FORMER Mayor Jaime Bugnosen left us at 91 for the next life. With that I remember my father, as they were contemporaries and been in similar circles in their prime. My Dad’s birthday last May 6 was celebrated in Baguio School of Business Technology (BSBT), in my brother John’s dinner party and likewise remembered when we went to the Siloken Clan Reunion in Cotcot Buguias. Whatever it is, death and grief are partners.
Last February 6, 2017, we buried Rose Joy Lagyop, the second staff to die on me when I am not done with them yet, for I had hopes of meeting them again. The first one was Ferdie Onalan Agaid, who died a decade ago.
In both times, I don’t want to see them in their death and would prefer to remember them when they were alive and about. But I know that God holds life and all life is from him and he knows the measure of one’s life. Yet, I can’t deny that I grieve. For both have much to give, they have touched my life, and they too have touched the life of others.
Rose Joy is my niece daughter of a distant cousin. She came to campaign for my dad in 2008 and then she became a volunteer in BSBT Foundation and later become a teacher in BSBT College Inc. I was called to the City council and she remained and rose from the ranks until she became the department head who worked for the establishment of the Bachelor of Technical Teacher Education (BTTE) of BSBT. Most of us will remember her for that, Miss BTTE.
On her later years with BSBT, I have talked to her and challenged her to continue her studies and could be our future dean. She would always laugh and hide her face with a bunch of papers. Though we jokingly said that, she has challenged herself and applied, qualified and went to study in Norway. When she left, she was resigning but I advised her to take a study leave. She took a leave and she is included in our staff list as on a study leave.
Her passion was in education, she enjoys what she is doing even under extreme stress. We both climbed the obstacles in the Academe as she became the BTTE/BSHRM (Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management) head at one time.
As an instructor, the students have rated her as excellent/outstanding and would even write “I love you ma’am and thank you.” This was contrary to what students were deemed to do-complain about their teachers. She was praised and thanked. As I write this, tears continue to fall and grieve alone. Her smiling face etched in memory and her laugh ringing in my ears. I have long hardened my heart but this time, sorrow comes for she was a friend too.
Ferdy was my staff in Upland Development Institute, he was my partner in implementing one environmental project. And he was one person who is a sponge, absorbing all he can and trying everything he could to test and prove that knowledge and every principle that comes his way. We were part of a team, who explored the richness of the mountains and culture of Cordillera and basked in the wonders of creation. We shared dreams with other development workers and I see him hoped for a better Chananaw and other communities of the Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized people.
Soon I left the organization and implemented a multi-million project in Burgos, Ilocos Norte under BSBT Foundation Inc. Together with other staff they stayed on doing work in the Cordilleras, until I was informed that he became sick and died. He was very young when he died. I refused to go and see him. I pained, wounded and grieved alone for a considerable time. I left but I was expecting to join them again in due time for my heart is also serving my people. But it was not meant to be and I grieved.
As former Mayor Jaime Bugnosen, my dad, my mom, Joy, Ferdie and other loved ones leave us, we feel the same pain, wound and grief. Only God knows the purpose of their demise. I cannot question Him for a reason or an excuse. I can only ask God that he take away my grief and have the pain and tears stop. It is a time to remind us to build on our relationships and say the words we want to say to people, for the opportunity may never come again.