Pandi, Bulacan

I took a taxi at 630AM for the 8:00 AM trip from CFO to Pandi, Bulacan for inspection of 2 classroom sites and a livelihood project. I arrived at CFO at 7:00 AM and had a leisurely breakfast at Jollibee across from CFO’s office. The combination fried corned beef, fried egg, fried rice and strong-fried coffee cost me Php65 ($1.50) after a 20% discount for senior citizens.

We left CFO at 8:00AM with Engr. Adriano and Tobi of CFO. Our driver, Leo, was hesitant to leave early as the traffic near CFO is really very heavy with the closure of a bridge near CFO for repairs. There were grid locks at intersections as there were no traffic lights; a lone traffic officer was on one corner directing traffic from the sideline. At one intersection, Leo got excited, got out and confronted a tricycle driver blocking our left turn while the tricycle driver was trying to go straight. It was smooth driving when we reached the North Luzon Express Way (NLEX).

Tobi used to be a salesman for Coca Cola and Pandi is part of his territory. Even with his consulting with a friend who is still with Coke, we missed the turn to Pandi by at least a mile. We then stopped by a Petron gas station and meet with our contact in Pandi, Tony J., who owns a ‘farm’ there. The farm turns out to be a breeding farm for game cocks, about 400 of them, about P5000 each.

Tony led the way to our first stop at the Ramirez NHS. We met with the principal who is very hopeful that FtH will donate the classrooms to them. The principal told us that the school have title to the property, have the space to build the classroom, have a 70 student per classroom ratio, willing to get the PTA involve with the construction and maintenance of the classrooms and will accept the ‘red color’ standard of FtH classrooms. Our next stop was at a primary school, photo attached, who have a classrooms donated by CGMA, a new 2 classroom building given by the DECS at a cost of P1,300,000, an old Marcos-type classroom and a single room building. Their student/classroom ratio is 40 students per classroom, even with the new students relocated there from Manila. If we add 2 more classrooms in the only space available, the whole school with be wall-to-wall buildings with no space to breath the air.

Tony treated us to lunch of chicken tinola, chop suey and caldereta and with other barangay officials as we discussed their proposed livelihood project. Tony then showed us a rice field, very dry with dead grass which he would like to turn into a vegetable garden for the community, with a possible FtH funding of a deep well. I urged Tony to prepare a proposal to FtH about this livelihood project, estimated cost, number of families to be benefited by the deep well and FtH will evaluate the proposal.

Our last stop was Tony’s farm with his game cocks, his breeding stocks, a piggery and a tilapia fish pond on his 5 hectare lot. Tony was just recuperating from a bite from a part- pit bull when he tried to break a fight between his guard dogs. I told him my story of being bitten also by a dog last week. With the temperature at 90 degrees, we were given ice cold water and we said our TYs and ‘till we meet again’ for the classroom construction and livelihood project. Pablito 3/3/2010