Anywhere but there

Netnet Camomot .

THE Pinoy with much time for a long summer vacation is former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre who resigned last Thursday. This was a resignation waiting to happen for so long, his non-fans’ deep sigh of relief could be heard from Aparri to Jolo. That’s how wide the clamor was for his ouster.

Aguirre is supposedly planning to run for the Senate next year but the negative publicity he’s attracting is not exactly a good start.

At least he now has time to prepare for his campaign. I wonder what his strategy will be without the media mileage he gained as Justice secretary. Only former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima could morph into a senator, and still remain relevant despite being jailed for her alleged involvement with illegal drugs. The Pinoy forgives and forgets and the Marcoses know exactly how that’s possible. Some Pinoy showbiz celebrities can also expect a warm welcome each time they make a comeback. Baron Geisler, anyone?

But Gabby Concepcion and Sharon Cuneta, obviously sans the latter’s “Forgive and Forget,” may not have their reunion movie soon due to irreconcilable differences. Even Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan are separating after almost nine years of marriage—yes, anything has been possible since Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie called it quits in September 2016. Tsk tsk. It’s time to move forward without history’s excess baggage.

If only the weather can also move forward. From humidity, that is. During these times, the senior-moment skin has to survive without lotion and BB cream which can worsen that feeling of… No, not emptiness. Of hotness. The bad hotness, with sweat flowing down the spine.

Colorado State University has issued a forecast for an above-average season of hurricanes for the US this year. This may trigger flashbacks to Katrina, Harvey, and Irma among flood survivors who have to learn to move forward amidst the loss. Try and try until you succeed, as the saying goes. Thomas Edison went through 1,000 tries in inventing the light bulb—that kind of try and try.

Will Pagasa also issue the same forecast for Pinas? Hmmm. Abangan.

Uptown Cagayan de Oro is now the preferred residential area after Sendong which may result to a Catch-22 situation for the city. Developers have altered the uptown landscape, cutting down trees to make way for subdivisions. With no trees to stop rainwater from flowing to the downtown area, floods can only worsen, unless the construction of an effective drainage system can keep up with uptown’s rapid urbanization.

And I heard there was morning traffic again near Pryce Plaza along Masterson Avenue on Saturday despite the summer vacation and students not joining the morning commute to the city proper. So, the traffic there has evolved into a suwerte-suwerte lang? And all along I thought that song is only for the rain:

“Sadya bang suwerte-suwerte lang ‘pag umuulan

No’n pa lang ako naabutan ng suwerteng gano’n

Hawak ko ikaw at ang payong mo

At kahit ulan ay tumilang bigla

May nangyari ng hiwaga.”

But the formula for success—preparation plus opportunity—does not include luck. Thus, if a Boracay resort employee is now looking for work, it can be politically incorrect to tell him, Good luck na lang!

San Miguel Corp. president Ramon Ang has offered to build a bridge to connect Boracay to Caticlan, to encourage workers to live outside the island where squatters have already sprouted. He said the bridge will also have a sewage system.

For all these ideas to appear only after President Rody Duterte called Boracay a cesspool, makes us wonder why the island’s local officials had not thought of them before. An island is supposed to be a sanctuary for lost souls and confused minds, with the beautiful scenery contributing to one’s well-being, cleansing his body, clearing his mind, inspiring ideas to go forth and multiply. Apparently, Boracay is not that kind of island anymore but has morphed into a vacation that needs a vacation after the vacation.

But there is hope for the weary and it is found in Puerto Princesa’s firefly watching tour where you sit on a boat and stare at fireflies and constellations. All vacations should have that calm and peace.

Meanwhile, the potential Boracay vacationer is transferring his travel and hotel reservations to anywhere but there. Oh, well.