A couple of years ago, I was excited to watch THE David Beckham play football in the Rizal Memorial Stadium against our very own national team (unsurprisingly, we lost 6-1 vs LA Galaxy).
Driving along Quirino Avenue heading towards the venue, I was suddenly flagged down by an MMDA officer. He explained that I was in a “Left-Turn Only” lane. Stunned, I reasoned that I was on the middle lane of a 5-lane road! Apparently, the arrow painted on the lane did indicate left-turn only.
Luckily, the officer told me that it was Christmas anyway and since it was the season of giving he was gonna give me a second chance, extending his hand for a handshake (wink wink). Perhaps due to low EQ or to self-righteousness, I quickly shook his hand and drove off.
Lesson learned – if you are driving along Quirino Avenue about to cross the Osmena Highway intersection, you must be on the rightmost lane! It is the law and the law is meant to be followed…most of the time.
I present to you The Illuminati Arrow.
If you know people who claim to be law-abiding citizens, bring them here. Specifically bring them to EDSA northbound between SM Megamall and the Ortigas MRT station.
Far worse than not being able to go straight from the middle lane, my brother swears that he gets a tiny heart attack every time he passes by this lane. If road signs truly are to be followed, then drivers passing through this lane break the law!
As a curious individual, I would very much like to know if there is a story behind this. If not, as with everything else, we will make our own stories. I do like the one about the Illuminati providing us “subtle” directions to a secret vault hidden beneath Luneta Park, storing evidence that Christ once came to the Philippines. This was, in fact, the real reason why Rizal was killed the Spaniards.
Another story I heard was that someone somewhere simply made a mistake, although I find that hard to believe. My money’s on the Illuminati – do you not see that what should be a spear now looks like a chalice!? Someone call Robert Langdon!
Do you have a theory behind The Illuminati Arrow? Feel free to comment it below. Maybe even share this and perhaps someone somewhere knows the proper authorities who can correct this before a driver attempts to follow the law.
Remember, we build this city. But in this case, someone failed this city.