The problem is in the attitude

Ben Contreras

TRAFFIC lights in some vital intersections have been restored, and new ones were installed at small intersections. Well, it is very evident that the vehicular traffic flow improves a lot in these areas. But if one stays and observes, motorists still show no respect for it when the traffic is heavy and dense.

It is this attitude of some motorists that slows down movement and flow. When the traffic light turns green, they do not move forward reasonably fast so as not to delay those behind. And when the count begins to run out, that’s the only time they move faster. When it’s too late, they beat the red light or still move on even when the light has turned red.

There would always be good cops and bad cops just as there would always be good traffic enforcers and bad traffic enforcers. With traffic getting heavier and heavier because of the unstoppable increase in the number of vehicles in the streets and aggravated by road works, traffic management has become a challenge for “Hapsay.”

There is no denying that Hapsay is not a total failure. Though still wanting, I would like to give credit to the enforcers who are doing their job diligently. There is also no denying that the bad eggs are still with their moonlighting.

I saw this at Luna-Capt. Vicente Roa. The light was green and we started to move forward with only a count of 25 or 30. While we tried to rush to beat the count, one trisikad crossed Luna St., risking the life of the passenger. This happened right at the very nose of one RTA enforcer.

At many intersections, these trisikads are usually the ones that slow down traffic. And they are everywhere, too. Their number has not been monitored and their activities regulated. In some cases, they are driven by minors or over-aged people. They should not be used for political reasons.

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If there is one huge crowd that I can be very comfortable with, it’s my relatives in Burnay, Gitagum. They are the descendants of my uncle Juan “Tiu E Huan” Gabutan, third of all-male cousins from four male siblings of my grandfather. My father was the 13th, and Dr. Benson Go’s maternal grandfather ranked sixth.

My curiosity to know them started decades ago when somebody in the clan died and the relatives would gather around naturally. Not knowing your own relatives can be embarrassing at times. Thus, I started to ask their names and who they were. But that would not be enough. The next time somebody died, it would be the same questions again.

The decision to visit them more often did the trick. Except for a few, I believe I have come to know more than enough. They are known to us as the “Sabadista.” They lead simple lives but very religious.

The latest to leave this world was a very young father of three. Wilbert Gabutan Cagatan or Totong to the family and most of us, worked with the Seventh Day Adventist Church for more than 10 years. He was a devoted member of the Church and a very loving father. Though I am a “lolo” to him, I stood as one of their wedding sponsors.

It wasn’t easy for him to start a family in the beginning. But it was in this Church where he found work that changed everything and brought him closer to God.

His children, two daughters and a son are all gifted musicians. The second daughter loves to play violin. And when I learned that she was having violin lessons, I decided to give her the violin I bought for my daughter Kacy. The three not only are good in musical instruments, they are also good singers.

Their father must be very proud as they sang in perfectly blended voices in honor of their deceased “daddy.”

Totong was laid to rest on Sunday. When I left the cemetery, I hugged the second daughter Chippy, and whispered something to her. I hope she will remember it always.