True public servants

This is a bit of unsolicited praise. I want to commend the Presidential Security Group (PSG) who man the gates leading to the Malacañang complex. They are very alert, strict (they actually check the data on my car pass) but polite. But I want to cite two specific instances.

On Thursdays, when throngs crowd St. Jude church, there is usually a long queue after 9 p.m. at the JP Laurel gate leading to Nagtahan and Magsaysay Blvd. when those who attend the last mass exit and have to claim their licenses at the outpost. Thursday before last there was the usual queue, about a dozen cars long, when out of the dark night this dark colored SUV, with hazard lights blinking, jumped the queue and barreled its way to the front. The cars already in line did not give way, so the driver decided to exit through the entrance lane. One of the presidential guards stopped the offending vehicle and refused to let it through, and stood his ground even when the passenger rolled down the window, obviously to argue his case. After a few minutes the driver was forced to back up, obviously pissed as shown by the way the SUV lurched and screeched to a stop as the driver reversed and maneuvered the vehicle, hazard lights still blinking, and again tried to cut in our queue. Unfortunately one wimp of a driver about four cars in front of me let the bully SUV cut in, so it got away. Unfortunately I did not get the license plate number, but it was an ordinary (not red or diplomatic) plate. But bravo to the presidential guards!

A few weeks ago, on my way to work one school day and in the middle of a major downpour, a PSG soldier stayed at his post in front of St. Jude church, keeping traffic flow orderly and helping students, most of them little kids with their sundo, cross the street (it was near noon so I guess the kids were on break). He was protected from the pouring rain by a poncho but his face was dripping wet. Traffic there would have been quite a snarl if he had not kept to his post.

His faithfulness to duty stood out even more when I reached Ayala Blvd. some minutes later. It had stopped raining but traffic was heavy because of all the container vans. I stopped before the yellow box even though the light was green since I could not cross the intersection of San Marcelino anyway. A man who was sort of directing traffic (I couldn’t see if he was in any kind of uniform as he had a jacket on) signaled for me to move on, and when I didn’t he walked over to my car. I rolled down the window to explain why I didn’t move forward, but before I could say a word he said, “Hirap ng trabahong ’to. Pa-kape naman.” I was taken aback and for once was speechless; fortunately traffic moved so I drove off.

I write this not to complain about the kape man, but to acknowledge the good job that the members of the PSG are doing in serving not just the President but ordinary taxpayers like me. Bravo, and maraming salamat!

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:1-5