Two letters

I got two letters the other night when I passed by our DAILY STAR office. One was from my friend in the U.S. Architect Raming Esteban and the other from my other friend Ramon Alvañez, editor-consultant of “Mangkas Tribune,” a publication by the office of the City Mayor of La Carlota.

Wrote Raming, “My request is simple – address of Cong. Jeffrey Ferrer in Congress or at La Carlota.” Sorry I did not state it but if I did, it was also simple, “La Carlota City” or “Congress of the Philippines .” No house or building number, no street.

He is very well-known here.

It's not possible that Raming's letters were not received. I can only suspect, the Congressman or his staff refused to answer or failed even just to acknowledge the letters.

Then Alvañez' letter was accompanied by two issues of the magazine “Mangkas Tribune.” He wrote, “Progress has not bypassed the city to set the record straight. As a matter of fact Arch. Raming Esteban is very much welcome to visit La Carlota and see for himself how much we have progressed.”

So, there's the invitation, Raming.

* * *

Raming further wrote, “My plans for advancement is only for the perusal of Cong. Ferrer and has nothing to do with public works, a great source of wasted funds, which is all what the myopic politicians can think about.”

If that was what you told Jeffrey Ferrer and he did not answer your letter, the only conclusion is he is not interested in your “plans for advancement.” Alvañez said it, “Progress has not bypassed La Carlota.”

Raming also wrote, “I have never had a public works project in my life nor do I dream of getting in the circle of favored contractors, because it is unethical for an architect to contract his own plans.”

Okay, my friend. Because you are invited to visit La Carlota, come and see whether there is really progress. Or, before you come, ask them to send you all the copies of La Carlota's publication.

* * *

I want to apologize to Raming for saying he is in his 80s. “I am not 80 but I will be with God's blessings three years from today.” Happy birthday, Raming.

He added, “My blood pressure is 115/70. (God, Raming that's a teenager's blood pressure.) This can be confirmed by my compadre Amelo (he is referring to my other friend Miling Lizares,) the last town mayor and the first city mayor of Talisay and also the ‘Last Man Standing' from among the contemporaries.”

Raming concluded, “I shall share my plans with the public after it meets the approval of Congressman Ferrer.”

I suggest to Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer and also to La Carlota Mayor Demie Honrado, they should welcome the “plan for advancement” of Architect Esteban. There might be something new.

The only problem is Raming must not charge unless they adopt his “plans for advancement.”

* * *

I still insist on my invitation for Raming Esteban to come home and serve his people here with his expertise.

Another architect I know who has been officially trained in urban and community planning is Joe Dureza. He and wife Mahal live in Secaucus , New Jersey . I would love to hear his own “plan for advancement.

Every time we were in New York , I would contact Joe and he would invite us for dinner at their home.

Joe Dureza topped the board exams in architecture. And while practicing in Bacolod , I recall he was given a scholarship by the U.N. in the U.S. on urban and community planning.

But he was not able to use his talents here because he and his family migrated to the U.S. He comes to Bacolod once in a while.

Joe has shifted his interest from architecture to painting. His paintings were sellout in New York and New Jersey and on many occasions he makes a solo show and his paintings are easily sold.

We studied with Joe Dureza at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo where he finished his architecture and topped the board exam.*

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