The Epiphany of the Saints, translated to Spanish, means Epifanio de los Santos. Translated to Filipino, it means horrible traffic.

Talk of rehabilitating the busiest thoroughfare in the Philippines has been resounding as of late, with several ideas being presented as to how to improve traffic conditions (if that’s even possible). Everything from concrete reblocking to clearing obstructions to repainting lane markers are on the table, including controversial proposals such as the introduction of congestion fees and the removal of the bus carousel.

A total rehab is good. There’s no question that EDSA really does need to undergo one, but dare we say that the timing is suspect. Something about it feels off (and rushed). EDSA has been decrepit ever since we could remember. Even with the introduction of several flyovers in the ’90s or the implementation of U-turn slots during the late MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando’s term, the idea of a clean, pristine, and safe EDSA had always been in the pipeline. The former chair even went so far as to say on live TV that the long-term vision for the highway was to become an expressway.

Yet here we are in 2025 and rehab plans are just about to commence. After decades of public clamor, finally some action. Huzzah for public service! Or is it?

After the disclosure of a March kickoff—and along with it specifics on the project—one detail stood out: the timing. One of the main reasons (if not the only one) for expediting the rehab efforts was that the Philippines is set to host the ASEAN Summit in 2026. For context, this is when leaders of ASEAN nations congregate to discuss economic plans and prospects for the region. Put simply, there will be quite a number of foreign dignitaries in Metro Manila all at the same time.

I could vividly recall in my younger years that whenever a balikbayan or a VIP came to visit our home, my family would not hesitate to roll out the red carpet, so to speak. We, the kids, would be told to clean up our rooms and dress up nicely, while the elders prepared a special meal and made sure that stacks of de latas (mostly imported Spam from the US) were displayed prominently above the refrigerator. When the guests arrived, we would offer them brand-new slippers for use inside the house and turn on all the lights, which we young folk were told was a waste of electricity on any given day. It didn’t make sense to me as a kid why we pulled out all the stops just to give the guests the royal treatment, but as the years passed, I understood.

I understood, yes, but I didn’t necessarily agree with everything.

For some reason, we Filipinos are hardwired to impress. We want our neighbors, our friends, and our relatives to think highly of us—at the risk of hiding the truth. We go to great lengths to put on a facade, even though it leads to overspending most of the time. This I can understand on a personal or even familial level, but it’s a different story when it comes to matters of public concern.

A glittering and gleaming EDSA is supposed to be for Filipinos, not anyone else. The trigger for EDSA to be given a total makeover is supposed to stem from a genuine concern for its everyday users. Don’t get us wrong: We lowly taxpayers will definitely benefit from the rehab, but only because—it would seem—somebody higher in the pecking order wants it done.

Nonetheless, we look forward to enjoying the fruits of this EDSA resolution. We just hope that, in the future, more attention will be given to the timely needs of the Filipino people, because as history has taught us: When it comes to EDSA, the people should have the power.