I've always thought that if someone wanted to see what a place and its people really are like, they should go not to the showplaces, but to the places where real people go. If you thought the traffic in Makati and on EDSA are awful, try the intersection of Recto and Reina Regente/Jose Abad Santos in Divisoria. At least in Makati and EDSA, people have some semblance of manners, you just chafe at the delay.

This afternoon, I took a jeep from Sta. Mesa to Divisoria. All was well till we reached that same intersection, really a crossing of two roads. It was chaos. I don't know if the traffic light was busted or whatever, but everyone, jeepneys, private cars, taxis, motorcycles and even padyaks jockeyed for position. The jeepney I was in took a long time making a left turn (despite the huge sign saying "no left turn") because all the approaching traffic from the other side made a mad dash to cross once the road was clear. The jeeps cut in front of each other, honking like crazy. As we crossed, this other jeep was almost jostling us, and when the driver fell back a bit, a padyak immediately swept into the gap and squeezed through. The delay made everyone else hit their horns, and it took a good ten minutes before everyone sorted themselves out. The situation seemed to be aggravated by everyone's tendency to force themselves into the gap once one showed, and no one seemed to know the meaning of the word courtesy, as in, you go first.

And weren't there any police, you ask? Well, I did spot a couple of blue uniforms and one gray. Standing in the middle of the intersection, talking to one another at first, then finally going to stand on the sidewalk.

Hay, buhay.