Hello, Toronto!
Itigil ang bangayan- yan daw ang mahigpit na bilin ni PNoy sa kanyang govern-ment staff(from cabinet secretaries hanggang pinaka junior official). Panu nga naman, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth na here is PNoy calling for unity tapos ang mga tauhan nya mismo ay nag- aawayan, may pagkakahatian, may intrigahan pa (balita ko lang). Tumbok dito yung tatlong anjan sa Press office, yung 2 nasa Local Government Office-marami pa raw pero yang 2 areas nay an ang pinakamatunog sa media na may faction faction at alitan.
But, ibahin naman nyo itong lady Secretary of Justice na si Leila de Lima, assigned by PNoy to chair the committee that studied and gave recommendation on the bloody hostage- taking at the Luneta that killed 8 people including the hostage taker. Hindi nasunod ang pinakamabibigat na recommendations ng kanyang komite- pulos reprimand lang ang karamihang involved. Matamlay, ika nga ang naging final na resolution ng Malacanang sa mga inihatag na recommendations nina de Lima. Gayunpaman, although, may mga sectors na nag uudyok sa kanya na magresign, naisip isip daw nya to hold on to the job for as long as she is needed- di naman daw all the time ay magiging parehas sila ng pag- iisip ng Presidente. Di naman yata daw ok na resign na lang nang resign ang isang cabinet member each time contradictory ang pananaw nya with the President. Natural, pagka ganyan e di wala nang matitira sa Malacanang cabinet!
Feel ko yang si de Lima for her wisdom and humility kahit pa nga alam ng lahat na napakabrilliant ng kanyang utak. Di rin natitigatig. Basta sya ay sa tama lang. I hope marami naming maging tulad ni de Lima in PNoy’s cabinet so we can expect the fulfillment of our dreams with PNoy’s leadership.
Hmp, kaya nga ba ako, medyo nag- iisip isip na these days na lumayu layo muna sa MetroManila. Mapahinga baga ang utak from news that are sad, violent, or nakakawalang gana. Saan ba kaya ako hahanap ng lugar na mapapahinga ang aking isip?
A weekend ago, I took the whole family to Cavite to look for my dream retirement place- my fantasy is to build a small cottage and plant, read, enjoy the countryside panorama, savor the cool climate, and eat my homegrown veggies. Abaw, kamahal naman ng mga lote in Tagaytay and some nearby towns (Silang, Alfonso) pala! Boom area daw kasi in construction dito these days. O, e di sa outskirts na lang ako- anyway, if walang kapitbahay then I will look for some friends who also dream of retiring and doing relaxing things and convince them to join me at hati hati na lang ng lote within our private compound. So, there I was, in the company of my sis and brother in law and the children, checking out farms- coffee farm, pineapple farm, orchards. I have ticked off the good ones and plan to comeback another weekend to finally decide. Sana, ang final choice ko ay walking distance lamang from the Taal volcano view. Not near Taal my gosh! What if mag erupt?! Ang tuhod kong mahina na ay di na makakayanang tumakbo!
Dear Toronto friends who are, like me are into the senior years- we deserve to relax and rest (not rest in peace, oh no!). If your choice is to stay in Toronto during your twilight years, that’s fine. If you wish naman to be back home then ngayon pa lamang, make plans na. If you wish to join me, do email my publisher Tess/ Ruben. I will request them to relay the message.
Brings to mind this grand lady- Ester Pickel- Sangalang, a longtime resident of San Jose California. At 80, she still drives her car daw. She is now in town vacationing and going down memory lane with friends (co teachers at International School, PWU, etc) and enjoying herself immensely despite some ache on her knees. Naalala pa daw nya many students. When she was with IS and taught Grade 4, she had Nino Muhlach, Liezel (daughter of Amalia Fuentes), Pops Fernandez as pupils. She still remembers Nino for his ugali to defend his teachers everytime a foreign pupil (siguro anak ng mga ambassador, etc staying in the country) insults/ denigrates the IS teachers. Ganda namang alaala about Nino. She leaves Manila on the 17th with very fond remembrances and pasalubongs to friends and relatives.
I know our local ABC Channel 5 is not reaching overseas yet but I just wanted to share the news of the resurfacing of Willie ‘wowowee’ Revillame in that Channel 4 starting 23 October.
Bigger and better daw- san ka nakakita ng house and lot prize each day??? Isang milyong pisong cash, scholarships…bongga! I doubt if Willie will regain his big following considering that Ch5 is not on air in Filipino communities abroad but I do hope he will once be able to bring joy and hope to many Filipinos here at home.Maybe antay na lang kayo muna dyan for his show as I heard magpapa satellite din ang Ch5- mayaman ang investors, di takot maglabas ng datung!
Thank you, Toronto!
