Today's Thoughts (1 March 2016)

Journal entry for 1 March 2016

Ang dami kong oras, I think. Sobrang dami na pwede ako mag-compose ng journal entry for today, haha. I think it’s just a matter of turning on my laptop, which is very easy to do compared to my old laptop. So… what happened to me today?

Well, we gave our last follow-up training for the first leg of our field work. We’ve traveled to seven sites namely:

Benguet Province

1. Brgy. Poblacion, Bakun
2. Sitio Labey, Ambuklao, Bokod
3. Brgy. Puguis, La Trinidad
4. Sitio Mamuyod, Ambassador

Mt. Province

1. Brgy. Antadao, Sagada
2. Brgy. Tue, Tadian

La Union Province

1. Brgy. Nagyubuyuban, San Fernando

It was an arduous journey, filled with countless hours of traveling on the road. It was tiring even if we were not the ones driving. I wanted my commuting time to be productive but with the zigzag roads of Benguet and Mt. Province it was almost impossible to do anything when the ride can get dizzying. So what’s left to do was to observe the beautiful and picturesque sceneries that Halsema hi-way offered us. If we had a photography enthusiast with us I’m sure s/he will always request for stopovers to take amazing photos. But I am not sure if a regular DSLR can capture the beauty that the mountains possess. Sobrang ganda eh. Parang ang hirap kuhanan ng picture, hindi makatarungan. One has to see it to marvel at its beauty.

The first time I rode through Halsema hi-way was in 2010 and I even made an entry about it because it was something memorable for me. Until now it still leaves me breathless. I think isa na ito sa magandang napuntahan kong lugar sa Pilipinas. Maraming magandang tanawin sa Pinas pero itong Benguet, at lalo na ang Mt. Province, I find the place “consistent” with its “surprises” and “goodies”. Yung kahit saan ka tumingin ang gaganda ng mga tanawin. Maliban sa tanawin ang babait ng mga tao rito. Lahat ng nakasalimuha ko, honest. Yung walang pag-aalinlangan, yung alam mong tatratuhin ka ng tapat. And dito, walang feeling na they’re just volunteering for the sake of money. Hindi eh. Alam mo kapag inako nila ang isang trabaho, gagawin nila yun dahil gusto nila, naniniwala sila sa layunin na inihain mo sa kanila at hindi dahil magbibigay ka ng pera (operational allowance) sa kanila.

I remember one time nung nag-seminar kami sa Sagada. Itong storyang ito paulit-ulit kong ikinukwento kasi hindi ko talaga malimutan. Bahagi ng seminar ang pagkakaroon ng botohan para sa mga opisyal ng local landslide monitoring committee officers (LLMC). Usually kami ang nagfafacilitate ng botohoan and the usual routine of nominating and voting commences. However, dito sa Sagada, iba yung nangyari. May BIGLANG dumating na elderly woman tapos umepal talaga siya (in a respectable manner) sa amin and she suggested that instead of votation, mag-usap usap na lang daw sila among themselves at sila na bahala mag-elect ng officers. Pagkatapos nung usapan na iyon, nagkaroon na ng set of officers at iyong officers na iyon ay hanggang ngayon, patuloy na nagagampanan ang kanilang tungkulin bilang LLMC officers. Ang galing! Pagkatapos nun si elderly woman ay nag-disappear na. Kumbaga dumating lang siya doon to facilitate the appointment of officers then she left na. Namangha ako kasi mayroon talagang POWER ang mga elders ng Mt. Province and people give them the respect they have earned throughout the years. Parang Council of Elders ang peg, ang astig lang!!!! :D

Kaya simula nun, lagi na namin hinahayaan mag-usap ang mga participants ng seminar at sila na mismo ang pumili ng kanilang officers instead na kami pa ang magfafacilitate ng voting. Ang galing lang talaga ng   a-ha moment na iyon sa Sagada.