DUI.

I used to have about 7  to  11 bottles of a local beer and still drove home some of my friends to the innards of the City, and arrived home safely. Thank God.

That was when I was younger, and before I realized that drinking and driving don't go together.

Living in Canada and the U.S.A changed my whole perspective in driving.

The first thing I learned seriously was to stop at all STOP signs, whether it's a red light, the octagon stop sign at intersections, even at odd times of the day.

Next was following strictly all speed signs, in the highways and school zones, everywhere.

I took everything that was contained in the booklet of traffic rules and regulations, including reporting minor accidents, to heart.

Last Sunday we hosted a family party, and the guys were drinking alcohol, and like in other instances, I asked whether the ones at the wheel were okay to drive, and then I served coffee.

The drunk driving law (R.A. 10586) in the Philippines had been enforced recently, with cops expected to do random alcohol-level testing. This is a welcome development in a metropolis where the night life (with alcohol served) is vibrant, where the populace is increasing and thus the need for more vehicles, where traffic laws and regulations had not been effectively observed, and where vehicular accidents register among the highest in South East Asia.

Violators face penalties ranging from three months to 20 years in prison and fines of P20,000 to P500,000. Violators also face a 12-month suspension of non-professional driver’s license for the first offense and perpetual revocation for the second offense. For professional drivers, a first offense would result in perpetual revocation of license.

Just recently, a relative of a brother in law, a young man in his twenties, was drunk driving  in a new SUV given to him by his parents. He got into an accident. The person at the front passenger seat died on the spot. The young boy sustained fourth degree burns to one third of his body. Luckily, the back seat passengers had only minor injuries. 

Eat, Pray, Love, Too.

I am watching the Julia Robert movie, Eat, Pray, Love, and she is in Italy and the Italians told her to do nothing and just enjoy the moment.  And then, she's off to India where she attends Yoga classes and gets the message that God dwells inside each person.

Julia's character, Liz, then travelled to Bali where she found another shot at love. 

If Liz included Philippines in her itinerary, she'd start her day at a Charismatic Prayer and Healing to find her peace and joy. The Elder in the community gives her a word of spiritual advice: Accept the Holy Spirit and let It be her guide in life.

Then she'd be whisked off to a street food mall or carinderia to have a taste of authentic Philippine food.

Typical Carinderia or mobile food stall in Manila

There, she'd eat rice and kare kare or binagoongan, perhaps with her bare hands, and also tries to swallow the undeveloped chick in the balut, and succeeds and enjoys the new experience and taste.

Liz' trip was to find joy again in her life, after a happy-gone-sad relationship with an aspiring and un-inspiring New York actor, David.

In Manila, Liz would discover the street beggars and the Navotas harbor where she'd marvel at the tons of fresh fish, and maybe, buy some.  Then, she'd realize how lucky she is being from a First World country, and having great work as a writer.

Balut or duck egg, a Philippine delicacy

She'd be invited to a Church wedding where bride and groom dance to lively rural music while relatives pin money to the wedding gowns and shirt. Liz' Filipino friend tells her that it symbolizes a  wish for a prosperous married union replete with children.

Liz goes to a  barrio fiesta, takes a weekend and enjoy the Boracay sun and sand. She mingles at the wet market, tasting yellow mangoes, duhat or black berries, and rambutan.

Her Philippine trip ends with a walk down the Quiapo church aisle, where she looks adoringly at the Senor Padre Nazareno, and feels an answer to her quest.

The Black Nazarene of the Quiapo Church,  during a January 9 procession

She goes out of the Church and takes a jeepney ride back to her Manila Hotel suite, getting off at the Luneta Park, hopping in and sliding at the skater's rink, and being helped to her feet by a muscled skating instructor. He smiles, she smiles back.

Always, our Pinoy message to ourselves and to others,  is hope.