August 24, 1995

JAYWALKING HERE WITH ME....

I was crossing EDSA at the corner of EDSA and Shaw. Noontime. August 24, 1995.

The MRT wasn't there yet, so there were still sunny skies overhead -- the mass transit system being 5 more years in the future.

I was walking alongside my friend Sheerin to get to Manuela. Midway across the road, I saw a group of people amassing at the other end. A vehicle (a white Tamaraw) awaited and some people were getting in. It didn't occur to me that they were being hustled into the vehicle against their will.

So I kept going.

And only when it was too late did I notice that the people manning the Tamaraw were policemen. All of the pedestrians I was with had crossed the road while the Pedestrian red light was up. We were jaywalking.

Sheerin was able to get out in time. I was not so lucky.

The vehicle drove us to the nearest police station where we were given a short talk about responsibility and rules. And of course, we were told to pay a fine.

I only had 20 pesos in my wallet. The fine was for P50. SHeesh! Good thing I had my ATM card. I told the station attendant that I was going to withdraw my fine and he let me go out of the building.

Thinking back, I could have walked away from the entire fiasco. Except for the fact that I had left my ID. They knew who I was.

So I paid up. And got back to the corner where Sheerin had escaped the law. She wasn't around. I felt betrayed. Left behind. Damn.

(I only found out later that she had tried to follow to the Police Station but had missed me by a few minutes.)

It was humiliating to be caught, that's for sure. The whole lot of us jaywalkers were snickering at laughing at ourselves.

The stupid thing was... they police never USED to do that before at that corner. Ah well.

I was left with this damnable souvenir.

my receipt

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