"HRH"

by Ronald Jabal

Too busy or too lazy? Probably both.

It's been close to two years since my last post. Shame on me! I have always been itching to write, but the the acronyms in my life (PPP, MTEF, OPIF, PIPH, AOP, PEM, PDP, 4Ps, PGS, NHTS-PR, MMR, CIDSS, IDU, CBCHP, SCHIP, DMF, TASC4, ICT4H) and the alphabet soup in my career (ADB, USAID, WB, CIDA, EU, UNDP DSWD, DoH, etc) always get in the way.

I have so many stories to tell. I just hope my muses inspire me (or just force my huge ass to write). Anyway, here goes another suitcase tale.

I love to wear my Armanis. and If there is an occasion that warrants my wearing them, heck, I wear him like a second skin (that's without batting an eyelid - overheard from some fashionista wannabee in Starbucks whose been drinking her tall machiatto for an hour)

And one such Armani occasion is a courtesy call and meeeting with a Supreme Court Chief.

We were in a huge conference room - ala MIB agents - and patiently waiting for the chief magistrate to arrive. When he finally arrived, we all shook his hands and proceeded with the meeting.

Given that I juggle multiple projects at the same time - ranging from health, public finance, environment and judicial projects - I normally review my notes in other projects while it is still not time for me to participate in the meeting.

In the middle of my almost day-dreaming stance, I faintly heard somebody calling my name. I ignored it at first until I felt a foot-jerk under the table. This was the time, I realized the Chief Justice was actually asking me a question.

I composed myself, fixed my tie, and straigten up my chair, pressed the red button in the microphone in front of me (like what you see during Congressional hearings) and then said:

"Thank you very much for your question Your Royal Highness"

And the otherwise somber meeting befitting an almost sacred chamber, burst into a raucous laughter.

I only realized my folly when the Chief Justice said, "Thank you for making me 'His Royal Highness' and added,.. Where's my crown?."

Haaay buhay!

It's good thing Mr. Armani was there to comfort my sorry royally-flushed ginormous (pronouned: djaynormoose) ass.