FIRST, to correct an erratum. Last week's piece on Manong Ramon Dacawi had someone point out to me that Manong Mon was a member of the second batch, not the first, of University of Baguio Science High School, and therefore Class of 1968. Thank you, Djalma.
That would be Djalma Arnedo, a Science High ading (1979), who was last week at the wake of Manong Mon at the same time I was. We reminisced some, and he said his batch had had teachers in high school who were by then already alumni.
The same was true for my classmates and me. We had (Atty.) Eduard Rillorta, classmate of Manong Mon, as one of our teachers. We also had their classmate, the late Luz Delizo, as another teacher.
From Class of 1967, teachers we had were Linda Rillera (Bermejo) and Henry Ramos.
My mother, after reading my column of last week said to me that I mentioned manongs, manangs and adings, forgetting “ansisits.” The term “ansisit” is in the Science High used to refer to the freshmen, the newbies, just in from grade school. Scientists, they are called. Once they move up to being biologists, they are manongs and manangs to the new set of ansisits.
Back to Class of 1974.
One of us, Phylian Weygan-Allan, just last weekend took her oath as councilor of this our fair city. Councilor Phylian was sworn in by Judge Clarita Casuga Tabin, another high school classmate. Both are women of strength and intelligence, the latter being the Science High currency, after all. Uh, so we’re told.
We wish Councilor Phylian more luck and fortitude as she goes forth unto the breach to protect our city from all manner of unsavory elements, preserve what is left of our forests, green space, and culture, and work on intelligent (smiley) measures that will not sell us out to what we know is wrong. Great expectations.
Not just of Councilor Phylian, but also of the others in the set of councilors who made it this year. Congratulations are in order.
Congratulations too are due and even greater expectations are had of the city’s new mayor, who will need every ounce of support for the massive job that is keeping Baguio green, safe, happy, progressive, yes, yet sanely so. May our mayor, vice mayor, and councilors be the elements of the change that the city in truth clamored for with that May mayoralty vote.
Speaking of which, and to get on with the city’s waste management issues, there is to be a briefing forum on July 7, titled “Emerging Technologies on Waste Management and its Associated Risks.” It will be from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Baguio City Hall Multi-Purpose Hall.
The speaker for this forum is Paul Connett, PhD. Google him.
While the compulsive editor in yours truly makes the note that the forum’s title should more rightly read “Emerging Technologies on Waste Management and Their Associated Risks.” Unless “its” is meant to refer to “management.”
On a personal note, methinks these fora are better held on weekdays or a Saturday. Just saying. But let’s show up on Sunday, shall we.