OUR BARBER who has been our suki for some years now does not only give us a good haircut and a very relaxing body massage but is also a daily newspaper reader and good story teller.
We enjoy his barber’s tale and comments on many issues of the day as he chats with us while doing his job.
But his latest barb on the personalities involved in the recent accident at the West Philippine Sea between a Chinese trawler and a Filipino fishing boat, the F/B Gem-Vir 1 tops them all.
He made a revelation that many of our officials serving in the present administration are of Chinese ancestors. Can you tell who they are that have secret Chinese names as he revealed to us but have been Filipinized?
“As examples,” he said, “there is a Sin Loc Te who is a very outspoken member of the Cabinet. Who is this Mr. Sin? He must be related to the late Filipino Cardinal Sin from Aklan who had also Chinese ancestors.
Then we have Lo Pa Ne, a very bright guy who speaks for the President. Mr. Lo always knows what the President means even if the latter does not say a word.
Another is Em Nol Pi who is a rice czar that solved the cereal shortage in our country without need for our farmers to plant rice anymore by simply importing from foreign countries.
Secretary Em travelled to San Jose, Mindoro and met with the fishermen crew of F/B Gem-Vir 1 which was sunk in the collision with a Chinese trawler and abandoned at sea but fortunately saved by a Vietnamese freighter when they called for help.
He distributed to them government aid, including fibreglass boats, food and cash, so the 22 fisherman looked happy now and did not anymore insist to meet with President Duterte.
Last but not the least is Cu Si Al who went also to Occ. Mindoro to express the sympathy of the President over the fate of the fishermen in that Reed Bank incident on June 9, 2019. He gave them assurance of more help from the President, if needed.”
Now, allow us to add our comments on the Chinese who have been in the country and doing business with us for many years. In fact many of them have settled down here and acquired Filipino citizenship. That explains why we have many Filipinos today who carry Chinese surnames.
Chinese culture had influence on many Filipinos. In our family, for example, we had our Lolo Banoy from our mother’s side. He was known as “Insik Banoy” in our barangay even if not of Chinese blood because he is fast in figures.
He was a fisherman and had a fishing boat with crew that went out to sea before sundown everyday and came back early next morning to sell their catch. Even with no pocket calculator at that time, he was good with figures like a Chinese. He could quote you fast mentally the price of his fish of various kinds when you buy from his catch and give back your exact change when you pay for it.
As we go to press with this column, we received a report that our President had ordered that we allow Chinese vessels to roam freely in the West Philippine Sea and fish as they like. With this move, who says we will still have a dispute with China?
Problem is solved! Happy na kayo?
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GEM OF THOUGHT
“As a child my father’s menu consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it.” – Buddy Hackett (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com}/PN
