It's been over two weeks in Manila and I seem to have got used to the busy life of this bustling city. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the world (growing faster than India in BPO industry); you can read about this here.
To tackle this MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) came up with Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program. To me it simply means that I cannot drive in Makati City (that's where my hotel is) from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Friday. Bummer!
Unaware of this rule, I bravely drove to my work on a Friday. Around halfway to workplace I was stopped with a loud 'Ehhh'. I was not sure what rule I had broken but I stopped a few meters ahead (confused and dazed).
"Your car number...ends..zero, you pay fine", said the policeman in broken English (sic). I wasn't sure what this meant, so I asked him to clarify a bit more. He spoke the same thing again and told me he'll have to confiscate my license.
I was still confused and asked whether he can give me a warning and let me go this time. I tried to explain him that I was driving a rental car and nobody told me about the rule. Someone did mention about a rule but didn't bother to explain it to me.
"No..no..I can't do that", pat came the reply. I told him that I'm ready to pay the fine but can he not confiscate my license (a few days back my passport was sent for work permit application and license was the only ID I had).
"Okay, you put money in my book", said the cop as he put his fine book on my front seat. I wasn't sure why he put the book on my seat. I asked him to give me a receipt. "No receipt, or I'll have to confiscate your license", said he again (very politely).
Ahh...my brain finally understood what he meant and I said a firm no to "putting" money in his book. I pleaded and told him I was a foreigner here; and as a courtesy can he let me go with a warning!
Long story short, after almost twenty minutes of "talk" he let me go with a warning. So I breathed a sigh of relief and went on my way. It was a very strange experience not because I was asked to put money but because it happened in a foreign land.
I am definitely thankful to the cop to let me go with a warning and I cannot be more pleased by his behaviour. But at the same time I was shown a different side of this country. I am no stranger to this. However this hasn't changed my view of this beautiful country.
So the cop was good to me (this is debatable and I would let you to decide for yourself). I recently went on a trek where I met some very nice chaps and made some good friends. However more about this later.
I'm waiting for another post.
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