Driving around Metro Manila can be hellish most of the time, thanks to the perpetual traffic jams. But it's entertaining the rest of the time, because of all the huge billboards, graffiti, and street signs that come in a rainbow of colors, from bubblegum pink (courtesy of the MMDA, which has taken it upon itself to paint the whole metropolis in its official colors: baby blue and pink) to green to light blue. The street signs have become fairly creative in their wording lately. A few examples:
Bawal Ang Tao Dito. How about animals? Alien life forms? You'll see this sign even as you drive up some flyovers, where street vendors peddle their wares to impatient motorists during traffic jams. Yeah, guess they're not human.
Merge. Or at least, we think it's a merge sign. It could also mean "Pine trees ahead."
No One Way. How about "Two-Way Traffic"?
Basura Mo, Alagaan Mo. Somehow, "alagaan" makes us think that we should provide our trash with food and shelter.
MMDA Labs You. Uh, sure. We'd rather see properly worded traffic signs, properly scheduled road repair work, and smoother traffic flow than a reminder that you "lab" us, though.
Likuan U. We're not sure who started referring to U-turn slots as a "Likuan U" or why anyone is paying homage to Lee Kuan Yew, but this sign does grab your attention.
Combination No Left/U-Turn. Either someone wanted to be clever, or the city of Makati thought it's a good money-saving idea to combine two symbols in one sign.
Flashing Arrow. Our guess: No budget for an actual flashing arrow?
Sige…Pasig…Sige Pa… Not a street sign as such, but it's emblazoned on an overpass over C-5. It sounds pretty dirty, if you ask us, although yes, yes, we know it's intended to encourage Pasig to be a better city.
Walang Tawiran Nakamamatay. Who hasn't seen this frightful pink warning? Sadly, we're not sure whether the message is dire enough to actually prevent people from crossing the road. Let's hope they don't start including visual aids.
Photos by Lynn Lopez, TJ Tantiangco
Have you seen other interesting, crazy and absurd signs (street signs or traffic signs) in the city? Snap a photo and share them with us through editorial@spot.ph.
I've been seeing a lot of LIKUAN U signs. I wonder who puts them up? :)
Walang Tawiran Nakamamatay. I always see that and giggle to myself. HAHAHAHAHA.
it is right to post "Sige…Pasig…Sige Pa…" on Pasig City particular at Danny Floro Street. :D
.MINSAN yoko mgfollow sa mga signs...... pra naman mpansin ng kyut na trafic n4cer! heehee
Whoever came up with that Likuan U sign should be shot. Isn't that taxpayers' money?
There's a pretty clever MMDA sign generator you can use on the web to make your own purrdy purrdy signages: http://www.techymind.com/mmda/ :)
Basura Mo, Alagaan Mo. People should take care of the trash. Paliguan, pakainin, pulbusan, padedein.. nurture it. Flashing Arrow. This one's funny. MMDA devised that one? Its pretty out-of-the-budget for them to buy actual ones, eh? Buti na lang di nila nilagay, "BLINKING ARROWS". Merge. I thought it was, "ASCENDING FENCE AHEAD". No One Way. Since its pointing on the right side, can you do a left? Or much better to put a "NOW WAY" sign. Bawal Ang Tao Dito. They should have put barb wires, or even live wires and ultra-sensitive sensors that shoots laser beams to whoever come across to trigger the alarm. Walang Tawiran Nakamamatay. Actually it took me a year to figure that one out. And when I finally understand what it meant, it was such a relief. So mind-buggling, they should have also put crossword puzzles on the streets and some clever mathematical problems.
Lee Kwan Yu (Likuan U) is just like Ped Xing (pedestrian crossing)familiarized by then Mayor Atienza
Why, was Ped Xing a person?
Because Lee Kuan Yew is an actual human being, and it makes no sense that his name is on our U-Turn slots.
I'm hoping to see the Flashing Arrow sign really soon. I'm saving all my guffaws for this.
mind-buggling? winner!
the lee kuan yew was funny.lol.
The "NO ONE WAY" is funny too.. LoL