I WAS supposed to meet with my friend last week for our next story-telling meeting. But something developed, I was needed elsewhere so I begged off and told him we shall have our next tete-a-tete next week.
We shall have our time soon.
And we will continue with our episode on toxic, toxic and toxic.
Accordingly, there are other personalities involved. And more pangurakot going on.
* * *
I received a lot of calls last week, mostly from media people.
They are asking for updates on onions, garlic, chicken and of course, eggs.
For onions and garlic, suffice it to say that we are dependent on outside sources, we do not have our own production. As such, we are always subject to the law of supply and demand.
When the supply is low, demand is high, the price is high.
When supply is high, demand is low and therefore, the price is low.
Because we are dependent on “imports” from outside sources, then we are always vulnerable to price increase. The price is always variable.
Invariably, when we have our own supply, then we control the goods and we go unaffected by price increases.
Mao ra nay tubag sa ka mahal sa sibuyas ug ahos.
Magtanom ta aron aduna tay magamit nga libre.
* * *
For chicken, we are lucky because we are still Avian Flu-free in Central Visayas. Unlike in most parts of Luzon where incidence of Avian Flu among fowls or chicken is rampant, our chicken is still safe to eat, in fact our chicken sells like hot cakes in other parts of the country.
We do not experience mass-killing or culling of chicken as part of the Avian Flu protocol.
Because of this, we do not expect a noticeable increase in the price of chicken meat.
Same goes with eggs.
But there is one issue that we could not excuse ourselves from.
And that is the issue of feeds.
In order to sustain a maximum daily output for chicken eggs, the chicken needs to be fed with good quality feeds. And some ingredients for feeds are imported like soya.
So when the price of feeds goes up, there is always an equivalent rise in price because of the increase in production cost.
Mao na ang rason ngano mosaka ang presyo sa itlog ug manok.
* * *
But the price of chicken and eggs is, to our reckoning, still within the range.
Normal price fluctuation, a little increase now, then a little decrease later, back and forth, things like that.
And this is how I usually explain to our media friends.
* * *
But other calls, well, they are asking about this and that, who the next DA Secretary will be, why it took so long for the President to appoint a full-time Secretary and some very boring questions.
And they are also inquiring about new appointments, new appointees and things like that.
Boring stuff, really.
* * *
Pagka-luoya pod tong na-bodol and were made to proceed to Malacañang for a supposed oath-taking.
Gahinam-hinam tingali to sila nga makuha ang ilang pwesto human mobayad, plus mo-hural pa gyod atubangan ni BBM. Of course, being inside Malacañang for that activity is a bonus.
Only to find out that they were duped, good time.
Na-bodol ilang kwarta plus naulawan pa gyod kay giatubang sa media.
Pastilan.
* * *
One time I was staying in my hotel room in Manila, after breakfast.
The front desk called and said somebody was waiting for me at the lobby for an urgent matter.
When I asked who was looking, the front desk had no idea.
So I zoomed down and sat in front of a man who said he knew me thru a mutual friend but didn’t say who.
My alarm bells shoot up.
Then he said he saw my application for the Bureau of Customs and relayed the info that there is a long list of applicants with powerful connections.
But there is a solution to that, he said.
He said has powerful connections and his principal is the one who vets the applicants. I can make sure that your name will be picked, just like that.
Wow, I exclaimed, then your principal must be very powerful.
And he nonchalantly said, well, if you know my principal, then there would be no more doubt in your mind as to my connection. For sure, he can make things happen for you and your application guaranteed, he added.
That’s good news, I jived him and added, so what’s up, I said.
We have a protocol to observe and a lot of issues to be resolved so we need a little funding for this, he said.
How much, I asked quickly, so I could terminate the discussion.
And he said, we will just ask a little amount, the most important thing is you will now be included in a select circle of elite friends.
Wow, so how much, I repeated.
And he transferred to the chair next to me and whispered 30M lang boss.
Ah okay, I said, that would be a substantial amount and I need to consult a lot of my friends for the money and I doubt if I could raise that much. Thank you very much for your kindness Sir, I said, could I ask for a identity card so I could at least, verify my soon to be elite friends.
And he stood up and said, that would not be necessary and left without a word.
* * *
Upon closer check, I learned later that his principal would later resign due to pressure from his boss.
Namaligya diay to og pwesto sa gobierno and budol was their game.
Pastilan paita.
