FEBRUARY is considered love month and what better way to celebrate the month than with flowers in full bloom. The Pangbenga Festival, which started in 1996, is a perfect fit for the celebration. Although the Festival is celebrated to pay tribute to the city’s flowers and as a way to rise up from the devastation of the 1990 Luzon earthquake, the symbolism of love and flowers in a especially cool climate has been the perfect recipe.
Love can also mean passion. Here's a shout out to the new Officers and Directors of the Baguio Correspondents' and Broadcasters Club (BCBC), particularly to Sir Mondax, for responding to the call to lead the BCBC anew and inspire the younger generation to excel and love their craft as much as he has over the years. I am very glad that we are seeing Sir Mon's passion and love for the "profession" in his acceptance as the 2016 President of the biggest and longest running media organization in Baguio City and Benguet. With a core of young and dedicated media personalities behind him, we are confident that the BCBC will make this year a truly rewarding and memorable experience for its members and supporters.
Congratulations to the new officers and directors. The males are outnumbered this time and we hope that the new "flavor" will bring a shift for the better. The 2016 BCBC Officers and Directors are the following: Mon Dacawi (President); Jane Cadalig (VP for Print); Doddie Mendillo (VP for Television); Jordan Tablac (VP for Radio); Ofelia Empian (Secretary); Hanna Lacsamana (Treasurer) and Jessa Mardy Polonio (Auditor). The Board of Directors are Marilou Guieb, Marissa Dacayanan, and Dexter See.
On the other hand, it is very disappointing that even in a very small media community, conceit is, unfortunately, seen in a number of its members. Conceitedness refers to having an excessively favorable opinion of one's abilities, appearance, etc.. Conceitedness is synonymous to being vain, proud, egotistical, self-important, and self-satisfied. The problem is compounded when conceit is equated to public service, or "in the name of public service," where events and activities are inappropriately used to "sell" and highlight one's personal and selfish ambitions. This becomes all the more distasteful when those who do this think they are doing everyone a favor. "Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan."
"Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful." - John Wooden
"We met for a reason. Either you're a blessing or a lesson." - Frank Ocean