By Atty. Antonio P. Pekas
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About two months ago, there were huge motorcades from several points outside of the city limits of Baguio, and then they converged somewhere in the center of town. They started early in the morning, just before daylight.
Those that came from Tuba, stopped in an area where there were a sizable number of houses. They came with drums, trumpets, drums and other loud musical instruments. A big part of their repertoire was shouting B-B-M which stood for Bongbong Marcos. Singing, shouting and playing those loud musical instruments, they stayed at that spot for almost an hour.
Their message was loud and clear. Sadly, most of the residents there were members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, thus they do not vote for religious reasons.
At any rate, the word BBM has become so popular it appears to have lost its novelty or its impact in the delivering the name of Bongbong Marcos or in increasing the guy’s name recall. It is now associated to so many other candidates.
In Baguio City, for instance, all those running for mayor of some consequence are chanting B-B-M.
The incumbent says it is for Benjie B. Magalong.
Bilog, one of the challengers has his own interpretation. He says it means. Bilog for Baguio Mayor.
“Comebacking” Mauricio “Morris” Domogan is saying a different meaning—that B-B-M stands for Bring Back Morris.
Even a councilor has joined the ride. Bomogao who is running for his third term says B-B-M stands for Benny Bomogao Manen. As he always said during campaign periods which had always been successful for him, Ibugbugao Tako.
For the opponent of Bongbong Marcos, Leny Robredo, her campaigners are singing a different tune: Binibining Bicolana ang Mananalo. That can also be a B-B-M for you.
I guess, it would not be long before City of Manila Mayor and presidentiable Isko Moreno will coin his own brand of B-B-M.
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As the campaign heats up, we will be celebrating the 27th anniversary of this paper this coming February. For 27 years we had been hitting the news stands. And we will continue to do so.
While so many local papers have come and disappeared, even by some known to be owned by billionaires, we have no plans of following the route of the dinosaur. We intend to stay, adapting to changes or advances in technology.
Since we came to the scene in the Cordillera, there were about 30 local papers who have come and gone. At least three of them were already established for many years when we barged in, and they were backed by billions of capital.
They looked at us with derision: “Who are these interlopers?”
Now, we say, look who was talking.
Big survivors of our columnists for many years already are Dr. Penny Aquino Domogo and The Very Reverent Dave Tabooy. They lasted because they are talking sense.
Dr. Domogo, a rabid anti junk food and anything unhealthy, makes sure that reading every issue of his paper results in better health. She opens your eyes to long standing dogma on health from which businessmen made a lot of money by making us believe in ideas which had long been debunked by well-meaning health professionals. You will also appreciate our very own practices. Sadly, many of those who have been shouting anti-colonialist ideas were the very ones who have been espousing unhealthy ideas from colonial sources. Some of them died in the process.
Surely, physical health is not enough. Spiritual health is as important if not more. Just before he came back as a columnist, I related to The Very Reverend Dave Tabooy the story of the member of the board. After mass, there was a meeting for the members of the board of the church. Noticing one who was not a member, he was accosted by one of the elders: “This is for members of the board. I think you ought to step out.”
The guy retorted: “Oh, yes, I am. I was so BORED by that sermon.”
So I pleaded with Father Dave. Please write again a column for us. Let the other priests learn from your articles. Am sure there will a lesser number of members of the BORED.
So he came back.**
