Why I Won’t Be At The Salubong: Manila BANS BarOps

From GMA:

MANILA, Philippines - Manila has barred the holding of bar operations or “bar ops” for the 2008 bar examinees this September to avoid traffic jams on Taft Avenue.

Radio reports on Wednesday said Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim’s action was prompted by the call of Supreme Court Deputy Clerk and Bar Confidant, Ma. Cristina Layusa, to the city government to stop issuing permits to bar ops organizers.

The activities have been the tradition of school organizations and fraternity groups to demonstrate their support for bar examinees. Organizers put up tents, use loud sound systems and create other forms of hoopla, including partying on the streets.

According to Layusa, these activities snarl up traffic, making it hard for both commuters and examinees to pass by the exam venue. She added that in the past bar ops, some streets along Taft Avenue have been closed to accommodate the supporters.

So let me get this straight. We can’t have the post-bar celebrations — richly deserved, I might add, which is plainly obvious to anyone who’s ever taken the bar — because some people don’t like the traffic? But we have to deal with it whenever Pacquiao comes home from beating the shit out of someone?

You took the bar, Mayor Lim. You understand the hell we put ourselves through. Ask yourself if it really isn’t worth celebrating just to spare people some traffic during their Sunday drives.

Needless government intervention FTL.

(thanks to trinagar for the link)