Former beauty queen and actress Maria Isabel Lopez was stuck in traffic on Saturday night while driving on Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) just like everyone else.
The heavy traffic was caused by two lanes being closed for the use of foreign dignitaries who needed to reach Manila from Clark, Pampanga (about 99 km. away) for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
But instead of putting up with the traffic, she decided to take matters into her own hands by moving the cones and using the designated lanes.
She even posted about what she did on her Facebook account with a selfie, photos, and video.
“MMDA thinks I’m an official ASEAN delegate. If you can’t beat em, join them,” Lopez captioned her posts, seeming to brag about violating traffic rules. To add to that, she used the hashtags #nosticker, #leadership, #belikemaria, #pasaway, and #selfpreservation.
She was interviewed by GMA News later in the day about what she did. Lopez told them she had asked an enforcer first if she could pass, but he told her she couldn’t because she didn’t have a car sticker saying she could use the lanes.
“Can’t my face be my pass?” she said she told the enforcer.
When the enforcer turned away, that’s when she entered the lane. That contradicts her Facebook post, however, which said that she was the one who moved the cones.
“It’s a serious breach of security. The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) will recommend to the LTO (Land Transportation Office) the suspension or cancellation of the driver’s license of Maria Isabel Lopez,” MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago sent in a text message to reporters.
Lopez told Inquirer.net yesterday that the reason she was rushing is she had to use the bathroom, and she apologized because “the ends don’t justify the means.”
Many netizens were not happy about it, saying Lopez showed she believes she’s above the law.
I don’t know what’s dumber: Maria Isabel Lopez violating the rules during ASEAN Summit or her posting it on social media thinking she’s so badass.
— B (@fastidiouss) November 12, 2017
Dear Maria Isabel Lopez, we all want to arrive at our destinations as fast as we could, not because you were a beauty queen or an artist that doesn’t give you a license to break our rules! Where’s ur discipline at? #DontBeLikeMaria pic.twitter.com/vb1JzbJncj
— jhem (@jhemestella) November 12, 2017
Some netizens, however, came to Lopez’ defense saying she did what everyone else was thinking, but didn’t have the guts to do.
Unpopular opinion: Maria Isabel Lopez is a boss ass bitch and kudos to her for consistently challenging this messed up system. Iconic kween!
— MANAY JOJI TAGUIWALO (@itmeabitan) November 12, 2017
I know that Maria Isabel Lopez’ actions was irritating, but I see her actions also as a form of resistance to the oppressing policies, to globalization, to the state.
It’s just me.
— Kath.prproj (@heyitskaaath) November 12, 2017
Ms. Maria Isabel Lopez just did what most of the people in that particular time & place wanted to do. Its just that those people had no guts to do it at all. Normal humans call it insanity. But for me , what she did was a simple act of bravery. No big deal!
— ladyhizuka (@avyhizuka) November 12, 2017
Lopez won the title for Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) in 1982 and competed for Miss Universe in Lima, Peru that year. She starred in various TV shows and films from the 1980s and most recently appeared in the GMA TV Drama Haplos.
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