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...

It’s called commUNITY quarantine for a reason... We have respective roles yet it’s not campaign season Tho’ even in a communal capacity we rise up to the occasion A global menace is teaching us valuable lessons on realization... Faced with a “Thanos-like pandemic” wherein the “world stops” There shouldn’t be hidden agendas like that of “Joker” perhaps Through a “transparent phone booth”, change into a “Superman” Not a show that’s staged to be smooth, yet be like “Wonder Woman” No to being green with envy, however transform rather to smash the enemy Slingshot your weight to open harmony but not a mudslinging opportunity... Set aside differences as this is not about factional affiliations Stop the comparisons, it shouldn’t be about political ambitions From “Dr. Strangers”, “Lois Lanes” to “Marthas” at home, we have tasks to assume Either we step up to the plate or end up on a plate for corona virus to consume Let us solidify mankind and give ...

With the much publicized Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the “Ninja Cops” controversy, similarly beating-the-drum sounding-off a more reverberating plot were the death threats Mayor Magalong received... This article’s title could likely pertain to a possible threat by those who got implicated, as much as those whose name may get insinuated to be part of the anomaly arising from that of Magalong’s testimony. However, by that “going down” innuendo, we mean a different thing. Magalong is going down in Philippines’ political history as the bravest, toughest, no-nonsense public servant I’ve known (it’s not like we have a limited knowledge on how the political system works) . It’s not like he’s just up against local or “low profile” syndicates... He’s up against the “big guns” ...on a national (perhaps even international given the involved trade) level. From that perspective alone, he knew they’d rather silence him, yet he spoke for the silent majority... Focusing on the death th...

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...

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/Managem...

A 'Key Reflection' we need to ponder on... Prior to Mayor Magalong’s first week in action, together with the other elected officials taking oath, he delivered his inaugural speech. Stated therein, he said: “I wish to emphasize at the very start that I value the support and cooperation of the entire work force of the City Government as well as every colleague in the national government service. That means a lot to me, someone who desires no less than to make a difference for Baguio. With a strong partnership anchored on the principles of seamless cooperation, collaboration, coordination and communication, I am completely committed to make Baguio a better City for everyone. This I will do, not just as a Mayor, but as a leader who listens with a healthy respect to everyone, who leads by example, and someone who is willing to make the tough decisions at the right time.” Those pillars seemingly showing the letter "H" might as well stand for "Home" (...

We can be literal about this as much as figurative... Whether it’s about the temperature or our temperament, it’s both environmental in nature. We used to be cool, as people and Baguio in general. What happened? What’s happening? Funny thing is that, amongst our opinionated society, there’ll be varied reasons why Baguio has lost its “cool breeze”. Yet, they don’t see how similarly cold (and cold-hearted) they’ve become, alienating even from ourselves (more so from non-Baguio or non-Baguio-born residents) the warmth in our good-natured Baguio disposition. Either way, it’s a correlative concern within the communal environment we live in. Same thing with how every one seem to have the answers to every problem based from their standpoint without looking at it from a wider perspective. And it’s also likely that they’re not that accepting of others’ point of view; or pridefully apathetic towards an idea different from that of their own... Worse though is from those who’d downplay a good ...

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...