Baguio connections 2

MARYKNOLL. This was the grade school my siblings and I went to. More specifically, we went to a Maryknoll Convent School, then with the acronym “MCS.” Students had to write MCS below (or across?) our names, methinks, on submitted written work.

I graduated in 1970, Matty, Dandan, and Heli following suit all throughout that same decade. Our youngest, Annette, graduated from a Marishan sometime in the 1980s. And still gets told by Heli that there is a difference in the schools they each graduated from, haha. We were told when the name change occurred that "shan" was Ibaloy for hill, or knoll.

Looking back, I see in my mind’s eye these fully nun-robed, wimpled Sisters with rosaries dangling from their waists: Sister Carmencita, Sister Maria Austin, Sister John Eileen, Sister Therese. If I remember right, the lattermost was also, to many, “the prettiest one.”

Sisters Austin and Eileen also served as principals. When times were later “secularized,” for want of a better word, the principal of the school became Miss Donio. I'm thinking she came with the "shan."

Because Miss Donio was Maxima K. Donio, the K being for Kitma, of the Marcos Highway Kitmas, relatives of the Cariños because we all share a common ancestor, so the family stories go. I became friends with cousin Mike Kitma sometime in the 1990s, when he was part of the staff of Plan International (their office having once been in Campo Sioco, just below Maryknoll) as was Verge Carantes -- married to cuz Bobby – before she went on to successfully start up all things Smart Telecommunications in Baguio. Remember those days when mobile phones were newish and as yet strange?

Mike also helped out Maryknoll when it turned into the Ecological Sanctuary it now is, after the big earthquake of 1990. He served as a valued adviser on organic farming, having been involved in it long before it was fashionable. Verge was from the onset one of his regular buyers of organic vegetables. I bought them from Mike when I could and when these guests from Manila would ask me where they could get organic vegetables.

Another authentic pioneer of organic vegetable production in Baguio-Benguet is Patrick “Pat” Acosta, who was my brother Matty’s classmate in Maryknoll, though that was “Andy” to Pat, since Matty was the home name and “Andy”

An apology after. Finished.

My brother and I headed large organizations. Me, the city, him, the university. In both instances, our duty was to make sure all is well. We both subscribed to the facts given. Decisions were made from statistics and numbers. No room for fake information. No sugar coating. Facts. They don't lie. Information from the budget officer, the treasurer, the accountant and the auditor. Just them, I refuse to listen to any other.

After lunch, I decided to continue on with my run in the hot noon sun. I believed that I could do it. Easy. I had to tread on none stop incline. My pace was slower than ever. Every time, I would check on my watch that had a counter of how many steps and the distance I make. I always think I did more because I was so tired. Just a few meters downhill then uphill once more. I was doubly tired, I thought I did more. Not so as it would not lie.

I really wanted to impress on the auditors and inspectors. I also wanted to showcase that the foundation was in good hands. Projects implemented are validated and exact. No hocus pocus or over-

-- after my father, Matty being his Junior -- was the early school name. Pat now owns and runs an organic farm called “The Master’s Garden” in La Trinidad, which gets rave reviews all the time.

Pat’s family also had this winery called Strawberry House, on Naguilian Road. They produced, bottled, and sold the house wine, Strawberry Wine. It was a Baguio staple for the longest, longest time.

Next week, we begin with that Strawberry Wine from Strawberry House. tolerate acts of wrongdoing.

Encourage them to take up martial arts as a sport and as a means of building self-confidence and for self-defense; never as a tool to bully others or to seek trouble. True martial arts teach discipline and develop humility and patience. In sports, you realize that there is always someone faster, stronger and better than you out there; if not today, tomorrow. I would recommend taking up Wushu, Taekwondo, Aikido, and Boxing for sports and self-defense.

Aside from building self-confidence, teach them to be humble, and to keep a low profile.

Romans 12:19 “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay”, says the Lord.”

pricing or even ghost projects. This I guess is what I learned in government. There is some good too from my experience in government. I was careful. I had to be. I treaded slowly too like when running. Slow but sure-footed till the finish.

I wanted too to showcase how conservative we were. Frugal too. Just so Juan knows as president I am given an allowance of 6 thousand pesos only, in a year! Fact. 1,500 pesos every quarter. Not even worth my toll fees and gasoline to attend a meeting in Manila. But I love what I do. Today for the first time JVOFI has its own home. After 35 years renting out a place.

Foundations today are ALL in the same predicament because of what Napoles did. More than half of the foundations today are found to be fake after being investigated. I am not worried with Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation. The findings will surely show that we mean well for the communities that we serve. Nothing fake here I will guarantee.

Fake News has just been declared as the word of the year by Webster's Dictionary. Nothing fake from this. Fact.