We decided to leave Baguio for Manila at noon on Sunday to beat the crowd. We were going to have lunch as soon as we got to La Union. Since we were driving down via Kennon Road, it would only take us about 45 minutes and we figured we could wait. Unfortunately, even before we entered Kennon Road, we encountered a huge traffic jam. A bus lying on its side was blocking more than half of the road.
In short, by the time we reached La Union, I was dizzy from hunger. The kids were silent in the backseat and they’re never silent unless they are fast asleep or very, very hungry. We were so hungry that we were willing to stop and eat at the first available place — any place so long as we could get a table.
So, we stopped at this place called Jack’s Cafe and we ate what we felt was just “laman ng tiyan” (just to fill the tummy). The food was terrible, the place was not too clean and… well, we said we’d stop at Isdaan in Gerona, Tarlac, have dessert and coffee and just make up for the lousy lunch.
Unfortunately, long before we reached Gerona, we got caught in another — and worse — traffic jam in San Manuel, Tarlac which was celebrating its town fiesta.
It didn’t help that many Filipinos think that traffic laws are made to be broken. The vehicle in the photo above, along with many other violators, went on counterflow and blocked the oncoming traffic which just made matters worse. The cops were more concerned over the parade than the traffic, so… Good thing that, by that time, we had a huge bag of tupig that we bought along the road in Pangasinan.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
sexy mom 03.02.07 at 2:11 pm
you were not so lucky, last time we went north, trip was smooth. and the “tupig”, it has been a long time since i had them. do they sill taste good?
Connie 03.02.07 at 8:46 pm
we bought tupig from two hawkers. the first batch was better than the second.
iskolar111 03.04.07 at 8:27 am
what is tupig?
Connie 03.04.07 at 2:33 pm
Click the tupig link iskolar111.
vic 03.06.07 at 2:24 am
I used to drive the highways of southern luzon back in the 80 during my visits, when traffic not that bad and south super can be cruised non-stop until the toll gates, but my recent visits, I can’t imagine ever driving, nobody seems to follow the traffic rules and in order to move you have to break the rules yourself and that’s an invitation for a collision either with another vehicle or worse with a pedestrian, and that’s from me, who has driven in all kinds of weather and highways all over the northeast and the huge provinces of central and eastern canada.
Philippines drivers, Manila drivers in particulars are a breed unto themselves, much as I don’t like their (some)disregard for (lots) traffic rules, i also admire their patience for all the delays and traffic obstructions that they themselves create..
iskolar111 03.07.07 at 1:10 pm
Thanks Connie. My optometrist misses me. I think I tasted tupig before but I’ll go to a filipino desserts store and ask for it.
Connie 03.07.07 at 5:12 pm
vic, you know, that’s why being a responsible driver doesn’t really ensure safety on the road — the irresponsible ones will cause accidents and if you happen to get caught in one… my, bad. saddest part is that they don’t even understand why they are being irresponsible. mostly i think it’s machismo — a lot of male drivers think that aggressiveness on the road is equal to manliness.
iskolar, re “my optometrist misses me” hehehe i thought the contrast of the link color wasn’t visible enough LOL