March 29, 2024

Here’s hoping that the ongoing “gusot” at the Benguet Electric Cooperative will be settled soon for the sake of its hard-working employees, highly-paid officials, and most especially, very loyal consumers (we have no other choice, do we?).
Besides, Christmas is in the air despite the continuous onslaught of the Covid-19.
Honestly, just being able to survive this terrible pandemic is truly a blessing and reason in itself to celebrate. However, after all of this is done and the virus is finally defeated (if it is at all possible), somebody has to be made to pay for all this loss of lives and livelihood worldwide.
I know this sounds so un-Christian of me but sometimes “an eye for an eye” is much more satisfying than “give the other cheek.” And I do believe this is one of those times. Obviously, Mandela, this near-sighted Ibaloy writer surely is not. Sorry.


Kudos to those who came out with the #BreatheBaguio brand. It just shows how creative and innovative people of Baguio truly are. I just wish though that the audio-video presentation of the brand’s launching could have had more Ibaloys, Baguio’s original people, shown in it and maybe featuring less “high-society” features.
Just my humble opinion, of course, which doesn’t count much. It’s truly a disadvantage being a rank and file employee and full-blooded Ibaloy in the home of your ancestors. Again, just kidding. Happy Indigenous People’s Month everyone!


Here’s “No Man Is An Island” by John Donne: “No man is an island,/ Entire of itself,/ Every man is a piece of the continent,/ A part of the main./ If a clod be washed away by the sea,/ Europe is the less./ As well as if a promontory were./ As well as if a manor of thy friend’s/ Or of thine own were:/ Any man’s death diminishes me,/ Because I am involved in mankind,/ And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;/It tolls for thee.”


Let’s end with a prayer: “Lord, I need to know that you care, that you love me, be my refuge from pain, replacing my distress with peace, and be my strength when I feel weak and find it hard to carry on. Help me not to fear the future but to boldly trust that you are in control when my emotions plunge me down, and when I am in despair.”