By Joel B. Belinan
We are sometimes faced with a writer’s block, a condition where we cannot think of anything to write about. So I just went ahead to hit parts of my keyboard,
I think it’s not a sign of aging but last Sunday, I forgot it was the day when the Agawa foundation (our subtribe’s umbrella organization) observes our Linnapet Festival. Linnapet Festival is observed every September 30 as it is the day of the year when the Agricultural Stone Calendar in our village in Gueday, Besao is hit by a laser-beam-like ray of the sun during sunrise. That signals the start of the planting season for the Agawa people during the olden days To some extent even now. However, due to outmigration to various other places, many Agawa people usually observe this unique tradition by coming together wherever they are on the day close to September 30. In our case in Baguio-Benguet, it is the Sunday closest to that date. I only noticed my neglect when I saw some posts of the event which is usually held in Middle Quirino Hill covered court. **
Last week, I attended the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) in two of the biggest public schools in town: the Guisad Valley National High School (GVNHS) where my son Mikhail is now in Grade 12, and at the Baguio City National High School (BCNHS) where my second son Jared Jorene is now in Grade 8. The difference between the two schools are their student populations. BCNHS is the biggest public school in the Cordillera with almost 9,000 students. GVNHS on the other hand has just over 2,000 students. It is for these reasons that it is much more convenient to attend meetings such as those of the PTA at the GVNHS, not to mention more systematic process such that attendees like me could easier understand what is being discussed. As the saying goes, the bigger the crowd is, the harder it is to control and manage. I happened to have been elected as a member of the PTA-Board representing Grade 12. **
This week, the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) approved the petition of jeepney operators for a fare increase. It should be noted the P11 jeepney fare for old jeepneys and the P13 for modern jeepneys are just provisional. The Regulatory Board set the minimum fare of the old-style jeepneys at P13. To some P13 is not much but for sure the domino effect will be huge. This is especially with the fact that we are now in the last quarter of the year, in other words, nearing the Christmas season. I am crossing my fingers that what the President said about bringing down the prices of rice will happen. I am not concerned about the sugar crisis though.**
The optional wearing of face masks has been approved two weeks ago but people seem to have been accustomed to wearing them wherever they are. After two years of being forced to wear masks, people may need some time to go back to what it was like before 2020. I remember what my Korean Friend Master Cha said during his last visit in July this year. In Korea, the government already allowed people without wearing masks but most people still wear them. This may also be the case here. Or as some of my friends say, to show the government they don’t control our lives. **
By the looks of it, more tourists are coming to the city which may be one reason the government says that visitor arrivals is nearing the pre-pandemic number. However, many hotel and restaurant owners whom I talked to say that business is far from getting back to normal. On one hand, while bus operations seem to have returned to their usual schedules, it’s seldom you can see a bus full of passengers except for those De Luxe and First Class ones. Take note that trips on those kinds of buses are very few hence they’re usually full. On the other hand, travelers using their vehicles must consider the sky-high fuel prices.**
On October 11 (Tuesday) the Pampanga Artists Guild (PAG) and the Maharlika Artists and Writers Federation (MAWF) will honor the late singer and song-writer Siegfried Ranada (AKA Isagani Ibarra) for his contribution to local folk music. Isagani who died last August is famous for being one of the composers of some of the songs of the famous activist band Asin. Among his famous compositions were “Biyaheng Langit, Multong Bakla, and Sajid-Bayani ng Bocaue, among others. My friend Dennis “Dyanesh” Regalia, the President of MAWF said that in coordination with the PAG the tribute will be held at the old Mabalacat City hall. **
Last Tuesday I received a PM (private message) from Dorothy Pucay (yes our Dorothy who now came home from the states for good) saying that she tested positive for Covid-19 and that she will be quarantined for at least 7 days. I told her that she should not worry as Covid had become ordinary flu (my opinion). She messaged back saying that she had no symptoms, just a little cold, adding that in a matter of few days she will be in Burnham again watching our boxing workouts (she regularly passes by our stable after her morning walk at the park) I said she should eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and enjoy her “House Arrest”.**
