I’m feeling productive today, in terms of organizing and finally typing down details with community set up for GX Team 76 in Davao. I managed to make the calendar and the security details for the team. Also finalizing the CAD with Kythe. It made me recall about my crazy adventures/meetings in Davao last September when I was tasked to meet with PNP Davao, AFP and Central 911.
Before I even got the chance to meet the heads of those 3 offices, I needed to bring the formal letter from GX. Central 911 was easy because Jay already knew them from last year and had the head’s cellphone number. I just needed to arrange a meeting with him through a phone call and just brought the letter with me the same day of the meeting.
PNP was the first stop. I walked through the gate anticipating a thorough search as I was entering security premises. There’s something about the police that doesn’t scare me, perhaps because a number of my relatives worked for them; my 2 late uncles Manny&Bong Sonza served the PNP and my cousin Francis is now deployed somewhere in General Santos.
There were no major security checks entering PNP. They just asked where I was going and asked for an ID. No bags checked, no need to double-check my identification, etc. How simple was that? What if I had a bomb in my bag and had plans to plant it the head’s office to kill him? Or if I had a gun? Tsktsk.
I headed to AFP to bring my letter and the mere entrance of the Task Force intimidated me. Something about the barbwired entrance and a military personnel in complete uniform with machine gun in his hands reading my letter before allowing me to enter made me so uncomfortable. But atleast the security was tighter so “good job.” Walking from the entrance to the main lobby, with about 20 pairs of military eyes on me, made me remember 2 incidents – 1 with the AFP of Iligan and the other with the Marines of Davao City. In Lanao del Norte, during our first visit to our community in Robocon where our fieldwork would be, almost the entire platoon wanted to escort Rebecca and me. They misunderstood the letter sent to them and thought we needed escort so there were about 20 ARMED MEN ready to walk with us. So we were like – “No! Thank you!” But because we didn’t want to offend them we agreed that for that day we’d allow 2 men to accompany us. It made us feel so unsafe having 2 guys with guns and extra ammunition walk with us in a community that the MILF once attacked (and attacked again last August 2008).
The marines of Davao was a different experience when we were invited by my bestfriend’s boyfriend to visit him in their ship because he was going to cook for us and take us to Vanishing Island across Davao City. Ella, Janille (it’s her BF) and I headed to their dock committing the mistake of dressing up quite ready for the beach. We were in shorts and tees, and had swimsuits under our shirts that as soon as we got out of the cab, we felt the GLARING STARES of about 20-30 men - the marines! Nakng! Ganun pala ang pakiramdam ng tingin na para kang KAKAININ ng BUHAY! Ilang buwan ba silang nasa dagat at di nakakita ng babae? Putik! Ella and I were cursing Janille on why we had to come. Kung gusto niyo yung tingin na pagpyepyestahan kayo, do that, but we weren’t very appreciative of it. May Kabastusan lang talaga sya and they weren’t exactly HOT MEN you know, basta..ay naku!
THE MEETINGS – I met with AFP Commander first, about a couple days after I brought the letter. I already noticed how cute the guy in the lobby was the first time I went but we never really conversed until the day of the meeting. He had this RICO YAN, CHRIS TIU look, but when he spoke! Dang! Military kung Military! Yung tono, “Yes Ma’am!” And ang Tigas ng Bisaya nya, promise, nakakaturn off yung military na tono pero nakakatuwa yung tigas ng bisaya.
The AFP Commander was not as threatening as I expected. He was actually very warm and had a firm handshake. His assurance of the security of Davao and the neighboring provinces made me feel safe. He just wanted to make sure the Volunteer Placements were not known leftist NGOs and that the volunteers arriving are not very radical. Ofcourse the AFP still fully supports the President so I had to reserve my opinions about the current state of governance. Despite the intimidating stares at the AFP HQ, my meeting with the commander felt more like a meeting with an Uncle who wanted to make sure you and your friends will be safe in your out of town trip. And I appreciated how he personally handed me his card and told me to text or call him anytime. Naks! Close na kami ni Commander!
PNP - I was a bit nervous. He didn’t have a picture on the wall so I thought he was going to be very old, very stiff and commander like. He was a bit young, maybe late 40’s and he made me feel so awkward the entire meeting. Have you ever been INTERROGATED by police? That’s how it felt, like a scene from CSI or 24 – one question after the other. And he even started with who was I, my background, my education, if I’m a LEFTIST? What the?! I’m not under investigation here, am I? It was so weird and the way he asked the question so quickly, you knew he wasn’t really listening? With regard to GX questions, it was obvious he didn’t read the letter because the letter would have answered most of his questions. Anyway, he had similar concerns about leftist orgs, etcetera and in the end handed me his card to for anything. Naks! Close na din ako sa PNP commander!
911 – was short and simple. He remembered Jay and GX and just thanked me for the FYI meeting. He just asked for general living areas of the volunteers so he can note it as an important area of responsibility in case of emergency. I just love our Central 911 emergency unit, the only one in the Philippines.
So I’m close to the AFP and PNP commanders and with the Central 911 of Davao. I feel so powerful! Like I can commit a crime and get away with it. Hehehe! Not in Tito Digong’s Balwarte, I don’t think so!
Before I even got the chance to meet the heads of those 3 offices, I needed to bring the formal letter from GX. Central 911 was easy because Jay already knew them from last year and had the head’s cellphone number. I just needed to arrange a meeting with him through a phone call and just brought the letter with me the same day of the meeting.
PNP was the first stop. I walked through the gate anticipating a thorough search as I was entering security premises. There’s something about the police that doesn’t scare me, perhaps because a number of my relatives worked for them; my 2 late uncles Manny&Bong Sonza served the PNP and my cousin Francis is now deployed somewhere in General Santos.
There were no major security checks entering PNP. They just asked where I was going and asked for an ID. No bags checked, no need to double-check my identification, etc. How simple was that? What if I had a bomb in my bag and had plans to plant it the head’s office to kill him? Or if I had a gun? Tsktsk.
I headed to AFP to bring my letter and the mere entrance of the Task Force intimidated me. Something about the barbwired entrance and a military personnel in complete uniform with machine gun in his hands reading my letter before allowing me to enter made me so uncomfortable. But atleast the security was tighter so “good job.” Walking from the entrance to the main lobby, with about 20 pairs of military eyes on me, made me remember 2 incidents – 1 with the AFP of Iligan and the other with the Marines of Davao City. In Lanao del Norte, during our first visit to our community in Robocon where our fieldwork would be, almost the entire platoon wanted to escort Rebecca and me. They misunderstood the letter sent to them and thought we needed escort so there were about 20 ARMED MEN ready to walk with us. So we were like – “No! Thank you!” But because we didn’t want to offend them we agreed that for that day we’d allow 2 men to accompany us. It made us feel so unsafe having 2 guys with guns and extra ammunition walk with us in a community that the MILF once attacked (and attacked again last August 2008).
The marines of Davao was a different experience when we were invited by my bestfriend’s boyfriend to visit him in their ship because he was going to cook for us and take us to Vanishing Island across Davao City. Ella, Janille (it’s her BF) and I headed to their dock committing the mistake of dressing up quite ready for the beach. We were in shorts and tees, and had swimsuits under our shirts that as soon as we got out of the cab, we felt the GLARING STARES of about 20-30 men - the marines! Nakng! Ganun pala ang pakiramdam ng tingin na para kang KAKAININ ng BUHAY! Ilang buwan ba silang nasa dagat at di nakakita ng babae? Putik! Ella and I were cursing Janille on why we had to come. Kung gusto niyo yung tingin na pagpyepyestahan kayo, do that, but we weren’t very appreciative of it. May Kabastusan lang talaga sya and they weren’t exactly HOT MEN you know, basta..ay naku!
THE MEETINGS – I met with AFP Commander first, about a couple days after I brought the letter. I already noticed how cute the guy in the lobby was the first time I went but we never really conversed until the day of the meeting. He had this RICO YAN, CHRIS TIU look, but when he spoke! Dang! Military kung Military! Yung tono, “Yes Ma’am!” And ang Tigas ng Bisaya nya, promise, nakakaturn off yung military na tono pero nakakatuwa yung tigas ng bisaya.
The AFP Commander was not as threatening as I expected. He was actually very warm and had a firm handshake. His assurance of the security of Davao and the neighboring provinces made me feel safe. He just wanted to make sure the Volunteer Placements were not known leftist NGOs and that the volunteers arriving are not very radical. Ofcourse the AFP still fully supports the President so I had to reserve my opinions about the current state of governance. Despite the intimidating stares at the AFP HQ, my meeting with the commander felt more like a meeting with an Uncle who wanted to make sure you and your friends will be safe in your out of town trip. And I appreciated how he personally handed me his card and told me to text or call him anytime. Naks! Close na kami ni Commander!
PNP - I was a bit nervous. He didn’t have a picture on the wall so I thought he was going to be very old, very stiff and commander like. He was a bit young, maybe late 40’s and he made me feel so awkward the entire meeting. Have you ever been INTERROGATED by police? That’s how it felt, like a scene from CSI or 24 – one question after the other. And he even started with who was I, my background, my education, if I’m a LEFTIST? What the?! I’m not under investigation here, am I? It was so weird and the way he asked the question so quickly, you knew he wasn’t really listening? With regard to GX questions, it was obvious he didn’t read the letter because the letter would have answered most of his questions. Anyway, he had similar concerns about leftist orgs, etcetera and in the end handed me his card to for anything. Naks! Close na din ako sa PNP commander!
911 – was short and simple. He remembered Jay and GX and just thanked me for the FYI meeting. He just asked for general living areas of the volunteers so he can note it as an important area of responsibility in case of emergency. I just love our Central 911 emergency unit, the only one in the Philippines.
So I’m close to the AFP and PNP commanders and with the Central 911 of Davao. I feel so powerful! Like I can commit a crime and get away with it. Hehehe! Not in Tito Digong’s Balwarte, I don’t think so!
