Thirty fours years ago, my father was sent to Japan by the Insurance Commission on scholarship for a training on insurance business. He should been sent to Switzerland but politics intervened - the slot was given to an "anointed" one.

It was one summer morning when I accompanied Tatay to the airport to catch a JAL flight to Tokyo, Japan.

As soon as he got out of the taxi, he handed to me all his loose coins and went straight to UP Diliman to attend my summer class.

He came back after three months with "pasalubong" - an ELSI MATE 6 EL-121 calculator and a red t-shirt "pasalubong". Plus of course his never ending stories of modern Japan as well as the honest, hardworking, sincere and disciplined Japanese people.

In some engineering calculations, the ELSI replaced my slide rule. I was still wearing the red-shirt in February 14, 1981 while conducting a COBOL AND RPG class.

The ELSI pictures were freshly taken by Glaizza, a GSI staff.

Labels: Insurance Commission, pasalubong

 
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Found, a public servant. My father, Ric (as he was called by his office mates, I call him Tatay) was a public servant. For over 30 years years, he served the government.

While studying to earn a degree in accountancy at FEU, Tatay worked briefly at the Bureau of Lands as a rod man, moved on and stayed until retirement at the Insurance Commission. IC was previously at Escolta. On several visits to the office, Tatay allowed me to walk the floors. There were no aircons but ceiling electric fans, no PCs (obviously) but massive typewriters.

Tatay's payday was on a Friday. So, at around 5:30PM our brother and sisters were all sitting outside the house waiting for him to walk from the bus stop at Camagong Street, just 2 blocks across our house. We all jumped with joy whenever we saw a small manila paper bag as we eagerly welcomed him by the small bridge across the three foot open canal. Soon, we were feasting on pansit (noodles) bought from Plaza Miranda or bibingka from UN Avenue.

While serving the government, Tatay lived a simple life and sustained the family financial needs of 8 children with his salary and Nanay's (mother) income from her small sari-sari store.

Today, some of those who occupied similar position as my Tatay have several houses and cars. Some were even suspended and investigated of corruption by the Ombudsman. He retired from IC without experiencing the benefit of owning a car even an owner type jeep. He built a house in Makati using the proceeds from the sale of a property in Better Living subdivision. Food on the table was not plentiful during the construction period. The house was finished in 10 years after five phases of construction.

Developing IT systems for the government since 1999, I encountered government servants like my father. Some were not.

A proud son of a government employee, I detest corruption and all forms of dishonesty because I knew that hard work and integrity spell success and happiness.

Wanted : Public Servant. Any more taker? Me!

Labels: Bureau of Lands, CEO blog, Efren Ricalde, Enrique Ricalde, Escolta, FEU, IC, Iking, Insurance Commission, IT systems, public servant, tatay, UN Avenue

 
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