Imagine there's no...

I just came back from my visit to Vigan, Ilocus Sur last Monday. In addition to being impressed with its historic scenes, I also noticed that it’s very clean, orderly, and not very loud. In other words, it didn’t leave the usual impression of the usual chaotic street scenes of Philippine cities.

Why is it unusually orderly? As soon as I was in Manila again, I knew the answer: Vigan has no jeepneys. It’s not by design, of course, but because the streets are very narrow, originally designed only for calesas and people. But the benefits of having no jeepneys is “unimaginable.” So in addition to its orderliness, there’s no air pollution and big traffic jams.

I thought… if only all Philippine cities, especially Metro Manila, are like Vigan. Can you imagine?

Imagine there’s no jeepney

It’s easy if you try

No lawless drivers

And no loud barkers too

Imagine all commuters coming in on time.

Imagine no air pollution

It isn’t hard to do

Not squeezed like sardines

And no chaos too

Imagine all employees riding home in ease.

Imagine no blaring radio

I wonder if you can

No need to buy earplugs

And sit with stinky, sweaty men

Imagine all commuters, in an A-C bus.

Refrain:

You may say I’m a dreamer,

But I’m not the only one

I hope Filipinos will wake up

And Manila will be like Vigan.

 (with apologies to the late John Lennon)