CEASEFIRE sa ta kadyot og intriga.
The cities of Cebu and Mandaue are experiencing the worse every time there is heavy downpour.
Baha dayon.
Depending on the rain-time, the flooding makes many streets un-passable to small vehicles.
This is big problem to commuters and vehicle operators alike. Many are stranded, many are prevented from going home or to their intended places of destination. And many vehicle owners complain of engine malfunction. Kasagaran maguba gyod ang makina kon masudlan og tubig.
Ngano man nga mobaha man dayon?
* * *
Gamay na lang ang kayutaan, kasagaran gi-semento o gi-aspalto na og mao kini hinungdan nga dili na mosurop sa yuta ang ulan.
Barado na sab ang mga drainage sa mga kadalanan mao nga imbes mosubay sa drainage, mo-awas na og maoy makaingon sa baha.
Gamay na lang ang mga tanom nga makatabang sa paglikay sa baha.
Ang naka-nindot pa gyod kay dunay daghan nga mga kadalanan nga giguba o giayo og tungod sa ulan, mahunong ang pagtrabaho niini og mao sab ang makaingon sa baha.
* * *
It’s not just Cebu or Mandaue that is experiencing this problem.
Tagbilaran is also experiencing the same, though not as worse as Cebu or Mandaue.
Many streets in the city are also flood-prone, and we can cite the same reasons.
What are our city planners doing?
Do we have an action plan for this?
Does this plan include rainwater collection system, not only to minimize flooding but also for drinking and watering purposes?
* * *
I attended the relaunching of Cebu’s dancing inmates last week. On such occasion, I had several discussions with mayors and board members and the topic of discussion was only one – a return to our pre-Covid days where we would schedule friendly games between the mayors and the board members.
I was a member of both teams and I was also provided uniforms for both teams.
Every time there was a schedule, I would bring along the two set of uniforms, and I would join the team with the least member-attendees.
It was all friendly, fun-filled and very enjoyable because we were having fun sweating it out and doing our best shots to win the game.
What made it more enjoyable was the instant contest where shooters (men and women) who shot the ball would receive either 1,000, 5,000 or even 20,000.
The 20,000 shot was made at the line dividing the court or mid-court. It should be a one-in-a-million shot because of the distance but one time in Alcoy, one shooter got it right and right there and then, he got his 20,000.
Yeah, just for fun and the mayors and board members chipped in their personal money for these shots.
Back then, there was no shortage of sponsors for the game, more so when the vice governor or even the governor would join the fun.
Mosamot ka-bibo kay mas dako ang premyo nga madawat.
* * *
We recalled all these last week and we came up with a joint resolve to revive the game.
Of course, this is very timely because I am also in talks with the Bohol Mayors for similar event. And just like their Cebu peers, the Bohol Mayors are also one in saying that it is high time to revive the friendship games between Cebu and Bohol Mayors.
And so both mayors groups are excited as to the first encounter, would it be in Cebu or in Bohol.
When I broached this to Governor Aris, himself a cager, he was also ecstatic and eagerly awaiting for the final talks as to the date and venue for such friendly games.
* * *
Why am I breaking this seemingly non-issue?
Because I just had a talk with a fellow cager who is now 66 or 67 and he is still playing regularly.
And he said he is very thankful of our regular basketball games.
Susko, unsa na kahay atong porma og wala na ta magdula og basketball, he said. Daghan sa akong mga amigo nga wa na magdula, nagpasagad na lang og patambok, kalooy sa Diyos, maglisod na og lakaw. Daghan na og reklamo nga sakit sa tuhod, sakit sa hawak, sakit sa tiil ug uban pa.
Another player, past 50 echoed the sentiment.
Tinuod bitaw na, among silingan nga mas manghod pa nako, dili na kadagan, dili na man gani katarong og lakaw kay sakit kuno iya tiil ug tuhod.
Mao nang nagpasalamat na lang ko nga modula pa ko og basketball, kalooy sa Diyos, makadagan pa ko, makahuman pa ko og usa ka game, he said.
* * *
Because of this “big” event, I went around the malls of Cebu so I can score a decent pair of basketball shoes.
And I was shocked to discover that basketball ball shoes are out of stock. The only ones displayed are running shoes.
Asa na man inyong mga sapatos pang-basketball dong, I asked.
Taod-taod na ming walay delivery Sir. Mao na lang na among stock, kanang naka-display.
When I asked a friend who just arrived from Manila and himself a cager, he told me the same story.
Walay stock.
Ooopppsss, what’s happening?
* * *
And I made another discovery.
There is also a shortage of basketball balls, the decent ones like Molten or Mikaza. Of course, there are available balls but not the decent brands that I mentioned above.
Ngano man ni?
A fellow cager said daghan na ang namalik og dula, daghan na ang mga tournament ron, and that probably explains the epic discoveries.
* * *
Of course, there are available shoes online.
And one can download the app and access the website and make orders. But all these transactions are premised on one thing – that the item delivered is exactly the item ordered.
And there is risk involved – that the one delivered is not the same as the one ordered and you have already made payment thru your debit or credit card.
Demalas kon ma-timing nga lahi ang gi-deliver sa imong gi-order.
* * *
I was scammed once.
I paid more than 2k for a gold-plated necklace which was obviously fake, and the item delivered was not the item ordered.
I placed it on my Sto. Niño in the office, bahala na siya og unsaon tong nangilad nako.
Yes, this is the risk of online transaction.
