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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Illuminating

Illuminating

Published Feb 5, 2026 12:01 am  |  Updated Feb 4, 2026 04:18 pm
MEDIUM RARE
What a lovely word. Say it again. Illuminating. It’s the word of the year.
That’s according to Patrick Fernandez, feng shui scholar whose profession in California, USA, is banking.
Not to put words into Patrick’s mouth, but I suppose that means we push lies and deception to the back, bring forth the light of truth and verity. At any rate, we will know more when Yin and Yang Shop of Harmony, in the person of his mom Auntie Baby Fernandez, leads the celebration to welcome the Year of the Horse come Feb. 17.
In the meantime, Anthony de Leon, Philippine Navy reserve officer who’s general manager of Baguio Country Club (BCC), carries the image of a blooming sakura (cherry) tree on his cellphone. (Disclosure: I’m a member of BCC.) The tree, abloom with flowers in sweet shades of pink, seemed to me the very picture of spring – illuminating the GM’s cellphone screen.
As Manila Bulletin marked its 126th anniversary last Monday, BCC is celebrating 2026 as its centennial. A doubly illuminating time, if I may use the word, which is why I’m including myself in celebrating those two events. At Manila Hotel where the Bulletin event meant cocktails, I met Manila Vice Mayor Atienza and occupied a corner table with MB entertainment columnist Nestor Cuartero, who’s a newly inducted member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board. I couldn’t stop myself from asking Nes if there are any sensational movies coming up. His reply: Nothing sensational; even Hollywood seems to be behaving. (It seems producers have begun to feel the pinch of producing expensive-to-make movies that wouldn’t be patronized to the hilt by audiences of all ages.)
As for BCC, GM de Leon shared that as demand grows, Baguio will need to build more houses, beginning with Outlook Drive and the land around the club’s golf course. Indeed, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s long-range plan is to develop Tuba to extend city limits.
One summer a l-o-n-g time many decades ago, Auntie No. 1 rented a big house in Baguio, scheduling us kids – cousins – by the week so we could all enjoy by turns the cold air and the pine trees and parks of Baguio. Illuminating, to remember those days...

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MEDIUM RARE JULLIE Y. DAZA
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