BY NOW, every Juan would have known the Bautista obsession to the number eight. Surely many of us would too. Especially the Chinese. Though ours will be a little extreme more than others. And we are not even Chinese.
Today, a Grand Homecoming will be held. It is the 18th day of August, 2018. Triple eight day celebrations for the University of Baguio. It must really be a very lucky number for Lolo Tatay to have started his own on August 8, 1948. Until today we all continue to do so, it's been 70 years now.
Imagine how this could be. Coincidence, maybe. Bautista has eight letters. My dad and his brothers have eight letters in their names too.
Just like Tatay Fernando. There's Fernando Jr., Benjamin, Reynaldo, Leonides, Herminio, Virgilio, Joselito and Roselynn. There's eight of them too.
I was given a name with eight letters too. Reinaldo Bautista, otso otso. Many would also remember when I used to play competitive basketball that I always had the number 8 every time. Even my cellphone number has numerous 8's in it. Obviously the same with my car plates and that of my family.
Funny too how I would have been an adoptive member of the Class of PMA in 84 and 94 but I took my oath with the Class of 88 now on our 30th year. I could not be happier. I think that I am also the only Baguio Mayor to be ever adopted by the Philippine Military Academy. I did find ways too to help the academy, until today.
Blessed too to have an eldest son named Reinaldo III. He outshines me today. A former member of the Philippine Swimming Team, now taking up Music and about to finish. Never have I thought that I would have one to follow after my Mom. I almost took up music too at one time, it didn't happen.
This time some 25 years ago I started teaching in UB. It was in 1993 having come back from the United States that I decided to come home and teach. In fact I was an original faculty to the School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management which also opened that very same time.
Still a member of the Boy Scouts, I would proudly remember that we were Troop 88. I'm not kidding. I achieved the highest award, The Citizen, The Rizal or Eagle Scout.
I continue to be blessed with a home I call my own and I will assume that it has blessed me well. As soon as I transferred here I won as Vice Mayor, became the Acting Mayor and eventually the City Mayor. I continue to get many blessings from various positions in the National and Regional level. I own unit 8 in our compound. I knew it was the right home for me even after checking out so many others before.
I can't wait for UB to reach 88 years, it will just be another 18 years from now. Not too far from how I never would also have imagined being 70 years today, and before you know it will be, otso otso then.