> Feeling
good
FOR a while, let’s forget the sham and drudgery that never cease
to spoil our day. Let us forget that even until now President
Arroyo is still trying hard to rescue her presidency from a
vertiginous tailspin that she herself has created. Let’s forget
about Cha-Cha, or CSur Police Director Mapalo’s run-around chase
after jueteng operators, or the ass-shaking bumpy ride over the
Andaya Highway. You won’t miss them because they will be around
for a long time, anyway.
This time, let us sit down on the sunny corner of the day. And we
will notice that there are still butterflies flying, floating
smoothly from one fragrant rose to another. We will notice, too,
that there are still good people around, no matter how humble they
may be, like the hardworking farmer tilling the field, or an
employee who does his job honestly and diligently - even more than
what the government can afford to pay his salary.
Still, the more interesting people are not the ones you see on TV,
in magazines, in the halls of Congress, or in the deodorized
hellhole we call the bureaucracy. They are your friends,
relatives, your classmates, or your neighbors who may have cursed
the world for its inanities but readily smile when you meet them
and say hello or good day. Better yet, stick with your wife, date
her, or flirt with her because lest you forget, she was once the
most beautiful girl in your life. Look again, and discover that
she has been the martyr that historians forget to write about.
* * *
Feeling good now, I would like to share with you an e-mailed
letter that my HS 1972 counterpart from Colegio de Sta. Isabel,
June Pilar Ragragio, wrote to thank my classmate Francis Felipe
who saw to it that her mother had a perfect dinner around her
grown-up children at Intercon Hotel in Makati’s Ayala district. As
manager of Intercon’s swank Prince Albert Restaurant, Francis
regards his classmates and Naga friends as valued customers even
as he keeps a lot of close-up stories to tell, trivial and
otherwise, about his famous customers Imelda, Erap, FVR, JDV, GMA,
FG Miguel Arroyo, Carlos P. Romulo and his wife Beth Day-Romulo.
My colegiala batchmate’s proud mother is Pilar Mella Ragragio
whose husband, the late Juan Ragragio, was my handsome English
instructor and drama director. My batchmate, June Pilar, is the
Procurement Manager of San Miguel Corp. She was recently assigned
to handle SMC operations in Vietnam and goes back home during
special occasions, like her mother’s birthday, or during our joint
batch’s free feeding program in Naga’s poor barangays. Her older
brothers, Junio, Juan Mayo, and Augusto were my friends at the
Ateneo and so were her younger sisters November, September and
December who are all accomplished professionals. Daisy (December)
as member of the UP Madrigal Singers in her college years toured
Europe and the Americas. Junio was top consultant at the Senate
Committee on Local Government whom I saw prompting Sen.Tito Sotto
during deliberations after the latter’s first privileged speech; I
was then at the session hall as legislative staff officer of the
late Sen.Raul S. Roco and was proud to see a fellow Bicolano
coaching a neophyte solon from Cebu.
Here is June’s letter:
Hi Francis!
THANK YOU so much for the wonderful time I and my family had last
Saturday (Jan. 14) at the Prince Albert Restaurant, Intercon
Hotel. I cannot remember a time when I had a five-course meal
that I and my family enjoyed more! Not only was the food super-sarap,
you also entertained us with stories of Naga and the people we all
grew up with.
The scallops and prawn salad were so good, as was the Chilean see
bass - ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganon! Lagi akong
nakakakita ng ganon sa cooking shows on TV; kaya pala it’s the
food of the stars lagi! And the steak - grabe! Kala ko hindi
ko na kaya kumain pero when they put down the steak in front
of me, biglang nagkaroon ng room sa stomach ko.
But the star of the night was the crepe samurai that you served
us; no wonder you had said that it was the famous dessert of
Intercon. Sabi nga ng niece ko, you can’t go wrong with
mango, and the crepe was proof of that. And your service was so
impressive. THANK YOU! Your entire staff was so polite and
helpful. They asked us for anything we wanted, and anything they
could do for us. Especially with the dietary needs of my diabetic
nephew, you and your staff were very patient and considerate. (I
will gladly endorse Prince Albert to all my friends. The service
is super excellent!).
Most importantly, my mother who was celebrating her 82nd birthday
had a wonderful time. You really made her feel like a queen,
which of course she enjoyed! Usually we celebrate her birthday
with a potluck at home, but with this birthday, naku baka
masanay na siya na naka-hotel! Hehehe. But anyway it’s once a
year, and she really deserves something special. There was no
better way to show it to her than by that wonderful dinner.
THANK YOU Francis for that wonderful evening. It’s something that
not only my mother and my family will remember fondly, but also by
all of our stomachs! Seriously, everything about the evening was
perfect, down to the biscuits you served with coffee. It was
truly unforgettable. Having you there made it all the more
special for all of us.
God bless you always!
Best regards,
June
