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.