Image: Instagram/@missleasalonga0
Tony Award-winning actress and singer Lea Salonga is back again in the motherland after giving her final performance as Erzulie, the Goddess of Love, for “Once on This Island.” There are far many things that jolt one back into believing they are really back in the country after being away for so long; for some it can be the familiar blare of the jeepney horns, the sky-high fixed rates of airport taxis and even the sweltering Philippine heat.
But for Lea Salonga, being back home in the Philippines meant encountering rude drivers on the road. Last July 2, Salonga took to her Twitter to share with her fans one such experience she had with her husband, Robert Chien.
“Me: (Cussing under my breath… another car cut us off without signaling or anything). Rob: Welcome back, Hon,” wrote Salonga on Twitter.
“Never had to deal with this in New York… well, mostly because I walked everywhere. And then it’s traffic of a different kind.”
Me: (Cussing under my breath… another car cut us off without signaling or anything)
Rob: Welcome back, Hon.Never had to deal with this in New York… well, mostly because I walked everywhere. And then it's traffic of a different kind.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) July 2, 2018
It’s a reality Filipinos can relate to, as there always seems to be at least one temperamental driver raging about the traffic just about anywhere around the metropolis. Traffic congestion in Metro Manila continues to worsen every day for its almost 13 million inhabitants, highlighting the glaring need for a more modern infrastructure to ease the overcrowding.
Indeed, many of Salonga’s fans echoed her sentiments, with her tweet racking up 2,000 favorites.
But all is not lost, it seems, for despite the unpleasant situation on the road, Salonga believes that there is still hope for the country and the Filipino people.
“But, the whole ‘wait behind yellow line’ at NAIA baggage claim was followed for the most part!” Salonga added. “Gave me hope! May pag-asa pala tayo!”
Number 1 welcome-back thing!!! The not-following-the-rules Pinoys literally everywhere.
— Gelay Cruz 🌗 (@_gelaaayyy) July 2, 2018
It’s a far cry from what Salonga experienced in the airport back in March. It will be remembered that Salonga called out a fellow Filipino at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for being undisciplined and refusing to follow airport rules.
The lady apparently was standing over the yellow line in the baggage claiming area in the airport, which irked Salonga.
“Mga simpleng patakaran, ayaw sundin,” wrote Salonga then. “Kailangan pa ba tanungin kung bakit bilang bansa, hindi tayo umuunland?” /ra
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