But we find that traffic is still bad even if it’s not Christmas, even it’s not Monday, Friday or Saturday, even if it’s not payday, even when the sun is shining, even during off-peak hours, and even when there are no accidents.
What, then, is the remaining excuse? We believe our officials know this but are either too overwhelmed or too lethargic to do anything of consequence.
The holidays will pass and we will be surprised if traffic eases and public transportation would become more bearable. Yes, we have set our bar that low.
We set out to find change, and things are changing, indeed—just not in the direction we want.