just because they are...

I’ve always wanted to be in government service. So whenever I got the chance to visit government offices, I try to imagine being in the shoes of our public servants. I had some unforgettable encounters with government employees.  In these, few times I got disappointed of how they acted.

I frequent this office with daily visitors concerning their land titles. One time, two employees just quarreled right in front of me. They had a process that you need to have your documents checked by different people. I proceeded to other woman in-charge and upon receiving the papers, she complained why it wasn’t stapled. Then suddenly at the top of her voice she was shouting to the woman where my papers came from “Ano ba ‘yan!Ayusin mo naman trabaho mo.mag-stapler lang di mo pa alam.!” And, blah, blah, blah. To think, a stapler is on top of her table. What’s worst, it was a small, crowded office that even your usual tone will be disturbing to others. When I am there, I often think that may be the office ambience really has to do with how they conduct themselves. The small space is loaded with documents, with furniture’s, with employees, and visitors that it is more like of a market.

In another incident, I was in an office and inquired about requirements for my boss papers. A man who was clad in a decent ‘barong” without a beat answered “Kuwarta lang naman. Basta may pera ka, madali lang lahat.” Now I know why they have gone so fast in processing. We are paying after all.

How would I forget incident years ago, told by my friend about a government official whom we both know. We met him through a common friend and he became extra nice to us because he once asked for a favor from us. It was just fine when he let us be escort for a night in a function. (we weren’t aware that there such things as escort then) After all, he introduced us with his respectable colleagues. After that, he would call my friends and me. In one phone call my friend had with him, he asked if she knew of someone preferably a college student who is willing to go for a one-night stand. That was the last time we ever speak to him.

I would have to say that I conducted myself in the proper manner at all these encounters, and indeed, it was disheartening having to be in those situations. But then again, just because they are that way, that I will become one too. Sa mundo daw na dalawang klase lang ang tao, ung manloloko at nagpapaloko, I’m just glad that I’m neither both. Tao po ako for sure. May mali nga lang siguro sa kasabihang ‘yon. My beliefs are still big that there are good and decent employees who really meant service.