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Hindi tayo tatagal dito sa mundo na mas matagal sa nakatakda sa atin ng Panginoon. Hindi rin pwedeng mas maaga. Kung ano ang nakatakda, yan ang mangyayari. Yan ang aking paniniwala.
Siguro nagkataon lang ngunit ang petsa ng pagkamatay ng aking kaibigan na si Chit Estella, trustee rin ng VERA Files, ay Biyernes a-trese (Friday the 13th).Siguro nagkataon lang dahil marami namang Friday, the 13th na walang masamang nangyayari.
Ito ang usapan naming ni Ruben Alabastro ng Philippine Daily Inquirer na hindi rin sinadya, na nasa page 13 lumabas ang balita tungkol kay Chit.
Mahilig si Chit sa horoscope. Sabi ng kanyang asawang si Roland Simbulan, tuwing umaga pumunta sila sa website ng horoscope. Nang umaga ng May0 13, kilig si Chit sa kanyang horoscope na nagsabing: “Something will happen that will not only be evolutionary but revolutionary that will change your life.”
Sabi pa nga daw ni Chit, “Mananalo kaya ako ang lotto?”
Hindi pala lotto ang nangyari na hindi lamang nag-iba ng buhay ni Chit. Kinuha na siya ng Panginoon.
Unang nagkakilala kami ni Chit sa mga anti-Marcos na rally at mga forum. Reporter siya noon sa Tempo at ako naman ay sa Malaya. Hanggang lumipat na nga siya sa Malaya.
Magaling na writer si Chit. Ma-prinsipyo siya. Hindi siya katulad ng ibang journalist na mahilig mag lecture tungkol sa ethics pero ang ginagawa naman ay labag sa kanilang sinasabi.
May ibang mga reporter na pinagyayabang pa kung sila ay ina-alok ng pra o kung anong regalo para impluwensyhan ang kanilang mga sinusulat. Sa kanila siguro, ang laki ng alok ay nagpapakita ng halga niya. Mas mataas, mas importante sila.
Para kay Chit, dapat ang isang reporter ay ma-insulto kapag ina-alok ng bribe. Hindi yan dapat pinagyayabang.
Simple lang ang buhay ni Chit at ng kanyang asawa kaya siguro hindi mahirap sa kanila ang manindigan.
Ang ganda –ganda ni Chit sa kanyang pagkahimlay.. Suot niya ang damit na sana ay gagamitin niya sa kasal ng estudyante ni Roland na dadaluhan sana nila noong Sabado. Hindi na nga yun nangyari.
Maraming mga taga-media ang pumunta kahapon sa Arlington. Shocked pa rin ang lahat. Para bang ayaw pa ring maniniwala na wala na nga si Chit.
Sabi naman ni Mrs. Burgos sa harapan ng kabaong ni Chit, “Chit kapag makita mo doon si Joe, kuwento mo ang nangyayari dito.” Siguro sasabihin ni Chit na hanggang ngayon hinahanap pa rin nila nina Edith ang kanilang anak na si Jonas Burgos.
Dahil sa nangyari kay Chit, sinasabi na imbestigahan daw ang mga bus operator at kailangan ipatupad ang disiplina sa mga driver. Kung maa-ayos ang palakad ng trapik, madisiplina ang mga drivers at magiging responsable ang mga bus operators, mabibigyan ng kabuluhan ang kanyang kamatayan.
Dapat kasi ay may regular na sweldo ang mga driver at hindi umaasa sa porsyento ng kita ng kanilang mga sasakyan, para hindi sila nag-uunahang makadami ng pasahero.
Diyan lamang mahihinto ang reckless driving nila.
Dapat lang na magkaroon ng kabuluhan hindi lang kay Chit kundi para sa lahat ng biktima ng mga aksidente ng mga drivers na walang pakundangan at akala nila sila ang mga hari sa lansangan. So many lives had been wasted at the hands of these license killers in the streets of Metro Manila. It’s been long overdue na magkaroon ng mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng mga traffic rules at pagbibigay ng drivers licenses. Ang masakit kung kailan magkaroon ng aksidente lalo na kung ang biktima ay kilalang tao at kilalang public figure, doon pa lang nagkakaroon ng mga reklamo at pressure para iayos ang pagpapatupad ng batas. At kung kikilos man ang mga autoridad na magkaroon ng mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng batas, mas malamang na ito ay isang publicity stunt at ningas cogon lang that after a short while, balik sa dating gawi. So balik sa square one hanggang sa may biktima uli saka mag-ningas cogon uli. Yan ang sakit ng mga Pilipino lalo na ang mga opisyales na dapat magpatupad ng batas, kaya hindi mabigyan ng solusyon ang napakaraming traffic accidents na sumisira sa buhay ng mga biktima at mga pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay.
Commonwealth Ave I think is the most dangerous street in MM. Nagkakarerahan ang mga bus and all kinds of vehicles. Twing magagawi kami diyan, I never failed to whisper a prayer for a safe drive and I always held my breath until we exit from that killer highway. I’ve been driving through highways, freeways but it’s only in this highway that made so nervous and afraid. It’s because drivers are so undiscipline, they don’t have any rule when changing lanes, and they don’t give a damn to other drivers. As if the rule here is: bahala ka sa buhay mo.
Anyway my sincerest condolences to Chit Estella’s family.
There are times that we can not help being superstitious. My kid twins sisters were Born May 13 on a Friday and last Friday May the 13th I have to call them to remind that if they go out to celebrate their birthdays, to be very extra careful and call them back by midnight to make sure that they are safely home…driving out anytime is a risk and most especially if someone is on the control where you don’t even know if they are under the influence or in what mental condition and the vehicles if they are safe…and for the families if they are sufficiently covered by mandatory insurance for injuries and damages and fatalities…I myself drives a lot…long driving to the U.S. and back and around town. but one thing I would not do, force myself when not in condition to drive or the vehicle is not in top shape…and I’d rather take the Public transport, buses and trains than the Taxi, unless there is no option..most of the taxi drivers go for a 12 hours shift…it is tiring.
Iyan ang resulta ng kawalan ng disiplina ng mga driver sa ating mga lansangan. Kahit na yung mga nag-aral naman sa magandang paaralan, akala mo kung sinong may ari ng lansangan.
Walang drivers education sa atin. Kahit na hindi marunong magbasa ay nakakakuha ng licensya. Meron nga bang traffic rules sa atin? Sana malaman ng mga tsuper na kung ano ito at sa laki ng pondo ng road users tax puede sana gamitin ang pondo para sa gasolina ng mga enforcers at kung ano pang maaring gawin para mabago ang traffic situation sa atin.
We have killer roads and killer highways?
WRONG, Dead Wrong. What we have are killer departments and killer agencies of the government, all dismal factors, instruments of FAILED integrity, plain common sense and transport science and technology.
For every accident anywhere in the country especially in capital towns and cities– whether minor or fatal to passengers, commuters or bystanders, rich and common folks need to see Christmas trees blinking and well lighted even in daytimes. Abroad that’s what people say about police cars, rescue vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances in scenes of accidents, trying to help accident victims who have been paying the salaries of these rescuers and medical personnel. From afar, the lights warn and scare travellers that kamatayan or the grim had struck again. We don’t have money for these. It’s already been stolen. In our town roads and highways we only see candles weakly flicker in the dark signifying the tragedy of government neglect.
If only some officials and employees of agencies concerned in transport regulations and safety don’t have irrational penchant for corruption, we will have for our badly constructed roads and highways more than enough, regularly updated and refurbished luminous warning signs, safety barriers, and warnings, visible dividing lanes and speed limits. The presence during peak hours of parked police cars even in the center or roadsides that people know are manned not by mulcting holduppers but by honest policemen will reduce fatal accidents by and into incredible numbers. The areas of government priority expenditures soar where corruption is sky high, it is a pittance like in public safety where there are no big bucks.
Our economic planners should be ashamed. The country proliferates with low productivity jobs, kapit-sa-patalim employment, with jeepney and taxi drivers, bus drivers, tricycle drivers, padyak drivers and young barbers because these jobs don’t need politicians’ recommendations, educational qualifications. There are no factories to employ them. They can’t can’t make it as OFWs. As a first step abolish the MMDA and use the money for police cars and training, for road signs and demarcation lanes. Put in jail one or two bus or jeepney operators who don’t safety-check their fleets. And Commonwealth Avenue will see less of the grim reaper.
Hindi ko kilala si Chit, subalit kahanga-hanga ang kanyang mga achievement at prinsipyo bilang journalist. Bigla man ang kanyang pagalis marami namang siyang iniwang alaala na magbibigay gabay sa atin. Maaaring meron pa siyang gustong gawin o balikan, ngunit sa paglingon niya sa pinanggalingan siguradong walang pagsisisi sa kanyang puso dahil nagawa niya ang kanyang makakaya ang maging tapat sa kangyang tungkulin.
If Friday the 13th is not a good day or as they say malas na araw, why on that day last friday somebody hit the lotto jackpot. Mayaman na siya ngayon. Tiyak na dadami bigla ang kanyang kamag-anak.
Mam Ellen, post ko lang po dito yung link sa obit ni Prof. Yvonne Chua for Mam Simbulan na posted sa Vera Files kahapon:
http://verafiles.org/front/chit-estella-she-lived-the-life-she-wanted/
“It is hard to picture life at UP and at Vera Files without Chit. But I also know Chit would not want her death to immobilize family and friends…Hanggang sa muli nating pagkikita, Chit.”
Eto naman po yung aking munting papugay din for Mam Chit:
http://rightonthemark.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/my-tribute-for-prof-lourdes-chit-estella-simbulan/
There should be re-training programs for multiple erring drivers and those with violent records as this should never be allowed to go behind a wheel again.
Tunay na nakapanghihinayang ang mawalan ng isang napakahusay, walang-bahid anomalya at masayahing mamamahayag sa katauhan ni Chit. Matagal man na panahon na tayong nagkahiwalay mula sa iisang tanggapan, nanatili kang isa sa iilan lang na mamamahayag na patuloy kong pinaniniwalaan. Saan ka man ngayon Chit, gaya ng sabi ni Ellen, ang lahat ng nangyayari ay itinadhana ng Diyos. Alam kong mapayapa at maligaya sa iyong kinalalagyan ngayon.
Sana hipuin ng Panginoon ang kunsyensya ni Daniel Espinosa upang sumuko na siya at mabigyan ng hustiya ang pagkamatay ni Chit. (Minsan na rin akong nabiktima ng Universal Guiding Star at tinakbuhan ang napinsala kong sasakyan.)
I just hope the government sees the 2 most pressing issues about Commonwealth Ave. I pass along the entire stretch of this widest road in the country practically everyday and I can only feel disappointed every time. Since the ordinance on 60-kph speed limit was issued, I only noticed the presence of enforcers twice. And then, no more. Is this another example of “ningas-kugos” — laging sa simula lang. It cannot even be sustained. I tried to abide by the law and drove carefully to the set max but the rest of the vehicles around me drove as fast as 100kph, specifically buses and motorcycles. I thought these PUVs and motorcycles would only be confined at the rightmost lane or until the next two. How come now you will see the motorcycles cruising along practically every lane of the wide road, racing with the other vehicles as if there is no rule to follow at all. If violators can be apprehended and penalized and publicized, baka me matakot. Kung hihintayin ang sinasabing mga kuha ng camera bago hulihin, baka mas marami na ang nabiktima. Pangalawa, mula sa pagpasok ng Litex galing Doña Carmen hanggang bago Manggahan, halos isang batalyon ng tao ang sabay-sabay na tumatawid kahit walang pedestrian lane. Ang nakakatawa, katabi nila, traffic enforcer. Kinunsinti pa. Sa gabi, it’s very scray to drive even to the 60-max upon reaching the dimly-lit portion of Sandiganbayan until Doña Carmen. Bigla-bigla me tumatawid na di kapansin-pansin sa dilim. Magtataka ka pa ba kung bakit me nasasagasaan. Sana nga maging ligtas na sa Commonwealth. Kasi, every time I pass through it, I pray hard to be safe. Nakakatakot talaga!
Ellen
I suspect even govt men responsible for transport infra and safety who are in deep hypnotic sleep are reading Ellenville. I wrote above, abolish MMDA. A few days later, they are visibly all over the (news) place. Read the news like the one below:
2 congressmen caught speeding on Commonwealth
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 05/19/2011 4:25 PM | Updated as of 05/19/2011 6:26 PM
MANILA, Philippines – Even congressmen have been caught speeding on Commonwealth Avenue Thursday morning.
CCTV footage showed 2 vehicles with number “8” license plates beating the 60kph speed limit on the highway. The vehicles were seen cutting off other vehicles while on their way to the House of Representatives.
One vehicle was allegedly owned by Diwa party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay.
Commonwealth Avenue has been dubbed a “killer highway” due to the number of fatal accidents in the area, the latest of which was the taxi and bus collision that killed veteran journalist Chit Estella-Simbulan.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Commonwealth Avenue is composed of 18 lanes, making it the widest road in the Philippines.
International experts have cited the use of concrete barriers, improper position of pedestrian lanes and series of U-turn slots as some of the road hazards that cause accidents along Commonwealth.
198 caught overspeeding
The MMDA apprehended 198 vehicles for overspeeding on Wednesday.
The numbers remain high today as they were able to apprehend a total of 99 vehicles during just the first half of the day.
Meanwhile, an MMDA enforcer was hit by a jeepney while trying to apprehend the latter for speeding.
MMDA traffic enforcer Edwin Lamban said the PUJ intentionally hit him to evade apprehension. Lamban suffered minor scratches and was brought to the MMDA clinic. Report by Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News
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at least these safety guys are doing something, even at times inutil things.
I know MMDA has lots of traffic enforcers where it could be needed. Not their fault if the places are also lucrative .
Not because only the good die young, or even the good young die old in Commonwealth Avenue, but these Congressmen dutifully, must speed off, rush to the 4 pm session of the Batasan in order not to miss the handouts of draft bills (for legislation), and the big brown envelopes (during the last Congress?).
It’s not lawmakers fault (but the death of common people) that we have an engineering marvel of an avenue of constant accidents. What kind of city street transport engineering are more than four lanes seldom found even in freeways (North America) and motorways (UK)? The scary Baclaran Coastal road is another. Is MMDA also police or Imelda’s Metro Aids?
All I can say is that Ellen’s web logs (she and her posting legion) seemed to have serendipitous or obvious positive impact against bad governance.
Madame AdeB
Noong Martial Law napunta ako sa tubusan ng lisensiya sa Quezon City dahil traffic light violation daw.
Kung nagpilit ako sa nakatagong hagad na tumawid ako sa yellow light, hindi red light baka napatay ako.
Buti na lang nakita ko sa mata ang tingin sa akin. Tagal bago isinulit (submit) noong hagad yung lisensiya.
Sangkatutak ang mga driver at fixer doon. Higpit kasi ng Martial Law, daming drivers for re-training daw. Ang payo nila sa tatanga-tangang teacher tulad ko. Bumili, Magdalawa o tatlong lisensiya, para maiwasan ang abala.
Iyan ang solusyon nila dahil, hindi puedeng ang araw na walang pasada. Di puedeng mag training ng isang araw, kailangan kumain ang pamilya. Hindi rin puedeng mag strike ng ilang araw. Kalahating araw lang lalo na ngayon, gutom na. Sa mga driver, hindi kayang gamutin ng training ang gutom. Pero Mam A de B yan ang naranasan ko sa hanay ng mga drivers. Seguro dapat tumambay din ako sa paradahan ng mga tricycles.