Switching On the Sun

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 ...

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...

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...

As somehow a postscript to the real saying “...divided we fall” which means we fundamentally fall apart as a team when we get divided in any/every unifying aspect, “divided, we’re falling” is more like how we are already into a state of dissension by which we’re in the process of disintegrating...  This is basically what’s happening to us now. I thought I’d express my sentiments on the matter in time for the United Nations Day celebration, a commemoration of peace and unity among various races and nationalities given the diverse culture however “peace-loving” being an essential UN membership criterion. Quite timely and fitting, in preparation for the UN Day celebration, my son was given a homework which focuses on unity. He was to fill up a word for an acronym with poem-like sentences relevant to the assigned word and the subject at hand. The word/acronym is HARMONY. And these are what we came up with: H ~ Humanity restores its faith A ~ Amidst differences and hate R ~ Race...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Geseënde Kersfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaarGeseënde Kersfees en 'n voorspoedige Nuwe jaar! Gëzuar Krishtlindjet e Vitin e Ri! Kamgan Ukudigaa! E güeti Wïnâchte un e gleckichs Nej Johr! መልከም ልደት! Gozhqq Keshmish! اجمل التهاني بمناسبة الميلاد و حلول السنة الجديدة! Շնորհավոր Ամանոր և Սուրբ Ծնունդ! Cãrciun hãrios shi ti multsã-anji Anlu Nàù! Bones Navidaes y Gayoleru añu nuevu! Sooma Nawira-ra! Zorionak eta urte berri on! З Божым нараджэннем Сзцзаслівыцг Каліадау З Новым годам i Калядамi! শুভ বড়দিন শুভ নববর্ষ! ᖱᒣᖳᒐᒉᑊᖿᒪᔪᖱᖽᐧᒡᒧᐧᖾᒍ! Cestit Bozic i Sretna Nova godina! Nedeleg laouen ha bloavezh mat! Felis Nabidat yan Felis Año Nuebo! ᏓᏂᏍᏔᏲᎯᎲ & ᎠᎵᎮᎵᏍᏗ ᎢᏤ ᎤᏕᏘᏴᎠᏌᏗᏒ! Hoesenestotse & Aa'eEmona'e! 聖誕節快樂, 新年快樂 恭喜發財! 圣诞快乐 新年快乐! Yukpa, Nitak Hollo Chito! Tsaa Nu̶u̶sukatu̶̲ Waa Himaru̶! ᒥᑐ ᒪᑯᓯ ᑫᓯᑲᓐᓯ! Afvcke Nettvcakorakko! ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒡᕕᒻᒥ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᒋᑦ/ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᕝᕕᓯᐅᑦᓯᐊᕆᑦ ᐊᒻᒪ ᕿᑎᙳᒪᕆᒃ! Bonan Kristnaskon kaj feliĉan novan jaron! Rõõmsaid Jõule ja Head Uut Aastat H...

In every election, we are to seat selected officials into public service. On top of it all (say the Presidential election), the top seat will be taken on by a new head. As ordinary citizens, we are all hoping if not assured of the realization of our patriotic hopes in line with the current promises of whoever would claim victory but not necessarily the confidence of a greater number. The “democratic disadvantage” over our system is that too many candidates are allowed to run for the same position. Thus, winning is based on majority vote; however, the rest of the voting public combined who did not support such candidate outnumbers the winning votes. Unless it’s a landslide triumph, there are more people to convince still of the winner’s capacity to lead us. The bigger drawback is that most of these substantial number aren’t as supportive, treating the victor as the adversary, sourly substantiating themselves as the opposition. There is no unity. The biggest setback though is amongst a...

“OP” means “Out of Place” figuratively speaking (at least here among those who understand). It’s usually used referring to one who appears to be “OP” in the company of a group apparently in sync amidst some interest perhaps. Quite recently, we were displaced from our wellbeing due to the successive heavy pounding of two tropical storms. Oddly enough, in accordance with alphabetical order, the two typhoons were consecutively named Ondoy and Pepeng. As if they knew of their would-be unwelcome entry suiting their names “OP” and rather decided to ascertain their place with “Who’s OP now?!” With Ondoy’s Pushiness (OP) and the Onslaught of Pepeng (OP), they literally forced a vast number of people out of place.   There are a lot of lessons to be learned. However, I wouldn’t be too insensitive to even lecture about righteousness in the midst of distress. The most important thing now is that despite of adversity; we can all be sympathetic and make everyone feel they have a place… If th...