A sari-sari store owner closed shop after two years in business because he gave so many credits ("pautang") to neighbors who forgot to pay or refused to pay. "They developed amnesia human nakautang," he said.
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Let me pass on to other sari-sari store owners the business philosophy of a Chinese friend. Posters on the four walls of his store have this friendly reminder: "You ask for credit, I no give, you get mad. You ask for credit, I give, you no pay, I get mad. Better you get mad!"
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My Chinese friend calls that reminder friendly because nobody actually gets mad. They are amused by the very simple message said in very simple language. In fact, many of my friend's customers copied it for their own use in their own businesses.
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I just received an e-mail from Salesian Fr. Joriz Calsa, SDB, who used to be assigned at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Punta Princesa here. I didn't know, and maybe many other Lourdes parishioners too, that he is now in Rome. Not until I got his e-mail. Father Joriz, one of the most well-liked priests in our parish, is a son of Danny Calsa, a veteran journalist and former president of the Negros Press Club in Bacolod City.
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Father Joriz and I got well acquainted with each other after he annointed me wife when she was already in bad shape and appeared ready to go. I knew him to be a regular reader of The Freeman and -- listen to this -- he enjoyed my column. I believe him, he's a priest. Hehehe! Bitaw Father, thank you!
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Another e-mail I got last week came from Reuben "Benny" Briones, son of the late Nang Conching Briones (who doesn't know Nang Conching here in Cebu). Benny is now based in San Pablo, California. He used to work in Palau where he edited a weekly newspaper and authored two books on Palau. Come to think of it ... a Cebuano telling Palauans who they are, their culture and history.
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Benny said he reads TF and Banat News everyday in far away San Pablo, CA. "Since The Freeman and Banat News started being accessible online I have been reading them everyday, especially -- listen to this again -- your colum, Bobit's and Jerry's."
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I heard from John Vilmor Abellana again. He's the Cebuano I wrote about recently who is working in Algeria, North Africa. He is one of about l,000 OFWs in that country which he said he never thought existed in this world. He expressed gratitude to Philippine Star for making TF and BN accessible through www.philstar.com.