Letter to the Editor, Philippine Daily Inquirer
My Question:
Does one well-lit lamp post on a dark city block really make a difference?
My Background:
I have lived in the States for 17 years, the last 9 years in New York City. I returned home to Manila in August 2003, more American than my Filipino family and friends could ever dare imagine or easily accept (albeit keeping my fluency in Tagalog after living abroad half my life and being around non-Tagalog speakers). I am unapologetically opinionated, straightforward and strong-willed for most Filipinos’ tastes. If there is one thing that America has imprinted in me, it’s the idea that if you are unhappy with a situation, you have no right to complain unless you are willing to do something to address it. Meanwhile, majority of Filipinos tend to be tolerant, often to a fault.
My Issue:
When Ayala Malls started construction on Greenbelt 5 on Legaspi Street, they closed off Greenbelt Drive to both foot & vehicular traffic until October next year. After 9 pm, you need to walk on Paseo De Roxas or De La Rosa Street to get to either Greenbelt 2, 3, 4 or the Landmark Bridge. I noticed that the stretch of De La Rosa street, between Legaspi Street and Makati Avenue was pitch black at night. Since I walk whenever I can to avoid traffic, it caused me some discomfort to walk on a dimly lit street, in the Central Business District no less.
My Action Plan:
On May 11, I emailed Rick Yupangco at Ayala Land. I asked him to speak to Ayala Museum to keep their building lights on after 9 pm. Knowing how slow everything happens in the Philippines, I braced myself for a long wait. I was thinking realistically that this street should be lit by December 2006. I followed up a few times in the following weeks.
Around June 16, barely a month after I wrote the email, I noticed a single street lamp post in the middle of the block, across from Ayala Museum, illuminating this once dark passageway. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my project got done. I and everyone who shares my concern want to thank this group of people for making this happen: Mr. Lyle Abadia of Ayala Land, Land & Community Development Group; Architect Reggie Pascual of Ayala Property Management Corporation, Makati Infrastructure CBD Administrator - Estate Management Division; Architect Cynthia Javier of Ayala Property Management Corporation, Common Areas Administrator - Commercial Centers Division;
Mr. Jimmy Matias of Makati Commercial Estates Association (MACEA), General Manager and Mr. Rick Yupangco of Ayala Land, Inc., Corporate Business Group. MACEA provided the lamp post for this project. Congratulations!
My Conclusion:
If you want to change this country, you have to change the beliefs, attitudes, priorities, values, methods and ideas that do not work. Filipinos have a proclivity to accept things because “that’s how they’ve always been”, while perpetually complaining about their less than ideal state of affairs. Additionally, even the things we don’t want to accept, we somehow manage to tolerate (a character trait known in Tagalog as “matiisin”). You really have to wonder how far this attitude can take us.
If you love your country, put your effort into caring about the small things that matter. If you cannot fix the small things, there is not a chance in the heavens you will ever be able to fix the big things. I didn’t enjoy walking in the dark; neither did my fellow Filipinos. But I claimed my right, as a tax-paying citizen, to the social benefit of a well-lit street.
If you want the Philippines to catch up with the rest of our neighbors in Asia, arm your strong faith with goal-oriented action. Doing the right thing is not always easy. And in a country where I question the direction of its moral compass, doing the right thing is also oftentimes unpopular. But I am a God-fearing Christian before I am a Filipino, so I have to stand by Biblical ideals even if they run counter to the prevailing Pinoy culture.
Don’t belittle your efforts. Over time, your vigilance adds up and sets a good example for people who will one day lead this country, like my eleven year old nephew, Alex. This young adult continues to astound me because of his level of intuitiveness, discernment and responsibility; a level far more impressive that most old adults I know. I have never been afraid to confront this boy with the truth even at a young age. To his credit, he has been able to handle it with such enviable grace.
I am a natural cynic yet I have tremendous hope for the Philippines. This country and its people are far too beautiful for me to lose hope that there will be better days ahead for all Filipinos, not just some.
And yes, a lone light shining in the darkness makes a difference. Ask anyone who tripped walking in the dark in the middle of the night going to the bathroom…..
Tina Vitas
Makati City
My Question:
Does one well-lit lamp post on a dark city block really make a difference?
My Background:
I have lived in the States for 17 years, the last 9 years in New York City. I returned home to Manila in August 2003, more American than my Filipino family and friends could ever dare imagine or easily accept (albeit keeping my fluency in Tagalog after living abroad half my life and being around non-Tagalog speakers). I am unapologetically opinionated, straightforward and strong-willed for most Filipinos’ tastes. If there is one thing that America has imprinted in me, it’s the idea that if you are unhappy with a situation, you have no right to complain unless you are willing to do something to address it. Meanwhile, majority of Filipinos tend to be tolerant, often to a fault.
My Issue:
When Ayala Malls started construction on Greenbelt 5 on Legaspi Street, they closed off Greenbelt Drive to both foot & vehicular traffic until October next year. After 9 pm, you need to walk on Paseo De Roxas or De La Rosa Street to get to either Greenbelt 2, 3, 4 or the Landmark Bridge. I noticed that the stretch of De La Rosa street, between Legaspi Street and Makati Avenue was pitch black at night. Since I walk whenever I can to avoid traffic, it caused me some discomfort to walk on a dimly lit street, in the Central Business District no less.
My Action Plan:
On May 11, I emailed Rick Yupangco at Ayala Land. I asked him to speak to Ayala Museum to keep their building lights on after 9 pm. Knowing how slow everything happens in the Philippines, I braced myself for a long wait. I was thinking realistically that this street should be lit by December 2006. I followed up a few times in the following weeks.
Around June 16, barely a month after I wrote the email, I noticed a single street lamp post in the middle of the block, across from Ayala Museum, illuminating this once dark passageway. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly my project got done. I and everyone who shares my concern want to thank this group of people for making this happen: Mr. Lyle Abadia of Ayala Land, Land & Community Development Group; Architect Reggie Pascual of Ayala Property Management Corporation, Makati Infrastructure CBD Administrator - Estate Management Division; Architect Cynthia Javier of Ayala Property Management Corporation, Common Areas Administrator - Commercial Centers Division;
Mr. Jimmy Matias of Makati Commercial Estates Association (MACEA), General Manager and Mr. Rick Yupangco of Ayala Land, Inc., Corporate Business Group. MACEA provided the lamp post for this project. Congratulations!
My Conclusion:
If you want to change this country, you have to change the beliefs, attitudes, priorities, values, methods and ideas that do not work. Filipinos have a proclivity to accept things because “that’s how they’ve always been”, while perpetually complaining about their less than ideal state of affairs. Additionally, even the things we don’t want to accept, we somehow manage to tolerate (a character trait known in Tagalog as “matiisin”). You really have to wonder how far this attitude can take us.
If you love your country, put your effort into caring about the small things that matter. If you cannot fix the small things, there is not a chance in the heavens you will ever be able to fix the big things. I didn’t enjoy walking in the dark; neither did my fellow Filipinos. But I claimed my right, as a tax-paying citizen, to the social benefit of a well-lit street.
If you want the Philippines to catch up with the rest of our neighbors in Asia, arm your strong faith with goal-oriented action. Doing the right thing is not always easy. And in a country where I question the direction of its moral compass, doing the right thing is also oftentimes unpopular. But I am a God-fearing Christian before I am a Filipino, so I have to stand by Biblical ideals even if they run counter to the prevailing Pinoy culture.
Don’t belittle your efforts. Over time, your vigilance adds up and sets a good example for people who will one day lead this country, like my eleven year old nephew, Alex. This young adult continues to astound me because of his level of intuitiveness, discernment and responsibility; a level far more impressive that most old adults I know. I have never been afraid to confront this boy with the truth even at a young age. To his credit, he has been able to handle it with such enviable grace.
I am a natural cynic yet I have tremendous hope for the Philippines. This country and its people are far too beautiful for me to lose hope that there will be better days ahead for all Filipinos, not just some.
And yes, a lone light shining in the darkness makes a difference. Ask anyone who tripped walking in the dark in the middle of the night going to the bathroom…..
Tina Vitas
Makati City
