Under the jurisdiction of the Most Worshipful
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the Philippines
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Leonardo T. Paņares Lodge No. 220
THE PAPER CHASE
OVER ROUGH AND RUGGED ROADS
By: Bro. Dick Capuyan
Now at the twilight of my career, never did I think that so many signatures are required before I get the Star. Okay, I was so naive to think that since we are in the age of paperless transactions, we can do away with so many initials and signatures over a small piece of paper. How wrong I was!
Last year I wrote that Masonry thought me that time, patience and perseverance will accomplish all things. Likewise I said that I had advanced with my left foot, and hopes to bring the heel of my right to the heel of my left in due time. Well, that time came after 128 days, not counting the other 150 days that I spent at the preparation room!
It was on 18 May 2005 that I finally uprooted myself in Mindanao and tried to live in the concrete jungle near EDSA. Unfortunately, expected vacancy in position was not available. While performing duties as an Assistant Chief of the National Operations Center, became the "official conference officer" and representative to seminars, hence I was able to travel to China. It was only on 16 October 2005 that I was assigned to a position calling for a star rank. The countdown begun. I thought it would be a short and fast. It was not.
Unfortunately, at that time, there was no available slot for a star rank. It was all filled up. I waited unitl 16 December 2005, before there was vacancy, but then Christmas was in the air, so that it was only last 09 January 2006 when my papers were forwarded to the National Police Commission that forwarded that same to the Civil Service Commission on 26 January 2006. Chair Karina Constantino - David signed and fowarded the endorsement to the office of the Presidential Assistant for Police Affairs in Malacaņang on 31 January 2006. It was at the Office of the Executive Secretary by 03 February 2006. It was finally signed by the President last 21 February 2006 and released on 02 March 2006.
From this simple exercise, I learned a valuable lesson worth sharing to others. You always have to think and look at things positively. I must admit there were times along the way that I started to doubt the system with all its embedded biases. The supposed "last straw" came when another officer whose papers arrived at Malacaņang a week later than mine, got his paper signed in 5 days. I just took it as God's way of helping him, since he has three (3) days left before his 55th birthday, and by then he won't be eligible for promotion. Then the political situation turned critical during EDSA Anniversary celebration, and some colleagues were teasing me, that I should pray that there would be no new government, otherwise, I have to start from step one again! Looking back, there was really no need to worry after all, since it was signed three days before the crisis. But in all these, I preffered to look at the process in a positive way. I am looking forward to the next step!
