ILIGAN City ― Recently, there was an installed here. at Tambacan barangay, something called a booster pump. This has something to do with the water supply there. Purpose? To adequately supply water into the homes of residents living there and nearby area. Because the regular supply line does not suffice. Hence, the need for that pump. That is, according to the engineers of the city and such a decision was made after complaints of the people there, what else.

But when the pump was installed last week, it did not work as expected. It made some funny sounds and the water, of course, did not come out as expected.

"Wrong design!" cried one engineer, Damian Ruiz, a mechanical engineer from the private sector.

"Wrong design? How come? Where are your computations?" Said Engineer Jaime Sato, of the Iligan City Waterworks System, who is head of the Maintenance Section.

Now, I got great respect for these engineers. For they have this expertise that we, ordinary mortals don't have. That's what I initially thought. Only engineers have this kind of expertise.

And then I know that even if we are not engineers, many times we too have the capacity to think like engineers. Because the latter, don't have the monopoly of engineering ideas. Even if they went through years of studies on the matter. And even passing some board exams on it.

I now think that, aside from this particular type of people such as mechanical engineers, there are also other types of MEs. And that is "Morag Engineer." For I heard one "ME" saying on air that the acquisition of a pump "only" as that something to address the water problem in the area should not only rely on that. There must be a "reservoir" too. And then the water supply must come from that reservoir. So that the water volume won't get diminished, as it journeys towards the homes of the residents. Just like the electrical transmission, which needs "transformers" too in some strategic areas.

And then, another "ME" said| "There must not only be one pump; there must be two or more."

Valid points then from people who I thought are mere mortals as compared to engineers. That is when it comes to matters like these.
Yet, I remember, a couple of years ago, when the pandemic hit us to the fullest, per reports, when there was also great destruction on the main water system that sent people here waterless for about two weeks. Engineers like that Ruiz guy were commissioned to repair said system. But the system refused to be repaired, in spite of the efforts of the guys.

One "ME" suggested that maybe "offerings to the gods" is needed. Which we Pinoys are apt to agree. Because we have that particular mindset of believing in such things. So, several chickens were unhappy. Because of their fate, of being slaughtered to "appease" some "angry beings."

To no avail. And so, it was the turn of the pigs too to be unhappy. For they too suffered the fate of the chickens. Also, to no avail. The gods couldn't be appeased. And because of it, the water connections became more and more damaged, reports said. For there were complaints then of people who still had access to the water system, (even if a great portion was already damaged,) were suffering from LBM! Well, we know what that means…oh, no…

And then one "ME" said, "Why not contact the contractor? "' So, the Jejors Company of Cagayan de Oro was contacted for the repairs. Which they too obliged. That was the end of the trouble. What's the lesson here? Let's try this: Not all engineers are created equal. That's why we have such movie as "The Equalizer." Oh, am only joking.

But what about this pump trouble at Tambacan barangay? I should say, it ain't over yet. I don't see any fat lady coming over to do some singing…

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