The start of this week has been plagued with one tragedy after another—from a tragic ship sinking to torrential rains causing mass flooding in all parts of the metropolis. Having been stuck in traffic on Manila’s streets on many a rainy day myself, with vehicles literally inching their way or caught in a standstill, it has often been quite frustrating and terrifying even. Many become anxious over the thought of how to get home safely in the midst of a seeming frenzied breakdown in traffic rules, waist-deep floods, and a paralyzed transportation system.
Honestly, these maddening moments make us all beg the question of how our country has supposedly become the most promising financial market thus far. Visitors must really have disparate impressions of what the Philippines is about—with its beautiful beaches and high-end resorts, all in stark contrast to the almost unexplainable chaotic environ of our cities in the rain. Even so, it is seemingly ironic that despite a much-hailed economic boom, there are these constant reminders of the absence of sensible urban planning and rationalized development around us.