NAVAL SUPERMART. The five-storey Naval Supermart is the biggest and most prominent commercial building in town, with a floor area that is much bigger than that of the two-storey Naval Mall of the municipal government. It is the biggest local grocery store. But only the first two storeys of this building were reportedly allowed for commercial use by the authorities, allegedly because the structure does not have adequate fire exits. On the outside, the concrete rounded protrusion at the entrance, the one with the store's name and which holds several large air-conditioning units, juts out into the street and could hazards to tall trucks and vehicles. This violation had reportedly been brought to court by the local government, but a local judge had allegedly declared that the structure satisfies legal requirements (i.e., as higher than 14 feet; or was it 16 or 17 feet). Of course, you have to be really blind so as not to see that its height is much lower than the legal limit.

In the Philippines, all men are believed to be created equal. In Naval, some men are simply more equal than the others. Those who have more in life oftentimes also have more in law.

THREE STORES. The photo above shows three business establishments in the center of Naval town, at the corner of Padre Inocentes and Magallanes (or is it Castin?) Streets. At the middle is Totsie and Lyn Restaurant, which prides itself of the best "litson manok" and barbecue in town. At left is a new photo developing center; at right is a bakeshop.