Another Dementia Road Mishap

Another day on the road, another eventful day for Dementia.

Almost three hours ago, I was standing under the scorching sun talking to an upset man. He nicked my bumper with his motorcycle insisting that the whole thing was my fault.

I beg your bloody pardon, young man. Just because it was my front bumper doesn’t make it my fault. Whoever told you that probably didn’t know the rules of the road too. You have my permission to deck him. I would too, if I was the one he gave stupid information to.

Let me take you back at the beginning.

It was the intersection of Kalayaan Ave and the road leading to JP Rizal . Sorry, I can’t remember the name of the street. With them changing so often, I will not allot too much of my short memory remembering.

Anyway, right most lane of Kalayaan is blocked by the fencing to cover the work being done on Fort Bonifacio’s former Gate 1. So I was the 3rd on the second right most lane. Of course, this being the Philippines, a public jeepney still occupied the right most lane, angling itself so that when the light turns green, he can cut off the cab in front of me. And since there is a small space left, is it surprising that a motorcycle insisted itself into that space? The motorbike was between the jeepney and my right front side.

I remembered thinking, here is another motorbike driver who insists on taking to the roads when all they know is how to run the machine, totally ignorant of the rules of streets.

The light turned green. Guess what, in his effort not the swiped by the jeepney, he adjusted to his left side, hitting me. So we both stopped. I went down from Brad, prepared to scream at him and his stupidity. Was it any surprise that he insisted that it was my fault?

MAPSA to the rescue. Three of them approached us right away. They inspected the damage on my bumper, pronouncing that it was not my fault. (Of course not! I have been driving almost 16 years!)

As with protocol, we were asked to surrender our driver’s license. I gave mine willingly. That was his second misstep. I think he was scared, he started fighting with the MAPSA. Wrong move, kiddo.

The MAPSA asked us to bring our vehicles to the side as we are blocking the already busy Kalayaan Ave. To the credit of the MAPSA, one of them explained to the poor motorbike driver that temporary confiscation of the driver’s license is protocol. That cooled him down. Then they asked me what I want to do.

I gave him two options. Since he is insisting it is my fault, and I definitely maintain that it’s not, we can both just go to the precinct. Or he can just own up and I will just ask him for the cost of the participation fee.

It was a long, scorching, prickly confrontation. He continues to insist that it’s my fault. And he’s a hot-head. That didn’t help him get any sympathy from the MAPSA. He even accused them of siding with me just because I’m female. (Honestly, his temper worked to my advantage. The more he got mad, the calmer I grew. It gave me clarity of thought, and I came out the more reasonable party.)

While he tried to weigh his option, I got my yellow-orange umbrella from the car. So there we were, five people negotiating, with my bright umbrella sticking out.

After almost an hour, he finally decided that yes, he will pay it. But he asked if he can pay for it in instalments. Who am I to refuse? I am not without a heart now, am I? So I agreed. Four monthly instalments of P500 starting March 5, 2009.

With that, we drove away. But for me, not without getting the names and cell phone numbers of the MAPSA guys who were there. So, Mr. Saranza and Mr. Custodio of the MAPSA, let’s hope I will not have to call upon you for help to collect.