Ika 30 ng Setyembre 2008

The end of the month...... it's payday for most and most importantly, tomorrow is a holiday. Today is like the eve of our liberation.

I got a full-day calendar today aside from my daily home rituals and usual work stuff. In the morning, I would meet up with a friend for some paperwork. I need to go to the bank to pay my credit card bill before heading to the Senate this afternoon. I hope it will be a short session as the book launching affair starts at 6:00pm.

Yesterday's session was fruitful. Senator Noynoy Aquino is a kind interpelator. It turned out that his questions were given in advance and our team prepared our response prior to the session. Some tangles were encountered when Senator Aquino asked about trade in agricultural goods and fishery products as Japan included more items in its sensitive list than us. Philippines sensitive list includes rice, our main staple. Senator Roxas explained that Japan's exclusion list includes vegetables like artichoke that are not really that important to the Philippines. Hence, the negotiators didn't lobby too much anymore. Some of the products like pineapples even with a high tariff rates already account for more than 90% of market share in Japan. Any additional reduction will not have too much impact.

Senator Roxas mentioned that one of our exports, Pacific blue fin Tuna, is not very well received in Japan but is accepted in the US. Senator Aquilino Pimentel rose from his seat and wanted to know about these Pacific-looking tuna which elicited laughter from the gallery. Clarification was quickly made and Senator Pimentel went back to his seat. At some point, Senator Roxas grappled for the right words and said that "bugbugated" tuna are not acceptable in a discriminating market like Japan. He meant bruised tuna from mishandling. After more questions, Senator Roxas realized he has been grilled for one and a half hours. The Senate decided to continue interpelation for JPEPA the following day.

Tonight, I am anticipating a grandiose affair for the launching of Professor Nelia Sarcol's book titled The Pearl Principle as the Cebu-based author will be bringing with her some performers from the province. Cebu is known for its artistry in its crafts. I am sure it also translates to its people. I hope that the mouth-watering Cebu Lechon will be part of the entourage.....yummy. My colleague-friend is coming with me to the affair. I am hoping my daughter can tag along too.

PS: Isa sa nakakagiliw na sandali kahapon ay ang pilit kong inaalam ang pangalan ng isang kawani sa Senado na nakakilala ko ilan linggo na ang nakaraan sa pamamagitan ng pagsilip ng kanyang ID. Kinasangkapan ko pa ang kaibigan ko na alamin ang pangalan nito.

Mga ilan sesyon na kaming nag-uusap ng bagong kakilala na ito na mukang isang mabait na babae dahil sa halos lagi kaming nagkakatabi. Kaya minsan, nagpakilala na kami sa isa't isa. Ewan ko ba kung maikli lang ang hangganan ng attensyon ko o tumatanda na ako at hindi ko maalala ang pangalan niya ilang sandali lang ang nakaraan. Masama pa nito, tinatawag niya ako sa pangalan ko. Hay naku naman......... Nakakaasiwa ang pakiramdam tuwing magpaalam na kami sa isa't isa lalo na pag babanggitin niya ang pangalan ko.

Simula noon tuwing pupunta sa senado, para tuloy gusto ko siyang iwasan na hindi naman pwede at talagang magkakatabi kami sa upuan at mukang dun din talaga ang pwesto niya. Kaya patuloy ang pag-uusap namin na hindi ko alam ang pangalan niya. Iwas na lang akong na gumamit ng pangungusap na gagamit ng pangalan. Bagamat me suot siyang ID nahihiya akong tignan at baka makita niya akong nakatingin dun. Binanggit ko itong problema ko sa kaibigan ko na katulong ko sa trabaho at ibang kasama ko pa sa senado.

Kahapon, magkatabi kami ng kaibigan ko at pilit namin na sinisipat ang ID nung kakilala kong taga senado na nakaupo sa harapan namin habang nakikipag-usap ito sa kasamahan namin. Bigo kami at ang hirap makita..... ang liliit ng letra.

Nagpunta ako sa CR at pagbalik ko sumesenyas ang kaibigan ko na tignan ko ang celfone ko. Itinext pala niya ang pangalan ng babaeng kakilala ko. Pero dalawa ang pangalan, tinext ko siya kung ano dun ang panagalan. Nasagot naman ng kaibigan ko.

Nung umalis na kami sa senadi, ikwinento ng kaibigan ko paano niya nakuha ang pangalan. Nagkwentuhan daw sila pag-alis ko at tsumempo siya na mahingi yun ID ng kakilala namin sa dramang ihahalintulad sa bago namin ID. Ayun eh di nakuha. Eh yun palayaw paano niya nalaman? Me kakilala daw yun babae na tinawag siya habang kausap yun kaibigan ko. Eh di nasolusyunan yun problema ko.

Ngayon tatandaan ko na talaga yun mga panagalan ng mga makikilala ko. Iinum siguro ako ng glutaphos at kung ano pang memory enhancer ng makatulong sa aking pagiging makakalimutin. O sadya kayang senyales na ito ng pagsulong ng panahon..... hay naman talaga.......