On my way home last night, our bus got flagged by an MMDA traffic enforcer for allegedly taking in passengers while in the middle of the road. The bus did slow down somewhere along Quezon Avenue in front of Santo Domingo church, but the bus driver protested that no one really boarded the bus. What an excuse, I thought. But the moment the traffic enforcer started bossing around and power tripping, I switched side. Napaka-salbahe pala talaga ng MMDA sa mga bus driver. No wonder bus drivers and traffic enforcers see each other as mortal enemies.

After a few minutes of confrontation, the bus driver rallied his passengers, “Tanungin mo pa mga pasahero ko, may sumakay ba?!” And then almost everyone in the bus collectively responded by shouting at the MMDA officer, “Walang sumakay tangina mo! Pauwiin mo na kami! Lintek na MMDA!!” And then we were let go.

Later on, in Philcoa, the bus driver cautioned his passengers, “‘Wag muna tayong bababa! May kalaban, may kalaban!” obviously referring to MMDA traffic enforcers stationed near the entrance to University Avenue. It was such an amusing and inspiring thing.