SIDE TRIP 34: Beauty and Madness

Imelda, she of the infamous 3,000 pairs of shoes, once said: “People say I'm extravagant because I want to be surrounded by beauty. But tell me, who wants to be surrounded by garbage?”

Well, the Rose of Tacloban acts on her beliefs: the San Juanico Bridge is still the most beautiful bridge I’ve ever seen. The steel structure snakes gracefully high up over the San Juanico Strait (reputedly the narrowest in the world) and connects the provinces of Samar and Leyte. True, there’s some wear and tear here and there and it badly needs a fresh coat of paint but the grand old lady of bridges still commands awe when you’re riding on her curves.

A little over two kilometers long, the bridge is the longest in the country. When I first saw pictures of it as a boy, I was literally in awe. It seemed so big and majestic then. But when I finally crossed it as an adult, my first reaction upon reaching the other end was: “Ay, tapos na?”

Letdown notwithstanding, San Juanico Bridge is beautiful just the same. Like Imelda, who said on another occasion: “Filipinos want beauty. I have to look beautiful so that the poor Filipinos will have a star to look at from their slums.”

Aaaaargh!!!!


SAN JUANICO BRIDGE

HAPPY TRIP 4: Bohol

Nagsalubong kilay ko in exasperation when I found the door to BQ Mall in Tagbilaran blocked by people – all standing motionless – and I couldn’t get in. I was in a hurry because I was supposed to meet a friend and I was running late.

I was bewildered why people were standing still. They were not talking. They were not moving. I was getting more impatient every second that passed and they wouldn’t let me through.

And then I heard the Church bells ringing and realized it was six o’clock in the evening.

Angelus.

It is truly heartening to note that Bol-anons still pretty much retain traditional practices and beliefs despite the onslaught of modernism and tourism.

TAGBILARAN CATHEDRAL BQ MALL

BAD TRIP 6: Signs of the Times (in a small town in Aklan)

It is truly a sad thing when you go out to town to buy San Miguel beer and you can't find any. Not in the bigger stores, not in the small sari-sari ones. They don't sell SMB around here anymore. Bacause no one buys them. People can't afford them. They make do with Emperador and Gran Matador.

What was it you were saying about steady economic growth, madame President?