Bato bato sa rotunda pangit

G-SPAT
Grace Bandoy

BAGUIO CITY -- This may come as a delayed reaction but after the clearing of the Session Road in bloom, the rotunda can now be seen in all its gory sans the Vergara fake pine tree. It’s really surprising how the supposed upgrade doesn’t look like an upgrade at all. More like a super downgrade for me. We’re going back to the Stone Age whoa!

Between Vergara’s fake tree and the 8-headed whatever now standing there, I’m a pro-tree. Whoever thought of putting those meaningless, colorless, lifeless rocks there was probably stoned. I mean sure, for those who were informed of the rocks’ history and symbolism, maybe they get it. But for the thousands of clueless out there who can only ogre at them without knowing anything, I believe they’re not impressed.

Here’s what some of them think:

Eric, student: “Parang pangit po, mas ok pa ho yung pine tree noon”
John, government employee: “Nakakabato! Ano ba yun?!”
Ivy, nurse: “Hindi ko makuha yung meaning bakit yun ang nilagay, saka parang ang bilis ginawa hindi namin namalayan iba na pala yung nakalagay dun.
Marge, ESL Tutor: “Parang artistic naman, magkano ang nagastos sa mga batong yon?”
Rudy, businessman: “Siguro ok lang, papalitan rin naman eh”

Well, there goes what the ‘people’ think. The artist of said rock installation is a friend of mine but it’s not his fault. He was just being an artist. If that installation caused hundreds of thousands or millions, I swear hell will break lose. So what if it came from personal money, it’s still public property.

That project isn’t pretty. And if they spent senselessly on it, batuhin ang mga bato!

Just look at that one million-peso rock by the City Hall’s flagpole kung hindi kayo mabato. There are eight rocks at that rotunda.

Why are they turning our city into some Flintstone city? Well, maybe because the people thinking of those stoney projects were stoned – tuliro – high? I mean can’t they think of other living thing to put around our city aside from rocks na napupulot sa Kennon road riverside?! Tapos kunwari tinatakpan takpan pa ng trapal para ma surprise daw tayong lahat! Were not surprised, were shocked!

What the f*ck are those things. Plant trees and bushes and flowers! Libre pa hindi kailangan ng budget! Peace everyone…