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Monday, October 27, 2003
Flavier: The parable of the barrio leaders
By Sen. Juan Flavier
THE farmer was preparing to go on a week-long trip to the big city for the funeral of his brother-in-law. He would have avoided making such a trip but family obligations demanded that he accompany his wife for they were the only surviving next of kin.
Having no other relatives in their barrio, his farm had to be entrusted to his neighbor. But the bigger problem was his savings of two thousand pesos and a few pieces of jewelry.
He knew the dangers of being robbed in the city. But with no one to watch over their nipa hut, it would not be safe to leave them either. The bank was out of the question for he distrusted such institutions.
He decided to entrust it to their barrio captain. "Please keep this money and my jewelry while my wife and I are away in the city," the farmer requested.
"Sure," the barrio head responded. "I will be most honored to do so. I am particularly touched by your confidence in me. But I would prefer to have two witnesses, particularly two of our konsehales (councilors)."
"No need, kapitan," the farmer said. "You alone are enough."
"I insist, just to be double sure," replied the barrio captain. "You can never tell. Something might happen to me. I may die. So I want two witnesses."
"Okay, if it will make you feel better," agreed the farmer.
Two councilors were called and they duly witnessed the turnover for safekeeping of the money and pieces of jewelry.
When the farmer returned from the city, the first thing he did was to retrieve his property from the barrio captain. The councilors were summoned. To the farmer's surprise and great irritation, the two leaders denied having witnessed any transaction. They maintained that no money and jewelry were entrusted to the barrio captain.
The farmer could not believe his ears. After the two councilors left, he sobbed uncontrollably. At which point, the barrio captain produced a bag with the money and jewelry intact. He handed it to the farmer with a smile.
"Why did you do that? I mean why did you have to involve those two good-for-nothing konsehales?"
"Well, I just wanted you to see what kind of people you yourself have elected as barrio leaders."
(October 27, 2003 issue)
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