THE life of a Halsema traveler is not complete without the experience of being stranded on the road. At least, that was what my father used to tell us. After all, they were raised during the height of the vegetable trading industry; from the mountain trail to the trading post, and also the time when kailyans started to send their mountain lads to study in Baguio.
“Many times, we have to sleep in the truck for days until the landslides were cleared...it was still better than the unlucky ones who got instantly buried” he shared when we were stranded in Km. 70, many years ago (when I was about twelve). I remember my childhood’s Halsema road going to Sinto, Bauko in our grandfather’s old house. My siblings and I would stay at the cargo bed of our ancient red truck for many hours, until the chilly wind of Buguias would break our resolve and force us to rush inside the car.
The fog, the chill, the rains, the occasional landslides – these have been the narrative of an August experience, especially for the highland travelers. It is very much like life itself; the challenges and frustrations of fulfilling a dream, the feeling of being left out: a life on hold...when you just want to arrive, to get home. “Sometimes, you can only wait...let the storm pass, wait for the landslides to be cleared” the elders will remind our reckless selves.
Oftentimes, we rush to get what we need, what we wish, whatever we conceive our dreams to be. We get disappointed by the traps and roadblocks, which turn us into skeptics even to ourselves. Often times, we only fail to consider a different route, a safer path, that will lead as home just the same...to where we should belong (maybe). Perhaps, we misinterpreted the dreams planted in our consciousness by that inconceivable and mighty force, or maybe we just have to simply wait. Being stranded teaches us patience, or it can teach us to look for other ways.
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“Bumangon tayu ta entayo agtrabaho manen!” Despite the challenges of our everyday, we are still the lucky ones who live to work (not work to live) –this entails the presence of “purpose” which is the very core of a meaningful existence. This also means that we will spend more than half of our lives with work and workmates more than our personal interests and loved ones. Hence, our 8-5 or 40 hours of weekly work (not including regular overtimes) compared to only 30 hours weekly awake time for family, should be at least comforting and meaningful. Lest we want to live the tragedy of being immersed with 8 hours of conflict and negativity every day, we have to try our best to encourage a healthy and supportive working environment for all of us lowly workers. After all, life, as they say is very short.