Rants : Chinese Ambassador Apologizes for Chinese Embassy First Secretary's Blunder

H.E. Ambassador Ma Keqing of China

Having lived and worked in China in the early '90s, I have a very good impression of the Chinese people. The Chinese I had met during my stay there were very humble, hospitable and happy people. I think these good qualities are inherent of the Chinese people and its culture.

But recently, the news I have been reading about Chinese expatriates give a different picture of their character and behavior. Did I get a wrong impression about the Chinese people during my stay in China? Or did they have a reversal of values because of the prosperity and wealth they have now.

Last year, there was a news about a Chinese expatriate driving a Ferrari that drove thru a red light signal in Singapore causing his death and the death of a Singaporean cab driver and a Japanese passenger. The Chinese national involved in the accident was not an ordinary laborer but a financial adviser, which means that he was a highly educated person. The accident created a backlash on mainland Chinese expatriates living in Singapore. The Chinese embassy's "first secretary" in Singapore had to apologize on behalf of the mainland Chinese expatriates' behavior.

Two weeks ago, another road accident happened involving a mainland Chinese expatriate, this time in Manila. A Chinese diplomat by the name of Wang Ben bumped the car in front of him. The car he rear-ended happened to be the car of the MMDA(Metro Manila Development Authority) Chairman Francis Tolentino. According to report, "Wang, who appeared to be drunk, showed a photocopy of his ID and then suddenly drove off in the middle of their exchange, Tolentino said"[1]. Chairman Tolentino gave chase but lost him. It was a good thing that nobody got hurt when the Chinese diplomat drove and sped off, it would have been another big diplomatic problem between the Philippines and China.

The Chinese diplomat involved in the accident was the Chinese embassy's first secretary. A few days after the incident, the Chinese ambassador apologized to the MMDA Chairman for the incident. The irony of  the matter is that the Chinese embassy's first secretary would normally be the one apologizing on behalf of misbehaving Chinese citizens in a host country, like what happened in Singapore last year. But this time it was the Chinese ambassador H.E. Ma Keqing herself, apologizing on behalf of the Chinese embassy's "first secretary".

Why couldn't the Chinese embassy's first secretary Wang Ben apologize by himself to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino? Why the need for the Chinese ambassador to apologize for Mr.Wang's traffic violations and his disrespect of a Philippine government official? As a diplomat, he is covered by diplomatic immunity and won't be penalized, so why the fear of owning up his blunder? Anyway, the humble gesture by the Chinese ambassador was accepted and very much appreciated by MMDA Chairman for him to forgive and forget the incident.

I wish diplomats like Mr. Wang Ben be transferred to Afghanistan for posting.
I am sure China does not tolerate abusive behavior from its diplomats abroad, specially from a high ranking officer like an embassy's "first secretary".

I hope my good impression of the Chinese people remains a good one.

Picture source and related link :
Click link below to know about H.E. Ambassador Ma Keqing of China :
http://ph.china-embassy.org/eng/sgxx/dsjl/
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/390057/chinese-ambassador-says-sorry-to-mmda-chief-over-car-bump [1]

People : Atty. Yves Gonzalez - MMDA's EDSA Traffic Discipline Manager

Last year I wrote a post about an MMDA project, a joint undertaking of TV5 and MMDA : The Traffic Navigator - an internet-based traffic information system which informs/advises motorists and commuters the best routes with the less traffic to take and pass through in Metro Manila. I was so impressed about the project  I was sharing the information about the project with friends and the public. I wasn't mistaken. The Traffic Navigators was voted product of the year.

Behind this very successful project is a young man who thought of this idea. The man is a techie, a legal mind and an MMDA traffic official. He is the epitome of what an ideal public servant should be. Imagine an application developer, a programer, a lawyer (a BAR top notcher at that), and a hands-on worker rolled into one.

MMDA's Traffic EDSA Traffic Discipline Manager Atty. Yves Gonzalez

He was recently one of the guest speakers in a forum I attended (Gamechangers Forum), and the guy can talk. He shared how the the ideas of the Traffic Navigator and the MMDA Twitter Account came about. I was really surprised when I found out that he is the person responsible for  these very impressive and innovative MMDA projects. Listening to him gives you a different impression of a government official and civil servant. Hopefully we will have more of his kind in our government service. After listening to him, you know that there is still hope for our country.

The next time you see a young good-looking guy manning the traffic in EDSA with an MMDA logo in his uniform, that must be Atty. Yves Gonzalez - MMDA's EDSA Traffic Discipline Manager.

Source : 

http://www.mmda.gov.ph/

Picture Source :

pinoyexchange.com

Related Link :

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/62846/photo--traffic-director-takes-picture-of-office-after-quitting

Advisory-Events : Skyway Close to Traffic on Feb. 2 & 3

Skyway : elevated section of SLEX

Here's an official advisory from the MMDA :
ADVISORY: The whole Skyway elevated section will be closed on 

February 2, 2013 at 8PM (Sat) until 
February 3, 2013 noon (Sun)

to give way for the upcoming ‏@ConduraMarathon event. #skywaysomco #slex. Θ

Skyway picture source : 

juanluna of panoramio.com

Information : 2012 MMDA Christmas Lanes

Today is the start of the use of the 2012 MMDA Christmas lanes or the alternate routes which the MMDA(Metro Manila Development Authority)  recommends the public to use to avoid traffic congestion along major roads and thoroughfares in the Metro during the Christmas season.

These lanes are not permanently assigned lanes and  change from year to year. Minor roads and unfamiliar streets are utilized as part of the Christmas lanes. In most locations they are to complement other major roads and streets to accommodate traffic. The streets utilized and assigned as Christmas  lanes depend on the traffic volume and other factors (infrastructures, etc) in areas in which they are implemented.

More importantly, these so-called Christmas lanes are planned to help Christmas shoppers, "mallers" and motorists to have faster movement going to (and vice-versa) major shopping center, malls and entertainment venues in the Metro.

Only in the Philippines! Metro Manila the "Christmas City" with its Christmas lanes.

Metro Manila streetmap

Here are the new MMDA Christmas Lanes:


From Greenhills to Rockwell: Take Wilson Street, left at P. Guevarra, Luna Mencias, right at Araullo, left at Balagtas, right at Shaw Blvd., left at Acacia Lane, left at Fabella Road, right at M. Martinez Ave., Maysilo, right at Sgt. Bumatay, take Pantaleon Bridge to Rockwell.

From SM North Edsa to Greenhills: take West Ave., left at Examiner, right at Quezon Ave., take u-turn slot near Magbanua, take Scout Borromeo, right at Tomas Morato Ave., right at E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., left at Gilmore Ave., Granada, Ortigas Ave. to Greenhills.

From SM San Lazaro to SM Mall of Asia: take A.H. Lacson, Nagtahan, Pres. Quirino Ave., left at M. Adriatico Ave., Vito Cruz, straight to Park Ave., right to Buendia Ave., left to Macapagal Blvd. to Mall of Asia and vice-versa.

From SM North Edsa to Araneta Center: along North Ave., right to Elliptical Road, right at Kalayaan, K-J Street, 15th Street, right at Aurora Blvd. to Araneta Center and vice-versa.

From Dapitan Market to Divisoria: take Dapitan St., right at A.H. Lacson, left at Tayuman, left to Dagupan to Divisoria.

From Baclaran to Divisoria: take Roxas Blvd., Anda Circle, right to A. Soriano Jr., Muralla, left to Magallanes Drive, left at Q. Paredes, Reina Regente to Divisoria Mall and vice-versa.

From SM Sta. Mesa to SM North EDSA: along Araneta Ave., right to Del Monte, left at Roosevelt, right at Baler, left at Miller Ave., right at Calumpit, left at Bansalangin, right at EDSA to SM North EDSA and vice-versa.

From SM Manila to Greenhills: take San Marcelino, left at U.N. Ave., right at Pres. Quirino, right at Figueroa, left at Pedro Gil, New Panaderos, right at Shaw Blvd., left at A. Mabini, right at Wilson to Ortigas Greenhills.

From Trinoma to SM Marikina: along North Ave., QMC, right at Kalayaan Ave., left at V. Luna, right at Anonas, left at Chico, Xavierville Ave., right at Katipunan, u-turn at Aurora Blvd., Marcos Highway to SM Marikina and vice-versa.

From Eastwood to Ortigas Center: take E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., right to Green Meadows, right at Ortigas Ave., left at Lanuza, right to Doña J. Vargas to Ortigas Center and vice-versa.

From Ortigas Center to Makati Business District: take ADB Ave., San Miguel Ave., left at Shaw Blvd., right at Pioneer, right at Reliance, left at Sheridan, right at Pioneer, pass Boni tunnel to Maysilo, right at San Francisco, left at Coronado, take Mandaluyong Bridge to Makati Business District and vice-versa.

From Harrison to Rockwell: take P. Ocampo, right at Arellano Ave., left at Zobel Roxas, right at Kamagong, left at Chino Roces Ave., right at Kalayaan Ave. to Rockwell.

Source :
http://www.mmda.gov.ph/news.html#dec11b2012

Update : Traffic Navigator is I.T. Product of the Year

Click poster to go to Traffic Navigator 

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Traffic Navigator

In my previous post, I made a review/commentary on the "Project : Traffic Navigator" a collaboration of MMDA and TV5. I gave it a Two Thumbs Up rating. I'm glad I didn't make a mistake in posting it and in the rating I gave. I just thought that it is a very good product and people should know about it. People who saw the post also had good things to say about the it. As a matter of fact it was recently awarded "I.T. Product of the Year" by CYBERPRESS  Awards edging out Smart Netphone and IPAD 2. I told you so!

Source :

Click logos to go to the websites of MMDA and Interaksyon

                                                     

Information : Real Time Traffic Update from MMDA and TV5

Here is a very useful site with real time traffic update of Metro Manila from the Metro Manila Development Authority and TV5. The traffic situation update is quite detailed location-wise. Take for example EDSA: the traffic is updated from the Mall of Asia to Balintawak and all the intersections in-between them, on both directions ( north and south bound ) every three minutes. This is really a creative endeavor between MMDA and TV5. Two thumbs up for this one!


Please click below for Metro Manila real time traffic update :
http://mmdatraffic.interaksyon.com/line-view-edsa.php

12/4/11

Correction : The actual periodic updating of traffic is every fifteen minutes ( not three minutes as I wrote on my blog entry ). My apologies on my blunder, I stand corrected. Anyway, 15 minutes is still almost real time.