Compared to the megacities of the National Capital Region, Cebu, and Davao, this near-sighted Ibaloy writer would like to believe that our beloved City of Baguio still retains that “small town” feel or character to it.
Again, we would like to believe, maybe naively, that most of the Summer Capital’s people still have a sense of community and are generally kinder, gentler, and friendlier than their countrymen from other parts of this beautiful archipelago.
Some would say that the usually amiable and cheerful disposition of Baguio people can be attributed to our calmingly cool climate, while others point out that maybe the generally peaceful Cordilleran culture have something to do with our demeanor.
Of course, we are totally biased in our observation and could be proven wrong. Still, Baguio’s tiny land area and populace as compared to other urban centers has its advantages.
Let me add, however, that the city’s population is growing rapidly and has breached its carrying capacity several times over according to experts. Fortunately or unfortunately, everybody and his dog want to live in Baguio. So that small town feel that we wrote earlier may be vanishing fast. Just saying.
Anyway, another small town advantage may be greater cooperation among residents or the local government and private sector. So far, our city has been lucky to have so many people organizations and civil society groups that work hand-in-hand with the government in making Baguio a better place. One example is the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Baguio-Benguet Chapter, Inc. for garnering the “Most Outstanding Chamber in North Luzon Award (City-Based Level 1)” in 2020 given by the PCCI National Organization. The chamber was awarded for being a participant in the economic development of Baguio and other areas. Cheers!
FYI: Our children are no longer safe from the virus.
Please say no to gatherings.
Celebrate with your bubble/household, if you must.
Normalize feeling unobligated to invite.
Normalize feeling okay being uninvited.
Normalize sanitizing/washing after holding things others have previously touched.
Normalize being unoffended by someone who sanitizes/cleans hands after your encounter.
Normalize wearing a mask when talking even to close friends and relatives.
Normalize being unoffended by it.
If you still want to eat lechon for many years to come after this ordeal, say no to gatherings.
Here’s “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost: “Nature’s first green is gold,/ Her hardest hue to hold./ Her early leaf’s a flower;/ But only so an hour./ Then leaf subsides to leaf./ So Eden sank to grief,/ So dawn goes down to day./ Nothing gold can stay.”
Let’s end with a prayer: “Mighty God, thank you that you give the gift of abundant, eternal life. The Bible says that, whatever I do, whether in word or deed, I should do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father. May my life be filled with thanksgiving and praise for your countless blessings. Give me assurance that you supply my every need through your generosity. May grace, mercy, and peace be with me, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son, in truth and love. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.” (from the internet)
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.
