I’ve
been living in Cavite for a couple of months now, and it’s quite a commute to
go home. But I love the road, and all the things I see. I try taking photos of
them, and while I’m no expert, I like the idea of documenting the things I find
striking.
From
Manila, I usually take Aguinaldo Highway to come home. The bus passes by Macapagal
and Coastal Road, bringing Manila Bay into view.
Here
is a confession: I am secretly in love with Manila Bay. My grandfather tells me
stories of its good old days when it was still clean and welcoming, and they
would go out for picnics and take a refreshing dip amidst the afternoon sun. I’d
try to picture the stories he tells me, but how can one really justify a
non-existent memory in their heads? I am nothing but envious. The bay full of
trash and its arsenic smell are all that I have, and these are just the painful remains
of its former glory.
But
despite all of its drudgery, Manila Bay is still captivating for me. When I am
at my most pensive, I’d wonder why we let such a gem go, and why we aren’t
doing anything about it. Sometimes, I am tempted to just stop the bus (in the
middle of Coastal Road, yes), make friends with the unwanted tenants there, and
just pick up trash. But I want a bigger
movement to happen.
I
am contemplating for a solution as the bus rushes on, and I soon find myself viewing
Cavitex from Aguinaldo Highway which is quite lovely.
I think that if there was a place that could summarize what Cavite is like, it would be Aguinaldo Highway.
I
don’t think Cavite expected itself to boom and bloom in as little as two
decades, so this very important artery of a road are only at two lanes per
direction, given that drivers play fair decide not to counterflow. Sometimes,
the lanes are even less when there are road projects and excavations from our
favorite water supplier. But darating rin ang ginhawa, and I believe that
whatever hassle Southern folks are experiencing now will be for long-term betterment.
Aside
from the traffic, vendors are persistent with whatever knickknacks they are
selling, while others scour through the clutter to be more creative and productive.
In
between malls and groceries are vast green fields with a backdrop of start-up
villages. I appreciate the open spaces, the cows, and the carabaos. They now
seem out of place to this developing land, but it gives an idea of what it was
like when Cavite was focused on agriculture which is now becoming a hidden past.
I
like my long commutes, my thoughts and photos aboard old, ordinary buses. I feel nothing
is mundane about being in transit, admiring the view, and contemplating about life. I hope you find wherever you are fascinating as well. :)
