Pasaway sa Pasay

Vice President wannabe Jejomar Binay’s Ganito Kami sa Makati promotional ad-slash-political ad in disguise says a lot about the city he’s running. Whether it’s true or not, I think Makati is one of those cities in Metro Manila that project a relatively positive image to the public. But how about the others?

It’s actually quite funny what kind of impressions some cities have on people. For example, I’m sure you have heard people making fun of Malabon and its Venice-like situation, except devoid of all grandeur. Or how many of us still associate the entire Muntinlupa with New Bilibid Prison as though the prison is all there is in the city.

This post isn’t about Makati, Malabon, or Muntinlupa. It’s about another city in the southern part of the metropolis — Pasay City.

I’ve been told a number of times about the city’s reputation. For example, when I’m going to Pasay and I’m asking my mom or my friends for directions, they would insist that I do not go alone or that I do not bring any valuables. Even my dear  friends from Pasay tell me how frustrated they are with how things go, especially how things are being run.

Is Pasay really that bad? I’m asking coz the only parts of Pasay I go to frequently are the SM Mall of Asia area, DFA, and MRT Taft station.

Here are some instances in which I thought Pasay was used by people around me for their random display of sense of humor.

ANYTHING GOES

Fresh from iBlog Mini at World Trade Center a few weeks ago, Andre and I decided to proceed to SM Mall of Asia to check out the new line of hoodies at Fox Men. We didn’t know where the jeepney terminal was so we started looking for it.

Andre: I don’t think it’s here. Maybe it’s over there?
Yoshke: But we have to cross the road to go there.
Andre: So let’s cross, come on.
Yoshke: Err, wait. Can we? This may be a no-jaywalking zone.
Andre: Yoshke, duh? This is Pasay. There are no rules!

A TALE OF A MISSING COMB

“Where the hell is my comb?!”

Debbie had spent minutes trying to find her comb in the office. This happened two years ago, I was a web writer then. Debbie misplaced her comb and she just could not find it in her cubicle. Out of utter frustration, she talked to herself like she normally did.

“Gaaah. Where’s my comb? I need to find you, comb,” she murmured.

She started asking around, hoping someone had actually seen her precious comb. She asked our editor Anne, and then my good friend Aika, and then me. No one saw her vanishing comb. And then she saw Bryan. Bryan is well-off. He lives in a five-storey house and they had a chapel built in their village. Imagine how wealthy they are.

When Debbie saw Bryan, she exclaimed, “Hoy Bryan, di ba taga-Pasay ka?! Ilabas mo ang suklay ko!” (Hey Bryan, aren’t you from Pasay City? Give me back my comb!)

Debbie was just kidding by the way.

LIKE TREES

Last year, my good friend Roy accompanied me to the Department of Foreign Affairs to submit some requirements for the foreign service exam that year. Roy is from Pasay. Going back home, we decided to just take a jeepney from DFA to MRT Taft Station. While we were cruising the length of Taft Avenue, we couldn’t help but feel disgusted by men who were peeing on the posts standing on the center island, just below LRT. I mean, come on, it’s in the middle of the road, everyone could see them. I figured, either these men really had no shame or no one really cared. Mind you, there were a couple of MMDA peeps within the vicinity. And it was 2pm, for heaven’s sakes. Broad daylight!

We’ve seen four men peeing in the center island. And it was just a short distance we traveled. Two of them actually were peeing on the same spot at the same time. Perfect porn material.

And then I heard my friend mumble, “Mayors are elected by fools like me. But only God can fix Pasay City.”

To be fair, this happens not just in Pasay but, err, everywhere?

It’s just sad.

…

For what it’s worth, I love some parts of Pasay.

How about you? What do you think of Pasay City? Do you think it’s notoriety is fair to the city?

*image courtesy of wikipilipinas.org

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