Leap year privileges

It’s a leap year, did you notice? For once in four years, we get another day, with the month of February getting 29 instead of 28 days only. People I know who were born on February 29, always make it a point to celebrate, after all they have four years to save for the big bash.

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There’s another side to leap year, and that is, it is supposed to be a year when girls need not be coy about making the first moves towards the boys they fancy. But that is all outmoded now, these days females do not wait for a leap year to do their own chasing if they have a mind to. So those ladies who have caught the eye of our aging president should not fear censure or criticism if they run after him. Leap year gives them that privilege. So go, Grace Lee, go!

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In the meantime, the call is out again for assistance for the victims of the latest calamity to hit our neighbors on the other side of Negros Island. I know many of us had already sent over help in the form of clothing, foodstuff and even cash, but help is again needed, and let’s remember the injunction: Give until it hurts. In our gratitude to the Lord that we have been spared, let us show our appreciation by helping those not so fortunate.

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A few reminders, however, I heard that any form of clothing, even used ones are always accepted with gratitude by the victims because most of them had fled their homes without looking back, or caring about bringing such necessities along. So be generous in sharing some of your clothes, blankets, towels, but make sure they are still wearable or usable and practical. Recently, I heard about a matron who said she was only too happy to get rid of her old evening gowns and winter garments which she donated for flood victims. What on earth will a flood victim do with sequined ternos or delicate evening wear, or three-inch high-heeled shoes and step-ins? Don’t laugh, such things do happen.

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What really was the reason why the much-publicized and welcomed flights of airlines from Korea to the Bacolod-Silay airport was stopped so suddenly with what seemed like a lame excuse? Earlier, we heard that so many groups of golf-playing Koreans were all set to follow the first batches that had come to the province. The idea sent the hearts of our tourism-minded officials palpitating, but all this stopped when the cancellation of the flights was announced.

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What happened? The reasons we have been hearing do not sound convincing. What seemed easier to believe was the explanation of a businessman who said he heard that when the last batch of Korean golfers came to Negros Occidental, they were brought to a golf course out of town which did not quite meet with their approval. He said a member of the group had an accident when her golf cart wheels got into a rut and she fell, injuring herself. Then, when the other players finished their game, they went to the bathroom and found there was no water!

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Was that true? If it is, one can only wonder why those facilities were not checked before bringing the visitors to that golf club. Those golfers are used to the best facilities, some of them go to other countries to play, so why should they put up with inferior ones? Those trips were supposedly “promo” ones, and we should have put our best feet forward. Surely there are other golf courses around that could at least approximate those of other countries.

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When some of the events of the Southeast Asian Games were held in Bacolod, a great howl came from foreign players who were ferried to the Panaad Stadium on board mini buses that were cramped and were not air-conditioned. I heard that the players grumbled that such vehicles were used only for transporting pigs to slaughterhouses in their country. Luckily that problem was solved when the owners of the Ceres buses agreed to have some of their vehicles used by the athletes.*

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