The reason why most relationships fail, in the long run is because at the start of it we always first put in our best foot forward. I believe this is one that will forever make me agree that a relationship is best started with friendship. Although, the prevailing thought of this write-up is not going to evolve around the topic of failed relationships and their causes to that effect, it still remains a classic example. I have been on travel again and I couldn’t help to notice the things happening around me.
I recall about a month ago, Mr. Winston and I were on our way to a meeting with our client when my companion opened the discussion on the upcoming ASEAN Summit to be held in Cebu. It was what sprung up at the moment we got stuck in traffic nearby The Capitol.
Mr. Winston wondered when the reconstruction, renovation, road widening, landscaping of CEBU will take place, considering that December was closing in, will there be enough time to do all those stuff? Was there ample time to catch up; to be able to hide our dust underneath the carpet?
Guess what? Cebu was like you have never seen it before after I came back from out of town, and I couldn’t help but be in awe at how much effort and money was put into this renovation for a four day summit. So our visitors from over seas will not have a bad impression and ill comments. Then I noticed that we actually have brand new patrol cars, so new you can only see them in motion pictures!
I wish a summit participated in by international delegates will be held in every part of the Philippines every now and then in a year so that we can have a better looking country before 2020.
Take for example this. Welcome to Samar!
This is prelude to reality, your first thirty or so minutes from Tacloban City, Leyte Province into the vast of SAMAR these are what will welcome you. A view to kill! Or rather for comfort to the long and stumbling trip ahead.
So beautiful; something to be proud of…what I am proud of…except…
Welcome to SAMAR…rather REALITY!
Don’t wonder anymore, the trucks and all other vehicles passing by these roads are running at high maintenance year round. Imagine this route is actually gateway into Metro Manila, when and where business takes place. Perhaps, the country will have more chances at going up the ladder and be at par with the rest of its more industrialized versions in the face of this complex planet if we prioritize more on investing at the resources which can help raise us up from our grave. Right here, right now.
I’ve been around this portion of this one third of the Philippines and I couldn’t help but feel sorry that there is so much beauty in our land that we turn our backs on, to go and seek greener pasture elsewhere. Because we fail to cultivate our own, our dreams are all suddenly hanging merciful to that oasis out there, away from our remorse. Then it becomes funny, though, how more of our people prefer to be photographed in Disneyland than the Enchanted Kingdom.
Look closely at this road and be amazed at how much work is needed to be put into it to patch this ugly reality. Every time I go around this forsaken area, I feel bad for the communities that will have to endure its wreck while the personalities in position continue to just set this issue aside.
While traveling into Eastern Samar with Red and Gil, and just to kill time for the two and a half hour trip, we talked about the damaged roads. We couldn’t keep away from noticing and feeling sorry for this place, because the more we advance into our destination, we are cautioned to hold firmer onto our grips and fasten tighter our seatbelts for the next expected jump as the tires go down and up.
And Red couldn’t help but comment, “But you see, despite these rough roads, the cockpits here are a vision, some are even air conditioned.” Alas! Need I really mention who you can find enthroned in these cockpits? Think!
We fail to prioritize the more important factors in life which is why we always end up leading misguided lives. And the tragedy, your mistake involves everybody into the misfortune.
Lesson: CORRUPTION will not be a word found in the dictionary if it was not DEFINED, in the first place.
Hereon, we will just have to endure this reality until then. Where a typical five-hour ride from Leyte into Samar becomes a great package deal of a bumpy ride and horseback ride in one, with a bonus of inertia over time, plus bruises on your elbows and all over your body depending on how you want it served: medium, rare or well done.
Welcome to Samar. Only in the Philippines!
Copyright ©2007 Theren Alexander
2 comments:
Thanks for writing this.
Thank you for reading =)
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