BACOLOD CITY — Money is illusive. And elusive.

You run after it, it runs away. You show you don’t need it, it runs after you.

The other day, I got a text message asking me if I wanted cash. If so, I was asked to get in touch with a bank with its telephone number in Manila for a personal loan of up to P2 million. No collateral or co-maker with an interest of “as low as 1.28 percent a month, subject to approval.” I had this kind of texts before.

If interested, I was asked to call the telephone number and a name to talk to.

I texted back I was honored by the offer but I didn’t have a need for it now. I believe many others received this text too.

As a simple man with simple needs and simple wants, I do not see a need for borrowing money with 1.28 percent interest a month and with no place to invest it to pay me a higher rate and very secure.

The value of frugality, honest and simple living really pays.

I like these lines written by a spendthrift poet. “You say money talks,/ That I do not deny,/ The last time it talked to me,/ It said, good bye.”

* * *

I sat down yesterday with friends like Alex Espino, Edmund Aspero, and others, planning on how we can make a campaign for a movement on good governance.

This is just exploratory.

If we can harness people to help campaign for the registration of new voters, this will be the first step.

I am happy my friend Bing Ramos in Rodeo, California, on reading my item yesterday, offered to join our Movement for Good Government with Alex Espino. Thanks, Bing. He worked with the office of the late Vice President Doy Laurel.

* * *

Friends encouraged me to file a complaint against the DPWH or the contractor of the Pahanocoy-Sum-ag road.

Last December, driving home from the inauguration of the Laguerta Coffee Shop in Sum-ag, my two right wheels missed the cement road and dropped into the already bulldozed road, I could not get back. It was night time. Only ten people there who helped lift the vehicle saved me.

I found out later, the tires got torn and can no longer be used. I don’t plan to file the complaint. It will be just wasting my time. I told Traffic Boss Levi Pangue it is my contribution for a better road later.

Friends told me, I should sympathize with Congressman Monico Puentevella. The contractor could be his enemy. The work is delayed and so badly done that motorists and the commuters are blaming the Congressman. I don’t blame Monico.

The longer the work is finished, the longer, too, will the motorists and commuters curse him.

He should get at the contractor who is sabotaging him.

* * *

National Capital Region Police Officer Chief Director Pol Bataoil registered a banner year for 2008 in peace keeping in Metro Manila.

Bataoil, one time provincial commander here and won as the best provincial commander all over the country, reported he dismantled 50 big time crime syndicates and arrested 1,700 people engaged in criminal activities. He sent to kingdom come many criminals.

He also reported he cut down motorcycle-riding suspected gunmen from 164 in 2007 to only 75 last year.

This he achieved by establishing closer relationship between the community and the police. Of course, this is the best and there is no other way. Without people cooperating how can you catch criminals? If our present provincial police director, our friend, Col. Manny Felix is doing good, it is because he is the recommendee of Pol Bataloil.

Pol is our own friend. He visited my farm, planning his own retirement in his little farm in Pangasinan.

* * *

I was asked whether local Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency people and the local prosecutors as well as judges were also offered bribe money. Money talks, they said.

I said, I don’t think so. We have many convicted drug pushers here. And there are no reports of rich people engaged in drug trade who can afford to bribe authorities when caught.

But, it is still good if local PDEA make a report of their achievement on apprehension and conviction.

PDEA is the most respected government agency today, its officers are incorruptible. Turning down P30 million bribe is heroism.

We hope our local PDEA people would also report bribe offers and expose the people as well as arrest them.

As a whole, PDEA is the best in honesty.

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