December 18 was our wedding anniversary. Instead of having a party or going to a fancy restaurant, I scheduled an outreach cum family bonding.
Our destination was Montalban Rizal. According to Waze, the best route was EDSA to Congressional Avenue, then thru Payatas.
It’s amazing how this shanties were allowed to proliferate just behind the government offices. Can’t the government officials see them every time they go to their offices?
Now I know why the Congressional Avenue has become a deadly street.
Because it’s so wide and open, vehicles run like there’s no more tomorrow that’s why they don’t reach tomorrow. They don’t stay within their lanes, they keep moving from one lane to another in total abandon, no signal, just criss-crossing this highway built during the Marcos era.
From Congressional Avenue, we turned right then left thru the Payatas area. We couldn’t run faster than 10 kph because the place was as busy as a bee.
You would know you’re already in Payatas because the odor would be your best guide. You’ll not get lost, just follow your nose.
Come here if you are curious what happens to the bottles, plastics, etc. you throw-out everyday. Those are your garbage, they are gold to poor people. The basureros sort out the trash and sell those recyclables to junk shops. Kaya medyo mabagal at masikip dumaan dito because the dump trucks drop off their cargo at the junk shops that are stationed along this main road.
To ultra rich and sheltered individuals, it would be a nice experience to come to Payatas at least once in your lifetime. It will give you another perspective of what life is all about to those on the other side of your gilded world.
When you separate the recyclables in your trash and place the bottles, papers, plastics, tin cans, clothes/fabrics/ shoes/ etc. in separate supot, so that when the garbage truck comes to collect them, you are doing something good not only to the environment but more so to the basureros. They don’t have to dig into the pile of dirt to get some usable and salable items they could turn into some cash. You are technically doing charity work when you give to the garbage collector items they could still use or sell, separate from the real dirty basura.
We stopped at the Petron Station for a few minutes after passing by the La Mesa Dam area and Payatas. Yes, you are correct. The millions of tons of garbage are dumped very near the La Mesa Dam where we all get our drinking water. Kaya ang sarap ng tubig natin.
My husband kept drinking water kaya alam na natin ang epekto.
Oo nga pala, Montalban is part of Rizal kaya merong Ynares stamps dito. Hindi rin tayo maliligaw. Basta merong pangalan na Ynares, sakop ito ng Rizal. Hindi lang natin alam kung anong bayan, wala kasing malaking pangalan kung anong town.
We were going to Anawim, ayun na ang karatula. The small signage provided a little relief to our anxiousness to reach the place. Our travel was taking longer than expected. Tight and congested road. There were also a few stretches that are unpaved and sobrang lubak-lubak. Daang dumptruck na ang bibigat ng karga ang dumadaan dito minu-minuto. Huwag naman sana kaming masiraan ng sasakyan dito sa lugar na hindi namin kabisado.
It was our first time to come to this area. Although I am laking Rizal, medyo Montalban is too far from my comfort zone. Ika nga, hindi natin kakosa ang mga taga dito. It was a little worrisome.
I felt kind of guilty bringing my children to this area because it’s too intense. I questioned my judgment, parang I was too careless bringing them here.
The sky was gloomy and dark. I was silently praying that we reach our destination soon so we could get out of this place before it gets dark.
