Un-Pleasantville Avenue

THE subdivision where I reside is a modest middle-class community at Barangay Taculing, Bacolod City. Through it runs what was used to be called Pleasantville Avenue, now the President Corazon Aquino Avenue. One cannot miss it. It cuts right in the middle of the subdivision if one would like to take shortcut from PNP Station No.6 going to Lopez-Jaena Street via the Gonzaga Bridge. The route has become a favorite artery for motorists who want to cut their travel time from Mansilingan or Taculing.

But here's the catch. Don't be misled by its former name as being pleasant. Or the fact that it was renamed after Tita Cory. Hardly can the avenue be considered "presidential" at all. Thus, when one would like to take that road as a shortcut, better tighten your seatbelts and brace yourselves for one bumpy ride, particularly upon reaching Blocks 6 to 8 and at the approaching junction near the bridge. It's one "helluva" ride.

Two weeks ago, I noticed a work crew digging holes along the road on the entire length of the road. It turns out that they will be installing new street lights. As a matter of fact, they have already started erecting the posts along the way. Well, I am so happy for this development. My excitement led me to interview the crew if they will also repair the road, especially from Block 6 right up to the bridge. But their answer left me dismayed. The crew answered that they had been tasked to put up the lights only and that they don't know anything about the repair of the road. So I countered-"daw indi man ina` maayo nga gwapo ang suga, pero ang dalan law-ay" (Isn't it odd that the lights are nice, but the road is so ugly).

For the more than one decade that I have been a resident of the area, I couldn't help but notice these are the same portions of Pleasantville Avenue, a.k.a. "Tita Cory Avenue" that are always left in disrepair. Sure they were patched up in the past. But over the years, the potholes keep on getting bigger and deeper into puddles every time the rains come.

And one more thing, the avenue was originally designed as a "subdivision road" is best suited for light vehicles. Oftentimes however, bigger trucks/panels use the same road in going to and from the Circumferential Road. Thus, the road has to bear the load of the heavier vehicles. One does not need to be an engineer to figure this out. But I am still keeping my fingers crossed this time. If not then, we might as well rename the road as "Un-Pleasantville Avenue" or the Filipino-esque "Sungkaan Road."

Me? I am not at all concerned about automobile maintenance. I don't even own a car. But I do pity the "trisikad" drivers who ply our subdivision route.

* * *

I took a long respite since I last submitted an article for this column. Pressing matters had to be attended to while I was away. What was it about? Well, it's got everything to do with "parrying" and "deflecting." But it is good to be back. And what an opportune time to be back than on this Halloween and All Saints/Souls Break? The melancholic air pervading on this occasion is perhaps a precursor of positive things to come.

"HAPPY HALLOW'S EVE", everyone! And don't forget to remember our DEARLY DEPARTED.