This weekend didn’t turn out the way I envisioned it a few days ago.

While my officemates are excited with their upcoming vacation (may it be Bohol, Palawan or maybe Boracay), I was planning a weekend or two of having to lounge around at home and/or the mall with my Dearest or my friends. Oh, and yeah, my friends and I were planning to go to EK to. A childhood wish that was postponed ever since we last went there.

Due to work schedules, we had to postpone the EK trip to another date. No bitterness here, as it didn’t seem right to go to Laguna with an empty car seat. Happiness minus one (or two) was never an option for us in the first place.

Bitterness came when I was issued a ticket for an honest mistake.

Instead of EK, we opted to go to Mall of Asia instead. It has been a long time since I set foot on the monumental shopping grounds and Pam and Michelle had never been there since it first opened. I offered the car and my driving services so that we can get there early. “EDSA would be free and smooth-sailing on Saturdays,” I thought. So I turned right to Ortigas from Libis and managed to turn left to EDSA while the light was still green…

However, I was pulled over by two MMDA officers saying that I entered the Bus lane.

Never mind the fact that the signs were so confusing it was almost impossible to see if the road is still open or fenced shut. I still entered the wrong lane.

It also didn’t matter that he private vehicle lane and the Bus lane will merge a few meters away PLUS there are no buses in sight. I still entered the wrong lane.

Besides, according to the MMDA, lane segregation is there to prevent road accidents. If you ask me, I’d rather they have the roads segregated from the raging motorcycles.

I did promise to become a law-abiding citizen especially way back in Grade school/Highschool when we recite the “Panatang Makabayan” every week of our lives. And I don’t have any problems with the MMDA officers, either. Save for the fact that they gave me the ticket, they were easy to talk to and were kind enough to give us directions on not to be caught anymore.

What bugs me are the traffic rules I supposedly broke. It is an inch away from being stupid and reading their PSAs are even more dangerous than actually entertaining a call on your cellphone. Driving is enough chore and attention-grabbing as it is. Also, this “rule” might not apply a year from now. And if it does, I just end up being a victim of circumstance and a P500 ticket.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still pay the fine. I guess I should avoid EDSA for now.