I have a funny experience at the post office – parcel section this morning…Funny because I opted to look at it that way, although to be annoyed is the most understated reaction one should have if faced with that sort of situation.

Anyway, I went to claim a package from my friend who now lives in Japan. I only learned from that friend’s brother-in-law that my package has arrived last Saturday and in my mind, I was wondering, if Dadon hadn’t informed me, then how the hell would I know that the package has arrived?.. That was the nagging thought in my head even as I entered the gates of the post office.

When I got there, I told the man behind the grills that I was there to claim my package. I gave him my name and my passport for identification. He asked me if I received a text… I said no, and that I only knew that the package has arrived through my neighbor. When he saw my name on my passport, he looked as if he remembered something and said, “ Ah, hu u man gud imong gi-reply sa akong text. Wa nako ni reply nimu. “

I almost stared blankly at him with my head spinning for something comprehensible out of his statement. Almost because at that same instant, I remembered a few days back, someone texted me “ Naa na inyong ems” to which I replied, “May I know hus ds please?”.. and it hit me that it was him who sent me the message and he meant that the package has already arrived. I told him, “ Ay sorry sir, first time man gud nako ni… wala ko kasabot unsay ems.” And then he said. “ Ah first time diay nimu. Abi nako ug kabalo ka na.” …… I felt like laughing and at the same time felt like hitting his head real hard. How stupid can he get? But I opted to just stay cool about it and laugh it out. Then, as if rubbing salt on an already swollen wound, he told me that I had to pay P35.00 for now but in the future, when the Bureau of Customs personnel should be around, I will have to pay a higher amount because according to him, Customs will evaluate the contents of my parcel and charge me the corresponding tax. He said that he was explaining that to me now so that in the future, I will not be surprised anymore. He further quipped that since it was my first time to claim a parcel and the Customs personnel was absent due to tiredness, he will just charge me P35.00. Hah! I hope the Customs personnel will be absent for the rest of his life and that he will feel tired everyday so that the next time someone sends me a package, I will just have to pay P35.00.

I find the whole experience so frustrating but as I’ve said earlier, I opted to take the lighter side of the story. However, I just can’t help thinking about it. Hindi pala standard yung pangongolekta ng tax ng customs…You will only be required to pay the necessary tax if the custom personnel feels like reporting to work. Or if he needs money badly, I pressume.

I think that it is time to abolish the Post Office. Harsh but I think it will be better for the Filipino people. Think about it… Sending mails through the post office as against sending your mails through a private courier. You might pay for a higher amount with the latter (which is just around a few pesos compared to the charges of the Philippine Post Office) but out of that difference you get to enjoy security and assurance that your mail arrives to the rightful addressee in good condition at the perfect time. Sorry to say but you can never expect that from our local post office. People in this agency act as if they are taking all mails for granted. I was not able to join the second qualifying exam for Philippine Science High School because of the post office’s incompetence. My invitation to take that exam never reached me because it was sent through the post office.

I just wonder how many lives have been different if our post office personnel are more competent and concern about their job and the people they serve.

Maybe, if even just half of these personnel embody the dedicated attitude of a postman, as my elementary books pictured them to have, our nation would have been a whole lot better.