OUR BACKYARD’S TWO ELECTRIC LIGHTS

OUR BACKYARD’S TWO ELECTRIC LIGHTS
By: Bro. Geminiano V. Galarosa, Jr.
Dagohoy Lodge No 84
(HM- LL 185, JS 169 and RP 147)


In a previous article titled “Walkways of the Two Sts. John” the installation of two electric posts at our backyard was mentioned, one at the instance of the barangay council, and another at our behest, to serve as beacon lights and guide the fishermen of the village who dock in the night. Those lights were installed more than eight months ago.

It turned out that the electric current of the light bulb that was provided by the barangay council was connected to the meter of a shrewd and semi-literate (or semi-illiterate?!) businesswoman who, last month, saw that her electric consumption was progressively increasing and therefore no longer wanted anything to do with it. While the actual cause was traceable to her daughter’s transfer of residence to her place taking along with her several appliances, among them, a TV set, a refrigerator and two electric fans, she pointedly turned her accusing finger at the solitary light bulb as the culprit of the said increase. She also felt that the P30 subsidy that the council promised to reimburse her was insufficient and was further aggravated by the fact that the actual reimbursement was too slow in coming. Upon due notice to the three fishermen who largely benefited from the light and the barangay councilman who was primarily responsible for its installation, she ordered that the connection be dismantled. Which left us no recourse but to reconnect the light bulb to our electric meter and thus absorb the wattage consumption ourselves; rationalizing that the cost was not really prohibitive, which, in effect meant that will just shoulder the additional expense instead.

Realizing that we now have the say on the two beacon lights, we then decided to relocate the new addition to a place where we believe it will best benefit the residents. Its original location after all, was situated beneath the coconut trees thus causing undue risk to life and limb as the unfertilized fruits (or putots) and the coconuts’ palms sometimes drop without even the courtesy of shouting “timber”!!! And where else should it be placed other than beside the nipa shack instead! The most valid reasons are the following:

1. It fully complemented the other light that is located at the left side of our backyard thus fully lighting the area where the pump-boats are docked and therefore serves as beacon lights that will serve as guide to the homecoming fishermen when they finally return home from the sea.

2. It lighted the nipa shack and thus allowed the schoolchildren to study there early in the night, a luxury that is not available in their houses that are not provided with electric lights.


3. It serves as deterrent to the shabu and various illegal drugs users who are rumored to sometimes use the shack as temporary dens. (Yes, Virginia, even in this far-off place, drug lords ply their trade profitably under the very noses of those who are supposed to check on them.)

4. It provided the folks who wait for the fishermen late in the night with a lighted shelter, also allowing them to broil a part of the catch over a bottle or two of their favorite wine called Tanduay Rhum.


5. With the installation of the twin lights, the entire area was in effect, turned into a mini-park that enabled the residents to promenade and while away time especially when the temperature is unbearably humid.


As a consequence, the bench made of bamboo that was installed at the place where the electric light was formerly located also had to be transferred, its use as a viewing and lounging seat was made useless because no one bothered to use it anymore especially in the night when darkness finally sets in.

The missus can but heave a pleasurable sigh of relief. The lighted place, after all, is also her favorite nook whenever she uses her cellphone when contacting her children and friends from out there in the metropolis since there is no cellphone signal inside our cozy residence!