LAST week, this: “And now, we must insist that VP Robredo stop being referred to as the Drug Czar, which means she commands the illegal drug trade, anobakayo. Rather, we should refer to her as the Co-Chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs, which is the accurate way of stating her new position.”
This week, a repetition. Let us be accurate. While many have indeed stopped referring to VP Robredo as the Drug Czar, we notice a few who cannot seem to take to Anti-Drug Czar. So let us say again, she is the co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs. And again, that could read better.
As with last week, a focus on that week, which was capped on Saturday night with a testimonial dinner of the Baguio Apaches, one to celebrate their 80th year.
Awards were that night given by them and for their awardees. Top of the awards night were the Geronimo Awards, conferred on the few who, as it is said, “are always there.”
Their presence can be counted on through thick or thin and in between. They serve by being at powwows, by sharing of their time, talents, resources. By the generosity of spirit that can always be counted upon. By the willingness of their nature and character to give of themselves for every Apache endeavor.
Awarded the rare Geronimo Award were Benjamin M. San Pedro, Ricardo S. Chan, Conrado H. Bueno, Emeterio Cesario G. Manantan, Rudolfo A. Paraan, and Erlindo B. Tesoro, each for outstanding service to the Apache nation. Take note, the last time such an award was given was at the 75th year of the Apaches, five years ago, and to the late Judge Fernando Cabato. Cheers!
On to this week. The day after, our friend Jhen Palacsa-Baltazar, proprietor of Agyateng Travel and Tours, launched her “Baguio Creative City Tours.” Unable to make it that day, yours truly joined one of said tours, a historical tour, the day after. Monday.
Aboard the custom built jeep named Soligmay, some 16 of us were in the afternoon taken to points of historical interest in Baguio, with Jhen’s able guide, Ana, at the helm. First stop, Kennon Road. Next, John Hay via Loakan, exiting into jaycountryclub. From there on to Teachers’ Camp, Mansion House, Wright Park. Then to Pilak Silver Shop to shop (the pun, the pun), and on to Brent School, ending with Burnham Park after a swing by Governor Pack Road.
As a historical tour goes, there is of course much historicity that can be packed into such a one.
Sore thumbs among the sea of young people on Soligmay that afternoon were Cathy dela Rosa, Menita Francisco, and myself. Oooold women. As Ana announced who were on board, I actually heard Cathy’s name without seeing her, and she likewise heard mine too, before we alighted at the Kennon “viewdeck” and touched base.
After the tour, Menita introduced me to this surprisingly pleasant hole-in-the-wall of a cake shop in the Victoria’s building on Upper Mabini. It is called Red Cherry Blossoms or close to that. I cannot be accurate (hah!). At any rate, I consider it part of my afternoon’s historical tour because it has been around forever, according to Menita, and yet it was that afternoon, methinks, the first time I was in it.
Talk about old and new.