BULL'S HIT

Golden Buddha, Mother’s and a stupid lawyer
RUDY GARCIA

BAGUIO CITY -- I may call it luck by chance but I got the opportunity to have a short talk with Henry Roxas who is the son and one among the legal heirs of the late Rogelio Roxas of the famed Golden Buddha treasure. Henry was accompanied his wife who was one of the invited visitors at the birthday party of my elder sister at DPS Compound.

It was my first meeting with Henry, so I couldn’t help but pound him with lot of questions regarding the Golden Buddha case now pending at a US court. He said, he was more than happy when he learned that the decision was handed down in their favor but was greatly disappointed when he was informed that the execution of the order would be pending and could take a long period of time.

The reason he said was the intercession of a third party person claiming to be a treasure hunt partner of his father Rogelio Roxas and having the exclusive rights of the Golden Buddha, hence, the order for execution was held in abeyance.

Good he said that his lawyer Edgar Avila was doing his best to overcome obstacles, including getting money from his own pocket for expenses. “Buti na lang at mabait si Atty. Avila. Siya pa lahat ang gumagastos sa mga pangangailangan,” he said.

Our conversation was cut short when he was called by his wife for another appointment, but he promised that we will be having more talks in the future. It was my regret that I failed to give him any gift of token for his being a real low profile person, and I want to salute him for that.

We haven’t had any chance to talk again and lately, I saw him in a television interview on their plan for compromise agreement with the Marcoses to resolve the issue of the execution of the court order the soonest. This plan came too soon that I cannot give any comment at this time, but whatever the reason why the family of Henry made this decision, I’m sure they did a lot of thinking before coming out with this, Nevertheless, I am hopeful that we will have another conversation with Roxas one of these days. He may have lots of interesting stories to tell I bet, but don’t you worry dear readers for I will keep you posted on the Golden Buddha, courtesy of Mr. Roxas.
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Last week we celebrated Mothers Day, for that day of Sunday was so special for our dear mothers. It could be late but better than never to greet a Happy Mothers Day to my mom who is now in the Eternal Gardens of our Creator in heaven.
If I was there, surely I would be hugging her tightly, kiss her cheeks and give my gift to her -- a shoulder bag, her favorite with the card written “To my wonderful mama in the world, from your son!”

And at the other side of the card will be written “Pls., don’t scold me this time, I know I am giving you a lot of headaches but I cant help, I got a gorgeous sex appeal, I cant resist those girls running after me, He! He! Happy Mothers Day!

Of course, who could ever forget the once popular Mothers Restaurant in this summer capital? City folks maybe now missing the good taste of my mother’s specialties like Mother’s Chicken, beefsteak, and pork chop. It was unfortunate that not even one of my sisters or brothers got that special talent of cooking from our mother. We could have been all big-time restaurant magnates by now.

But believe it or not, my mother started our family-owned Mother’s restaurant business with a measly P18.00 pesos investment. I was just a playful kid that time my mother used to scold me every time I failed to help her carry the bayong with the rice and dishes to be delivered to her costumers.

Her first customers were the caddy boys at Camp John Hay that oftentimes were apprehended by American security personnel for climbing and going over the bakod just so they can eat the food cooked by my mother/ From then on, golfers learned about the good food that they also followed their caddy boys in climbing the bakod.
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It did not take long for Baguio folks to know where the good food was to eat that they started to troop to the little portion of our backyard at South Drive near the main gate of Camp John Hay. Taxi drivers, policemen, students officials and even celebrities became instant regular costumers of my mother and since they called my mom
“Mother,” we decided to name our business “Mother’s restaurant” and the rest is history, until my mother died April 14, 1996 that started the recession of our business.

One of my sisters tried to continue the business and was successful in expanding Mothers. Call it fate but the business started to dive when my sister and her husband joined a corporation business based in Singapore and Hongkong. Later did they know it was a syndicate. They were deceived and gypped of big amounts of money that they incurred big losses and debts causing Mother’s restaurant business to go bankrupt.

But nevertheless, Mother’s restaurant is again back on business at M. Roxas St. Brookside being managed and operated by one of my elder sisters. If you want to know more stories about mothers, just go there and look for Manang Mila.

Just don’t forget to taste the mothers chicken and pay it too, otherwise you could hear the loud music coming from the mouth of my sister who is lucky to inherit the big mouth of my late mother. Ask any regular costumer of my mother and they will say they enjoyed listening to my mother’s “sermons” while they ate --pleasant music.
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The president now two “Oscars” in her life. It’s not the Oscars award in Hollywood but the two Oscars who are giving her pains in the neck that she needs some dose of aspirin to be relieved a little bit. One Oscar I am referring is no other than Archbishop Oscar Cruz who is her number one critic and the other is Oscar Lopez of Meralco.

Since President Arroyo was made as favorite by these two Oscars, he might have some nightmares to come from these two Oscars who have almost the same physical build.
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And speaking of mothers, a mother just approached me to seek help in a certain case filed against her two sons by rich and influential families in the city of Baguio. I should have turned the other way around and could have not entertained her if not for her plea as a mother whose primary concern is the welfare of her children.

After some careful study and after asking questions from her two sons, I was then convinced that they could be telling the truth. I referred them to the Public Attorney’s Office but the mother claimed she does not trust the public attorney who was assigned to take care of the case, the reason I asked what happened.

Well, if the story of this woman is true that this public attorney is manipulating the case in favor of their moneyed opponents, then this stupid lawyer should resign as a public attorney and just practice as a private lawyer for the rich and powerful.

Anyhow, the case was referred instead to my good friend lawyer Frisco Domalsin who was most willing to assist this poor mother. Just a short message to this stupid attorney at the Baguio City Public Attorney’s Office: Please Don’t be too confident you can fool everyone. I may get back at you once I got good evidence, I swear!