Season for juvenile fish

Dusk was just descending in the Philippine Sea as fish enthusiasts stand by the pier at Smiling Cove Marina casting their lines into the water. Behind them, the health squad takes brisk walk or jog exchanging felicitations as they pass by. I stood by my friend’s boat admiring the beautiful silhouette of boats and trees against the glare of streetlights. It was really an aesthetic experience that could only be found on an island.

Then came a father and son with their fishing poles and net. Daddy took time to show his son how to cast the line into the water below. I was rather touched by the buddy relationship between father and son. He took the opportunity to be with his son, teaching him how to fish so he doesn’t have to rely on others for, well, fish. Not only is he interested in the future of his little boy, but he makes sure they spend quality time together learning the basics of constructive activity.

Daddy didn’t just hand him a fish. He taught him how to fish so he eats for a lifetime. I’m sure that the time they spend together the kid would learn that his parents care for him and in return (even with having to struggle with problems every adolescent must endure), he too would pitch-in to earn the respect of his elders.
When was the last time you took the kids for a healthy family outing?

For health enthusiasts, taking to the walk path is good cardio-vascular exercise and muscle toning. It beats the new form of weightlifting among male islanders of a can of beer in one hand and a fork for chaser on the other. Or, a tango between snoring and watching television to enlarge our mid-section. In either case, quality time with kids or shaking a leg are both great investments given the myriad of challenges that modern day Marianas has wrought over the past 20 years.

Living by strangling regulations

As a retiree, I have a good grasp of how government operates. You find two kinds of people in any government office: 1). The facilitator–a good worker who understands that his or her loot comes from the taxpayers, therefore, is very courteous in assisting anybody who comes asking for help. 2). The blocker–someone who memorizes his regulations (not necessarily understands them) and exercises intimidation to deny Mr. Public the assistance he or she needs.

The facilitator is the mature bureaucrat who goes out of his way to help the general public or taxpayers who pay for his salary. And this person usually has a good grasp of why he’s in government service–to deliver quality public service. It’s great dealing with this people for they wear a certain hat–Problem Solving! We salute the Facilitator Squad for being at par with their existence in government quarters.

The Blocker Squad would find every ounce of excuse to make life miserable for the people who pay his biweekly loot. And this group is even more vicious when dealing with people who are non-locals. I recall a friend who was summoned to appear at DEQ for proceeding with renovation work without a permit. He humbly obliged and visited the office. He explained why he was there, but was told that the boys were “busy”.

He came back several times only to be told that the boys are, once again, “busy”. He declared: “Since I’ve been here to clear the air and you people are always busy, you tell your troops that if they need anything from me, it’s their turn to come to my office”. Would you believe nobody came? The Blockers at DEQ need to learn how to work with the general public. You can’t bluff it with an adolescent attitude riddled with a pile of non-sensical regulations that even employees don’t understand, yeah? Let’s work together for you’re there to help. After all, we’re paying for your salaries!

Strictly a personal view. John S. DelRosario Jr. is publisher of Saipan Tribune