Toilets story

Ben Contreras

DURING the time of the then governor Dongkoy Emano, the toilets in the capitol building were dilapidated and stinky. During Antonio “Bobong” Calingin’s term, the toilets never underwent repairs. When Oscar S. Moreno took over, he painted the newly painted (green) capitol building “white,” signifying, according to him, purity. But, alas, nothing was done about the toilets. But at the end of the tunnel, there was/is governor Bambi Emano who did the unthinkable. They may not be the cleanest or nicest toilets on earth, but he repaired and cleaned them.

As mayor, Dongkoy built that annex building people love to call, the “Yellow Building.” How long has it been? Three years or four maybe? And what has become of it? What was it for? People thought it’s going to be the new city hall building. Others thought it would be a library. But the city council was moved there and our “honorables” held office there. Oh, the vice mayor, too.

Whatever for, my last visit there was a week ago when I attended a committee hearing about the complaints of some homeowners at Grand Europa.

Filipinos, as we are, the meeting started late as usual. The homeowners’ complaints were the reason why I was there. But it didn’t turn out as I would have expected it to be. The homeowners didn’t seem to know why they were there, thus less combative and the developer’s representatives led by a lawyer so persuasive that it was able to tame the homeowners. I left earlier for obvious reasons.

Passing by the restroom, I thought I had to answer to the call of nature. Wow, I thought I was inside the old capitol. The toilet is dirty, the faucets aren’t working and there is no water.

I took the stairs going down instead of the elevator, hoping to see what the toilets look like there. Wow, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Unsay gibuhat sa city government? Nganong gipasagdan?

Moreno spent hundreds of thousands or millions, perhaps, to make city hall look what it looks like today but nothing for these toilets. Moreno spent P15 million for a dancing fountain but nothing for these toilets. Are we going to wait for Bambi to become mayor?

This yellow building is deteriorating and deteriorating fast. The tiles are cracking, and about to. After only three to four years? Who built it? Who were some of the sub-contractors? Nganong gipasagdan man sa mayor?Nganong gipasagdan pud sa atong mga konsehales?    

Do I need to post these photos on Facebook?

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No amount of surveys, favorable or not, can be most reflective of the people’s sentiment than the presence of the people themselves.

The Duterte fever is spreading like wildfire. If one picture were to be in Mindanao, then I won’t be surprised. But it happened in Pangasinan where people lined up in the streets waiting for Duterte to arrive and catch a glimpse of him.

Chanting his name in the streets and in a loud voice is one. Chanting his name in a roaring voice at ground zero is another.

And you can see the different placards and streamers, from tarpaulin to lowly materials of plastic sacks and cardboards prepared by the rich and the poor.

This is being repeated in many places around the country. People simply want change. And the time is now!