time's up

i was walking out our street when i noticed an unusual number of people on the main road.  their eyes were toward the condominium across our house.

i also saw at least three men in blue.  initially, i mistook them for police but they turned out to be MMDA personnel.

then on the sidewalk in front of the condominium, i saw my former classmate who is a resident there.

i cheerfully greeted her then asked, 'how come there's police?  [MMDA actually]  what's going on?'

my classmate blurts out:  'they're towing my car!'

eh?!

then i noticed that the usually vehicle-filled sidewalk was clear and there was her lone car in front of the condominium.  part of the car was parked within the condominium's property lines while part protruded to the sidewalk.

then the tow truck started to move.

my classmate frantically went, 'just a moment!  just a moment!'

as she talked to someone on the phone, i asked the MMDA personnel beside us:  'how come you're still towing when the driver is already here?'

MMDA personnel:  'the 5 minutes is up.  we waited for five minutes.  actually, we notified yesterday yet.  today the car is still here.'

me:  'oh...  so it's just 5 minutes?  i know you have to sound a siren or something...'

my classmate says she did not receive any notice.

anyway, the car was towed.  my classmate told me she had to pay P2,000 in addition to the hassle of going through heavy traffic to get to the MMDA impounding area.  she said she had to get the car right away lest the towers bring it to the MMDA in tarlac.

ouch!

i like to say everyone deserves a second chance but not a third.

in this case, you're warned on day 1 then you're towed on day 2.

i guess for some things you have to set things right immediately otherwise it will cost you.