What I earned last summer is big enough to fit in our garage!

Yes, you’re looking at a second-hand but well-maintained Suzuki Vitara 1996. Most of the students, faculty and staff of the UP CMC know that this used to be one of two vehicles of a senior faculty member who has recently retired. He decided to sell this to me at a very, very low price. Our “friendly deal” actually became a take-off point in a column article I wrote on activism titled “Palibhasa, aktibista.” (What does this have to with activism? Please read the article.)

We signed the deed of absolute sale in the middle of June. The day after the sale, I immediately did some practice driving with the help of my in-laws.

Look at me guarding the SUV with my life!

Right now, Joy and I are taking good care of the Vitara.

I consider the summer of 2007 as the most “productive” in terms of additional income I earned from the various research projects, consultancies, television appearances and workshops I did over a two-month period. It was just by strange coincidence that the senior faculty member’s offer to sell his SUV came at a time when Joy and I can afford it.

Of course, my motorcycle will now have to be parked on our front yard. I think I will be using the motorcycle for short travels from now on.

In any case, I guess you can now say that I have been “promoted” from professional commuter to motorcycle rider to SUV driver!