Pink vs. red

According to trustworthy Encarta Encyclopedia, “the color pink is a pale red color; the use of the word for the color was first recorded in the late 17th century, describing the flowers of pinks, flowering plants in the genus Dianthus. Pink itself is a combination of red and white. Other tints of pink may be combinations of rose and white, magenta and white, or orange and white”.

So if pink is so closely related to red, why are some of the reds in our country so against pink? (or, as one particularly witty friend of mine put it, “I read that the reds think pink stinks”). I am referring, of course, to a recent resolution filed by left-leaning lawmakers Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño (both representatives of Bayan Muna), Gabriela Representatives Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan, and Anakpawis Representative Rafael Mariano urging the House to investigate the use of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) use of the color pink in building their road signs and structures. And yes, I am talking about that House, as in our country’s House of Representatives, where the Philippines’ best and brightest minds supposedly convene in order to enact meaningful laws. Apparently, the color wheel and its various applications are now a matter of great national importance. What’s next? Filing a motion to ban congressmen from taking the floor if their shoes and belt don’t match?

Even more perplexing, it seems a lot of time and research was allotted in crafting this peculiar resolution, making taxpayers wonder exactly how occupied these elected officials are. Going all the way back to 1968, the Honorable Representatives are evoking a certain “Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals”, of which the Philippines is a signatory. Allegedly, the convention specifies white, yellow, red, black, blue, green, orange and gray as the internationally accepted colors for road signs, road markings, and traffic lights. Likewise, it sets a standard size and shape for certain types and variations of traffic signs. But since we’re being so strict about it and going all the way back to Vienna in 1968, does the convention explicitly prohibit any color?

Just to throw in the kitchen sink, the lawmakers are also arguing that the MMDA’s use of pink is a violation of our country’s Civil Code, by being a “public nuisance.” They say that by definition, a public nuisance is defined as “any act, omission, establishment condition of property, or anything (which) annoys or offends the senses”. Oh please, give us a break. Using this broad definition, nine out of ten activities of practically every congressman (and congresswoman) is a public nuisance.

Staying very true to form, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando is utterly unfazed by all this pettiness. You can say what you want about him, but there’s no denying that he is first and foremost an action man. While others are busy quoting legal gibberish and issuing all sorts of motherhood statements, Chairman Fernando has been successfully implementing the various beneficial aspects of his “Metro Gwapo” project. 

To quote his posters, the Metropolis is indeed already a “Metro Gwapito”, but Fernando is well-poised to take this to the next level.

This includes constructing the second phase of the elevated U-turn slots on C-5 and Kalayaan in Makati City, rehabilitating the eight-kilometer span of Commonwealth Avenue from Quezon Memorial Circle to Doña Carmen, additional pedestrian footbridges, a bridge that will connect Makati to the Pasig River, completing the cleanup of all major drainage systems in the area, and the installation of the remaining 150 closed-circuit cameras in strategic points in Metro Manila. Already, numerous parents and students are looking forward to less flooding along España, Dimasalang, and the entire Sampaloc area when school opens this June, thanks to the MMDA’s installation of a the new Abucay water pumping station, which will be operational by then.

And believe it or not, when those anti-pink members of the House of Representatives rushed to Constitution Hills in Quezon City in order to file their resolution, they had none other than Bayani Fernando to thank for getting there faster. Under his watch, the MMDA has cleared some 2,000 kilometers of road network in Metro Manila, greatly improving the otherwise terrible flow of traffic. Motorists often complain about the traffic schemes, U-turn slots, and loading bays that Fernando has implemented, but there’s just no arguing with the numbers. Statistics show that travel time on Edsa has improved by as much as 50 percent - 31.88 kilometers per hour today, versus 21.11 kilometers per hour back in 2003.

With his propensity and proven track record to get things done in the face of all criticisms, politicking, and administrative bureaucracy, Fernando has gained quite a large number of loyal supporters. From the way he transformed Marikina into a world-class city to the manner in which he is doing the same with Metro Manila, it is not surprising that these followers are slowly reaching a critical mass. Someone furnished me with a copy of a recent survey which was conducted for a certain presidential aspirant. Among 5,622 respondents, Bayani Fernando came out as their number two choice for president, behind Chiz Escudero and ahead of Manny Villar.

Despite these facts, however, I have to admit that I’m still not particularly fond of the color pink. On the other hand, when one branch of the government employs unnecessary showboat antics just to keep another branch from doing its job effectively, my vision turns red.

My email: [email protected]