First, Ah Kong would like to express sincere apology to Milagros Rimando, Vice-Chairperson of the Regional Development Council – Cordillera Administrative Region (RDC-CAR) and Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA-CAR), for his inability to attend the Regional Symposium on Sustainable Development Goals: Self: Determined Development in the Cordillera.
Staff of the Rural Indigenous People’s Echo that Ah heads as lead convener are on field at the time of the symposium, reason for their non-attendance in the symposium. On this, we beg for your kind understanding.
Now, to Tempus Fugit; Latin phrase which literally means, “Time flies.”
Who was it who, a long time ago, sagely said, “It’s not what we do with time, but what we put in the time?”
Swiftly glide our times – they follow each other like the waves of the wind. T’was only some time ago that we celebrated Christmas and new Year. Now, it’s the end of the first quarter of Year 2019.
As time glides, remembrance calls up the persons we once knew, the scenes wherein we were once the actors; they march before the mind like phantoms of a night vision.
So it was that Ah Kong received word Joseph Likigan of Sagada, Mountain Province left our world.
So it was that the Almighty called last week upon Joseph Likigan, of Sagada, Mountain Province and surely and softly said to him, “Dwell in my House forever, for I will surely take good care of your cares.”
Joseph, a good friend during college days, was buried last Wednesday in his hometown, Sagada.
And Ah Kong pays tribute to a good man – a man you can surely ride the river with.
Of all the feelings that have at different times spark in the human breast, that of friendship in itself is one of the noblest, and originates in the most benevolent and disinterested of sentiments.
To those who knew Joseph and loved ones he left behind, Ah would like to share what he personally knew of him.
Remembering Joseph, Ah Kong beholds a young man then, rejoicing in the gaiety of his soul, the ray of hope danced in his eyes, the grins of expectations played upon his lips and he looked forward to years of joy to come.
“Happy, the man, Joseph Likigan, who, unencumbered by vulgar cares, master of himself, put in the time, and his goodness in making others happy.”
“Joseph Likigan, who, as the will and understanding are two ennobling understanding of his soul, thought himself not complete till his understanding be profound with the valuable tool of knowledge, as well as his understanding enriched with every virtue.”
“Joseph Likigan, who put to heart the advantages to relish solitude and enliven conversation; when serious, nut sullen and when cheerful, not indiscreetly gay.”
“Joseph Likigan, his ambition was not to be admired for a false light of greatness, but to be simply beloved for the gentle and sober glow of his goodness and wisdom.”
“Joseph Likigan, the man, even in his private walks always believed there is a present Being invisible, who walks this earth and above, and when he sees Him, Joseph adores that Being with the tribute of his grateful heart.”
“Godspeed, to the Happy Hunting Grounds in the Sky, my longtime friend!”
So it is with all of us, “Tempus Fugit!”
Many among us often complain how time glides swiftly, that we need to do this and that, and how small a portion of our life it is that we enjoy.
In youth, many of you there may say, we are looking forward to things to come.
Like, alas, many of our youth of today who instead of going home early, would rather stay late being out and drinking. As what happened to a youth (unnamed) who complained one day to Ah, saying:
Unnamed youth: “Langsut a talaga diay manuk ti kaaruba mi, manong Ah!”
Ah: “Apay met ngamin?”
Unnamed youth: “In-inayadek nga lumabas tattay parbangon ket bigla a nagtaraok a kunana, BARTIKEROOOOOOO!!!!”
In adulthood, many may say, although we appear indeed to be more occupied in things that are present, yet even those are too often absorbed in vague determination to be vastly happy on some future day when we have time.
Like saying, “Ay, wala akong oras na maglakwatsa, sa kadami ng ginagawa ko!”
Or as many harried housewives would complain, “Ay, awan tupay oras ko mangsagaysay ti bo-ok ko, dayta ketdi agbolakbol ti atupagek, uray saanen!”
Ah remembers of a time when after being occupied with some work, he decided to be happy one future day and ride on a ship or barko going to the Visayas. Unfortunately, the barko began to sink.
Aboard the barko was a priest, who, seeing their predicament, had time to pray, “San Pedro, San Jose, San Mateo, etc. . . .”
Also on board was a madre, who, too, took time to pray,” Sta Fe, Sta Lucia, Sta Clara, etc…”
Ah, sad that the barko was sinking, timely, said, “Lubok na balko, tawak pa kayo pasahelo.”
During adulthood, as time goes by swiftly, is also the time to ask a raise in salary, as your family gets bigger and expenses go higher, No?
As what Claudio Pestikan, an Ilokano living in Baguio City, tried to do one day.
He asked for a raise in pay from his boss, saying, “Sir, lima a tawen kon ditoy a kompanya, ngem ti sweldok saan pay sumang-at. Tapno ammo yu, adda duwa a kompanya a mangkamkamat kenyak.”
Boss: “Oho! Anya a kompanya dagita?”
Claudio: “BENECO ken BWD. Ket nu saan mu ingato ti sweldok, Sir, sigurado, maputulan kami!”
In old age, all may say, we are looking backwards to things that are gone past.
So it happened to a man Ah knew of, who was imprisoned for a grave crime. He got old in prison and the day came for him to pay for his misdeed – through the electric chair.
He looked backwards to things that were gone past that he should have done but didn’t, then asked for a last request.
Preso: Warden, may last request po ako. . .
Warden: Ano yon???
Preso: Hawakan n’yo naman ang kamay kung i-switch nila yung kuryente, para lumakas po ang loob ko.
A philosopher once said to Ah that the time we are young, we trust ourselves too much and we trust too little when old.
“Rashness is the error of the time of youth, timid, caution of age,” Ah’s philosopher-friend said.
Adulthood is the bridge between the time of ripeness, the fertile season of action when alone, you can hope to find your head to contrive united with what your mouth can say, according to that philosopher.
You don’t believe the time is ripe for your head and mouth to contrive together to work on something for your own good in your own good time? No?
Then why not try saying these aloud and very fast: ADD THE BAG BAG TEETH CONE, ADD THE BAG BAG TEETH CONE, ADD THE BAG BAG TEETH CONE, ADD THE BAG BAG TEETH CONE. . .
