Jet Pogi!
by Oliver Carlos
This is the story of my first traffic violation. I didn’t learn how to drive a car until I was 23 years old. Before that, I just go around on a motorcycle. My family had a red Yamaha V50 motorcycle which I drive whenever Dad was not using it. When Dad acquired his dream car, a second-hand maroon 1968 Toyota Corolla, the motorcycle technically became mine. This was in the early years after I graduated from college.
My motorcycle was semi-automatic. It had 3 gears, and it didn’t have a clutch. It’s very fuel efficient as its engine was just 50cc. I had fun riding it as I had very minimal expenses for its gas. I drove it everywhere and everyday.
One afternoon, I was riding with 2 of my childhood friends. They were seated behind me. We were about to enter the UPLB Gate coming from Grove. We were young and carefree, and my two female friends behind me were so happy with the joyride that they began singing loudly “Jet Pogi! Jet Pogi!”
Because of their loud voices, the UP police officer on duty at the gate noticed us. He apprehended us. He commanded me to pull over and then asked for my license. I was so shocked, I was wondering what could be my traffic violation. My friends were likewise stunned, they were suddenly quiet.
The officer told me that I had several violations. First, we were 3 passengers on the motorcycle. The maximum allowed in the university was just 2 passengers, including the driver. Next, I don’t have a license, not even an expired one. I never had one, at that time. Lastly, my motorcycle wasn’t registered. It had a plate number, but no updated LTO registration sticker.
At this point, I froze like a statue. I had no excuse for my violations. What’s worse, I noticed that there’s now a traffic build-up at the UP Gate with all the vehicles passing by trying to eaves drop at the scene. All eyes were on me, my friends, and the police officer. It was so embarrassing! I didn’t know what to do or what to say. I had no escape, I was guilty of the charges, it was a no-bail-out situation. I was about to cry.
Then the police officer might have felt what I felt. He mercifully let me go, no strings attached, no nothing, just out of the pure goodness of his heart. He just told me to straighten up everything- get a license, have my vehicle registered, and follow road rules, like observing the maximum capacity of my vehicle.
I was so happy I got off the hook as simple as that. I promised the officer I will follow his word and I wouldn’t commit any violation ever again.
This is a very nice illustration of what God’s mercy is all about. We are all guilty of sin. Because of sin, we deserve to be in hell. But God cancelled our punishment. He paid for it, so we can go scot-free. He did it because he loved us. Not because we did something to earn it, not because we deserve it, but purely because of his grace. We read in Ephesians 2:4–5 (NASB):
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved.”
The joy I felt when the police officer let me go was so great and monstrous, my heart was exploding with praise. That’s what the Bible calls “the joy of my salvation”. It’s good to look back at this experience to remind me of what Jesus has done on the cross for you and me, and give him the praise and thanksgiving due him.
