THE COUNTRY OF OLD MEN

     The blogger has been a resident for sometime in this country of young people. There are only a few old men here to talk and discuss economics, literature, philosophy and politics, yes politics that bedevil the province. The last oldest man, a politician for sometime, died three months ago. The scion is a village chair who plays mahjong almost everyday. One day, the blogger told him of the garbage along the road to Alfonso Lista. His answer? Mano met laeng aya ti sueldo ti tanod? Recently, Innova riding men broke into a fertilizer store along the highway and carted away expensive abono bags worth at least P300,000 and P100,000 cash. He did not even come to the store and inquired what happened, if only to show his concern. The incident happened in the wee hours. Where were the village policemen or the tanod at that time? That question never crossed his mind.

     Last year, the village government reported a total of one million pesos in operational expenses.

     If only they seek advise from this country of old men consisting of the blogger, a dowager, and an arthritic former ladies' man.