Switching On the Sun

Where is Baguio headed? Barely a month after the recent election, what now, Baguio? Where to? Towards modernization? Through traffic via a “one-passenger oversized carbon footprint-marking gas-guzzler batmobile”? Just going around Gotham? To the bat cave! “To the bat cave!” While that may sound like a call to rather go back in time, primitive times that is, it’s actually a reference to that of Bruce Wayne’s alter ego’s “hi-tech” means to plan and address hard-pressing issues… “Bahala na si Batman” is also another referential undertone for a probable course of action. If so, in that “bat cave” as to the “mapping out” where Baguio is headed, does that make us like Alfred the butler or like the “minding-their-own-thing cave-dwelling bats” and rather leave it to Batman? And Batman be like, either he’d be the “incognito dark knight” in all its alter ego form or simply be “Bat-Man” or the “man for the bats” in reference to “people-person (being a man for the people) ”. Coincidentally, “Bat...

As the only first-time councilor corresponding with his fledgling aspiration into the political scene with an outward boyish semblance, among the city council, Councilor Vladimir Cayabas may as well be the “Robin to Baguio’s Batman.” Deemed as the most celebrated sidekick (used to associate for that of the likes of Kobe to Shaq, Kyrie to LeBron or Pippen to Jordan paving the way to establishing their own go-to-guy stature) , being ‘Robin’ though has a deeper sense of commitment and responsibility more than just a close associate. Looking at how Batman’s Robin, in due course, imbibed that sense of leadership anchored on interdependency, Vladimir Cayabas’ ascendancy is transcending into a bigger role. Much like Robin eventually establishing his authority through the ‘Teen Titans’, Cayabas is now entrusted to chair the committee on education, culture and historical research as well as represent the local school board. These will all equate with his complementing role in assisting ...

After featuring the “key”   (with that key for unity) , now let us open the door... If it were a series like ‘Game Of Thrones’ considering its relatable political positioning, ‘GOT’ could as well stand for G entle-giant O lowan’s T ime... He’s not "Jon Snow" cause he knows things... and about him, we've heard good things... Fondly referred to as a ‘gentle giant’ given his stature (in both senses of the word), former Councilor and now Baguio City’s Vice Mayor-elect could have appealed among the electorate with such meekness for a distinction. With this assumed attribute, corresponding with his role in a legislative capacity, I see him in GOT’s beloved character, ‘Hodor’. Aside from the “figurable” similarity, quite fitting as well is how Hodor’s seeming minor role eventually revealed the character and name’s weight and substance along a momentous turn of events... And along this time of a new door opening for Baguio, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan is presented with a...

If we are to analyze the very gist of the “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” story, it appertains to an underdog eventually proving his worth. It alludes to a newbie, underestimated to cope up and do well in the big city against the top guns. Much like how it was with Ret. Gen. Magalong prior to assuming his new role in the political arena. Thus, as for his status on the first few weeks as City Mayor, it can be surmised - “Proving siya ‘no...” Indeed (as much as ‘in deed’), he’s proving himself well so far . That brings us to the question, will he be able to sustain his level of no-nonsense approach on good governance? It has been raised, more so among rivals, detractors and doubters, that it’s just brought about by Magalong’s initial excitement and swaggering around. And for a ‘Ang Probinsyano-like’ storyline, the plot thickens by discrediting the protagonist with a critical devaluation of his good intentions... Let’s put it this way, no losing aspirant/contender with a bloated ego ha...

In a world stage if only to seemingly surprise everyone in disbelief, after the little-known underdog boxer Andy Ruiz Jr. convincingly defeated the heavy favorite unbeaten heavyweight champion of the world Anthony Joshua last June 1, the “given zero chance” underdog Toronto Raptors likewise defied the odds and proved their basketball IQ and prowess to be better than the defending NBA champions Golden State Warriors last June 14. Yet before all these astonishments happening this June, we might as well borrow the Toronto Raptors’ tagline for some character-defining catchphrase, ‘We The North’, as “we the north” folks here in Baguio witnessed it first; a similar awakening after the May 13 local election. The deemed underdog, Ret. Gen. Benjamin Magalong convincingly won the mayoralty race against political bigwigs. In a more familiar arena, Manila’s Isko Moreno unseated Erap Estrada. Whereas in Pasig, the 27-year reign of the Eusebios were similarly overturned by underdogs led by V...