Leave it to Filipinos to find humor in most anything. Including road signs. In a country where street signs are confusing—even invisible, as a matter of fact—the average everyman thinks traffic visual guides are mere optical accessories. I mean, if an LGU gave permission to a sleeping pill brand to vandalize signs along a busy road, why would motorists respect them in the first place?

So, here we are with another funny motoring story for the week. The above photo went viral after being shared by a mildly confused driver, who wrote this caption:

There are choices we make in life that we fully regret. And there’s this… #IYKYK

Those of us who go to Alabang via SLEX should know these signs. The netizen was basically saying that the two signs—one for Filinvest, another for Alabang—could be confusing. And I agree, especially if you’re not focused on your driving.

And because companies are allergic to being crucified on social media, the SLEX operator (aka San Miguel Corporation) swiftly sprang into action by replacing the signs. Thumbs-up except the new signs look like they’re even more puzzling (both say “Alabang Exit’).

Even Muntinlupa mayor Ruffy Biazon chimed in, pointing out that the old signs had been there for a long time and it had been fairly okay with everyone:

“Nag-viral kamakailan yung [signs] at may mga pumuna na nakakalito daw. Matagal na yang signage na yan, pero ngayon lang may pumuna. Para sa mga taga-Muntinlupa at mga sanay nang dumaan dyan, alam na kung ano ang tamang dadaanan.”

I respectfully do not share the sentiment that just because the old signs had been “okay” with most people, they were acceptable to all road users. Road signs need to be clear to everyone, including (and especially) visitors. If there are individuals who protest the vagueness of a sign, authorities need to seriously look into it instead of stubbornly defending the object of the complaint.

Well-meaning motorists have chipped in their own ideas for how to solve the perplexity.

Many just joked about this, highlighting the class dichotomy among residents of the popular barangay.

It’s nice that we can laugh about any issue that living in this country throws at us. Hopefully, we can also turn solemn when it’s time to fix the problem. Road signs are important, useful and relevant. At worst, they can save time; at best, they can save lives.