Untouchable bingo lord, media ‘boss’ and a tree

BULL’S HIT
Rudy Garcia

BAGUIO CITY -- Is “King Arthur” of Arlins Entertainment that untouchable he was allowed to operate a peryahan at Lower Magsaysay, formerly Rabbit Sink Hole which is just a stone’s throw away at Lower Magsaysay Barangay Hall and a road across compact 3, Station 7 of the Baguio City Police?

Last Month, this peryahan that is operated by King Arthur at Sto. Niňo Barangay of Slaughter House was dismantled by the Public Order and Safety Division upon order of Baguio city Mayor Reynaldo Bautista. Based on information, the operation of this peryahan would transfer at La Trinidad, Benguet, this after said operator reportedly did not get the nod of city officials.

But twist of events came last week when one of my bubwit informed me that a structure likely to be used as peryahan was built alongside the wall of Summit Bank at Lower Magsaysay, near intersections of Bonifacio, T. Alonzo and Lower Magsaysay roads.

To check, I personally visited and tried to peep in an open plywood siding and saw a rectangular side strip table for a bingo joint and two protracted square iron booms supposedly for drop ball and pulley games.

I then instructed my bubwit to get more information and it took only an hour to know that same “King Arthur” owns the said peryahan cum pasugalan to be.

I wonder why our city and barangay officials allowed this which is within the central business district, an open area prone to corrupt the minds of the passing public -- against the advocacy on programs for public morals and character.

Or is it true that there were cash-sunduans so this would push through, amid several objections. Or is the joke by one of my friends true that the kupitan err… I mean the kapitan already pocketed the piso (one hundred thousand pesos) for you know what?

And, what about the others, did they also get the same advance share of the pie? Ahem, perhaps I’m just too imaginative thinking that the joke was true, right Punong Barangay “Boy” Amagen of Lower Magsaysay?

As if to answer these questions, the said peryahan according to my bubwit was voluntarily dismantled by men of King Arthur as I write this column. Well and good, but why them? Why is it that the POSD is not doing the job? Anyway, good that untouchable Arthur did it for only one day and one night otherwise, I would be making him a big star in this column.
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I can’t seem to understand why organizers of the Baguio City Flower Festival or Panagbenga 2010 wanted to impose conditions to media practitioners covering the events of this festival. For me, it was more of a dictate than guidance -- an curtailment of press Freedom.

Sad to say but some of our colleagues do not seem to know their rights or to fight for it. Worst, some of these sanamagan BFF officials are propping their heads too high thinking they are above anyone else including members of the Fourth Estate.

And where in high heavens do you know where event organizers impose conditions on media people? Only a few I think and one and one is this mountain resort city. Right Mr. Anthony De Leon?
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Nothing is wrong and I don’t have anything against the removal of that cement pine tree and replacing it with cement or stone murals atop the Session Road rotunda. But lo and behold, it makes everyone say “sayang” for all the effort and money just to build something, remove it afterwards and replace it again for other one.

If I remember right, a mural for a horse was built during the term of then Mayor Jun Labo and was removed, replaced it with a cement pine tree by then Mayor Bernardo Vergara. Now, here comes another mural so significant according to present Mayor Reynaldo Bautista to replace that controversial cement pine tree.

If the amount used in removing the concrete tree and replacing it with murals was used for garbage bins around the central business area, then I should have made a two- hands salute to these city mayors. Well, perhaps our honorable councilors should start thinking of making a resolution on what to do of this Session Road rotunda.

And once it’s there, a permanent landmark truly significant of the city like an information bulletin or a calendar should not be removed. Because if they don’t do it now, there might come a time that the change of murals will come at the same time with the change of administration.

There is a possibility that busts of their heads will be built as monuments. But then, better still, it would be better to build the head of this politico who made a killing for this “…” of SM. Enclose rectangular beams around the head and color it for a money mural, Ha! Ha! Ha!
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While most of us are excited on the forthcoming May election, parents whose children are among those who are graduating this March and April are likewise excited but having to carry the burden of paying all the required fees.

Like me whose son would be graduating in high school is trying to move heaven and earth just to pay my obligation at the school. I don’t know if the Department of Education here in Baguio knows how teachers of public high schools race against each other in giving projects to their students that costs something which could deprive a family for a one meal or two.

It’s good that I have kunswelo de bobo of having my son among the topnotchers to graduate high school this coming March 30. It pays to have one, otherwise, I could have been paying too much for nothing! Wake up DepEd!