Reminiscing

Recalling the past and learning from the experiences is an appropriate exercise at year-end. This is a good habit of the executive committee selling Shakey's pizza in the cities of Dumaguete and Bacolod . The meeting required me to take the bus passing the scenic Mabinay to Kabankalan route. The ride revealed how increasing sections of our roads are in dire need of repair, as well as, improvement. It is sad to conclude that road conditions then (September 2007) were better than now and may be an indicator of the short term trend for those unable to testify over television of the “randam randam na” positive turn of fortunes in their lives.

The increasing competition in the food, beverages and services business has kept our entrepreneurs on their toes, encouraging them to review and review the numbers that reasonably tell the stories of how business transpired the results of decisions and trends. Some are saying, in an overly simplistic manner which I find entertaining, that the November 29 revolt at the Manila Peninsula would have ended differently if done at the start of a new year for history has shown that successful political actions were done during the first quarter of the year. However, the L'Affaire Peninsula revealed how media practitioners can be appallingly treated by law enforcement or documenting the truth for that matter.

The reminiscing of the trip to Bacolod was reinforced when the dynamic duo Rey dela Rama and Lino Uy, our hosts, got to the challenge of naming the “Horse with No Name”. Representatives from the Woodstock generation (1969), rock and roll, country folk and baby boomers and youth gathered to listen and see America Live at La Salle in the Bacolod leg in their “All My Life Philippine Tour”. Let me express our gratitude to the organizers and sponsors who made the concert possible for to some of those in attendance, it was a once in a lifetime affair. It was a night for environmentalist lead by the Negros Forests and Ecological Foundation to rightfully share their advocacy and confirm that we do have a steep mountain to climb in encouraging our fellow citizens to protect the environment and think less of themselves. Members of the Dumaguete contingent that I met include RUSI's “Tony” Uypitching accompanied by Ngo-An's entourage , Christy and Leo Bollos, Nerisse, Annabelle and Edo Adriano, Youman, Gift and Joseph Regalado, All were smiles congregating at Luxor after the concert and treated to a pleasant surprise of having the company of Junie Lizares and Steven Chan. As the day has to come to an end, we parted ways with Lino agreeing that since Rey was not able to join us, the nameless horse be named Rey. With the songs Ventura Highway , Don't Cross the River, Tin Man, All My Life, Lonely People, You Can Do Magic flowing through consciousness, I smilingly concluded that the newly named horse was a strutting stud stallion.

Let us try to end with a smile at the expense of the Americans. This is the transcript of the ACTUAL radio conversation of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations 10-10-95. Canadians: Please divert your course 15 degrees the south to avoid a collision. Americans: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees the North to avoid a collision. Canadians: Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.  Americans: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course. Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course. Americans: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES' ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, I SAY AGAIN, THAT'S ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER-MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP.  Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call!*