SUBJECT: “Hunyango sa Bato” by Abdon Balde Jr.
DATE : April 12, 2008
Summary:
The story evolves in the life of a civil engineer and his experiences in the field of construction. He narrates how contractors and engineers from the private and government sectors transact business deals, more often than not, feeding their personal motives. He even enumerates ways on how to delight influential decision makers for future projects. He describes in detail how the sport of golf can get someone connections (even if personal pride is sacrificed) in the government. He further narrates that greed was the cause of some local disasters in the construction business like the Ruby Tower collapse, copper mining disaster and the Film Center accident. After failing to win bids in Malaysia and Indonesia, the young engineer went back home to the Philippines to join local biddings. Due to financial restraints, he teamed up with a Japanese contractor to go against other local and international bidders. As suggested by a congressman, there was a proposal to connive with the other bidding corporations, but the deal was exposed in the media. According to reports, there was a conspiracy going on among the bidders and the congressman. Distrust, greed and the insatiable desire for money then plays into action. As the story progresses, he discloses that he was responsible for the media leak and all of the collusion was a part of his ploy for his personal benefit.
The story compares a human being to a chameleon that changes its color to be able to adapt to his environment when harmed. But unlike the chameleon, human beings change their color by abandoning their principles and ethical morals to benefit from it in the end, at the expense of others.

Insights: The novel, Hunyango sa Bato, crosses the moral boundaries of human beings, where ethics and survival goes