Peculiar

By: Joseph Peter “Seph Kalaw” Capaque

 

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

As I peeped in the ceiling of my room, I began to observe something different. Lying on my back, I think I saw a white smoke passing by across the room slowly taking form in the shape of a lady.

The figure is somewhat familiar.

Right there and then, an unusual sensation surged my whole body. A shock of mixed feelings – love, anxiety, and loneliness – raged inside causing high mounts of goose bumps all over my naked body. This is the first time this happening took place in my life.

Oh well…

Pretending that nothing had happened, I quickly sat on my bed, opened the drawer beside and took Jockeys and a sando. I took them on. As I opened the second compartment of the Acacia container to get my favorite short, I realized that it is not there already. I could not understand this. Where are my shorts? That has sentimental value to me! I would kill anyone who takes it.

I don on a bathrobe, called for the maid and asked if she had washed my favorite shorts or have she seen one. She said she didn’t.

Where are my shorts?

I cursed in front of the girl and shouted at her to get out. Poor girl. I felt guilty but those shorts are really important to me.

I did not take breakfast that morning to fumble over my things and find the shorts. I searched in every corner of the house. I just couldn’t find it. The last time I remembered, I left it in the drawer but (f**k!) those shorts were not there this morning.

My maid must have been traumatized. She repelled every time she saw me. My quest for the graffiti cargo shorts continued. At that time, retrieving it before the day was my aim.

I skipped lunch too.

I finally found it by 2pm…. at the garden patio in one of our rose plants.

I laughed. Who in this world would place my shorts here? My grin reached my two ears as I let out a loud chuckle. Maybe the maid was guilty after all.

I took some tequila and sat at one of the garden’s benches. I shifted my mood to remind my self that this day was supposed to be a celebrated day and very important to me. It was still not late to change the mood of the day.

The wind softly gushed to my cheeks. It was 2:30 but the sky looks like 5:30 pm. I imagined the day the shorts were give to me. I chuckled. My eyes slowly closed and recalled the memories with the shorts.

I opened my eyes and saw the hazy smoke again. This time, it was playing in the garden. It was taking form in a familiar figure again. It was as if it was running towards me.

The sky howled a strong wind. I was bedazzled by the figure. Familiarity grows evident as the figure pushed nearer to me. With all glory, it moved its tiny feet. Its hands waved with caress. It looked like it has eyes. It looked straight at me. I can’t understand what I was feeling that time. Part of me felt love. Another part hovered fear. The rest predicted loneliness. It touched my lips with its hands.

But wait… This figure is not only familiar. It seems like it is a part of my life also. It can’t be…

“Sir,” My maid called hesitantly with a hint of sadness in her voice. “The police called. They said they found your wife in her car, dead at 2pm today.

My spirit flew from me. The day’s events flashed before me and confirmed my forecast.

The figure was my wife. The shorts were her 1st wedding anniversary gift and today is our 2nd anniversary. I was supposed to surprise her today from her business trip.

She remembered. She came.

CDO: A big leap

By: Joseph Peter C. Capaque

 

In boom, in blossom and in bloom…

That is the description of the city government to the present state of Cagayan de Oro. With the leadership of Mayor Vicente Emano, the government implemented development programs that would benefit the whole CDO populace socially, morally and financially.

For one, they implemented the Piso-Piso Land Distribution Program. This program allows landless residents to acquire their own real housing lot. The government, through deliberate selection, picked out thousands of urban poor settlers and awarded them land titles through on-site and off-site resettlement schemes. 123 hectares of land is allotted for this program as of press time. This program was influenced with the firm stand of Mayor Emano that the CDO residents should not squat in their own land.

Another program of the city government is the Balangay Pangandoy. It provided opportunity to 150 rank-and-file employees of the city government to have a piece of land where they could build their own house.

Education of the poor but deserving is also considered in the plans of the city. At present, 171 scholars are enrolled in various educational institution s under the City College Scholarship Program (CCSP). CCSP’s aim is to let them continue and finish college. The city also received an award as most outstanding local government unit (highly urbanized city level) of the National Literacy awards for its strong support to public education.

The government also opened better access of agricultural products through building bridges. It has been noted that in the past years that the farmers in the hinterlands experienced difficulties in transporting their farm produce to the city. With these new bridges under the President’s Bridge or Tulay ng Pangulo Program, there will be a great economic upliftment for these farmers.

Not only that, the local government Unit of Cagayan de Oro directly releases its funds for infrastructure to the baranggay. The amount (20 percent of the city’s development fund) enables greater baranggay empowerment and encourages less corruption. Thus, giving out to the people what they deserve.

In baranggays, the city has a People-to-people Program. This is to bring basic benefits to the people including services on health and nutrition, agriculture, veterinary, civil registry and many more. This program allows CDO residents to gain basic government services in a one-stop setting. Individuals interested in avail this program might want to contact their local baranggay officials.

When it comes to important programs such as infrastructure, investment, peace and order, integrated solid waste management, and cleanliness and beautification, the city government partners with civic organizations and the private sector. This is to ensure a hundred percent service to the needs of the people.

The city proved that food security and solid waste management can be linked together. To lessen the waste by using it in food production, this pilot project of the city government and its partner city Shelklingen, Germany, garnered the Globally-linked-Locally Active 2004 Award from the German government. Because of its success, the project is now being replicated in the different baranggays of the city.

To attract more investors, the city gives incentives to any interested individuals who want to establish business in the city. Benefits include granting business and realty tax holidays, non-fiscal incentives, exemption from local licenses, fees and dues. Not only that, CDO’s Incentives Ordinance of 2002 offers 100 percent tax exemption of investors having an investment starting at P10 million for the first three years of operation and the speedy processing of business permits.

CDO business establishments grew from 1,994 in 1995 to 14,095 in 2005. Examples of these investors include the soon-to-open Korean-managed KORESCO Hotel and the Ayala Company which will build a P4 billion Ayala Business Center. When more investors thrive in our city, more job opportunities will open.

Morally, the city develops its people through partnership with religious communities. These communities also play an active role with the government in implementing programs and projects of the city.

Peace is a by-word in CDO. This is because of the city’s effort to have a harmonious relationship with the Christian, Lumad, and Muslim. Also, CDO puts effort in utilizing police power

These government services are to the advantage of the people. As residents of CDO, we have the right to avail these services so that the efforts of the government will not be put in vain