Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Entrepreneurial Farmer


Ambrosio R. Villorente
Spanish Architecture In Ivisan
To fulfill a need, I went to Roxas City last week. From Kalibo, I rode in a Ceres bus and descended at Talaba – crossing Sapian/Mambusao, Capiz.
It was 9:00 in the morning. I waited for a ride for Roxas City, either public utility van (PUV) or public utility jeep (PUJ). The PUJ came first which I rode. Another man Mr. Zaulda from Ogsip, Libacao, Aklan also boarded the jeep. He told me, he was going to Roxas City to visit his daughter who teaches there.
I sat by the side of the driver while Zaulda took the back seat. We were traveling smoothly until the driver stopped his vehicle to take in more passengers. While the passengers were boarding, the driver took a stick of cigarette, lighted it, smoked it and emitted smoke. I closed my eyes, covered my nose and mouth. I parried the smoke emitted from his mouth with my left hand.
The driver continued his driving. He noticed I disliked cigarette smoke. He threw the cigarette stick half consumed.
I like that driver, he understands people and can empathize. When we reached Poblacion, Ivisan, Capiz, one of the women passengers requested to stop in front of Philpost office. He did stopped. That passenger went to the Philpost office and claimed her mail while the jeepney and its passengers waited for her.
It is only in the Philippines where a public utility vehicle may stop, and allows its passengers to transact business in an office. And nobody among the jeepload of passengers complaint of the waiting and their delay.
After the completion of my business in Roxas City, I took a PUV for Kalibo. It was 12 high noon when the van left the terminal at Kilometer I, Roxas City fully loaded with passengers for Kalibo. Before we reach Ivisan, a passenger requested the driver to allow her to pass by her friend’s house in Poblacion, Ivisan as she will pick something there. "Dogangan ko ogaling ro akong bayad". (I’ll just pay additional fare.)
The driver obliged. He drove his van in the Poblacion, Ivisan. That enabled the passengers to see what are inside Poblacion, Ivisan. That trip was a bonus to passengers on leisure travel. It was agonizing for passengers in a hurry. I enjoyed the detour trip inside the Poblacion. I saw the town so tranquil and clean. I saw two ancient houses of Spanish architecture worthy of restoration and preservation.
But that detour made to please a passenger and delay the travel of others happens only in the Philippines. I recall a 10-day trip to Japan in October 1974. I was one of the 17 delegates from 14 Asian countries on a study and conference on agricultural extension. That was sponsored by the Asian Productivity Organization. (APO). In one of our guided tours, we visited an agricultural research station. The place happened to be just adjacent to a Yamaha Music Factory. A delegate from Iran requested that he be allowed to enter and see that Yamaha Music Factory. Other delegates may join if interested. Our tour guide politely replied, "I regret to disappoint you but Yamaha Music Factory is not included in our itinerary of visit. I am interested with your security and safety. Anything unpleasant that may happen outside of our approved travel itinerary, I will be held personally responsible," said our guide.
Similarly, if anything happened to passengers of the vehicle which passed places outside of its travel route, the driver will be responsible to it. However, the vehicle operator will be liable to the damage for his failure to employ driver who follows instructions religiously. /MP

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