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BENJ 10: The Dragon in Magalong

Are we all in for the Dragon in Magalong?

Mayor Benjie Magalong’s action plan is his 10-point agenda... It’s what’s believed to be the answer to Baguio’s matters in question. It’s a matter of correlation to every issue as to how it’ll fall into place. In consideration of how problems are interconnected with the cause and effect, just the 10-point agenda will suffice. And more than hoping it will, we are encouraged to cooperate.

Let’s itemize each point relative to it’s aimed at problem in need of a solution. Yet before that, let’s identify what’s upsetting Baguio based on the survey we conducted last November as to the most concerning issues we’re currently dealing with:

Environment: While this may in fact refer to the kind of environment in general that we all live in, it has been assumed that it merely pertains to Baguio’s sought-after re-greening and revitalization initiative and its maintenance. Thus for now, we’ll leave it at what’s rather implied.

Traffic Control/Management: We all know how traffic has slowed down our way of moving forward (pun intended).

Peace and Order: This, placing 3rd on the list is understandably a sentiment from those who knew Baguio as a peaceful environment wayback then.

Illegal Settlers: The allure of Baguio amongst “squatters” seemed to have transcended to the lure of “illegal settlement” kind of dealings...

Cultural Heritage/Preservation: There should be that conscious effort to remind us of the essence of our apparent erstwhile identity...

Discipline: If we don’t do something about this, sooner or later, we’ll eventually lose that notable feature of our good-natured ‘Baguio people’ personality

Infrastructure: For this one though, I’ve consolidated it with other suggestions (from the poll) which has something to do with industrialization/developments... and yes, we likewise have to do something about it...

Youth Development: May it refer to education or moral/ethical or sports development, simply put, they’re the next generation... as much as this should be a spontaneous commitment we are to actuate (even on our own) considering our parental instinct (and guidance)...

Tourism Administration: Because Baguio is more than just about “Panagbenga”... and we can capitalized on “Creative Baguio” and the others on this list as a matter of fact.

Unity and Civility: From citizen to netizen - Ironic as it may seem how from being respectful citizens sometime ago, in the midst of a modern world, we’ve become a “faction of discourteous and irresponsible” netizens...

Corruption: We don’t even have to expound on its complexity...

Health Programs... Quite odd how health programs don’t outwardly get to be of aid is due to its “unhealthy” system...

Baguio as Creative City: Our many talents need an appropriate avenue and a fitting acknowledgment... The ‘Industrial Design’ graduate in me suggest that local talents (artists of different medium i.e., painters, sculptors, carvers, designers, et al.) be commissioned to beautify Baguio via an approved and a feasible blueprint... Imagine Baguio as conducive as an “Instagrammable” Art Museum City...


Now, Mayor Benjie’s 10-Point Agenda:

  1. Speed up Government Action
  2. Revitalize the Environment
  3. Innovate Peace and Order
  4. Expanding Health and Social Services
  5. Enliven Culture, Arts, Crafts & Heritage
  6. Aggressive Traffic Management
  7. Responsive Education Program
  8. Empowering the Youth
  9. Responsible Tourism
  10. Market Modernization

Currently, he’s already working on these... With how the result of the survey turned out, it’s apparent how Mayor Magalong’s 10-Point Agenda has been tailor-made for Baguio. At any rate, this inadvertent alignment is a manifestation how the public servant in Magalong puts to advantage his foresight and vision for Baguio. (Some “Benj 10” kind of a superpower right there I guess...) While his early days as Baguio Mayor is proving to be as promising as what is expected (addressing these current issues), it’ll boil down to consistency and sustainability... as well as cooperation from all of us - this will likely address the ‘Discipline’ and ‘Unity and Civility’ matters-in-question amongst us...





The city chief executive is subconsciously personifying the hero he is expected to be. However, we are to be grateful being presented with the opportunity to make a difference with our contribution for a better Baguio as he has similarly advocated for. With (this) “a breath of fresh air” like some “mind blowing” capability, it’s like some sort of a “Magalong effect” wherein the considerable majority gets inspired... All of a sudden, there’s that conscientious effort to be part of the whole public service shebang (talking about serving with a bang!) Shame on us though if we’re expecting everything from him considering his concept of community support and highlighting the good in others...

So, to rather be positive about it and getting inspiration from that, let us likewise see the good in him. Although there were nothing much of a big deal for a negative attribute thrown at him since the campaign period, there were/are some wrong impressions about his misconstrued military bearing or perhaps, his “general aura” to the extent of having been perceived as well as labeled the “Dragon”. Ooh, scary!

Or not! So let’s animate this whole superhero thing and his superpowers powered by his 10-point agenda. And to fittingly “Benj-mark” his “misinterpreted and weighed-on” character commensurate with his yet-to-be substantiated “superpower”, we’ll liken him to ‘Ben 10’ who, for his power, has 10 core aliens for an alter-ego. He has way more than 10 actually but much like the (sleeping) “Dragon” in Magalong, let these ‘10 aliens’ be awakened if only to realize that not all things we might see as “out of this world” are “alienating”...

Not to be alienated though from Mayor Benjie’s unfamiliar obliging persona, let’s refer to him here as ‘Benj 10’...

To start with, Benj 10 has the sensical kind of intelligence much like Ben 10’s “Grey Matter” alien character. He’d use his ‘high IQ’ to create advanced machinery (could as well mean competent administration) as a channel of/for improvement...

As flexible as Benj 10 is with his willingness to work with every one, he’s “shapeshifting” (with the ability to regenerate when there’s a need for it) as a signification of his adaptability much like “Diamondhead”.

Other than Diamondhead’s self-healing power, the brains with the technopath capability of “Upgrade” could as well indicate Benj 10’s capacity to rehabilitate and recondition; much like the upgrade he intends Baguio to have and experience.

With just 3 years to make things happen, his speeding up of not just government services but his action plan as well, that’ll be a reflection of the “XLR8” character in him.

Although as approachable as he has shown, don’t take Benj 10’s seeming unalienable demeanor for granted, as he could be “Heatblast” who can wreathe in fire as much as absorb fire... When he means business, it’s to be taken seriously.

Or he could be like “Stinkfly” with a bee/scorpion-like stinger, sharp enough to rip through metal - an exemplification of his political will regardless of what (or who) gets in the way... the power to “shoot slime from his mouth and eyes” could mean “makuha ka sa isang salita (pakiusap) at sa tingin” if that means that you can take his word for it as a man with a vision...

The “Wildmutt” in Benj 10 could be how he can see with other senses, with the ability to hear wide range of sounds and track scents as somehow a manifestation of his similarly broad network and resources for intelligence reports.

The super strength of “Four Arms” could indeed be his strength considering how he acknowledges the potential of others as helping hands with his humility to grasp his limitations; modestly assuming he has only two hands.

Criticisms may come as part of his assumed role as a Public Servant, thus to douse his fire (burning desire) and question his credibility, he can take it positively as he is aquatic as “Ripjaws“. He has the teeth though to make things happen and prove detractors otherwise.

Last but not the least, he can be the alien kind of “creepy good” as “Ghostfreak”. With the power of invisibility and an eye than can move around his body, he can watch over you or otherwise without having to show-off or hype-up his acts.



On being of service, Ben 10’s the ultimate alien. Benj 10 is the ultimate all-in... because we’re ALL IN this together (no one gets left behind), with the “aliens” in us following ‘10’ -- “Even BEIN’ 11’ to Magalong’s ‘Benj 10!’

Now, let’s exclaim with positivity to Isko’s (not Moreno but Brod Pete’s) signature affirmation - “Alien? ALIEN!” 

Now, Benj 10’s call - All in? ALL IN!

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