October 09, 2024
BENECO Election Postponement
City High Years
National Geographic
MCO Regrets
Why Titanic Mania Lives
Willy’s Jeep
Titan
Titan Minisub
Hope Never Surrenders
One Question, One Member, One Vote
Slowly and Steadily
“Alice in Wonderland”
Magalong and MSL
Writing in the Dark
BENECO District Elections 2023
Vindication
The Rise and Fall of ECMCO United
“MSL is my GM”
General Membership
No Substitute for Elections
Evidentiary “MCO SELFIE”
Empowering the BENECO MCO
NEA’s Conceptual Hook
The BENECO Surrender 2
Legal Post Classifications
BENECO Controversy Topics
The BENECO Surrender
A photograph speaks a million words
Conversion and Privatization
Explore Baguio with a Bike
Failure of AI
Preserving CJH
Skating Rink
NEA’s Hiring Process
BgCur
Camp John Hay Nostalgia
Camp John Hay Mile High Memories
NEA’s Mandate
Camp John Hay TV
NEA and BENECO Should Come Clean
John Hay’s Top Soil
Big Screens at John Hay
The Browning of Camp John Hay
Putin
The Beginning of the Age of Brainwashing
Baguio shouldn’t build skyscrapers
The MURDER of pine trees goes unabated
We were “toy soldiers” in 1979
S1E70
S1E69
attyjoeldizon@gmail.com
Baguio City, Philippines
2023
Jun
29

BENECO Election Postponement

I agree that what’s happening right now in central Negros is a portent of things to come in Benguet.

Their electric cooperative CENECO will be taken over by a private investor, which has already announced its attrition policy for gradually replacing the rank-and-file with their own people.

2023
Jun
28

City High Years

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

2023
Jun
28

National Geographic

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?

2023
Jun
26

MCO Regrets

I agree that what’s happening right now in central Negros is a portent of things to come in Benguet.

Their electric cooperative CENECO will be taken over by a private investor, which has already announced its attrition policy for gradually replacing the rank-and-file with their own people.

2023
Jun
25

Why Titanic Mania Lives

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?

2023
Jun
24

Willy’s Jeep

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

2023
Jun
24

Titan

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.

2023
Jun
23

Titan Minisub

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.

2023
Jun
22

Hope Never Surrenders

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.

2023
Jun
10

One Question, One Member, One Vote

I think it would be futile to expect that the AGMA would be an occasion to “express their strong opinion” about the wrong way that BENECO’s affairs are going, or even to denounce persons they think are responsible for ruining their cooperative.

No one, least of all the Interim Board appointed by NEA, is interested in their opinion. The enforcers of NEA’s “step-in rights” to interfere with BENECO’ operations have their marching orders, and those are not subject to alteration by the Members’ grievances and sentiments.

2023
Jun
8

Slowly and Steadily

I think it would be futile to expect that the AGMA would be an occasion to “express their strong opinion” about the wrong way that BENECO’s affairs are going, or even to denounce persons they think are responsible for ruining their cooperative.

No one, least of all the Interim Board appointed by NEA, is interested in their opinion. The enforcers of NEA’s “step-in rights” to interfere with BENECO’ operations have their marching orders, and those are not subject to alteration by the Members’ grievances and sentiments.

2023
Jun
5

“Alice in Wonderland”

I think it would be futile to expect that the AGMA would be an occasion to “express their strong opinion” about the wrong way that BENECO’s affairs are going, or even to denounce persons they think are responsible for ruining their cooperative.

No one, least of all the Interim Board appointed by NEA, is interested in their opinion. The enforcers of NEA’s “step-in rights” to interfere with BENECO’ operations have their marching orders, and those are not subject to alteration by the Members’ grievances and sentiments.

2023
Jun
2

Magalong and MSL

He’d said again to a friend recently, as he had countless times before, “I never turn my back on my men in battle. I never abandon my people in the middle of a fight.”

Some call it the Magalong urban legend, or the PMA “mistah creed.” Whatever, Benjie has collected shrapnel scars over the years to prove it. Throughout his active tour of duty, he did stand in front of soldiers he commands. He did take a bullet or more for them, and in the flesh too not just in the flak jacket.

2023
May
31

Writing in the Dark

I think it would be futile to expect that the AGMA would be an occasion to “express their strong opinion” about the wrong way that BENECO’s affairs are going, or even to denounce persons they think are responsible for ruining their cooperative.

No one, least of all the Interim Board appointed by NEA, is interested in their opinion. The enforcers of NEA’s “step-in rights” to interfere with BENECO’ operations have their marching orders, and those are not subject to alteration by the Members’ grievances and sentiments.

2023
May
30

BENECO District Elections 2023

So why did NEA deal more harshly with the Magnificent Seven than Mel?

There is only one reason, and that reason is Mayor Benjie Bañez Magalong (“BBM” a tempting acronym to use, which I’d rather not.)

2023
May
29

Vindication

So why did NEA deal more harshly with the Magnificent Seven than Mel?

There is only one reason, and that reason is Mayor Benjie Bañez Magalong (“BBM” a tempting acronym to use, which I’d rather not.)

2023
May
28

The Rise and Fall of ECMCO United

So why did NEA deal more harshly with the Magnificent Seven than Mel?

There is only one reason, and that reason is Mayor Benjie Bañez Magalong (“BBM” a tempting acronym to use, which I’d rather not.)

2023
May
24

“MSL is my GM”

So why did NEA deal more harshly with the Magnificent Seven than Mel?

There is only one reason, and that reason is Mayor Benjie Bañez Magalong (“BBM” a tempting acronym to use, which I’d rather not.)

2023
May
23

General Membership

True, the interim board is a rubberstamp to approve all NEA initiatives, but it needs a rubberstamp of its own to rationalize its own existence—and that is the AGMA.

The only thing that can foil this plan is a massive—and I mean tidal wave massive—opposition by the general membership itself.

2023
May
20

No Substitute for Elections

True, the interim board is a rubberstamp to approve all NEA initiatives, but it needs a rubberstamp of its own to rationalize its own existence—and that is the AGMA.

The only thing that can foil this plan is a massive—and I mean tidal wave massive—opposition by the general membership itself.

2023
May
20

Evidentiary “MCO SELFIE”

True, the interim board is a rubberstamp to approve all NEA initiatives, but it needs a rubberstamp of its own to rationalize its own existence—and that is the AGMA.

The only thing that can foil this plan is a massive—and I mean tidal wave massive—opposition by the general membership itself.

2023
May
18

Empowering the BENECO MCO

True, the interim board is a rubberstamp to approve all NEA initiatives, but it needs a rubberstamp of its own to rationalize its own existence—and that is the AGMA.

The only thing that can foil this plan is a massive—and I mean tidal wave massive—opposition by the general membership itself.

2023
May
17

NEA’s Conceptual Hook

The conceptual “hook” that NEA used to inveigle public opinion so that many residents of Baguio and Benguet simply acquiesced to the virtual abolition of the regular BENECO Board was “massive corruption.”

Of course, any talk about fighting corruption will always get strong public support. Unfortunately, corruption is something very easy to allege but very hard to prove.

2023
May
12

The BENECO Surrender 2

As far as the MCO’s are concerned, the most prominent and most cantankerous of them, you cannot count on anymore. They all drank the KoolAid.

Now there’s less than three weeks—21 days—to quickly mount a countermove.

2023
May
5

A photograph speaks a million words

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

2023
May
2

Conversion and Privatization

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

2023
Apr
30

Explore Baguio with a Bike

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

2023
Apr
28

Failure of AI

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

2023
Apr
28

Preserving CJH

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

2023
Apr
28

Skating Rink

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

2023
Apr
28

NEA’s Hiring Process

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

2023
Apr
25

BgCur

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

2023
Apr
16

Camp John Hay Nostalgia

“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

2023
Apr
14

Camp John Hay Mile High Memories

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.

2023
Apr
12

NEA’s Mandate

“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

2023
Apr
12

Camp John Hay TV

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

2023
Apr
10

NEA and BENECO Should Come Clean

“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

2023
Apr
10

John Hay’s Top Soil

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

2023
Apr
10

Big Screens at 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

2023
Apr
9

The Browning of Camp John Hay

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

2023
Mar
18

Putin

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

2022
Sep
21

The Beginning of the Age of Brainwashing

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

2022
Aug
1

Baguio shouldn’t build skyscrapers

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

2022
Jun
20

The MURDER of pine trees goes unabated

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:

2022
Jun
5

We were “toy soldiers” in 1979

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.

2022
Mar
23

S1E70

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

2022
Mar
13

S1E69

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