Refreshing Change

When I left La Carlota five years ago, I left with a heavy heart. Besides thinking about how I was going to miss the old folks and my siblings, my last brush with public service was nothing to be proud of.

Getting my papers ready for a probable employment in Cebu, I prepared ahead all the clearances that may be required by the employer. First stop was at the Treasurer's Office. It was already past 9 a.m. yet the employees were not in their places. Horror of all horrors, one had her nails being done (during office hours...I pitied all the taxpayers then seeing all their hard earned money put to waste). Then, to get a police clearance, it takes all day to finish processing. And if you live outside the city limits, it could be grating to the nerves.

The status quo has greatly changed since. When I went to the same offices yesterday, I was met with a greeting and an inquiry about the purpose of my visit even before I could utter a word. And in the space of one hour, I was able to secure both baranggay and police clearances, shuttling from one office to another included.

Kudos mga kasimanwa. Keep up the good work!

a forgotten promise

Sticking out like a sore thumb, this waste of a building framework was a product of one broken promise.

A certain senator-wannabe promised the poor voters in this district to finance the completion of this building "on the condition" that the people should help him first in getting one of the 24 slots in the sentorial race.

The people did their part but the politician apprently has forgotten about La Carlota and the promise.

It's sad how public service has degenerated into something that men in power use as a bait to lure the the citizenry to work in their favor (to gain more power to meet their own ends), only to render them disappointed and disillusioned in the end.

Do they still believe in a higher power that will someday judge them? I reckon not.

KiLobytes Internet Cafe...

...is just one of the many small scale internet cafes that dot the city block bounded by Rizal, Yunque, Gurrea and La Paz Streets. This was put up in March 2005 with the collective capital from mom's inheritance and sis' savings from a brief stint abroad.It started with four units catering only to PC gamers and has since metamorphosed into an 8-unit internet and gaming cafe. What makes it different though from its competition is the mini coffee shop adjacent to it (which came about from the love of coffee of its owners). Brewed coffee is served everyday to a set clientele which choices are limited to plain (sweetened black coffee @ Php 5) and brown (with evaporated milk added @ Php 7). Native grounds are steeped in hot water and passed through a cheesecloth to give that full body sans the papery taste of commercial filters.