Spying on Leftists

The company where I work for has an aerial photography project. Thus, we submitted application for permit in conducting the project to the Air Transportation Office (ATO) and the Intelligence Office of the AFP. As part of our application, certain people, which said that they work in ATO, called and ask basic information to all personnel involved in the project. Their questioning on me went well until the person from the “ATO” asks something about my political affiliation.

.

ATO-man: (after asking all basic information like educational background, address, etc.) …Eto last question na ito. Sana sagutin mo honestly ha.

.

Ishmael: Sige po. Ano po ‘yun?

.

ATO-man: Left-leaning ka ba?

.

Ishmael: Ha? Ano po uli ‘yun?

.

ATO-man: Left-leaning ka ba? Sumama ka na ba sa mga Rally? OK lang kung oo.

.

Ishmael: Ah! Hindi po. Puro acads lang kasi ‘yung focus ko noong undergrad kaya hindi na ako sumama sa mga ganyan.

.

ATO-man: Ganon? Kasi ‘di ba may mga makakaliwang grupo sa UP...tulad ng LFS [League of Filipno Students].

.

Ishmael: Opo...alam ko po. Sikat nga po ‘yung UP sa mga ganyan.

.

ATO-man: Pero may kilala ka na kasali sa mga grupong ‘yan?

.

Ishmael: Ah, wala po. Wala akong kilala sa kanila.

.

ATO-man: Wala...walang lumapit sa iyo na kasali? Wala kang na-engkwentro? OK lang sabihin mo ‘yung mga pangalan. Kakausapin ko lang sila.

.

Ishmael: Meron po syempre...’yung minsan ‘pag may rali at nag-aabot ng leaflets. ‘yun lang po. Pero hindi ako sumasama kasi nga puro acads ako.

.

ATO-man: Ganon...o sige tatawag na lang ako uli kung may iba pa akong questions ha.

.

Actually, I lied in that conversation many times for the sake of the speedy processing of the permit and the protection of my friends that are involved in his so-called “leftist groups.” I joined a protest rally once and I encountered the so-called leftists beyond from being the receiver of their leaflets. I knew some people belonging to LFS and Anak Bayan. But what the heck. Why did he ask about my political affiliations and activities? Is it relevant in the company’s application for a permit?

.

One thing is certain, that person from the “ATO” is trying to squeeze information from me about the critics of the present administration. And that, is scary.

Unlucky Friday

February 1, 2008

My taxi crashed to a bus inside a tunnel somewhere in Makati.

The hood bended and the driver came out to see the extent of the damage.

I just looked at the fare meter, gave the driver sixty pesos, came out through the driver’s side door, and hailed another taxi.

At that very moment, I felt nothing. NOTHING! No pity for the poor driver, no fear the moment the taxi hit the bus, no relief and “thank-goodness-I-am-alive” feeling after the collision. No emotion, just this nagging feeling that I’ll be late. LATE for a damn appointment.

Thinking of it now, the incident might be GOD’s answer to my ardent plea of death minutes before the incident. Or maybe not. After another scolding and emotional spanking from eGoman (read: the boss), anger coursed throughout my body. Like electricity flowing through my veins. Hours later, on my way to Manila International Airport, trapped inside a bus that is also trapped in an eternal traffic, with my head filled with wrath, depression, and the nagging feeling that I will be late; I pleaded and vented to the Almighty why do I have to suffer those miseries. Why don’t He just let me die, right there and then.

Minutes later, my taxi crashed to bus.

Now I feel pity to the poor driver. What had happened to him? What would his company do to him? Questions that I don’t have the answers. Thoughts that will never help the driver.

Now I rediscovered that He indeed listens in a way that I wished.