- Ecclesiates 3:1
Civilization 4 - Upon the discovery of calendar technology
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You can call me fatalist if it would satisfy you, or better yet, declare me superstitious once you finish reading this entry. But like a friend who believes in the connection of all things, I believe that there is a reason why I was challenged by Kuya with a series of temptations a few nights ago.
I never wrote before that there is an ongoing crisis in our neighborhood. The issue is about the right of way among the homeowners. As you can see, we live in a compound that has a single narrow driveway which leads to the main street. The first house that occupies the driveway has blocked our passage by putting their trash (their sidecars, chickens and sometimes even their monoblock chairs) on their side of the driveway. This move has caused us great sufferings, especially when my mother rides the car whenever she needs to leave the house.
As a response, she and several of our neighbors wrote a demand letter to the Baranggay. A few months ago, the title to the driveway was awarded to us, excluding the family from the first house. Since they already have their front yard, the owner of the compound felt that we have the right to the driveway. It is not part of the first house's property anymore.
The letter took several revisions after I felt that my mom used strong words to express the abuses done to her by the family who owns the first house. Being the only guy in the compound (aside from the thugs who live in the first house and the other one who declared his neutrality regarding the issue), confrontation is not an option. If an open conflict erupts between us and the family who lives in the first house, not only would I be forced to enroll in Eclipse's Mixed-Martial Arts Program, I would also need to ask the Sikyu Agency to post guards in front of our house.
Anyway, a verbal spat happened between the Padre de Familia of the first house and our driver's escort a few weeks ago. Not only did they gang-up against the poor escort, the Padre de Familia's son, who's age is the same as mine told him to take extra care when walking in the street at night. Panic ensued at home and the tension was only diffused after I volunteered to personally settle the issue with the Padre de Familia.
Armed with the thought that I'd use our Sikyu's harassment capabilities if my dialogue fails I delivered my mother's grievances to the family. They understood what is needed to be done and for the first time in many months, a compromise between us and the family who lives in the first house has been achieved.
The dialogue was so successful, I never heard anymore complaints from my mom after.
And the sense of peace that we felt would have remained, if it weren't for the meeting that was called by the Baranggay last night.
I was at work. Mom and several of our neighbors showed up at the Baranggay Hall to settle the right of way issue once and for all. Representing the family who lives in the first house was the couple together with their two children and some extended family members who were there to boost their numbers. Talks soon broke down after one of the homeowners won't compromise about the issue of closing down the first house's second door that opens to the driveway. Voices were raised and in desperation, one of the couple's children, the guy who threatened our driver's escort several weeks ago pointed a finger at the homeowner who wouldn't bulge. Being a mother, the neighbor panicked and talks about reporting a blotter was raised after the meeting was adjourned abruptly.
A state of unsettling paranoia reigned all evening throughout the compound.
And even I was forced to go home early after my mom got worried that I might get mugged on my way home.
However, as soon as the conflict begins to spin out of control, it suddenly turned the other way around. It suddenly opened a door that would lead us out of the conflict and into a chance of having an understanding between us and the family of the first house.
I never wrote before that there is an ongoing crisis in our neighborhood. The issue is about the right of way among the homeowners. As you can see, we live in a compound that has a single narrow driveway which leads to the main street. The first house that occupies the driveway has blocked our passage by putting their trash (their sidecars, chickens and sometimes even their monoblock chairs) on their side of the driveway. This move has caused us great sufferings, especially when my mother rides the car whenever she needs to leave the house.
As a response, she and several of our neighbors wrote a demand letter to the Baranggay. A few months ago, the title to the driveway was awarded to us, excluding the family from the first house. Since they already have their front yard, the owner of the compound felt that we have the right to the driveway. It is not part of the first house's property anymore.
The letter took several revisions after I felt that my mom used strong words to express the abuses done to her by the family who owns the first house. Being the only guy in the compound (aside from the thugs who live in the first house and the other one who declared his neutrality regarding the issue), confrontation is not an option. If an open conflict erupts between us and the family who lives in the first house, not only would I be forced to enroll in Eclipse's Mixed-Martial Arts Program, I would also need to ask the Sikyu Agency to post guards in front of our house.
Anyway, a verbal spat happened between the Padre de Familia of the first house and our driver's escort a few weeks ago. Not only did they gang-up against the poor escort, the Padre de Familia's son, who's age is the same as mine told him to take extra care when walking in the street at night. Panic ensued at home and the tension was only diffused after I volunteered to personally settle the issue with the Padre de Familia.
Armed with the thought that I'd use our Sikyu's harassment capabilities if my dialogue fails I delivered my mother's grievances to the family. They understood what is needed to be done and for the first time in many months, a compromise between us and the family who lives in the first house has been achieved.
The dialogue was so successful, I never heard anymore complaints from my mom after.
And the sense of peace that we felt would have remained, if it weren't for the meeting that was called by the Baranggay last night.
I was at work. Mom and several of our neighbors showed up at the Baranggay Hall to settle the right of way issue once and for all. Representing the family who lives in the first house was the couple together with their two children and some extended family members who were there to boost their numbers. Talks soon broke down after one of the homeowners won't compromise about the issue of closing down the first house's second door that opens to the driveway. Voices were raised and in desperation, one of the couple's children, the guy who threatened our driver's escort several weeks ago pointed a finger at the homeowner who wouldn't bulge. Being a mother, the neighbor panicked and talks about reporting a blotter was raised after the meeting was adjourned abruptly.
A state of unsettling paranoia reigned all evening throughout the compound.
And even I was forced to go home early after my mom got worried that I might get mugged on my way home.
However, as soon as the conflict begins to spin out of control, it suddenly turned the other way around. It suddenly opened a door that would lead us out of the conflict and into a chance of having an understanding between us and the family of the first house.
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-tobecontinued-
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