Back to reality

Egay Uy .

THE festivities are over!

The Higalaay Festival, a local celebration of the feast of Sr. San Agustin, the patron saint of Cagayan de Oro City, practically culminated with the annual pyro or fireworks show in Uptown Cagayan de Oro on August 28.

The festival was highlighted by the crowning of Miss Cagayan de Oro 2019 earlier, and the community parade on Aug. 27, which was attended by a cross-section of the community – public servants led by Mayor Oscar Moreno, civic-spirited businesses, non-government organizations, and contingents representing various public and private schools.

Among the highlights was the presence of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach who at some point in her life lived and studied in this city.

August was indeed a month of festivities and celebrations. Most key government leaders led by the mayor himself spent extra hours to be present in the various key and parallel events as if they were born indefatigable by nature. In my case, I had to practically hibernate.

I thought I have done my share through the Regulatory and Complaint Board’s consistent monitoring and operation to regulate places of amusement, through the Joint Inspection Team’s consistent conduct of inspection of businesses in general to ensure their continued compliance with regulations, and through the City Price Coordinating Council’s constant coordination with the DTI, DOE, and recently the Food and Drug Administration, to ensure the protection of consumers in this part of the country.

I had to hibernate to regain dwindling energy as an inevitable consequence of ageing. On the side, I had to join a group of relatives regularly perform physical exercises (read: Zumba) in the private compound where we live, especially that a portion of our once-muddy access road was recently concreted.

I had to hibernate to be ready again for more action once work resumes at full speed to do justice to the functions that Mayor Moreno placed on my shoulders. I had to hibernate and watch the festivities via live coverage right in the comforts on my home.

I had to hibernate to be ready again to roll up my sleeves for the excitement of performing tasks that could result to a better community for everybody.

It’s now time to back to reality.

(Egay Uy is a lawyer. He chairs the City’s Regulatory and Complaint Board, co-chairs with the city mayor the City Price Coordinating Council, and chairs the city’s Joint Inspection Team.  He retired as a vice president of Cepalco.)