I was discussing with one of our esteemed colleagues in media and he was relating to me the seemingly sad experience his friend was starting to experience in one of the local government offices in one of the municipalities in the province.
For now, I will not yet name names, after all, negotiations are still ongoing and there is still a good chance that our friend may still be able to set up the business he intends to set up in one of the municipalities. So for now, allow me to first write in generalities and skip mentioning any names (for now).
As a backgrounder, our friend, intends to engage in agribusiness. What particular type of agribusiness – let’s keep it a secret for now. It so happens that land classification can be made a big issue or big deal and can also be a costly, tedious and annoying process for our businessman friend. In other words, the fate of the business he intends to put up could be in the hands of the local government gods (whoever they are, your guess is as good as mine). At any rate, this columnist and publisher of this paper can only hope that everything turns out well for our businessman friend, as I can personally guarantee on the integrity of this fellow.
Finally, there is this thought and idea that I would first want to leave with those who have the habit or penchant of engaging in minor or petty or not so minor albeit irritating and annoying pangingikil o pangongotong from legitimate businessmen. The saying goes this way “people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.” Ang ibig ko pong sabihin ay, OK lang na magparamdam at magpahaging ng konting for the boys and girls, bagamat kapag sumobra ang pahirap sa isang negosyante, pakatatandaan na lahat tayo ay may hangganan. Kaya siguraduhin lang ninyo na walang maibubutas sa inyo sapagkat, kung magka minsan ay mayroon ding hangganan ang mga negosyante na ito at kung buweltahan kayo at butasan din kayo at sampahan at gastusan kayo ng masampahan kayo ng reklamo sa opisina ng Ombudsman o sa Civil Service Commission (CSC) etcetera, eh di ano kayo ngayon? Hindi kaya at kulang na kulang pa ang nais ninyo sanang kotongin para ayusin ang inyong magiging asunto (sapagkat posible na magka-pikunan kung magulo at malabo ang usapan)? Katulad ng sinabi ko, posibleng mapikon ang isang businessman investor at lumipat na lang ng lugar at hindi na mag-invest sa inyong lugar.
That is why, my friendly advice is, try to be rational and reasonable. Try to think long term if you can as this other saying has personally worked well for me as it is often said that “hindi lang naman iisa ang araw” as “gratitude has the highest command.” Alam naman natin ang ugaling Pilipino na karamihan sa atin ay kapag nagka-utang-na-loob tayo dahil sa nakatulong sa atin dala ng hindi tayo pinahirapan ay siguradong magkakautang na loob tayo at makakaganti rin tayo ng kabutihan abtp, sa ibang araw.
Huwag lang maging gahaman o ganid at pahihirapan natin ng sobra ang mga negosyante. Just remember that what goes around comes around. What I mean is do not abuse your government position and authority for your personal gain while making it appear that you are acting to protect the interest of the community. As I always say “AGA-AMO TAYON!”