PED XING

Noong nakaraang bakasyon ko, maraming bagay ang aking napansin katulad ng mga bagong billboards ng mga kapalmoks na mga pulitiko, mayors at kay pink dude Bayani Fernando. Pero isa sa mga kamangha-mangha sa akin (of course di na nakakamangha na makakapal talaga ang mga mukha ng mga pulitiko at opisyal ng gobyerno sa Pinas) ay ang mga malalaking PED XING signs sa street of the city of Manila.

Noong una akala ko, bagong pangalan ng street ito sa Manila at iniisip ko baka ito ay name of a Chinese historical figure or baka isang bagong “great or outstanding Manilenyo” with or from a Filipino-Chinese roots. At kung hindi ako nagkakamali, I guess I saw PED XING signs outside the Philippines before.

Sabi ko, this guy must be really great or probably one of the greatest peps on earth or perhaps a pet of one of the crazy but influential politicians — his or her name found a place in that long and busy stretch of manila street and in that part of the world that I’ve been to which I could not remember.

I was curious. One day, I told my daughter, “Don’t you think I also deserved  such kind of honor and that there must be a street named after me instead of that  PED XING? After all I am a recognized hero by the government of arroyo. The New Super Hero, so they say.”

“Dad! I have a long final exams today!” she answered. “I know, but who is PED XING?” was my quick reply.

“Dad, haven’t you noticed that whenever there are white lines painted on the street you’d see PED XING? Go Figure. Bye.” She kissed me and ran.

And so, on my way back, my small brain tried its best to figure out PED XING by way of association: PED XING,  always with white sometimes yellow lines painted on the street. Damn PED XING, my small brain is on vacation. Now, it must work!

Finally, when the stoplight turned red, people of all kinds and sizes started moving within that area of the street with white lines which is just below the big sign  PED XING, my small brain had an answer to my incredible question.  PED XING is after all not a person. It is Pedestrian Crossing. Shaks, why didn’t I think of that fast?

When I reached home, I told my wife, “Please give me a cup of coffee, my mind have been PED XING for almost an hour.”  My wife answered, “PED XING what?”

Thanks goodness, hindi ako nag iisa.