It's a Small Third-World

“Hindi ho puwede ‘to, ibalik n’yo po ‘yung original na papel. Kaya lang n’yo kami hinuhuli dahil may hawak kayong illegal na terminal ng jeep!” (This is not right, give the original documents back. You’re just doing this because you’re protecting your illegal terminal!), angrily said the wife of the jeep driver to the LTO (land and transportation office) officer while he was getting the plate of the jeep I rode. The LTO officer replied, “Kaya ko kayo hinuhuli dahil ‘di naka-seatbelt ang dryber”(I’m giving you a ticket because the driver is not wearing his seatbelt.). The officer did not give in and it seems that he got so irritated with the driver’s wife that he instructed the passengers to get out of the jeep. I politely asked for my fare back and left the scene. I saw the driver and his wife still arguing with the LTO officer as the jeep that I transferred to drove away.
This was an obvious revolt of a citizen against the rampant corruption in the country. Surprisingly the UP-Pantranco jeep terminal the driver’s wife was referring to is the impound complex of LTO. When there is a terminal, of course, there is a fee for using the space. Ironically, the LTO should be the one that prohibits these illegal terminals.
I am really not a “political person” – I hate politics and its controversies. But when you a situation like this happen in front of you, you’ll rethink your ideals. Here I saw the extensive corruption in the country in its smaller scale, which makes me want to stand my ground about the issues regarding the president – she’s a cheater and the people that surrounds her are corrupt and change of the system of government is not the answer to all of these but rather it is another tactic for another “power grab”.