SM’s joy ride - 2

We continued from yesterday’s pastoral analogy of the controversy between SM Prime and the provincial government.

So before the day set for the next bidding Ambok went to the mayor to complain that he was the first to make the offer and that his price of P4,000 was closer to the acceptable price and therefore should be declared the winner to buy the pig. Ambok pointed out that Lando’s offer was only P3,500. He did not tell the mayor that both their offers were below what Pidong was willing to sell and that Pidong renege on his promise to sell the pig without telling the mayor that because their offers were below what Pidong’s wife wanted, the deal was off.

The mayor, not willing to displease the farmer by interfering on a transaction that is within the right of the farmer and therefore personal to Pidong and wife told Ambok that the matter is not within his powers, that he saw no abuse on the part of Pidong and that Pidong can continue with the sale to whoever he wanted.

Because the mayor did not stop Pidong, the bidding went on as scheduled. Piqued and angered at being rebuffed Ambok did not attend the bidding, instead he went to the congressman with the same argument that Ambok used and was dismissed by the mayor. The congressman, being always in Manila and has other things in mind but, and to please Ambok, who is a big election campaign contributor, said he will send a message to Pidong to stop the sale of the pig and wait until he can hear both sides. He asked Pidong to wait for 60 days.

But the congressman was still going abroad for an “official trip” and sent his secretary to take care of the matter by officially informing Pidong of his decision.

In the meantime since the children of Pidong were anxious to have the money, asked that Pidong move faster and indeed, Pidong went through the needed motions and told Lando that he was the winner and Lando was pleased.

Ambok was aghast and he called the barangay criers to tell the people of the barangay that Pidong played favorites and that if Pidong wants to avoid getting a problem with the congressman, Pidong should sell the pig to him and not to Lando. Because Ambok is a rich merchant and has placed many ads in radio, television and newspapers, he called on them to help him put down Pidong because Pidong fooled him, gave him a joy ride, made him think he has the first right to buy the pig because he was the first to offer. First come, first served, he claims is the rule of civilized and organized living. So why can’t Pidong follow this in a simple matter as selling the pig?

Pidong was adamant and he said, what is done is done and his wife has already given her approval. If the congressman wants to talk about this pig and its sale, he is free to do so although he lamented that Ambok would go to such an extent. So he said that, in the meantime, he has not received an official notice from the congressman he will continue with the work needed to complete the paper works so Lando can also come and take the pig.

When the people of the barangay heard of insinuations against their compadre, they issued a statement supporting their compadre because they believe that Pidong made a good choice and that they preferred that Lando buys the pig because Lando has a good reputation.

Pidong then opened the possibility of selling his goat and said Ambok is also free to bid for it. Ambok said he might consider buying the goat but he wants to get the pig because that pig belongs to him in the first place and that he wants the court to award the pig to him.

So what happens while the congressman is still abroad and waiting for the two to present their cases? Both are firm about their position. Meanwhile people are getting restless against Ambok and they want Pidong to call for a boycott of the various businesses of Ambok. In fact, many sari-sari store owners are just waiting for that signal since Ambok had been opening bigger sari-sari stores and bankrupting some of them. They like to strike back at Ambok.

Being a peaceful man, Pidong, does not want to go to that extent because he believes that once the congressman hears his side the solon will certainly tell Ambok look for another pig.*

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