Nicknames

The Philippine Dental Society had a celebration recently. Thousands of dentists came out to give their molar support. (From a dentist.)

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A classified ad of a carenderia says: “We offer local delicacies, also sand and gravel.”

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In a symposium on people’s names, it was pointed out that nicknames are remembered more “long lastingly” than the real names. And the more ridiculous the nickname the harder and longer it sticks in people’s mind.

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That’s right. Until now, for instance, I still don’t know the real names of Palwa, Pahak and Baki. Everyone in the neighborhood knows Palwa, the water cargador; Pahak, the retired cochero; and Baki, the gardener, but not their real names.

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Jerry Tundag is wellknown. In the office everyone calls him Sir Jerry. What’s Jerry’s real name? I told a young officemate that Jeremiah is Jerry’s true name. And the officemate said: “Tinuod bitaw, Sir? Abi ba to nako Geronimo.”

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One of the girls I loved before (hehehe) called up and said. “I heard rumors that you have prostate problem.” I said yes. And she said somewhat sheepishly: “Di na mo-function, Sir?” Ugh!

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People used to gripe against “taxation without representation.” Now their gripe is louder against “taxation with representation.” (From Edgar Trese, Mandaue.)

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It says here that there’s a shortage of coins in the business community. So what? Some PUJ drivers don’t need them. “Kuwarta ba ni?” one of them said to a passenger who handed him her fare in coins from Santander to Cebu City.

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Seriously now, Punta Princesa Barangay Captain Joe Navarro is trying to revive the move to create a Barangay Bank. He said there was already a bill filed in Congress calling for the establishment of a bank for the barangays but it just disappeared after passing the first reading.

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Joe Navarro says the proposed Barangay Bank has more asset than the Veterans Bank and he expresses optimism that its realization can help hasten the growth of the countrysides.

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I don’t like to believe I’m right when I say it’s not easy to have a Barangay Bank because of politics, politics, politics that will come into play ... Barangays are controlled by politicians each of whom has his own political agenda.

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Unlike the veterans groups and the teachers groups which are not political entities, the barangays - that is, the leaders - are, whether I like it or not, held by the neck by politicians who have their individual concerns and plans.

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