Letting go

I WAS once a father to 300,000 and more. Today, I’m that to only three. One almost an adult, independent and strong physically, though I would assume emotionally, he would still welcome mom and dad’s guidance. He now has his own space in the house and while only a senior in high school he would rather be on his own most of the time. He would run or walk to school and would just meet us at home for dinner. If given the choice I would assume that he would want to finish his homework with his classmates like any other teenager, but knowing all too well that I prepared dinner, he would have to be home just in time. My wife and I grew up to be independent and went home on our own when we were in high school, those were the days when this was the norm. I would run or bike home if weather and light permitted and take the jeepney if not. Kids grow up so fast. At first we want them to be strong and independent, but when they really get to that point, we parents then wish it wasn’t so. Now they make their own plans; sometimes it does not even involve us. Is it a good thing?

Today, the Cordillera Region is aging another year and is going on its 25th year existing as an Administrative Region. As usual, like any other child growing into adulthood, there is the issue of independence. Allow me to interpret the issue this way. Eventually our children will really leave us parents but what if mom and dad would not allow it? While it was Tita Cory who signed EO220 creating the Cordillera Administrative Region, it is now her son, after 25 years, who will decide whether to allow one of his children, the region, to grow up independently and on its own. In this particular case it is the kids (Abra, Apayao, Baguio,Benguet, Ifugao,Kalinga and Mt. Province) who will decide if they can already be on their own. But what if the National Government, being the parent, is experiencing separation anxiety and would not want to have it that way? Apprehensions spring from a precedent case which was that of the Region in Mindanao that was given an autonomous status. Was it alright to let them be? Witnessing what happened with “kuya” (ARMM) wherein he was left to fend for himself. Was he able to stand on his own? Will there be a loving parent to welcome him home if things don’t work out?

To my mind the Cordilleras can stand alone. Why? Because Mining, Agriculture and Tourism, being our major resources, may bring financial sufficiency. Another reason for going independent and leaving home is marriage. I was fortunate to have sat down with Ate Glo on the possibility of marriage of Regions. Yes, it would be the creation of the so-called Super Regions, a clustering of neighboring regions (Federalism). Would it work better this way? Maybe, apparently some parents only allow their children to live independently only because of marriage and nothing else. So what can you say Papa Pnoy? Are we all ready to let go? Anyway, Happy Cordi Day to my fellow Cordillerans!