There's no escaping
Krawi
at
4:05 AM
What's with government employees and chewing gum? And after lunch make-ups? And that unmistakable mug of hot coffee adorning their tables? Those bejeweled fat ladies and balding gentlemen are probably the reason why our system is slugging, dropping down to nothing but a society of reactive individuals - unable to make decisions, incapable of even creating visions. Of course, not all government offices reek of corruption and indifference. There are those that definitely smell of success and deserve a warm round of applause.
But then I can't help but wonder why it's so hard and yet so easy to deal with people seated in outdated government posts. The first thing I noticed when I walked into the various offices at any city hall was the hustle and bustle of the mini kingdoms dominated by kings and queens of their own tables. The high king (or queen) is of course the one who lords over the department - the one who does nothing but sign and never gets anything but the fattest share of the banquet. I wonder how he (or she) could be indifferent to the wasting sight of his (her) territory - to the merchandise dealers hopping from one table to another during office hours, to his people's unsightly dress codes and poor customer relations (need I mention the chewing gum?).
I befriended a motherly civil servant and was glad it eventually took effect on the documents that needed processing. Asking favor from strangers was never fun but then again it gets the job done, not to mention another space filled out in your address book. I can't really say my friend, who was referred to me by my boss, isn't exactly like the others in her office but then again I couldn't have done half of the tasks I've accomplished without her.
Reasons to delay transactions overflow in any divine city hall like oil in the Saudis, with hung up systems, absent bosses, assistants on-leave, and more often than not, incomplete requirements topping the list. Why is it that despite our leaders' so-called efforts in promoting e-government and e-governance our gallant public servants are still contesting over who uses the most high-tech Windows 98 first?
Last week at the Lapu-lapu City Hall, I was waiting for one officer to hand me a certified true copy of an important document when she came up to me empty handed and told me to come back at 3 in the afternoon because their system was down. My watch at the time of rejection read 10:30 am! Shocked and on the verge of breakdown, I attempted to pull a puss-in-boots look and pleaded with all my pride, all the while praying that the officer [chewing her nth gum] could have it ready before lunch. She promised to have it by 1 pm but I still got the documents at 2:30. (Freaking sigh.......)
On the same day, an issuing officer at a BIR office snapped at me for persistently asking her to allow me to pay the certification fee related to title transfer even without the documents. She was more than pissed at me for interrupting her "work" as her face which was already bundled in concentration contorted in semi-rage and she matter-of-factly ordered me to comply with the other requirements first, among other things, then ending her tongue-lashing with a mean "Bye!".
At this point, I'm slowly absorbing the sad fact that in my line of work, I needed to prep up for the most trifle conversations which, if I want to excel, must be acted out as the most meaningful, most insightful one I'm going to have all day. Even those I've befriended in the government suggested that I make friends in every department fast, else I say goodbye to my transactions . By making friends they mean caressing them with gifts and money (yup, these go separately) and offer the greatest (and most unnecessary) form of flattery. Nurturing newly formed relationships is also important as when we meet them again, it's surprising how fast they forget us. There are those who genuinely want to help but there'll be those who will treat us like commoners next to their royal status.
I find it ironic that we, our colleagues, and the company for whom we're transacting documents for are paying these people to treat us like mud in their precious oasis. The taxes we're paying are their milk and honey, but do we hear a word of thanks?
Sometimes, yes. But then again. It will take eons before our government is reshaped into a paragon of virtue. Giving has become a tradition, but with the under-the-table concept being phased out and replaced by upfront bribery. It's gifts in exchange of relationships and it's what I'm supposedly trying to master. I'm getting used to it but then I'm praying I'll have enough morality left in me to be able to emerge out of this stink hole people call tradition.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 wishes and swishes:
Post a Comment