My father worked for the government. He started as a junior architect and went on to become head of city planning and zoning. Growing up, I saw him signing papers and approving establishments to open in proper locations, and subdivisions to start selling lots.
Every occasion, Christmas especially, we would have lots of gifts from different personalities. Truckloads of stuff would arrive at our doorstep. There were even envelopes with tads of bills inside. I remember vividly one turbaned man came to the house with a brand new car to give to my father. He wanted to have his vulcanizing business to be located along a creek/canal. Father said he couldn't approve it because the location he wanted was a waterway. If a structure were built on that spot, it could cause flooding. The turbaned man turned away, angry maybe. We were then scared of the repercussions. Thankfully, nothing happened to us. Later on, the turbaned man built his store in a proper location, and he actually became a good friend of my father, of our family. He would always tell his friends, and us, that he had high respect for my father.
Always, my father would turn gifts/tokens away, angry and berating the messenger. That was when I knew his post came with some power.
If he were vulnerable, we would have a parcel of land in every subdivision in the city; we would have a bigger house. He could have built a two-story house because he had some shares of inheritance from his parents, but I overheard him telling my mother, "What will the people say? How can a humble government employee build a big house?" So, there was no special treatment. We purchased our lot, and we borrowed money for our house from DBP. We could have lived a life of luxury.
Throughout his government service, we were in fact incognito. Many didn't know who his family was. We were never brought to the city hall for events/parties. I think only his staff knew of us. Ha ha! I think he was the only city official who didn't have a going-away party when he retired. He didn't like to have one. He was cleared from service faster than usual because he had a clean record. Such an admirable man, my father was!
They only knew my father had a daughter when I had an encounter with a city doctor. I joined the DayangDayang Jaycees then, and I chaired the bedecking of the Tartanilla (horse carriage) project. I couldn't remember now the exact reason why I had that issue with the doctor, but when he knew of my surname and associated it with my father, he said, "Gil has a daughter? Your father and I are very good friends!" Ha ha, that solved the issue right away!
I recall all this now, because of what has been uncovered in these flood-control projects. They call this sharing SOP, and believe me, it has been happening ever since I can remember. Gifts or tokens can simply appear on your table or doorstep without you knowing where they came from.
I am glad that finally, it's all out in the open--though it has been an open secret--and a group is really pursuing it. I hope someone gets accountable. Because in the midst of these temptations, you can refuse. My father was able to because, as he would tell us often, he didn't want to feed his family with money from questionable sources.
You can do it, too!
#familyvalues #lifeingovernment #governmentservice
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Ⓒ 28 August 2025
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