Hello? Are you there?

Here in the Philippines when communicating with the use of cell phones, we usually used text messages in view of their low costs compared to calls.

When I sent a message and got no reply, instantly, I was anxious what could have happened. To receive a couple of letters like “OK” or even just “K” is enough already to settle my worrying mind. We humans need confirmation – and this is an instinctual matter.

I have brought up this issue since, for the past few months, I had sent emails to government institutions but to my disappointment received no response at all. I am not saying that they are not working or reading my request/message; perhaps they do.

With private agencies, I have not experienced this one. There is at least a message of some kind that reached to my inbox. So, I am suggesting that it is better to install an auto responder, so there’s no forgetting.

When I was a young adult, I wrote to the then President, Corazon C. Aquino – few months later, I got an acknowledgement card from Malacanang. Oh! There was no enough space to stash my joy inside my heart, taking into account that the card has traveled a long way – from Manila to Mindanao – where I lived.

If they couldn’t response to an email these days, Oh! How I wish to go back to the olden days where there’s no other option than a snail mail but, most likely, people will find time to reply.

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NOTE: Just as I was already losing hope of hearing from Malacanang regarding my complaint sent to them, there it was, in my inbox, a message from Secretary Cabral of DSWD Malacanang.

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Well, I was heard after all

I received no response from the Head Librarian of Quezon City Public Library until now. How I wish they had an auto responder. It's of course comforting to know that your message has surely reached its destination. The apparent silence, though, didn't mean my complaint has not been heard. One time, I went again to Quezon City Public Library, Project 7 Branch (whose Librarian I had complained about), to use the computer. The Library was open; I came in, said good morning to the Librarian and asked for the computer. After eying me, the first thing I heard were the words, "I think you are the one who complained!" Without hesitation, I said, yes, I am! "Wait, I will check first if the computer is working," she announced. She then mumbled defensively: "It wasn't really working at that time you were here." So she would like to tell me, at that moment she had no idea if the computer was in good condition or not, which is of course a silly argument. Obviously, her demeanor was a sign of annoyance with what she thought as an intrusion in her domain, which is actually a right given to any citizen in this country.

Seeing me advancing towards the computer, she authoritatively instructed me to sit down first, while she turn it on, pointing to a series of chairs in front the wide reading table.

In one occasion, I came in again to use the computer in Quezon City's Head Office Library; there was a sort of briefing or meeting inside the computer room. They were just at my back, and their discussion was just an earshot. I heard a familiar voice; it was she, the Librarian who I complained. There she was telling them the story of that event; calling me a stubborn guy. Anyway, it doesn't matter whatever adjective she will attached to my action, I know I am doing the right thing. I was only glad that the personnel who is calling the meeting had emphasized to her and to the rest of the group as well, to post an informative message on the door rather than simply pasting a closed sign. Yes, I truly appreciated his good advice, because without furnishing a relevant information would only leave the visitors perplexed of what's going on, and when to come back -- an inconvenience indeed.

My message to Malacañang

Because I believe I have the right to complain I sent an email to Malacañang at www.gov.ph about the cold response of DSWD, Legarda, concerning my request for a business assistance. Below is the content of the said email.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Dear Sir/Ma'am,

How wonderful if all government personnel will be as responsible as what I had experienced at LIVELIHOOD DIVISION of DSWD Head Office, whose OIC is Mr. Restitoto Macuto; but sad to say that once in a while there are those people who are not inclined to helping others earnestly, especially to the poor, like what I have just experienced with a field staff of DSWD Legarda Branch.

I have applied for the program "SEA-K (Self-employment Assistance – Kaunlaran)" program of DSWD, Department of Social Welfare and Development. At first, everything seems to be going fine until I got a problem with DSWD Legarda – the field staff assigned to me, her name is Judith, just kept on promising to come to my place , but until to this day nobody comes. If she don't want to help me, for whatever reason it is, then all she has to do is to tell me. However, I just can't think of any reason why I can't avail the said program, for I am virtually nothing at this time, and I am confident the my proposed business project will work.

I have an Art exhibit at home, which is open for donation. Actually, it's more like a small museum because I have paintings, books, rare objects, documents, etc. It's my plan to make a business out of my paintings ( my business proposal).

At the moment, I am working really hard for this project. As a matter of fact, I am now writing my Blogs and publishing my Computer Paintings on the Internet. I have paintings done in colored pencils and latex paints, though, at this time, I don't have a digital camera to upload them – too bad.

What I am doing now is a hard work, everyday, for almost a month-and-a-half I have to walk an hour or so to Quezon City Public Library at the City Hall just to have a free Internet access.

I don't lose faith yet in the government in looking after the needs of the poor, only, that there are few in the position that are lazy and don't care enough for their constituent. In my case, how I hope that I will be extended financial aid for my business project. -- if not, then I have to find other ways of course.

Although the amount I will receive from the government's SEA-K program is only 5,000 pesos, the maximum, I can already work around with that amount to propel my business. I have Marketing Strategies already in mind, for my business to work, like Radio program, Lectures, Blog and Website.

Below is the details of my SEA-K application:

July 21, 2009 – At the DSWD Head Office, Batasan Complex, I wrote a letter and was received at the same date by the same office.. The OIC (Officer in Charge) of the LIVELIHOOD DIVISION is Mr. Restitoto Macuto The letter I wrote was a request for me to avail a financial aid for my proposed little business. The said letter was then forwarded to DSWD Legarda.

August 14, 2009 – I made a call to DSWD Legarda. I was told my letter was already received by the field staff assigned to me, and that I will just have to wait for she will come soon.

Days passed, still nothing happened.

August 18, 2009 – Desperate for an aid, I visited DSWD Legarda. There, I met Ms. Malou Ballesteros, their director, and the field staff assigned to me (Judith). Since I was there already, I was interviewed. After some minutes of conversation with Judith, I was informed that it will take more or less six months to form a workable group for the SEA-K Program, since there's no existing group in my barangay (Bahay Toro, Quezon City) at present.

Because of this, she suggested that it's better for me to be referred to another government institution that caters individuals. I told here that if that is what she thinks the best option for me then I will go for it. She said within a week I would receive a letter coming from that institution.

I waited again – nothing arrived.

Sept. 09, 2009 – I called DSWD Legarda again; luckily, I was able to talk to Judith; she again promised to come and see my place. I waited – again, she didn't come.

Now, with all these empty promises I received it's only appropriate that I will complain, in hope that I will be heard. To make others know the existence of such unwholesome attitude and inefficient service, I made this letter open to the public.

Sorry for the inconvenience, I don't have telephone connection. I have a cellphone but, since I don't have electricity for months now, it's no use to me at this time -- I can't charge it. For communication, I am using my email: (email is purposely deleted).

How I only hope that you can understand my position.

Suppose to be, I have to send this complaint to the Civil Service Commission, but I was unsuccessful in sending it through their online complaint form, that's why, I sent it here instead. So please, forward this message to the right department.

SINCERELY YOURS,

ANSELMO MALUGAO
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NOTE: For some months, the sent email above got no response, this prompted me to comment on how government agencies' behave on email communication. The next entry deals on this issue.

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Comment on Philippine CSC's (Civil Service Commission's) Complaint form

Today, Oct. 13, 2009, I sent a letter to the Philippines Civil Service Commission to complain about a certain field staff of DSWD Legarda Branch, Manila Philippines; unluckily, I just can't submit the form by simply hitting the submit button. So I wrote a letter to the webmaster for him/her to know my experience, hoping for a possible improvement, if there is.  

Here is the letter:

TO THE WEBMASTER:

Sir/Ma'am'

I am just wondering if there is another way to make the submission of a message to CSC easier, because I found out that the present design needs a certain configuration in the computer ( the one I (encountered is an instruction to create an email profile in the Control Panel, this is for PC) before the form could be sent. And I don't know also if it's advisable to create one in an Internet Cafe's computer.

Like me and to those people who don't know much about computers and who rely on Internet Cafes, an environment in which the user don't have full control, perhaps sending the form is impossible. However, if there's a better way to remedy the problem then almost anybody could conveniently use the online service of Philippine Civil Service Commission to facilitate the sending of information.

SINCERELY YOURS,
MR. ANSELMO MALUGAO

Coins Without Value! Why?

One time, I was exasperated when I can't almost buy something because my money contains two 10 cents and one 5 cent. Here in the Philippines we usually received these kinds of coins (10 and 5 cents denomination) from Malls. But surprisingly, these coins are not accepted in the common market: For your embarrassment, people will tell you, What is that!

The fact that these coins are made and distributed as legal monetary unit, they have value and they should retain their value throughout the country. The government should impose a Law giving penalty to those who will not accept the said currency; because if they will not, most of these denominations will just be thrown into the trash can – definitely, a waste of money.

Project 7 Public Library -- a complaint

Below is a copy of my complaint sent to the head librarian of Quezon City Public Library.

MS. EMILETA L. VILLANUEVA
Head Librarian
Quezon City Public Library


Dear Ma'am:

This is a complaint against the public service of  Quezon city public library, project 7 branch, located at Bansalangin corner Palomaria Sts., Brgy. Veterans Village Project 7 Q. C. Philippines.

The first time I went there was Oct. 01, 2009, Thursday, 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon, as I can remember; the library was closed. There was no other notice posted on the door aside from the word "closed." From a nearby store, I learned that a relative of the library staff had died. The next day, Oct. 02, Friday, I went there again; this time, I was there at 1:00 P.M., since 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM is lunch break -- still, I saw and experienced the same thing -- no one was there.

Since the library is closed on Saturdays, I had my third visit in the afternoon of Oct. 05, Monday; the sign "open" could now be seen on the door, but still no one was there. I asked a barangay staff, I was told the librarian, might be in Quezon City Hall. The following day, I went again, 8:00 o'clock in the morning; luckily, the librarian was there and I was able to used the computer -- the library has two of them. Two days later, I went again,  the librarian told me, the computers were broken or not working. Well, it's easy to wonder, how come those two computers had malfunctioned simultaneously -- or it could be something else.

Now, my point here, is that, if ever the staff has really to leave, in an emergency, a notice should be posted somewhere to inform the would-be visitors.

Normally, I think any public institution should never be left unattended (closed)  during a working period. Lack of man power could never be a valid reason, since there's, of course, a lot of people who can take the staff's position during his/her absence for convenience.

Like in my case, you can just imagine my utter disappointment to find my first three consecutive visits fruitless, taking into account that I have to walk an hour just to reach the library, but only to find it closed.

I only hope that you understand my sentiment.

SINCERELY YOURS
MR. ANSELMO MALUGAO