In line with last Friday’s (Feb. 23) Ibaloy Day celebration, kindly allow me to share this wonderful “An Ibaloy Prayer” which I saw hanging on the wall of the “Avung” at the Ibaloy Heritage Garden, Burnham Park. Kudos to the author, whoever you are. Here goes:
“O’ Great Spirit/ Whose voice I hear in the winds,/And whose breath gives life to all the world,/ Hear me! I am small and weak,/ I need your strength and wisdom,/ Let me walk in beauty, and make my/ Eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset,/ Make my hands respect the things You/ Have made and my ears sharp to hear Your voice/ Make me wise so that I may understand/ Things You have taught my people,/ Let me learn the lessons You have / Hidden in every leaf and rock,/ I seek strength not to be greater/ Than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy … myself./ Make me always ready to come to you/ With clean hands and straight eyes,/ So when life fades, as the fading sunset,/ My spirit may commend You without shame.”
Obviously, this near-sighted Ibaloy writer is biased to say that it’s great that our beloved Baguio has been celebrating “Ibaloy Day” for these past several years.
This annual activity also serves as a gentle reminder to everyone that while the Summer Capital is already a “melting pot” of various cultures, the Ibaloys are its original people having been its first settlers.
Let’s not forget this fact. I won’t comment any further for fear of offending other people since, like I said, Baguio is now a beautiful melting pot. So there.
Anyway, Mayor Benjamin Magalong has ratified Resolution 50, s. 2024, requesting the Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Cooperative Development Authority to incentivize transport cooperatives/corporations abiding DOTr Department Order 2017-011 on the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
The PUVMP aims to fundamentally transform the country’s public transport system making both commuting and public transport operations more dignified, humane, and on par with global standards. It also seeks to provide a safer, more efficient, reliable, convenient, affordable, climate-friendly, and environmentally sustainable transportation system in the country, the approved measure stated.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.
April 28, 2024
