Lying under oath

If and when real estate business tycoon Reghis Romero II is summoned again to testify in Congress, he will, as usual, be asked to raise his right hand and testify under oath. And when he is asked whether ransom was paid to the Abu Sayyaf for his release from captivity, he will most probably, as he did in the past legislative hearings, say no. For if he were to deviate from this answer, he could be charged for lying under oath, a crime punishable under existing laws.

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Where then would that place Senator Sergio "Serge" Osmena III, who has announced to the entire world that ransom money was paid for Romero’s release? If Serge were to testify under oath regarding this matter, he would, most probably answer yes – yes, that money was paid to the Abu Sayyaf. And the Cebu senator might even add that he himself played a major role in Romero’s release. Such an answer from Osmena would contradict Romero’s sworn statement before the House of Representatives.

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One wonders how Osmena and Romero would wiggle out of their predicament. Even now, the startling revelation from Serge has already reaped banner headlines and attracted angry reactions from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and top military and defense officials led by Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes. And as usual, the entire nation has again been engrossed with a matter that usually would fall much lower in priority than the oil find in Malampaya, a historic first in Philippine history. Yes, were it not for sensational stories like the Osmeña revelation, we would now be exulting and shouting out with joy over the Black Gold discovery in Palawan.

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Hard and honest work really pays off, if one has the will to attain his goal. Look at this fellow, Fernando Legaspi, who worked as a cashier at a very small restaurant – the Limjuco’s Cook Shop – in San Marcelino, Manila, a long, long time ago. He used to serve me whenever I would drop by the eatery to take a quick lunch or dinner. At that time, he was also studying at the Mapua Institute of Technology, where he eventually got a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

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After over 30 years, through the magic of Internet, I finally hear again from Fer, who is now based in Danville, California. He informed me that after graduation, he worked briefly, for three years, at Republic Flour Mills, then at San Miguel Corporation, and Alhambra Industries. In 1969, he migrated to the US.

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Luck was with Fer in America. For the past 28 years, he has been working with Kvaerner Engineering and Construction Company, an industrial entity similar to Bechtel. And his job has brought him to Australia, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, the Philippines, and to many other parts of the world where he was project manager for engineering, procurement, and construction of mining and power plants. And, yes, Fer married his childhood sweetheart from San Fernando, Pampanga, and they have two sons, both of whom are engineers.

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If I gave some play-up to Engineer Fer Legaspi, an ordinary, common fellow, it is to inspire other Filipino youngsters, who are now working as waiters, baggers, bus conductors, security guards, or other menial jobs, to strive hard. In the end, they are bound to find their rainbow, as Fer did many moons and suns ago, when he patiently worked as cashier/waiter and studied to get an education.

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For the information of those who have been lending a helping hand to the Good Samaritan Foundation, the following indigent beneficiaries recently were recipients of financial assistance from the G S Foundation:

• Miracle Amoroso, P2,234 for her tuition fee as a Grade 6 student at MLQU

• Maybelene de la Paz, P3,920 as tuition fee as a first- year college student at Trinity College

• Ferdie Acosta, P1,500 as tuition fee for his computer technician course

• Teodoro Recio, a former movie scriptwriter, P1,000 for his medicines

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In the meantime, let me thank the following kindhearted donors to the Good Samaritan Foundation:

• A lady with the initials E.M. from Bagong Ilog, Pasig City, P1,500

• Ronnie Alejandro, a bookwriter and artist who has been based in New York City for the past three decades, P5,000 (ABN-AMRO 0005719)

•TGFHA-LV, a lady with a big heart for the less fortunate in life, P7,000 (Metrobank 0412438)

• "Penafrancia," a businessman who always finds joy in lending a helping hand to the poor, sent P50,000 to the Good Samaritan Foundation. The money was supposed to have been used to celebrate his and his wife’s 40th wedding anniversary, but the couple opted instead to share it with the less fortunate in life. By the way, "Penafrancia" is a pseudonym used by the businessman because he and his family are devotees of Our Lady of Penafrancia. And another postscript is that he also sent P50,000 for Fr. James B. Reuter’s "children under the bridge"project.

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Thoughts For Today:

As we live each day,
may we do our part
to make one difference,
to touch one heart,
and through each day,
may it be our goal
to encourage one mind,
and inspire one soul.

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Like birds, let us leave behind
what we don’t need to carry:
grudges, sorrow, pain, fears,
regrets and heartaches.
Fly light, enjoy life,
its beauty and wonders.

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 My e-mail addresses: <[email protected]>. and [email protected]