As long as I was re-immersing myself in retro-70s and 80s nostalgia in this series of posts about my “City High” years, I thought—why not? An era is not just about stories you can still recall. It’s really also about appreciating your
Why are people (such as myself) still obsessing about the wreck of this “unsinkable ship” more than 111 years after it slipped into the bottom of the North Atlantic ocean?
Why are people (such as myself) still obsessing about the wreck of this “unsinkable ship” more than 111 years after it slipped into the bottom of the North Atlantic ocean?
I looked around campus but I didn’t find it. At the last grand alumni homecoming reunion of my high school (Baguio City High School) last May, I went out of my way to look for an old white 1963 Willy’s jeepwagon that
I’m hearing so much of this “I-told-you-so” and “I-knew-it” kind of reactions to the tragedy that bookended the saga of the Ocean Gate minisub TITAN.
All five of its crew and passengers died in what the US Navy described as a “catastrophic implosion” that may have occurred not too long after the Titan lost communication with its mother ship on Sunday, June 18.
I’m aware that three of the passengers in that stricken submersible Ocean Gate Titan are billionaires. I see no point in naming them because I doubt that you or I know any of them.
Missing for five days now, optimism is dwindling that they could still be found and rescued in time before they run out of breathing oxygen.
I’m aware that three of the passengers in that stricken submersible Ocean Gate Titan are billionaires. I see no point in naming them because I doubt that you or I know any of them.
Missing for five days now, optimism is dwindling that they could still be found and rescued in time before they run out of breathing oxygen.
About the Author The author is a writer and lawyer based in Baguio City, Philippines. Former editor of the Gold Ore and Baguio City Digest, professor of journalism, political science and law at Baguio Colleges Foundation (BCF). He is a photographer and
It was not NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda’s discretion to set the duration of NEA’s intervention in BENECO’s operation to just six months. In fact, that’s what the law provides, in Sec. 21(d) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act
Explore Baguio with a Bike A motorcycle is the best way to explore Baguio City if you have a limited time to do it. Unfortunately, we don’t have rental bike services in this city yet (PLEASE, somebody correct me, I’ll be the
The Failure of Artificial Intelligence This time they did it—they crossed the red line. Advocates for “artificial intelligence” ended up with egg on their faces after a German tabloid, the weekly Die Aktuelle, published an “interview” of former Formula One world champion
Preserving CJH One other undeclared role that Camp John Hay served was as an ecological preserve. In 1987 what was thought to be the last mountain cloud rat (locally named “yutyut”) was caught off “Little Mermaid” garden, below Scout Hill by a
Skating Rink at CJH Indoor rollerskating in Camp John Hay was almost a rite of passage when we were in high school. My classmates and I from Baguio City High School (BCHS) would save up our daily allowance—don’t laugh now but back
NEA’s Hiring Process Can anybody stop NEA from opening the selection and hiring process for a new BENECO General Manager? The better question is, WHY would anybody want to stop NEA from doing that—hire a new GM through the compliant cooperation of
Can BENECO Complete its emergency Landing? ADVANCE DISCLOSURE: I make no claim whatsoever that everything I say here are facts. This is to save time for all those sanctimonious fact-twisters out there who I know will go through this article with a
“Why the sudden interest on Camp John Hay? You’ve been writing about it almost as passionately as you did about BENECO the past several days…” is the most common question I’ve been asked several times lately. “By the way, what happened to
While Christine and I were doing our regular “cardio” walkaround in Camp John Hay last weekend, I spied on a little sign near Scout Hill that indicated the direction to what it claimed to be the “historical core” of Camp John Hay.
“The NEA shall immediately step-in and take over from its Board the operations of any ailing electric cooperative. Within a reasonable period after take-over, the NEA may convert the ailing cooperative to either a stock cooperative registered with the CDA or a
The Philippines was under Spanish colonial rule for 327 years (1571-1898) and under American rule for just 47 years (1898-1946). So the joke goes we spent three centuries in cloistered convent, and less than retirement age in Hollywood. And yet look at
“The NEA shall immediately step-in and take over from its Board the operations of any ailing electric cooperative. Within a reasonable period after take-over, the NEA may convert the ailing cooperative to either a stock cooperative registered with the CDA or a
When we were young Boy Scouts in Baguio Central School in the 70s, my schoolmates and I looked forward to October Scouting Month with much anticipation and excitement. Only once a year do we ever get to see what Camp John Hay
The last movie I watched in Camp John Hay Theater was “Mommie Dearest” starring Faye Dunaway. It was a screen adaptation of actress Joan Crawford’s biography, as retold by her tormented adoptive children Christina and Christopher Crawford. It was one of the
There were a lot of ‘back stories’ surrounding the complete withdrawal of US forces from the former American military bases in Subic, Clark and Camp John Hay that never made it the front page of newspapers, both national and local. Mostly, the
It cannot be just “play warrant of arrest” Few will dispute that Russian President Vladimir Putin committed crimes against humanity when he invaded Ukraine. But as horrible as the Russian war against Ukraine has already been, in terms of civilian casualties, it
September 21, 1972: The Beginning of the Age of Brainwashing September 21, 1972 was a day like any other in my carefree childhood years growing up in a peaceful city like Baguio. I was in the Grade Two, Section 2 class of
Baguio shouldn’t build skyscrapers The jolting earthquake on July 27, 2022 is causing residents to revisit concerns about survivability in the nation’s summer capital in the event of another ‘killer quake.’ Specifically, it is reviving the question should Baguio City have high-rise
The MURDER of pine trees goes unabated The practice has NOT stopped. Land developers (there’s another contradiction in terms) wanting to eliminate a big hindrance to their plans are still killing PINE TREES in Baguio City the same effective way they invented:
We were “toy soldiers” in 1979 I experienced Citizens Army Training (CAT) in high school in 1979 in Baguio City High School (BCHS). I can’t remember if my batchmates and I ever understood that it had anything to do with martial law.
S1E70 – Redeeming the Institution: BARANGAY The myth of this “Golden Age” of the martial law years has been so thoroughly debunked in social media even the Marcos campaign has virtually dropped it. Instead of a vote-magnet it became a deadweight to
S1E69 – How dare you doubt PAGASA’s weather forecasts? Good evening class. Please bring out your umbrellas, if you brought one. I am going to go around the classroom and inspect your readiness to cope with inclement weather–like some scattered showers and
S1E68 – The true essence of the “Rule of Law” Where is Miss Carla Adaawan?” I picked out a particular student because I knew she is from Tabuk City, which is in Kalinga province. This province was particularly significant during martial law
S1E67 – Exploiting the confusion created by the “fog of war” The action of the National Electrification Administration (NEA) in appointing Ana Maria Rafael as general manager of Benguet Electric Cooperative is illegal because it violates Section 26-B of P.D. 269. That
S1E66 – I respect your opinion because it’s your God Good, evening class. Tonight I want to talk more about the freedom of thought and of free opinion. You read about it all the time on social media. Everybody demands that you
S1E65 – You want a TRO? Show me the money! What is the meaning of freedom?” I began the evening’s lecture by asking my students a question for which there is no universal answer. “Imagine this class—we keep saying that laws exist
S1E64 – Was there really a Golden Age of Philippine agriculture? Miss Joanna Pis-o…from the land of the stonewalled rice terraces of Barlig, Mountain Province, in the central Cordilleras, are you present?” “Yes, sir, present! I certainly correspond to that long geocultural
S1E3 – Studying all the Queen’s Gambit Moves for Sara There’s so much talk about Sara Duterte becoming president if Bongbong Marcos is disqualified. There’s even a conspiracy theory that this is the reason why the COMELEC is delaying the decision in
S1E62 – Mandatory military training for all citizens, anyone? Miss Carla Adaawan?” The girl from Tabuk City looked up from oogling at her smartphone at the start of the evening’s class. I don’t know what startled her—that I suddenly called on her
S1E61- What would Jesus say about electric cooperatives? I walked into the classroom holding nothing in my hands—no classcards, no index cards or lecture notes on yellowpad. I even left my chalkbox and blackboard eraser in the faculty lounge. Instantly I could
S1E60 – Again I predict BBM will NOT be disqualified For the second time, I will go out on a limb again and say, NO they will not disqualify BongBong Marcos—not even in the three remaining disqualification cases pending before the First
S1L59 – The Paradox of Loans Tonight, class, I want everybody to get a firm grip of their understanding of the concept of a LOAN. And I don’t just mean your ordinary ‘commodity loan’ like some money you borrow from a bank
S1L58 – Breaking down the Myth of Super-Untouchable Regulators Why is it not possible to sue the State? This is a question I have often been asked by my students, both in Political Science in the undergraduate program and in the College
S1L57 ; Public office is a public trust, fake diplomas don’t count Good evening, class…” “Good evening, sir!” my Alpha Section class seemed totally refreshed by the long Christmas break, they looked ready to recite. I, on the other hand, was ready
S1L56 – COMELEC will not disqualify Bongbong Marcos Of course the COMELEC will not disqualify Bongbong Marcos. He is one of only two viable presidential candidates and, arguably, the front-running one. Yes, there is ground to disqualify him. But I don’t think
S1L55 – No such thing as a ‘one-man- BENECO Board Hellooo Professor! Happy Three Kings! We didn’t know you liked playing billiards!” I was greeted by some painfully-familiar faces from Alpha Section when I thought I’d try some pool games at a
S1L54 – The Al Capone Lesson: there’s more than one way to skin a cat Helloooo there, Professor!! Happy New Year! We didn’t know you liked boating!” Déjà vu? This can’t be happening—Deema, Kata, Laarnee, Juan and Jack together again?? And I
S1L53 – Learning what a “valid appointment” is on a ferriswheel Hello, professor! Happy New Year! We didn’t know you liked riding the ferriswheel!” What are the odds I would find five of my students in the same place, lining up to
S1L52 – Is it still safe to do banking in Baguio? Some banks have completely lost their bearing and have forgotten many fundamental elements of the contract between them and their depositors. What are some of these basics? To start off, a
S1L51 – Overseas Absentee Voting Mommy Dionisia! Fancy meeting you here in the mall! Merry Christmas po!” I was so happy to see my oldest student gallivanting around the mall, enjoying the holidays like everybody else. “Merry Christmas, Prof! Are you here
S1L50 – “The Thirteenth Month Pay” Law Miss Deema Niwala, on your feet…” After looking around the classroom and making sure there was no possibility of any other person answering to the same name, this girl from Tublay finally rose her feet,
S1L49 – The “Political Question” Doctrine Miss Carla Nalukay-nalipit?” “ADDAAWAN, SIR!!!” “I’m sorry, Miss Addaawan. I keep forgetting…” This is my student from Tabuk City, Kalinga whose name is structured after the Korean ethos of “yin-yang” –her name connotes both presence and
