Marvin Isidore "Sid" Macatol Weblog

Traffic jam in Metro Manila on a Sunday? This happened around 11am on October 18, 2009 at E. Rodriguez Avenue, approximate in front of Saint Joseph. It turned out that a provincial bus was stuck with a tricycle that hit its rear. Whew! Was it fair for a bus full of passengers to stop in the middle of E. Rodriguez Ave., a major highway in Metro Manila, because the bus driver had to deal with a tricycle driver which hit the rear of his bus? I have difficulty looking at this situation as reasonable. In fact I found it absurd! Forgive the word. 



Flagging a taxi in Makati on a rainy night is a nightmare. I think it is every taxi rider's nightmare. Be forewarned. On the evening of Sept 28, 2009 (the one before Ondoy struck the country), we flagged six or seven taxis in a row. It was a rainy night then. They all refused to let us in. One said he was "on his way to Cavite." Another said he was "on his way to Pasay." Still another was "on his way to Parañaque," etc. Taxis were public utility vehicles without fixed routes, but they sounded like they had routes that night. And Quezon City, to them, was like a place on the far side of the moon, way out of their routes. Gosh, I thought and felt that was absurd.

Ondoy came and went, with catastrophy in its wake. Clearly the typhoon itself was an "act of God." But were the damages unpreventable? Not so, says Urban planner and architect Felino Palafox Jr. Palafox said a 1977 World Bank-funded study identified Marikina Valley, the western shores of Laguna de Bay, and the Manila Bay coastal area as among development areas that should prepare for flooding, earthquakes and possible changes in topography. (Source: Yahoo! News Philippines ) Such remark was hard to swallow, given the magnitude of heroism displayed by people to save lives of loved ones and to deliver relief goods to those whose lives were ravaged by the flood. In the light of what could have been done in the last 50 years, were those damages, sufferings, and heroisms totally unnecessary then?

The fury of typhoon Ondoy came like a "thief in the night" in broad daylight. How else can I describe the emotion that goes with what "Ondoy" means to Filipinos these days? The video above was taken at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay (UERM) Medical Center during typhoon Ondoy. This is the first time in my life to see such number of cars floating on the water, swept from where they were parked.

I remember watching Father Catalino Arevalo that morning in August 5, 2009 on TV as he delivered the homily for the Requiem Mass of the late President Corazon Aquino. Fortunately for all of us, we can revisit the video of Father Arevalo's homily again, thanks to GMA7. <p><p>This page requires a higher version browser</p></p> For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV I am fortunate to have received a copy of the full text of Father Arevalo's homily. The full text came from the Jesuits themselves, through the daily mails I receive as an alumni of Xavier University High School (formerly Ateneo de Cagayan).

[Jan 19, 2017 ... I had a change of heart about the Aquinos ever since I wrote this article in 2009. But I'm retaining this here as evidence that, once upon a time, yes, I was a Yellow. Of course, not anymore. I'll paste the link here to an article I'll write about why that is.] It was a pleasant surprise to see from an artist's website a proposed P500 Bill featuring the face of Cory Aquino side by side with Ninoy Aquino . I thought, TERRIFIC IDEA! Proposed P500 Bill, from www.peaceloveandrevolution.com I am excited all the more because the authorities are now taking a serious look at this idea. Check out www.peaceloveandrevolution.com for the collection of news items regarding this.

Today I say Farewell to President Corazon "Cory" Aquino . I remember Cory Aquino well in the struggle to oust former President Ferdinand Marcos and restore democracy in the Philippines. I was a freshman in U.P. Diliman when an important page in the history of the Philippines unfolded.