Signs Of Our Time: Protest Action March To Luneta
Really?! Well, that's what they said, so I'll take that at face value.
I was traveling this morning from Calbayog to Catbalogan and onwards to Tacloban for a flight to Cebu. Somewhere around Sta. Margarita, I saw this police checkpoint.
I thought "uh-oh, serious matter, passengers are being asked to deboard from their bus, that means we soon should be asked to do the same" - which, is/was not uncommon.
Yep, especially during the height of insurgency on this island. It was a 'fairly normal' activity that one had to endure - when the police/military were searching for *them*.
My generation, or older, are/were used to that. Yet part of my brain was also saying "*they* are still around? in 2014? kala ko ba wala na". I was ready to go down anyway.
I even still remember "the process" vividly - all able bodied people get off the vehicle with all their belongings (to be frisked searched); elderly, pregnant and babies remain on board; 2 or 3 other officers (mostly with dogs) inspect the vehicle inside and out.
That is/was normal to many Warays.
But, my singkit eyes opened to its ultra-widest in surprise, when that Clemacor Bus moved forward and away, while those people were still on the road. I said watdahel!
Look, other vehicles continually moved after the bus. Traffic was flowing although 1 lane at a time due to the checkpoint. The bus stopped there earlier due to 'an issue'.
Anong issue? A cute amusing technicality hehehe!
Good that our lane was not allowed to proceed while that "issue" was transpiring. It gave me ample time to hear & learn from policemen, regarding the actual situation!
Hah! I learned...
1. It was a group of "farmers" marching their way to Luneta;
2. They were not allowed therefore blocked by the checkpoint;
3. One policeman said they needed permits for their safety;
4. When the bus passed, some of them attempted to board;
5. If they boarded, then they'd be able to pass through;
6. The scene we caught was, police telling them to get off;
7. Conductor helped identify those who already boarded.
O di ba ang saya? If I was just sitting at home, I wouldn't even hear that some folks were supposedly marching from Samar to Luneta, in time for their Labor Day Rally.
Ay, kayo na mag-analyze or angalyze nyan. Basta, today was 28APRIL2014, picture taken at 9:07AM. Luneta is some 700kms from Sta. Margarita. Kaya pa ba nila yan?
Oh well, the disturbing signs of our times...
I was traveling this morning from Calbayog to Catbalogan and onwards to Tacloban for a flight to Cebu. Somewhere around Sta. Margarita, I saw this police checkpoint.
Yep, especially during the height of insurgency on this island. It was a 'fairly normal' activity that one had to endure - when the police/military were searching for *them*.
My generation, or older, are/were used to that. Yet part of my brain was also saying "*they* are still around? in 2014? kala ko ba wala na". I was ready to go down anyway.
I even still remember "the process" vividly - all able bodied people get off the vehicle with all their belongings (to be frisked searched); elderly, pregnant and babies remain on board; 2 or 3 other officers (mostly with dogs) inspect the vehicle inside and out.
That is/was normal to many Warays.
But, my singkit eyes opened to its ultra-widest in surprise, when that Clemacor Bus moved forward and away, while those people were still on the road. I said watdahel!
Anong issue? A cute amusing technicality hehehe!
Good that our lane was not allowed to proceed while that "issue" was transpiring. It gave me ample time to hear & learn from policemen, regarding the actual situation!
Hah! I learned...
1. It was a group of "farmers" marching their way to Luneta;
2. They were not allowed therefore blocked by the checkpoint;
3. One policeman said they needed permits for their safety;
4. When the bus passed, some of them attempted to board;
5. If they boarded, then they'd be able to pass through;
6. The scene we caught was, police telling them to get off;
7. Conductor helped identify those who already boarded.
O di ba ang saya? If I was just sitting at home, I wouldn't even hear that some folks were supposedly marching from Samar to Luneta, in time for their Labor Day Rally.
Ay, kayo na mag-analyze or angalyze nyan. Basta, today was 28APRIL2014, picture taken at 9:07AM. Luneta is some 700kms from Sta. Margarita. Kaya pa ba nila yan?
Oh well, the disturbing signs of our times...
#EasternVisayas #TravelPhilippines #SamarIsland
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