Some two months ago, Virgie, a resident of sitio Punta, the fishing village that is barely two hundred meters away from our backyard beside the beach, came asking for the lion tamer with an unusual request. Their place which consist of no less than twenty houses (the lion estimates there now lives no less than a hundred souls there) that mushroomed like a “kabute” because of the burgeoning squid gathering business had been without electric lights for a week already, and it seems having their makeshift shacks lighted was not getting anywhere. A town-mate who is employed at the electric cooperative as a supervisor explained that electrical materials for its rehabilitation were needed but that it will require the written approval of the company’s Resident Manager since the cost is substantial. And he added: “I suggest you approach Nang Lorma (the lion tamer.). Perhaps she can help. All she had to do is call Engr. Eugene Tan over the phone and narrate to him your problem.”
The aging lion could only amusedly shake his head in silence. Here is a problem that is best solved by persons of authority and influence; like the town mayor whose duty it is to attend to the welfare of his constituents; or the Electric Cooperative’s director (there is one director who is elected representing three towns each to oversee problems peculiar to the town residents power needs), or the employees themselves who, by their sworn duties as personnel of the electric company, are bound by their vocation to serve their customers. But to quote Luis, the employee who made the suggestion, “the problem may need the charm of the lion tamer to have it fixed!”
Understandably, the suggestion was sincere for he and the lion tamer were contemporaries they being almost of the same age and also because based on similar wishes made by the lion tamer as will be explained later, her requests for assistance have all been favorably acted upon by the cooperative’s Resident Manager. .
What the townsfolk do not know is the underlying reason why the Resident Manager is wholly accommodating to our requests; and so let the aging lion tell you this story, direct from the lion’s now almost toothless mouth, so to speak.
Our relationship with BOHECO II, the electric cooperative that provides our power needs, did not start on the right foot. For six whole months counting from our arrival in this sleepy hometown, our monthly electric bills averaged no more than P200. But on the seventh month our bill skyrocketed to no less than P2,400 or a whooping 100% increase when compared with our six months total bill of only P1,200 added all together.
Naturally, we registered a written complaint but instead of seriously analyzing the problem, their written reply neither admitted nor fully explained our woes and instead suggested that we transfer the meter outside of our residence, the cost of which should be shouldered by us. In short, they hedged in their reply, which only infuriated the aging lion. And as the response did not placate his sentiments, the aging lion called his daughter long distance at the metropolis and asked where he can formally file the appropriate complaint. He was given the email and mailing addresses of the Energy Regulatory Commission both at the main office and at their Regional office in Cebu City and thereafter proceeded to write them stirring letters complete with supporting documents that elicited a two-pronged reaction from the two agencies. What the electric cooperative did not know was that the cat was an auditor by profession and thus is competent to file complaints that are fully supportable by hard evidence.
The main office thus ordered the Cooperative to correct the mistake with a stirring admonition while the Regional Office, sensing that the case is unique and therefore has the potential of putting his office into the limelight, wrote the aging lion to file a formal complaint, it being a precedent setting case.
The civil case initially looked like a fight between two rampaging bulls locked by the horns. But no sooner, the Cooperative’s manager capitulated because the aging lion’s complaint was getting in the way of their being rated from Class “D” to Class “A” and thus puts them in danger of being disqualified from being selected as Outstanding Electric Cooperative during the year in the entire archipelago. Twice, the Resident Manager and his Finance Manager came to the lion’s den and after admitting their error, pleaded that the cat living inside it withdraw the case, the resolution of which they suggest may be settled to the aging lion’s satisfaction. .The two visitors were surprised when the aging lion simply said: “Now that you’ve admitted your error, I suggest you now return to your office and consider the case forgotten. I’m sending an email to the Bureau Director of the ERC in Cebu City withdrawing my complaint.”
The Resident Manager was profuse in his thanks and talking out aloud wondered how he can return that rare act of generosity saying he hopes there is a chance that he will be given the opportunity to repay it someday. And to abbreviate a rather long story, what started out as an adversarial encounter ended up on a friendly atmosphere that became a strong connection between the aging lion and the Resident Manager of the electric company.
Then after about a year later, the need to ask for help came. When the lion tamer thought of having her neighbors at our backyard lighted with electrical power, the Resident Manager saw to it that it was done promptly (See article “Let There Be Light). When the tenant of a neighbor who resides in neighboring Candijay town asked for help that electrical connection in his house be connected since the linemen of the place were dilly-dallying for one reason or another, the lion tamer initiated contact and his house was thereafter lighted. When two of her cousins complained of abnormal electrical consumptions which company red tape failed to elicit prompt results, she again relayed these problems to the Resident Manager and had the electric meters replaced to their complete satisfaction. All these she did with the aging lion hardly intervening; he surmised she can well handle the problems as her pet nonchalantly yawned obviously disinterested ion what she is doing for her townmates.
Let’s now get back at the request of the residents of sitio Punta.
The problem, it turned out, was caused by the abnormal growth of the number of residents in the place, where the electrical needs were solved by the technicians by employing a technique called “octopus connections”. The temporary nature of the electrical connections sometimes cause current to trip because of the sudden surge of power and therefore was the main reason why they were powerless for more than a week. .What was required therefore was to replace the posts and change the wirings with higher tensile strength capabilities so that electrical load may be compensated. This the lion tamer relayed to the Manager and power in the place was restored after two days counting from the time she made the call.
But upgrading took sometime. The existing posts needed replacement and so three sturdy cement posts were provided as replacements.. Wires of higher grade capabilities replaced the previously-installed connections as these were obviously of inferior grades. And the needed personnel required to do the job were scheduled as they already have their own itineraries during the month and consequently the planned rehabilitation had to wait. More importantly, budgetary constraints at the Cooperative also required fund scheduling.
Thus it was that on October 25th, on the 4th month birth anniversary of the aging lion’s youngest grandson, two female residents of Sitio Punta went to the lion’s den through its backdoor saying that the required upgrading of their electrical connections has already been put in place, thanks to the lion tamer’s intercession. The aging lion nodded in silent acknowledgement without a word coming out from his lips. And before they left, one said: “Pwede bang mangayo kamunggay?” (May we ask for malunggay?!) and received from the aging lion this epic and amusing reply: “Go right ahead and pluck some, it is for free, it’s Promo offer from the lion tamer who is at this time still in the metropolis!”
Which also made the lion tamer remark upon being informed through the cell phone of what has just transpired: “Di pwede na akong manalong baranggay kagawad sa susunod na eleksyon?!”(So I can now win the post of “baranggay councilwoman” in the coming elections?!, she teasingly said over text message.
The aging lion of course knows is only kidding- she is not even listed in the town’s registry of the controversial government agency we all call the COMELEC!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
A CHILDREN’S MINIPARK
The decision to build a mini-park at our backyard was not the result of a bright idea that just popped out from nowhere. At its best, it can be compared to an acorn that slowly sprouted from the ground that later showed the potentials to grow into a mighty oak. But let the aging lion tell you how this mini-park came about from the very start.
Our move to transfer residence to this bucolic island first compelled us to replace the old fence made of hollow blocks at our backyard with materials made of angle bars to allow the sea breeze to reach the house that was constructed at the middle of the lot. No sooner was the job done and the baranggay captain, who was at that time newly inducted, approached the aging lion, not only to pay us a visit but also to request that we provide lighting at the right side of the fence as the left side was already lit, courtesy of a widowed neighbor who deals in the bangus fingerlings business. On this, the aging lion and his tamer gladly acquiesced.
But the widowed neighbor must have had Shylock for a husband because no more than two months had passed and she disconnected her own lighting alleging her electric bills increased unreasonably. Since the additional cost will not exceed P50 a month anyway, we gladly attached the said bulb to our lighting connection and thus ended up absorbing the electrical cost of the two beaconing lights at our backyard..
Meantime, the squid business grew and so pump boats suddenly began parking at the shoreline. In addition, the German owner of a beach resort some five kilometers away decided, with the acquiescence of our neighbor who owned the place, to dock their rubberized motorboats whenever the ocean becomes unruly. Until finally, the place became a beehive for all sorts of sea-venturing bancas transforming the place into a virtual fishing village, and consequently, the baranggay captain again requested us to add another bulb, and to which we again did.
With the place well-lighted, the children of our neighbors began playing at the lighted area even after dusk. Soon children from across the street also joined especially when the asphalt road was demolished to pave way to the cementing of the circumferential road as the attendant dust became noxiously unbearable The parents tolerated their children to converge at our backyard as it was much safer place to find them during dinner time and also to avoid being bumped by “habal-habals” (that’s how they call motorcycles here) whenever they stray by the roadside. The presence of children energetically playing, at times shrieking with delight, made the aging lion reminisce his younger days when, despite the rueful odds of studying and sidelining on miscellaneous tasks to earn the elusive centavos (pesos were still out of touch of children then) he still found time to play as darkness engulfs his own hometown .
To his consternation however, the fishermen would just park their bancas, especially the smaller ones, wherever they would want thus at times occupying the area where the children themselves are playing. And when their attention are called, the culprit would look at you with dagger eyes as if saying “which is more important, eke out an honest livelihood or the joys of simple childhood?! To further confound matters, these poor fishermen have the notion that 20 meters space (the total space being played by the children is about 240 square meters) from the shoreline is inalienable and therefore could not be used by the owners for themselves. And when asked what right do they have to use the area if the owners themselves cannot use it; would not be able to reply but just the same would look at you with disdainful eyes!
. And so it was but natural that the lion and his tamer mulled over the idea of creating a mini-park where the children could play around during their leisure hours that is free from the intrusions of adults which made the aging lion undoubtedly glad.
They then thought of formally claiming the space with the DENR and were informed that it is legally possible. Not only that- the DENR personnel said even the space up to the sea wall that included the shoreline with an area of about 1,500 square meters can be claimed. But of course, expenses had to be incurred.
The lion tamer next talked to the Municipal Mayor who advised there is no need to apply with the DENR since the intention is to donate the lot anyway and thereafter suggested that she talk to the baranggay council and submit the proposal so that it may be officially approved by the baranggay and have the ordinance enacted by the Sanguniang Bayan.
To our dismay however, the baranggay council was lukewarm to the idea. With very low funds, they want nothing to do with a playground for the kids. They hinted that they might accept the offer provided all the costs of constructing the playground will be handled by us but that any plan must first be submitted to them for approval before actual work may be done. To which the lion could only muse and sigh: “Ano, siniswerte?!” Gastos at isip amin lahat, magiging amo pa sila!!” (What the heck?! All work and expenses to be done by us but everything must first be presented to them for approval!!) Ruefully therefore, the plan for the playground was shelved in the corner of the aging lion’s mind.
Before the advent of Christmas however, he unexpectedly received an email from Bro. Tony Limpoco, a fraternal brother based at Bahrain who mentioned he plan to donate P5,000 for the Christmas project that is now on its third year and asked where he could send it; and as and as the lion tamer and his pet were already scheduled to spend the season at the metropolis proposed that an appointment be set that they see each other at the metropolis sometime later. Bro. Tony said the idea would be fine.
And so during the second week of December Bro. Tony (who was accompanied by Bro. Larry Carbonnel) and the aging lion met at the Grand Lodge and after the usual exchange of pleasantries had lunch at a Korean Restaurant somewhere at Robinson Galleria at the UN Avenue. There Bro. Tony not only gave the P5,000 check saying he would want to remain anonymous but also asked how he can still help. Without batting an eyelash, he received a reply that probably, if he can donate an additional P10,000 then the dream of fencing the area for the mini-park and a set of swings and see-saws for the kids may just turn into a reality. Surprisingly, Bro. Tony confidently nodded his head and said he’ll work it out when he returns to Bahrain, And what a joyful meeting it was, Bro. Tony forgot to pay our bill and was therefore chased by the waiter when we were already out of restaurant, with the aging lion laughing out loudly saying: “Good the waiter did not report us to the police, General Querol would have had a sorry job bailing us out of the Western Police District!”
So it was that by the end of January, Bro. Tony sent an email saying he has already sent the P10,000 and that he the funds this time came from “Travelers Tribe Masonic Club of the Kingdom of Bahrain” of which he is its president. He also said he would no longer mind if the name of his organization be mentioned.
As of this writing, the mini-park is now adequately fenced thus creating a sturdy barrier that separates the bancas from the space being used by the kids. Cost of construction has ballooned to P14,000 since the aging lion decided to reinforce the fence with additional deformed steel bars and sturdier mix of cement so that it can withstand the rigors of inclement sea weather, thus making the project still an on-going thing. The project, by the way, has progressed from a simple children’s mini-park to a combined private plaza where five additional benches made of cement were added to serve the needs of the residents during the summer evenings.
At this date also, two fraternal brothers have already physically seen the project; the first was Bro. Antonio Maputol, that nonagenarian neighbor who approvingly nodded when he saw the “square and compass” logo embedded in an inconspicuous place at the right side of the fence saying: “A nice symbol to look at, where did you get it? To which he received the obvious reply: “From the Grand Lodge. Where else?”
The second was an unexpected visitor from Toronto, Canada named Bro. Rodel Ramos, a guest of the friend of the lion tamer who upon learning that her guest was a Freemason decided to tow Bro. Rodel to the lion’s den, for the usual exchange of Masonic pleasantries, and on leaving the place (he is to return to Toronto mid March) asked: “Your park for the kids is no doubt still incomplete. What do you plan to add next?” and received the casual and nonchalant reply:
“Well, the swing, the see-saw, a slide, and probably also cement the area that is shaded by the five coconut trees (pointing to the exact spot) and buy about thirty monoblock chairs so that the lion tamer can have some furniture to use should she decide to hold value forming sessions with the housewives sometime later.
The seesaw and the swing will come soon. We are now working it out with the District Engineering Office that they donate to us some steel posts like the one the earlier gave for the electric lights so that these may be welded and converted into playground items for the kids. The cementing and the monoblock chairs will just have to follow later as funds become available.”
The place, after all, has now become a combined playground and mini-plaza that can be used by all the residents of the place.
Our move to transfer residence to this bucolic island first compelled us to replace the old fence made of hollow blocks at our backyard with materials made of angle bars to allow the sea breeze to reach the house that was constructed at the middle of the lot. No sooner was the job done and the baranggay captain, who was at that time newly inducted, approached the aging lion, not only to pay us a visit but also to request that we provide lighting at the right side of the fence as the left side was already lit, courtesy of a widowed neighbor who deals in the bangus fingerlings business. On this, the aging lion and his tamer gladly acquiesced.
But the widowed neighbor must have had Shylock for a husband because no more than two months had passed and she disconnected her own lighting alleging her electric bills increased unreasonably. Since the additional cost will not exceed P50 a month anyway, we gladly attached the said bulb to our lighting connection and thus ended up absorbing the electrical cost of the two beaconing lights at our backyard..
Meantime, the squid business grew and so pump boats suddenly began parking at the shoreline. In addition, the German owner of a beach resort some five kilometers away decided, with the acquiescence of our neighbor who owned the place, to dock their rubberized motorboats whenever the ocean becomes unruly. Until finally, the place became a beehive for all sorts of sea-venturing bancas transforming the place into a virtual fishing village, and consequently, the baranggay captain again requested us to add another bulb, and to which we again did.
With the place well-lighted, the children of our neighbors began playing at the lighted area even after dusk. Soon children from across the street also joined especially when the asphalt road was demolished to pave way to the cementing of the circumferential road as the attendant dust became noxiously unbearable The parents tolerated their children to converge at our backyard as it was much safer place to find them during dinner time and also to avoid being bumped by “habal-habals” (that’s how they call motorcycles here) whenever they stray by the roadside. The presence of children energetically playing, at times shrieking with delight, made the aging lion reminisce his younger days when, despite the rueful odds of studying and sidelining on miscellaneous tasks to earn the elusive centavos (pesos were still out of touch of children then) he still found time to play as darkness engulfs his own hometown .
To his consternation however, the fishermen would just park their bancas, especially the smaller ones, wherever they would want thus at times occupying the area where the children themselves are playing. And when their attention are called, the culprit would look at you with dagger eyes as if saying “which is more important, eke out an honest livelihood or the joys of simple childhood?! To further confound matters, these poor fishermen have the notion that 20 meters space (the total space being played by the children is about 240 square meters) from the shoreline is inalienable and therefore could not be used by the owners for themselves. And when asked what right do they have to use the area if the owners themselves cannot use it; would not be able to reply but just the same would look at you with disdainful eyes!
. And so it was but natural that the lion and his tamer mulled over the idea of creating a mini-park where the children could play around during their leisure hours that is free from the intrusions of adults which made the aging lion undoubtedly glad.
They then thought of formally claiming the space with the DENR and were informed that it is legally possible. Not only that- the DENR personnel said even the space up to the sea wall that included the shoreline with an area of about 1,500 square meters can be claimed. But of course, expenses had to be incurred.
The lion tamer next talked to the Municipal Mayor who advised there is no need to apply with the DENR since the intention is to donate the lot anyway and thereafter suggested that she talk to the baranggay council and submit the proposal so that it may be officially approved by the baranggay and have the ordinance enacted by the Sanguniang Bayan.
To our dismay however, the baranggay council was lukewarm to the idea. With very low funds, they want nothing to do with a playground for the kids. They hinted that they might accept the offer provided all the costs of constructing the playground will be handled by us but that any plan must first be submitted to them for approval before actual work may be done. To which the lion could only muse and sigh: “Ano, siniswerte?!” Gastos at isip amin lahat, magiging amo pa sila!!” (What the heck?! All work and expenses to be done by us but everything must first be presented to them for approval!!) Ruefully therefore, the plan for the playground was shelved in the corner of the aging lion’s mind.
Before the advent of Christmas however, he unexpectedly received an email from Bro. Tony Limpoco, a fraternal brother based at Bahrain who mentioned he plan to donate P5,000 for the Christmas project that is now on its third year and asked where he could send it; and as and as the lion tamer and his pet were already scheduled to spend the season at the metropolis proposed that an appointment be set that they see each other at the metropolis sometime later. Bro. Tony said the idea would be fine.
And so during the second week of December Bro. Tony (who was accompanied by Bro. Larry Carbonnel) and the aging lion met at the Grand Lodge and after the usual exchange of pleasantries had lunch at a Korean Restaurant somewhere at Robinson Galleria at the UN Avenue. There Bro. Tony not only gave the P5,000 check saying he would want to remain anonymous but also asked how he can still help. Without batting an eyelash, he received a reply that probably, if he can donate an additional P10,000 then the dream of fencing the area for the mini-park and a set of swings and see-saws for the kids may just turn into a reality. Surprisingly, Bro. Tony confidently nodded his head and said he’ll work it out when he returns to Bahrain, And what a joyful meeting it was, Bro. Tony forgot to pay our bill and was therefore chased by the waiter when we were already out of restaurant, with the aging lion laughing out loudly saying: “Good the waiter did not report us to the police, General Querol would have had a sorry job bailing us out of the Western Police District!”
So it was that by the end of January, Bro. Tony sent an email saying he has already sent the P10,000 and that he the funds this time came from “Travelers Tribe Masonic Club of the Kingdom of Bahrain” of which he is its president. He also said he would no longer mind if the name of his organization be mentioned.
As of this writing, the mini-park is now adequately fenced thus creating a sturdy barrier that separates the bancas from the space being used by the kids. Cost of construction has ballooned to P14,000 since the aging lion decided to reinforce the fence with additional deformed steel bars and sturdier mix of cement so that it can withstand the rigors of inclement sea weather, thus making the project still an on-going thing. The project, by the way, has progressed from a simple children’s mini-park to a combined private plaza where five additional benches made of cement were added to serve the needs of the residents during the summer evenings.
At this date also, two fraternal brothers have already physically seen the project; the first was Bro. Antonio Maputol, that nonagenarian neighbor who approvingly nodded when he saw the “square and compass” logo embedded in an inconspicuous place at the right side of the fence saying: “A nice symbol to look at, where did you get it? To which he received the obvious reply: “From the Grand Lodge. Where else?”
The second was an unexpected visitor from Toronto, Canada named Bro. Rodel Ramos, a guest of the friend of the lion tamer who upon learning that her guest was a Freemason decided to tow Bro. Rodel to the lion’s den, for the usual exchange of Masonic pleasantries, and on leaving the place (he is to return to Toronto mid March) asked: “Your park for the kids is no doubt still incomplete. What do you plan to add next?” and received the casual and nonchalant reply:
“Well, the swing, the see-saw, a slide, and probably also cement the area that is shaded by the five coconut trees (pointing to the exact spot) and buy about thirty monoblock chairs so that the lion tamer can have some furniture to use should she decide to hold value forming sessions with the housewives sometime later.
The seesaw and the swing will come soon. We are now working it out with the District Engineering Office that they donate to us some steel posts like the one the earlier gave for the electric lights so that these may be welded and converted into playground items for the kids. The cementing and the monoblock chairs will just have to follow later as funds become available.”
The place, after all, has now become a combined playground and mini-plaza that can be used by all the residents of the place.
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