In Memoriam: Jeanette Willkom Dunn Aragon.

 Read about the demise of Jean from one of her close relatives, and it came more than just as a surprise from nowhere.  It was so least expected, given her passion and energy, and zest for life.  Even though by all standards she had already lived a full life - studied, worked, raised a family, and enjoyed retirement.

Because of social media, we never really were unconnected since we had known each other. Which acquaintance really was not that long compared to our other contemporary friends.

Though we had known "of each other" since our childhood days in Cagayan de Oro, I never really knew Jean until the later part of our stay in the US, particularly after our retirement.  After which time, we started re-connecting with people from the old homeland, and reminiscing about the many common experiences shared during our youth.

I could say that we shared also common ideologies and beliefs in politics, values, and maybe life in general.  At some point Jean also tried re-settling in the old homeland like we did. After a while her thinking changed not just because of the changed conditions in the old homeland which I am sure she also found alienating, but also because like us her loved ones and other family members are still in the US.

Even as late as a few weeks or so ago, we on occasion shared in our FB timelines our own perception of what we believed to be truths in the political life in the US.  And like me, I also sensed in her a deep belief in and commitment on the same issues and values.  And I continued to admire her for taking such stances which clearly were not popular among our circles of friends and acquaintances. Maybe the poet in her gave her the clarity of her thoughts and the strength to pursue and adhere to her principles.

I will miss her personally and so will I am sure many of her loved ones and close acquaintances, and those who have had interaction with her in the past.

Rest in peace, Jean.  You have done your part.  And I can declare unreservedly that our lives had been blest and had become better because of the examples you showed in your living your life.  And we shall then continue to live our lives inspired by those sterling gems.

The Lamentable History of CDO Development

The Lamentable History of CDO Development

Once upon a time, there was a poblacion small and quaint, and purposely traversed by a tree-lined park called Divisoria. it was a dull and lazy town by all accounts.

People gathered around that community, mostly walking from one corner to the other via its narrow unpaved streets, either to do daily communal chores or to visit. If not, then using the few cars available. 0r via the ubiquitous tartanillas which noisily clip-clopped around its graveled streets.

Traffic gridlock was non-existent.  Not even the concept of vehicular traffic bothered its consciousness.  Nonetheless, nobody in his right mind considered the situation as one of privation or a sad status of under-privileged living.

Then it started growing.

The public market situated right in the middle of the named park got dirty and unwieldy.  So it was quickly moved to an outlying area covered with cogon grass.  The unwieldy congestion  in the poblacion was immediately relieved.

Years later, the market in Cogon got unruly, so it became necessary to open up Agora market which is geographically I believe part of old Puntod.

More years later, the poblacion now turned into a fast-growing city had to spread out to nearby Lapasan to accommodate the burgeoning growth and to try and mitigate the lurking traffic situation.  The birth of the local mall was the immediate result.

Aside from all these, the city starting bursting at the seams, from west to east.  From Carmen  to Puerto.  From southwest to southeast.  All these giving actuality to  the monstrosity we now call traffic.

So the entire uptown (Lumbia) was opened up and rapid development started with the earnest hope of spreading out the city and relieving the growing traffic situation.  And a so-called nascent "metropolis" was being nurtured and nursed.

But one thing for certain, none of these good-intentioned moves have improved the perceived traffic situation, long enough to be noticed and appreciated.  Instead what is undeniable, all these brought more rather than less traffic problems.  

The hydra being curbed has instead grown more loathsome heads.  Ironic for a city the size of which is almost 420 square kilometers with population counted at well under a million.

Unconditional Love

 

We are wont to declare our unconditional love.

Be they for beloved acquaintances or relations.

And most accept as true readily with nary a doubt.

But we forget that only God deserves such.

Whether here or above all others take second place.

For our zealous God demands such fullness of love.

The amount of love man can bestow on creation

Has been strictly delineated by His Divine laws.

Strictures setting boundaries for our human loves.

Let us then remember this strict boundary.

For to forget would redound to our peril.

God gave all, and demands all in return.

2 B 83

 2 B 83

We count people, trees, even distance.

We count most anything that comes in numbers

We love counting our money, our loves, our whims.

Maybe  not be too eagerly, we also count our years.

In slow cadence of years, we count our time on earth.

For many, we count with anticipation and hope. 

But others do count with some trepidation

But due to inevitability we cannot do otherwise

Natal days then are marked with rapt attention.

Gleefully for others, but forlornly for some.

But what can one do to liven the result?

Simply that we align our lives to our purposes.

Only then counting amounts to any significance.

For then it means we are edging closer to eternity.

For the rungs climbed leadeth closer to home.

The home where counting ceaseth forever.

The Enigma that is the Philippines and its Duterte

The Enigma that is the Philippines and its Duterte

The two elements appear as whistling passed each other.  

Unable to establish a scenario of basic meeting of minds 

necessary in any conversation between adults.

 

What ensued in the face-off was befuddlement and frustration.  

All on the part of the entity collectively called the people, 

but individually divided into the electorate, 

the politicians and everybody in between.  

Why so?  Because as best as any sane person could commiserate, 

Duterte appears to be nothing but giddy with all the attention.  

Not a bit terrified by possible outcomes. 

Nor unnerved by all the hostile questions directed at him.

One wonders why. 

But in reality, the situation may be quite easy to unravel.

From the detached purview of any serious, earnest, and impartial observer, 

The Dutertes reside in their own levels of maturation and comprehension.  

Juxtaposed and judged in the prism of accepted norms of civilized society,

the family appear fiddling with the enshrined norms of logic and ethics.  

They trademark their own unique lifestyle, 

residing inside their own cocoon of beyond-the-norm  existence.  

This explains the inability to curb uncouth and vulgar language and acts, 

manifested either publicly or privately, both in informal or formal settings.  

And all this cursorily dismissed by ardent loyalists as simply, joke lang. 

And this said  punctuated  by subtle smirks.

But did the Dutertes change over time?  A definite NO.  

One recalls that they have always been like this from day one, 

no show of attempts to hide coarse behavior and attitudes.  

Still they enjoy great popular patronage all via democratic means, 

allowing them to sit as incumbent in the public realm.

  

Who gets the blame then?

Easy to ascribe under this brand of democracy 

the country so vocally honors and adores.

All fingers point inward.

But what are the possibilities that for Duterte 

all this is one protracted scene of a situation comedy.

Recalling younger years, where there those likened  to him 

in behavior, personality, and values?  

 

I can think of the early Jesuit mentors we had.  

They too appeared to have lived in worlds of their own.  

Very strict in commitment to obedience.  

Uncompromising in the many principles taught by them.  

Unapologetic in espousing difficult virtues and values.   

Unrelenting in their dogged pursuit to impart righteousness, 

regardless of the tenderness of our ages. 

With them one got what one saw.

Public demeanor as models of propriety, meekness, and conciliation. 

How diametrically different they were from this leader in question.

Their lessons anchored on time-tested sources, like Scriptures, 

the countless books from ancient learned philosophers, 

the many autobiographical tomes of countless men of old 

who excelled in their varied  fields of endeavor. 

And many more.