Balweg: There goes another BARP stalwart to live on and on

THERE goes another one of earlier registered BARP members. He made the final journey to beyond the sunset last Friday, March 8, 2019. But as a BARP member, he was not just another of such member. He was a lead man.

As in other ventures, he made an imprint of himself in the minds and hearts of his co-members in the organization, especially among co-officers in the Blessed Association of Retired Persons Foundation, Inc.

He proved that by earning the permanency-de-facto of the chairmanship of the committees on award s and special events. In the jobs therein, he saw to it that dedicated but otherwise unmentioned members of the fourth estate or media people were given documented deserved recognition in order to encourage them to continue serving the nation in their respective capacities and be documented exemplars for those who will follow their footsteps.

Of course, in this important work, he could not but tread the path of all journalists who may be defined as ones who, when present, are a pain in the neck but when absent are a pain in the heart. For he was that. He had the Jaworski-ic tinge of being either loved or hated. No in-between, seemingly if you do not know him.

The booming voice of Narciso “Nars” Padilla may no more be hard in the podium of the BARP Auditorium but his leadership and passion to promote BARP and its very worthy vision, mission and core values are unerradicably etched in the legacy that BARP is. He served not only in the committees Board of Trustees but assiduously mentioned BARP and its community activities and concerns in his Kafagway Round Up column.

But it is left to others who are more knowledgeable to deal about other facets of his life to expand on them for the edification of Baguio patriots and lovers.

However, in an afterthought, I cannot but have to mention two other cases besides being a co-BARP member, which made him to me a closer friend. He was an advocate for gathering people to the grotto of The Brown Madonna located midway down Asin Road from downtown Baguio via San Luis Barangay. Even during drizzly weather, he successfully requested friend priests to celebrate Holy Mass (with due permission) at the hoped-to-be permanent shrine.

The third means of my becoming closer to his company is his love for the City of Baguio with its environs and people. I sensed that from his from his writings and objectives. In fact, they, especially his poems, inspired me to produce lyrics myself and compose melodies for them about Baguio or things related to the city. Samples of those are the “Welcome to Baguio”, for visitors, “Adtoykami, We Baguio Elderly” for SC parades, “Rose Garden Pledge” for Burnham Park promenaders.

“Nars” acrostic poem “Baguio City My Love” was the most challenging for me to give a melody to. It was this piece that he wanted me to schedule for public rendering some two months ago before his unexpected demise, the reason I have to disclose it here. The rendition was supposed to be for this coming October 2019.Perhaps it is time to contact the City Hall Choir.

When friend and Baguio-lover enthusiast Nars will be transported to his final earthly resting place, “Adtoykami, adtoykami, we Baguio elderly/Gapu’t pintas daytoy ili napigsa’t bagbagi/ Nangruna daytoy klimana a di maisuksukat/Ragsakentay ti magmagna/Manipud bigbigat...” will imaginably resound along his entourage. The Brown Madonna, too, will welcomingly look over this city with its BARP-BEA -advocated rose garden from the heavens above in firm music “For this Rose Garden that You gave to our care/We raise our had, Lord, in pledge to do our share/This is our covenant, Our God, it’s only fair/ That we4 your stewards here will keep e’er clean the air.”

Bon voyage, friend!

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