When an Indian Steelman Saw Maria Makiling

Our company recently bought a new welder for our Continuous Galvanizing Line (CGL) from Kriton Weld Equipments PVT, LTD, an Indian company based in Makarpura, Vadodara, some 400kms from Mumbai. It is a limited overlap seam welder to replace our old and original Japanese overlap spot welder. Test run was conducted late Saturday afternoon (March 14) and when we resumed operations Monday morning(March 16), our operators were already operating it normally. So far we got what we wanted; a wastage normally due to overlap and zinc drag of only 3-4 inches wide from the previous of more than 1 meter for every weld portion. Over time, we would know its performance as far as weld strip break is concerned.

Mr. J, the electrical engineer sent by Kriton to train and oversee the commissioning run was just all praises for our production and maintenance personnel whom he said were fast learners. In just a day or two, he declared that he has nothing more to do but wait for his scheduled flight back home this Friday, March 20. A pure vegetarian, he does not have any problem with food either, since another Indian (living near our plant and a friend of our employees) is preparing for him. Somehow, this reminded me of my visit to Kolkata seven years ago and how I cope up with Indian food.

We took him to nearby Los Banos to see Mount Makiling's nature endowed eco-tourism places. We went up to the Philippine High for the Arts and admired its panoramic view of Laguna de Bay and Laguna environs. Makati's skyline in fact were even visible. There at the peak, inside the unfinished amphitheater, we had our Indian lunch of basmati (rice), chapati (bread), dal (monggo), cord (yoghurt) and bengam bharta (vegetable dish).

After that filling lunch, we dropped by Pook ni Maria Makiling, a resort area with cottages and Olympic size swimming pool surrounded by age-old trees and vegetation. The peace and quiet are definitely an attraction.We toured UP Los Banos and I always have this comforting feeling every time I set foot in this school. Then we took our Indian visitor too to IRRI (International Rice Research Institute). We told him that the rice scientists from Thailand and Vietnam credited for the success of their countries' rice production all studied in this institute.

He enjoyed his nature trip but will be going back to India, with his mind boggled about the phenomenon and mystic of the Magnetic Hill. Incidentally and this has to be confirmed by others, especially scientists, we discovered a shorter version of magnetic hill somewhere along the many slopes near the school of arts.

Our last stop was an ice cream merienda at the famous Dalampasigan, a floating restaurant by the lake. Mr. J's place is very far from the sea, and seeing the kids enjoying their summer swim in the lake, murky the waters maybe, somehow, like any foreign visitor, he could see the richness of our country- from the mountains to the sea. They may have "Incredible India" but amazing Philippines have " more than just the usual."