My Home... Once

Let me take you on a journey... a history... a memory...

Where a sea of green was a plus...

And air so fresh you could literally hear a pin drop...

When learning was never the same...

And playing was getting a PhD in people skills...

Ah, the images of yesteryear,

So alive, so clear...

How deserving was I?

So blessed... so humbling...

Has Bukidnon Become a Popular Location?

First came QTV, the sister company of GMA-7, with a documentary on Sen. Zubiri's farm in Quezon (2007). Then ABS-CBN Star Cinema with a movie project called LOVE ME AGAIN, which was released last January 2009. Immediately after, even before production ended, two more film groups showed interest to shoot in Bukidnon. (However, neither has begun yet.) Now representatives of GMA-7 are arriving tomorrow to feature unique, strange and "weird" topics in the Province.

To top it off, many of our eligibles (for President and Senator) in the forthcoming Elections 2010 are coming down especially to endear themselves with Bukidnon. In Manolo Fortich alone, I believe there are already 3 or 4 parties vying for local office. Now I'm not saying that's a bad thing. In fact, it's a good sign that our municipality is commanding such interest. It means that we can expect much progress in the near future. At least, that's looking at it on the bright side.

My point only is to ask what is it about Bukidnon that suddenly, we are in the limelight? Of course,we knew it (why do you think we've turned down numerous suggestions to migrate abroad when I have 3 siblings out there already?) and the 1 million or so residents/farmers/landowners living here know it and all the Filipinos from Luzon and Visayas who have chosen to settle down here have known it for decades. Our one main concern before was how to get outsiders to see what we've seen. Tourism was a problem because pineapple (Bukidnon's main product) somehow got incorporated in Cagayan de Oro's promotion (a pineapple plantation in the middle of the city?) and so visitors would go to the city looking for it. How did it happen that from being a farfetched possibility, it is now available at our fingertips?

I think I missed something here.

It shouldn't really matter. God has blessed us with almost-perfect timing all the way. Of course, we've missed out on many (and I mean many) tourism opportunities due to superficial circumstances, but I think we landed the major ones (the ones I mentioned above). Plus, He has paved the roads for us to meet and befriend important contacts (Ms. Paula, Ms. Irene, Ms. Maya, etc.) who could bring in lucrative business for us all.

So though we may have missed a few specific details (like the when and how) the important fact remains that WE ARE STILL in the GAME. God rewards those who are patient and persistent. This is our calling and we will use it to glorify Him!

God Bless Us All!