For all its inconveniences, a traffic rerouting scheme resulting from the collapse of the façade of the famous Baclayon church and its belfry, has its own plus points.

All Souls Day? Didn't we celebrate the same only last November 2?

No quarrel. In fact, we have a field day recalling the passing of our loved one on the day of the departed by visiting the family's private mausoleum. We are referring of course to the graveyard of our dearly beloved (the wife, Neria) whom we will be celebrating her second death anniversary on January 30, 2014.

To the uninitiated, it's never too early to mark the second milestone. Nay, as if we are celebrating Neria's second death anniversary on a daily basis. Lest we are accused of overacting, the reason why we are marking All Souls Day on a daily routine is because of the traffic rerouting courtesy of the Baclayon police. The local police devised a traffic scheme that is as circuitous as it is in a rugged gravel road.

So circuitous that any motorist going to this city from the east has to pass a rugged and bumpy road from the eastern access to the town cemetery. And from there passing another dilapidated asphalt road fronting the Miguel Oppus Memorial Elementary School (Momes) then exiting to a one-lane road in barangay Taguihon and into the national highway.

The trip back from this city to any part in the east and interior parts of Bohol is a breeze because a parallel road at the back of the Baclayon Central Elementary School is used for the convenience of motorists.

Why can't the Baclayon police allow a two-way street on the return trip?

This curious BGlante asked a policeman who was posted in an intersection located near the town market in order to check on “shortcut violators” and he has this to say: allowing two vehicles to use the same narrow road will only aggravate the traffic situation. Thus, the parallel road is only open to one way traffic while city-bound vehicles are forced to use the cemetery exit road on their way to this city. After getting used to this daily experience of using the cemetery road, we have come to the conclusion that if this situation goes on for a long time, then, we might as well grin and bear it.

For one, it gives us a daily reminder of our own mortality as we pass day in and day out the final resting places of mortals, rich or poor. For another, it also gives us the opportunity to make passing glances to a dearly beloved whose burial ground is located just beside the cemetery road we used to pass everyday on our way to this city.