Pepi quizzes: “What economy?”

My friend Pepi is happy. He splits his work between land and sea, daily. Each break of dawn, he heads to his ranch to feed the animals and irrigate his crops. On slow days, he heads to the lagoon to catch reef fish.

Pepi sells the best of his crops to local markets, including freshly caught reef fish, and keeps the rest for personal consumption or shares them with his neighbors. Perhaps it’s the humble lifestyle–down to earth–that lures this soul to Pepi’s ranch every other full moon. I could see his big grin from a distance when he saw me pulling in.

Said he, smiling ear to ear: “Come on down, I’ve cooked your favorite fish (guile) with a little coconut milk, sprinkled with lots of tomatoes and string beans.”

As I approach Pepi’s picnic table, there were other guys already sitting around punching beer with sweet tuba. There was the usual felicitation then each returned to his seat.

“JR, the economy ‘going south’ that you constantly revisit, what does it mean?”

“Well, in its simplest form it means money. It means there’s less of it today than there was some four years ago today”.

“I heard that there’s an economic rebound and that soon all should be well and good, true?”

“You must look at the larger picture–external influences–that bear directly on whether we’ve hit rock bottom or not”.

“What do you mean external influences?”

“Japan plays a key role in how soon would there be real economic recovery and the ripple effects that would descend in these isles three years later at a minimum”.

“Why is Japan in the picture in terms of our local economy?”

“It’s a major tourism market for the CNMI, in addition to being the second strongest economic power the world over, and so when Japan catches the cold we’re wheeled into the ICU for pneumonia”.

“Aren’t our leaders wary of these events as they unfold that bear directly on our once primary income earner?”

“It’ll be good to quiz them, including political horses who’d be racing for that coveted seat this November”.

Pepi asked: “You guys talkin` stories about…what’s this, economy?”

“That’s right Pepi…it’s really bad and it’ll get worse!”

Said Pepi: “There’s the positive side to the slide in the economy…at least it forces most of us to think basics”.

Well, Pepi can afford to say his piece without blinking an eye given that he’s led a simple life and isn’t into the amenities of a modern lifestyle in the islands. He sticks to the land and sea and pays a minimal amount for electricity. He doesn’t use city water for he’s maintained the family well at the ranch that was there before the war.

State Pepi: “You see, when nothing works right, the surest thing is the land and sea, venues our forefathers have used for family sustenance. Our people must learn to slam the brakes of modern amenities for obvious reasons”.

Pepi puts his hand up in the air to feel the whippy trade winds then related: “This natural gift is my air-condition, cooled by the rain that dance on my tin roof, music to my ears for my crops are also dancing merrily in the fields”.

By ten in the evening, the guys have slowed down and could only hear slurred speeches and disoriented dicussion as they struggle to regain their composure, unsuccessfully. I figured it’s time to leave. On the way home, I kept hearing Pepi’s query, “What Economy?” Maybe I ought to return to basics too!

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