Opinion: Chance Meeting With Architect Absalom, Atty. Rubrico And Diony Lopez

Last Wednesday, I had a chance meeting with 3 important persons who made up the topic for this column.

While we were looking for a glass material, Architect Paul Absalom just popped up with his Crosswind.

Architect Absalom is a young architect based in Escalante City. Since my family and I intended to have lunch in a restaurant, we invited Paul to join us. We first picked up our grandchildren from the public school where they are now and while waiting for them and having conversation with Paul about construction, my former high school student at Holy Infant Academy Virgilio Reboton also popped up from a school office nearby.

He told me he is now the principal at Caduhaan. It gives me time to ask about the Cadiz District Supervisor by the name of Joshua Santillana who was involved in a drug raid. According to reports, Santillana lives in Barangay Caduhaan, Cadiz City.

Virgilio Reboton was mum on the issue but another guy nearby who knows Reboton gave some information. He said Santillana is gay and as District Supervisor is earning P46, 000 a month. Perhaps the guy said Santillana is only having much money to experiment on a new transit on life.

I didn’t ask for the name of the informer. First he is not where I need to know some information. Another is that he is a stranger to me and it appears he also do not know me. But Virgilio Reboton seems not in the mood to give any information about Santillana. Despite the fact that I am his former teacher but then, perhaps Santillana is still his superior. That’s a Filipino way.

The stranger even gave me information of some rich persons in Cadiz who are addicted to drugs. But I am not with PDEA and I have too many problems of my own. Some on matter about the law that isn’t moving as it is. Instead for me, to be a witness, I became the center bolt of reformation that isnt moving at all.

I need to simplify my life if need be. I found out that in the Philippines, it is useless to ask for change. This country is so full of dirt and whether we like it or not, as long as others are not doing what they ought to do, this country will remain in doldrums, a state of things it is used to be. Better fight your own battle as it comes into your door rather than be concerned of your neighbor’s problems. Problems in the Philippines are too many and even those whom we pay to solve such problems such as the police and other government entities, they even add to your already problematic life. This is a garrulous nation. Not sure where it is going. So Santillana, if it is true that he is a drug user, is one of those problems that are expected to come out anyway and then nothing will happen.

That’s the state of things in this country. Despite the reality that Corona was already impeached.

When my grandchildren emerged from their schoolrooms, instead of boarding our car they all went to board at the car of Paul going to Atihan Restaurant.

The restaurant had many customers at the time. While we were beginning to order, another surprise person popped up from nowhere, Atty. Juan Rubrico and his assistant Eugene Alarcon. Atty. Rubrico said he was from Sagay City and intended to take lunch our usual place when he spotted us. He noted that the road to Sagay is on a bad state and said he isn’t going to go back there.

Atty. Rubrico is a very good lawyer but he is also expensive. This time, he is asking me about money which I said I haven’t. What’s good about him is, he doesn’t clamor if you cannot produce and he still does his job. Much more that I consider him my good friend. He is good in kidding and in many ways since my cases slowed down naturally, I got the empty feeling of not having coffee or lunch with him for a long time now.

While we were talking on many things, another interesting character popped up. The Cadiz millionaire Diony Lopez whom I had been looking for a long time. I introduced Atty. Rubrico to him as a lawyer and media man. Then I told Diony how elusive he is, since it took me years before I intended to have a one on one interview with him. But every time I came to Cadiz Hotel where he is supposed to be, he isn’t there.

Diony Lopez made a joke that he is afraid of the media but later on whispered to Atty. Rubrico that it is not true.

Diony Lopez indeed is an elusive subject. But I am going to get him someday for my column.*