Change

Netnet Camomot

I TRY to be a morning person. Waking up at 3 am, 4 am or 5 am depending on whatever, whenever, wherever.

But I’m not a morning person. I prefer not waking up to an alarm clock whose sound I sometimes don’t hear, and before I know it, I’m waking up at 6 am for a 6 am activity, and I frantically text people to please wait for me as I brush my teeth, put on decent clothes, brush the hair, and rush out of the house.

Most of the time, though, I now wake up at, say, 4 am if I have to leave the house at 6 am, only to realize that two hours of preparation are not enough–gotta wake up 30 minutes earlier next time.

That’s exactly how my Saturday morning went for our Rotary International District 3870 Zone 1 Council of Presidents’ and Rotary Club of Kalayaan Cagayan de Oro’s tree growing activities–woke up at 4 am for the 6:30 am assembly time. But still arrived at the venue after 6:30 am. Why?! OK, I’ve always been Slowpoke Rodriguez, that’s why during vacations, I have to be the first one to use the hotel bathroom. But I also have to be the earliest to wake up in order to make that possible.

With this mantra now on change care of the future prez of Pinas, will I finally be able to morph from night owl to an early bird? Hmmm. Let’s see on July 1, 2016 when the country’s new prez begins his six-year term. But then, that’s the first day of my no-need-to-wake-up-early sked since my term as Rotary club prez ends on June 30. Yehey! So looking forward to that day. And I can be a night owl forever and ever again, thank you.

Change has become the most favorite word in Pinas. There are times when it’s called chains. Probably referring to the chains that will bind the hands and feet of criminals once they’re caught by the people who are supporting that change.

Change is good if it’s for the better. If it’s for the worse, it’s still good since change should be a learning experience.

During our tree growing project last weekend, Gean Cesar would get more seedlings to plant and she’d say, Change is coming!

Our club secretary Kim Daguman planted 30 seedlings that day. Yup, 30. If each Pinoy in these overpopulated 7,000 or so islands of Pinas  will plant as many trees, too, try to imagine how this country will look like. Green. As far as your eyes can see–all green.

Our Club is looking forward to more tree-growing projects, with at least one for each Rotary year. “At least”–meaning, there can be more than one.

The more important side to tree planting is the growing part: ensuring each tree grows to its fullest potential. And that’s only possible when your Rotary Zone and Club have partners who can sustain that aspect by providing constant TLC–tender loving care–to each seedling. And our heartfelt gratitude goes to RID 3870 Past Assistant Governor Benjie Paras of RC Uptown CDO and RC Kalayaan CDO Tree-Growing Chair Akon Chou for being our partners in these latest projects.

The country’s change, however, may require more efforts than a tree growing project. After all, Pinas’s challenges are not only environmental in nature. They’re way beyond that, and Pinoys are now excited to find out if the Davao City mayor is capable of expanding his disciplinary actions from the city to the whole country.

For now, he has begun blurting out possible scenarios that we can expect during his administration. No karaoke after 10 pm. No drinking on sidewalks. Curfew for unescorted minors at 10 pm–should be escorted by a parent or guardian and not the “kabag-id bag-id” at the bar.

Wait, no karaoke? You mean, no more “My Way”? Which happens to be the song that can make people kill the tone-deaf karaoke mic hog who’s singing the song in his own way.

I’m now waiting for the nationwide ban on firecrackers and fireworks. But how to celebrate the New Year and special occasions without fireworks? Hmmm.

With no firecrackers and fireworks to disturb his silent nights, there’s a brighter future for the night owl who wants to become an early bird. But will that be enough for me? I may have to pray the Holy Rosary to further induce sleep. Or read the Bible. Or watch “Captain America: Civil War.” Yes, I slept while watching some parts of that movie. Oh, well.