Soon after taking her oath as President of the Philippines at the Kalayaan Hall of the Club Filipino on Tuesday, February 22, 1986, President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino, proclaimed a Revolutionary Government.

What Could Have Been if Cory…? (First of a series)

In March 1987, the practice run for the PMA Graduation was bombed when a bomb located on the ceiling of the grandstand exploded prematurely. Fortunately, Baby was not able to make it to the practice graduation. We stayed at the condominium in the “Tower” on Gibraltar Road, owned by my friend, Aquino relative and ATOM stalwart, Wilfrido “Wilo” Layug. In March 1989, we stayed at the condominium of a Chinese couple, William and Jingle Uy. They had a VHS rental and repair business in Virra Mall, GCC, San Juan. In 1992, after the May Presidential Elections, we again stayed at the “Tower”.

Baguio in My Mind! (Third of four parts)

In February 2016, Baby’s sisters, Ma. Caridad ‘Charito’ Sutton, from England and Ma. Cecilia ‘Cecille’ from California came to the Philippines. Her brother from Davao City, Isidro ‘Jojo’ Ahorro also joined us. We stayed at the Mountain Lodge at # 27 Leonard Wood Rd. This is the old vacation house of my aunty Margarita “Tina” Araneta Singh, which her daughter, Karmir Singh McCann developed and expanded into a family Hotel. It is now managed by her granddaughter, Jennine McCann Chan. My family of four stayed in the old master’s bedroom, while my - in - laws stayed in the old girls’ rooms. Just across the road is the white Laperal ghost house at # 14 Leonard Wood Rd.

Baguio in My Mind! (Final part)

After EDSA I, President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino appointed me as BUTEL Acting Assistant Director and NTC Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner. Although media relations and public information were our forte and expertise when we were in activism and the political opposition, I knew that Baby and I would not be good and effective, apologists for the incumbent administration. Therefore, I advised Baby to look for another line of work in the new Cory Administration. She became a protocol officer in the Office of the President from 1986 - 1989. On March 18, 1987, Baby escaped death when a bomb intended for Cory during the PMA graduation on March 22, 1987, exploded four days ahead during a practice parade and graduation. It was her function to act out Cory’s role in such practices. Fortunately, she was not free to go to PMA at that time.

59/58/55 years with Baby! (Third of a series)

I have my own personal experience of the alliances and political parties that I participated in and supported (although juvenile and vicarious in my younger years) in November of 1953, 1957, 1959, 1961 and 1965 (and would have supported in November 1973 if Martial Law had not been declared and the 1935 Constitution had not been replaced by the 1973 rump “viva voche” Constitution.). The above included the “Magsaysay for President” Movement (MPM), the 1957 and 1965 PPP’s and the 1959 and 1961 Grand Alliances.

What Could Have Been if Cory…? (Third of a series)

Since PBBM’s ‘State of the Nation Address’ (SONA) last July 28, 2025, a Monday, the Filipino people’s anger has surged and waned. On three dates, September 21 and November 30, 2025, and February 25, 2026, there were multiple rallies against the flood control scam. The INC organized a three - day Rally for Transparency and Democracy on November 16 – 18, 2025.

The Pieces of the Puzzle are Falling in Place!

Meanwhile, both Baby and I deteriorated in health. Since Baby had a long history of hypertension and I had diabetes and was overweight, our common doctor was a cardiologist, Dra. Esperanza “Espi” Icasas Cabral, Director of the Heart Center. Unfortunately for us, GMA appointed her Secretary of Social Welfare and, later on Secretary of Health. Baby and I were deprived of medical advice for about two years from 2005 to 2007.

59/58/55 years with Baby! (Fourth of a series)

Among all vacation destinations that are two hundred fifty kilometers from the National Capital Region (NCR), Baguio City is the most popular. It is even more popular than many places much nearer to the NCR. The closest competitor may be Tagaytay City (founded as a city on June 21, 1938) nestled between Cavite and Batangas in the Southern Tagalog/CALABARZON Region/Region IV – A.

Baguio in My Mind! (First of four parts)

My mother did a little landscaping on her portion. In the process, she recruited an Igorot worker, William Catanes. Eventually, we brought him and his family down to our farms in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan (1956 to 1958) and Pililla, Rizal (1958 to mid - 1990’s. He died three decades ago. His widow, Irene Catanes, only died last year, on October 1, 2025. Their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren still live in Pililla and other towns of Rizal as well as in Metro Manila.

Baguio in My Mind! (Second of four parts)

On January 3, 1992, Ramos, Pangasinan Congressman Jose “Joe” Claveria de Venecia and Agusan del Norte Congressman Edelmiro Atega Amante Sr., launched the Partido Lakas ng Tao (Lakas) at the Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan. The Lakas merged with the National Union of Christian Democrats (NUCD), a successor of the PPP (Progressive Party of the Philippines in 1957 and Party for Philippine Progress in 1965), led by former Senator Raul S. Manglapus, to form Lakas – NUCD.

What Could Have Been if Cory…? (Second of a series)

59-58-55-years-with-baby-fourth-of-a-series

The Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow column by OpinYon News columnist, Linggoy Alcuaz.

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

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