SIMEON LEAL
Sims, as he was called by friends, worked with us at the Ilaw International Center (IIC) in Bohol for around three years in the 80s as head of the Appropriate Technology Unit. Prior to this assignment, he was a member of the Project Compassion team in Iloilo for six years. In 1987, he worked for a UNDP project in the Maldives, teaching locals how to do handicraft for the growing tourism industry in that country.
We did not meet when he came back in 1988 because he chose to be in Iloilo to work in a project with the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO). He distinguished himself in his work that he was appointed as head of the planning office after a few years.
Meanwhile, in line with my work with UNDP after I left IIC in 1989, I had the chance to visit Maldives in the 90s and met local people who knew him before. They spoke glowingly about him, his patience in teaching them how to make baskets, wooden carvings, fans, place mats and shell craft pieces.
He brought to the creation of these handicraft pieces the precision of an engineer, his profession, and the patience of a trainer, two qualities which do not mix usually in one persona. His training participants in Maldives, Bohol and Iloilo all would recall Sims' patience with those who were slow learners or those who got distracted while at work.
At IIC, nobody in the faculty was good at handicraft makeing except Sims. He was actually forced into it by the boss, Atty. Ramon P. Binamira, who was looking for an assistant to execute what he was thinking of. Sims was recalled from his work in Iloilo and was assigned to set up the Appropriate Technology Unit.
He worked directly with RPB which meant being able to be a good soldier all the time, executing orders which came in the form of loud commands most of the time. Truly, only a person with the patience of a mule could have lasted a year with a boss as demanding as RPB.
Sims survived the ordeal and was proud they produced several baskets of exquisite quality from native materials such as coconut midribs, rattan and other local materials. All of them ended up being photographed, captioned and stored in a secluded room at IIC.
RPB was so protective of their artistic creations that he would not allow Sims to show them to our visitors for fear they would be copied. We suggested that the crafts be displayed in various tourism outlets but he rejected the suggestion. But one time there was a foreign guest who finally convinced RPB to give him samples so he could show them to potential buyers abroad. RPB believed his claim he could place big orders for the handicraft items.
After months of not hearing from the guest, RPB decided to close the Appro Tech Unit and that was why Engr. Sims Leal ended up in Maldives teaching locals how to weave baskets and make shell necklaces the Filipino way.
Something like six years ago, when I went to Iloilo City on a field mission for a project, I met some people from the provincial planning office and inquired about Sims. They told me he was no longer head of the office but was assigned instead to the motor pool. Sims did not sign a payment voucher that a politician would like him to sign. Hence, he was demoted.
Before I left Iloilo I tried to see him but I was told he just had a nervous breakdown. Less than a year after this visit to Iloilo, I heard our dear old Sims had passed away.
Sims, with his integrity intact, was truly a development worker to the end. Rest in peace, amigo!
Sims, as he was called by friends, worked with us at the Ilaw International Center (IIC) in Bohol for around three years in the 80s as head of the Appropriate Technology Unit. Prior to this assignment, he was a member of the Project Compassion team in Iloilo for six years. In 1987, he worked for a UNDP project in the Maldives, teaching locals how to do handicraft for the growing tourism industry in that country.
We did not meet when he came back in 1988 because he chose to be in Iloilo to work in a project with the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO). He distinguished himself in his work that he was appointed as head of the planning office after a few years.
Meanwhile, in line with my work with UNDP after I left IIC in 1989, I had the chance to visit Maldives in the 90s and met local people who knew him before. They spoke glowingly about him, his patience in teaching them how to make baskets, wooden carvings, fans, place mats and shell craft pieces.
He brought to the creation of these handicraft pieces the precision of an engineer, his profession, and the patience of a trainer, two qualities which do not mix usually in one persona. His training participants in Maldives, Bohol and Iloilo all would recall Sims' patience with those who were slow learners or those who got distracted while at work.
At IIC, nobody in the faculty was good at handicraft makeing except Sims. He was actually forced into it by the boss, Atty. Ramon P. Binamira, who was looking for an assistant to execute what he was thinking of. Sims was recalled from his work in Iloilo and was assigned to set up the Appropriate Technology Unit.
He worked directly with RPB which meant being able to be a good soldier all the time, executing orders which came in the form of loud commands most of the time. Truly, only a person with the patience of a mule could have lasted a year with a boss as demanding as RPB.
Sims survived the ordeal and was proud they produced several baskets of exquisite quality from native materials such as coconut midribs, rattan and other local materials. All of them ended up being photographed, captioned and stored in a secluded room at IIC.
RPB was so protective of their artistic creations that he would not allow Sims to show them to our visitors for fear they would be copied. We suggested that the crafts be displayed in various tourism outlets but he rejected the suggestion. But one time there was a foreign guest who finally convinced RPB to give him samples so he could show them to potential buyers abroad. RPB believed his claim he could place big orders for the handicraft items.
After months of not hearing from the guest, RPB decided to close the Appro Tech Unit and that was why Engr. Sims Leal ended up in Maldives teaching locals how to weave baskets and make shell necklaces the Filipino way.
Something like six years ago, when I went to Iloilo City on a field mission for a project, I met some people from the provincial planning office and inquired about Sims. They told me he was no longer head of the office but was assigned instead to the motor pool. Sims did not sign a payment voucher that a politician would like him to sign. Hence, he was demoted.
Before I left Iloilo I tried to see him but I was told he just had a nervous breakdown. Less than a year after this visit to Iloilo, I heard our dear old Sims had passed away.
Sims, with his integrity intact, was truly a development worker to the end. Rest in peace, amigo!
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