By Danilo P. Padua, PhD
I did not know that there are buses from Baguio that travel straight to the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), and back, until last Saturday, Dec 2 when I boarded one such bus at Gov. Pack Road.
After a brief stopover in Rosario, La Union just before we entered the expressways, we had a smooth and fast ride from TPLEX to SCTEX to NLEX to Skyway. No traffic. When we reached near the Skyway exit leading to NAIA, I had to scratch my head as we experienced a stand still traffic.
I never thought such traffic would occur in that expressway.
As we were cruising along the elevated highway, I remembered the boast of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte one time before the start of the construction of the Skyway extension, that once it is completed, it will take only 15min travel time from Caloocan to Makati. If there were no speed interruptions at the exits and entrances, and the speed limit is 100kph (not 60), former PRRD’s statement is really correct.
It’s not the first that I passed those expressways continuously in one trip. Actually, I already experienced driving from Baguio, passing thru the mentioned expressways and continuing to SLEX in my trip going to the town of Bay, Laguna – a good 9 hrs of driving. I had only 2 short stopovers to stretch and load up.
That was late last year. My Sigma Rho brothers, whom I will be meeting with, could not believe that I did it, them knowing that I got my second citizenship more than a couple of years earlier. They considered me still very fresh and sprightly arriving there at 7:30 pm, in time for our 8pm activity.
The good condition of the roads then definitely contributed to my better physical shape when I arrived. That is the importance of keeping the roads always in very good state.
But back to the present travel.
I was fetched at the PITX by architect Ken Daz, one of the main architects of Alphaland in Itogon, and the main architect of the Ballesin Island Resort in the Visayas. His wife Tes Pacle Daz, arranged my hotel accommodation in Alabang. They invited me to be a guest speaker in their (SGMA-Church of Christ) monthly fellowship last Dec. 3. It was a very fulfilling day for me, fellowshipping with all those faithful Christians around.
The following day I was asked to proceed to the town of Amadeo, Cavite to see the manufacturing plant of Mr. Sid Cayton. They produce among others, drip coffee (Arabica, Robusta and Barako) ginger-lemon brew, turmeric-lemon brew, black pepper, and curry powder. He distributes these to malls and other clients in various parts of the country thru his company, ValuCrops, Inc .
Being an agriculturist, Mr. Cayton is wondering if I could be of help to him in his business.
To reach Amadeo, my host and “expensive driver”, Ken aroused my curiousity by passing through a wide, well-paved road adorned on both sides with long lines of Villar City tarps. When I inquired, I was told that the Villar City consisted of approximately 2,000 hectares, almost all contiguous. At the center, one can see a plan: Villar City Central Business Center.
After the Amadeo visit, we proceeded to the adjoining city of Tagaytay for lunch. I was led to the Balay a Dako, a huge, iconic and very popular restaurant, especially for high-heeled clients, in the city. Its relatively large parking space is cluttered with cars indicative of the economic status of those inside. It was already one o’clock in the afternoon when we got there, and it was full. I almost hesitated to get inside.
The restaurant has a breathtaking view of the Taal Lake and Taal volcano. I was told that I was lucky that I was there when the view was crystal clear. The view and the food were excellent.
I had an overnight in the well-appointed home of the Caytons where sometimes they host other visitors such as a current influential member of the World Bank who is a friend of theirs. When we entered the South Ridge subdivision where the Caytons house is, they started to tell me that most of the very big houses all over are not regularly occupied by the owners. They are just vacation houses. I voiced matter-of-factly that it is quite insane to build very big houses that owners occupy only less than a month in a year, while others are sleeping in a shanty under the bridge all their lives.
I had to suppress other similar thoughts.
The view from the Caytons’ abode was also excellent. The air is very fresh. From their house, the view of the so-called palace-in-the-sky, where the late Pres Marcos Sr. once hosted Pres. Ronald Reagan of the U.S., is impressively unimpeded. Unfortunately that palace, sitting on the highest peak in Tagaytay may have to give way to a revolving restaurant very soon, if plans will not be miscarried
Tagaytay, since it is also cool, is a favorite place to visit by many Filipinos. It is becoming like Baguio though as more and more people are settling in the city and its immediate environs.
The last time I was there was more than 10 years ago when there were still pineapple plantations, vegetable and flower greenhouses. They have been supplanted by housing subdivisions and tall buildings. Even the horse riding business is already affected. I think in less than ten years, visitors will feel almost suffocated already by the so-called progress and development. A more careful planning should be in place there.
The city is now very accessible by many roads, including expressways.
For this travel, I thank especially Sid Cayton and wife Moonyean, and also Ken Daz and Wife Tes. All of them happened to be my brothers and sisters in Christ.**
