Ang ganda!

SINCE I joined Toastmasters in 2005, my family and I have been attending the national yearly and some mid-year conventions in various parts of the Philippines. We also get to visit many places near the convention sites as we usually extend our stay by a day or two.

Our family has also gone up north several times too, on our own.

Our country is beautiful! We are blessed with so many natural resources, and beautiful mountains and seas.
We have fond memories of our visits to Laoag, Vigan, Currimao, Pagudpud, Sagada, Davao, Cebu, Iloilo, Palawan, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Sagada, Bontoc, etc.

We will never forget our wild water rafting experiences in Bontoc and Cagayan de Oro. And we look forward to visiting Camarines Sur and back to Bohol someday!

Common to all the places we have visited are their clean and well-maintained streets, markets, parks, tourist attractions and destinations.

Somehow, it made me wish for the “old glory” of Baguio! My children would often say, “How we wish we could improve and maintain our parks the same way, too.” I share the same sentiments with them!

Baguio is my place of birth and I have lived here all my life. I will never exchange it with any other place on earth.

However, pride of place is enhanced when we have places to “show off”, specially to our visitors and tourists.

Sad to say, even our premier park, Burnham Park, has seen better days. I dare not offer to bring our visitors there. It is a poor reflection of our kind and amiable people!

Our city and our park was designed by the American architect, Daniel Burnham, in the early 19th century. His creativeness and ingenuity is obvious from his plans and designs for our city. His vision still lives in the layout of our premier park. City Hall, set up on top of the hill is the focal point or “end point” of his design.

The “trade fairs” and “tiangges” have poured abuse and misuse on our premier park, making it a “marketplace”, rather than a park for respite, rest, and relaxation. Even our city’s main street has become a marketplace this week!

However, on the brighter side, just yesterday, as I was jogging near the entrance of the Children’s Playground, I witnessed four female teenagers entering the park. I presumed that they were local tourists from the nearby province. One of the girls said, “Ang ganda ng Burnham!”

I was flabbergasted! In spite of the decay, neglect, and poor maintenance, she still found our park beautiful!

Thank God, some people see things through a different perspective.

I can only be thankful and hope that there are more such “positive” thinkers, and appreciative tourists!

However, it would be good for our city and our people if we will be proud of ourselves and delight our visitors with something better than what we are now offering!

My Dearest Co-Traveler,
See the world from the viewpoint of a child, and almost everything will be beautiful!

See the world from a critic’s perspective, and many good things will never be good enough.

See the world with a tinge of inspirational discontent, knowing that something better can be done, will move us to action!

See the world with a grateful heart for God’s many bountiful blessings, and we will always be happy.

Matthew 18:3 says, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Be joyful always. Pray continually. And in all circumstances, give thanks, for that is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”