Commissioner Ruffy Biazon with members of the Bulong Pulungan media group at Sofitel. From left, Domini Torrevillas, Mandy Navasero, Danny Sayarot, Joanne Ramirez, Jullie Yap Daza, Beth Tagle, Frank Evaristo.

"Everyone wants happiness.. but no one wants pain... remember, there can be no rainbows without rains." – Lito Casaul of NAIA

MANILA, Philippines -- We had the "new man" at the Bureau of Customs at our weekly Bulong Pulungan sa Sofitel.

He was wearing a white “guayabera,” a Mexican wedding top for males. In his immaculate short-sleeves linen shirt, he looked more like a kindly doctor (which he hoped to be in the past) and after listening to the soft-spoken, forthright  ex-congressman and former chief of staff of his father, Senator Rudolfo Biazon and Senator Serge Osmeña, the forum members had one common wish—that he succeeds where others have failed.

In fact, many of us wanted to "pray over" Commissioner Rufino "Ruffy" Biazon, 42, after he calmly discussed his mission/vision for the bureau—reform the system there, raise the morale of the competent and good people, instill trust in them and the stakeholders and players, raise the targeted R320-billion revenues target for the National Government and in the process, assist the flow of commerce with minimal corruption!

He never asked for the job of heading what many see either as a "dream post" or "the mother of all snake pits" (depending on what they think of the opportunities and challenges there) having expressed his preference in the field of tourism or national defense. After he ran in the Liberal party senatorial slate and lost (he made it to the 14th slot) he went through the selection process of the Liberal Party but did not get any position so he simply went back to private family time with his wife Trina, and sons Carlo, 20, Anton, 12, Ino, 10 and Enzo, 5. But from out of the blue, he received a call from President Aquino whom he had not seen for a while. He came straight to the point of his call; he wanted Ruffy to be his next Customs chief.

The request was so unexpected, that Ruffy, after recovering his composure, asked several questions starting with, "Why me?" "Will I owe this job to anyone?" "What are your parameters for me?" "Do I get your support for the reforms I will institute?"

And typical of his colleague from Congress, P-Noy answered all his questions candidly. Satisfied, Ruffy asked for a little time to consult his family, pray with his  pastor at the Victory Christian Fellowship  and others whose opinions he respects. Never one to shirk from a challenge (inherited from his ram-rod straight ex-marines general, Cong. "Pong" Biazon father), the patriotic-minded Ruffy accepted P-Noy's offer to be his man at a very critical bureau, the second-largest income generating agency for the national coffers.

"It is really an honor for me to serve under President Aquino who is sincere in his good governance platform. I am confident the mandate he gave me will be carried out in the way he wants me to do it."

Ruffy also knew it would be fraught with intrigues, challenges and pressures, but not to the extent he found out for himself when he actually took over. He chuckles that he soon discovered the "media" covering the bureau was bigger in number than the group covering the Palace or any other departments combined. The smallest "publication" had a "team" of accredited correspondents and now he is in the process of screening them to avoid confusion in the bureau as to who are the "real" media and the fake ones. Naturally, he got flak from the displaced "correspondents."

The mistrust is so palpable within the bureau, that Ruffy has made it a priority to bring back respect among co-workers and to the people they service and the general public at large. He said ruefully that sometimes, he did not want to talk to anyone on the bureau for a long conversation as he would almost immediately get negative feedback about him! This early, he knows of several people who want him out of the job, and of those who want to have a photo with him and use this to boast, "I am close to the Commissioner!" even among his personnel. No death threats as yet, but he has the President's assurance that he could ask for security from the PSG.

There was no real transition from his predecessor, Lito Alvarez, and thus, no turnover of documents either, leaving Ruffy to grope in the dark and start from scratch. He is confident he can do what the President wants him to do in the bureau and is eager to get over the mounds of paperwork, courtesy calls, etc., to reach out to his co-workers and meet the stakeholders and players on a regular basis. He also wants to be able to go out to the field and monitor the actual operations. He is fully aware of the problems, the leakages, the conflicting orders within the bureau, and people deliberately keeping things from him and his office.

Ruffy looks to us like he will continue to encounter intense pressure from his own stakeholders, ex-colleagues and from those who will focus on whether or not the BoC can reach its target goal collections. He realizes these and vows to stand up to them, much like a warrior in the old times armed with a moral mandate from high. After all, he finds solace in Mathew's verse, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his soul?"

A blogger who writes concise, thought-provoking insights on all topics, family, governance, now his experiences at the BoC, readers can plumb the commissioner's state of mind (and soul) at his website www.ruffybiazon.ph.

Elsewhere, The Joy in Living Foundation, a cancer-support group based at the Manila Doctors Hospital will raise funds for its activities helping patients and caregivers cope with the disease with a paintings and furniture exhibit on Nov. 15 and 16.

The unique exhibit will showcase the exquisitely hand-crafted pieces of surgeon Dr. Nelson Cabaluna in rich Philippine woods and the paintings of Nanette Escalante.

Joy in Living Foundation was started by Dr. Lorina Cabaluna, Peggy Ty Cham, Tisha Limon, Josie Lagman and Grace Mann. Its members include cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, doctors and nurses. They meet once a month at the MDH to share experiences, listen to inspirational speakers like Viel Aquino Dee talk about her mother's terminal illness as well as Sen. Loren Legarda whose mother Bessie also died of cancer. Dr. Lorina, a pain management expert recalls how her dear friend, designer Joe Salazar's battle with the Big C inspired her to form a network of support for cancer patients.

The foundation welcomes even non-MDH patients to join their meetings.