By Joel B. Belinan
Indeed, the climate has changed, far from how it was a couple of decades ago. Back then, when summer came it was summer in the real sense or meaning of the word. Unlike now that the weather bureau declared the summer season a month ago, yet here we are, just a few days ago a big part of the country had a storm. While not much has been experienced here in the Cordillera on the impact of Typhoon Amang, its sudden appearance seemed to be mocking PAGASA on its season and weather forecasts. Or was it how the controller of the universe really changed the climate?
One funnier thing was that PAGASA also forecasted the country would be suffering from a long drought or what they called El Nino then suddenly Typhoon Amang came. For sure, the weather bureau people would have several explanations or spins on this matter but for now, the question that keeps on popping up in the minds of laymen is this, May paga-asa pa ba ang PAGASA?
Talking about the weather, indeed the temperature during the day even in our city has been averaging between 25 to 27 degrees. Hence, lowland lady visitors who keep on flocking here during weekends, especially during long weekends have more reason to wear those skimpy shorts to the delight of many highlanders, sometimes including me. However, it’s still chilly early in the morning. And, indeed, as the temperature had gone up, thus, the number of fire incidents, both in urban areas and on mountains, keeping our firefighters on their toes all the time. As we all know, fire is the most useful part of creation but is also one of the most destructive.
One example was the fire in Bontoc that gutted several houses and buildings. “Ayye ti Bontoc haan da agpaabak iti Baguio (Bontoc does not want to be left behind by Baguio). Pinooran da Palengke ditoy, nagpoor da met idiay Bontoc” (they burned the market here; they also had a fire in Bontoc), a friend who plays boxing with us at the park jokingly said.
Still, these are the days of the year when the magnet of the outdoors is irresistible. That is whether one goes to the mountains, forests, or bodies of water (waterfalls or beach destinations). Unfortunately, my circumstances nowadays won’t allow me to have those regular outdoor trips I used to do in the past.
When with a couple of my hiking bodies or at times just going solo, just pack a medium sized backpack then depart to a summit. Those days of hiking, taking images of anything that get my attention. Then during the night in front of a small bonfire, listening to each and everyone’s stories or my favorite country songs from gadgets (in those days, a Walkman or Discman).
Looking back, especially on that romantic scene with friends around a bonfire laughing at almost everything has kept us (mountaineers) to be sensitive or sentimental whenever the issue of environmental destruction appears in the news.
Such, reminds us again if the new generation will have that chance to experience the joys of the wilderness.
At this point when my two sons are growing up and nearing young adulthood, I am guilty that while I keep on telling them of those outdoor trips during my younger days, I have not brought them to have even just a couple of experiences. And that is always a challenge for me. . . . .. One of these days.**
