Beware of ‘padala’

A Pulse Asia survey showed that 59 percent of Filipinos believe they are worse off now than they were in 2007. Naturally, because they were not facing a rice crisis then. We may have any other kind of crisis, political, power, even threats of water shortages and global warming, but when it is the proverbial bread – rice, in our case – basket that is hit, people will really rise up for it.

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That is the reason why media these past few days is always full of pictures showing stacks and truckloads of rice being hauled in from ports and farms. The idea is to make us believe that there is plenty of rice for everybody, that all talk of a rice crisis is only intended to make us angry at the government. Note also that stress is being made on reports that there is also a food crisis in other parts of the world. The message: We are not alone, so stop griping.

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Isn’t it ironical that, while fears of a food crisis are being felt worldwide, reports of obesity becoming pandemic are also threatening us? In the United States just less than two weeks ago, I noted that there are more and more oversized people walking around. And they are not only adults or middle-aged. Many teen-agers, both male and female (but more female) waddle around, some so fat that their flesh actually jiggle as they move. Perhaps there is sense in the advice of our own officials for us to eat less rice. But such advice hurt the feelings of those who subsist only on rice, having nothing else on their tables.

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More to be alarmed over are the findings that diabetes is becoming a major ailment in several countries, the Philippines not excluded. But the ones most affected, according to recent findings, are India and China, also two of the most populous countries in the world. The same reports add that the number of diabetes cases is expected to rise by 50 percent in year 2025, or less that 20 years from now. Since we are a rice-eating people, this threat could also affect us, so we need to take precautions now.

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Lotto results last night showed that three bettors had won the offered prize of P10,042,434 in yesterday’s draw. That means about P3 million each for the ones who got the right combination. How they must envy the winner last Sunday who picked the lucky numbers 1-15-29-32-46-47 and did a solo. As I studied the numbers, I was glad I did not join the rush to bet, since they were figures I never would have thought of picking myself. By the way, PCSO people are puzzled because the winner has not shown up to claim his winnings yet.

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If you are traveling to another country, one of the things you must be very careful about is the “padala”. Of course we Filipinos are used to sending things through friends and relatives for our loved ones abroad. You do not have to refuse those who request you, but be sure you know what is in the letter or package you are bringing. Don’t be embarrassed to ask the sender or senders to show you the contents of what you are supposed to transport. I once agreed to bring a letter from a friend in Europe who admitted that it contained money, but I was ashamed to ask how much.

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As my flight was nearing RP, I remembered that there is a law limiting the amount that one can bring into the country. Since I had no idea how much had been entrusted to me, I sweated in fear until I had cleared customs and immigration. I remembered this because of an item in yesterday’s papers about an overseas worker who was returning to Dubai and was asked to being a package for her neighbor’s son in that country. Fortunately for the courier, rats gnawed on the package and spilled some of its content that turned out to be shabu, 10 packets of it! She reported the matter to the police, and the wily neighbor was arrested. Had the poor traveler not discovered it, she would probably be among those sentenced to death in Dubai.

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Postscript on Ruffa Gutierrez: She announced yesterday that her estranged partner, Yilmaz Bektas of Turkey, had called and assured her that the Miss Universe beauty he is reported to be dating, is only a business associate. Well, she cannot sue him or anything since she is the one who is said to still be married to someone named Richard Dalaoia when she and Yilmaz had that pompous wedding in Manila.*

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