Another simple living at Asin Hot Springs; Tuba, Benguet

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Roger Sinot

As I stood by the pool watching the bathers swim, young man came to me and opened a conversation. He complained about things that are happening in his life, as if the world is on his shoulders. He started the conversation with the question “why”. It seems he blamed someone why he existed in this world. In Tagalog, he asked “bakit”. He ended with the question “Bakit ganiton ang buhay sa mundo?” I answered, “Pare, bakit di mu subukan sa kabilang buhay!”

            Before I continue, may I say farewell to Aunt Martha Aragon, the mother of Edith and Rommel. We lost one of the pillars of Pinsao Pilot Project. Uncle Leo went ahead to prepare her mansion on that hill where nobody grows old. They just went ahead of us. It won’t be long, we will be leaving here. Our condolences to her granddaughter and our niece Jennylyn Aragon Sinot Trang and to the rest of the family.

           

            Last week’s issue, I talked about “simple living in Asin. I started the paragraph with the “age of confusion” that teaches us to distinguish the right from wrong, and makes us live within our bounds. Truly a golden rule at home, in school in churches and in government, in the society, we do what is right. With what is going on in government right now, it seems nobody is doing right, or perhaps they forgot about the golden rule. In living among people, and living in compartmentalized spaces, we must follow rules for the common good.

This, I think, is what changes life in the city where different cultures are represented. One has to grow up trained to do right and always to do what is right. We must know how to honor one’s property, and “drive our vehicles safely.” We must not set fire to our neighbor’s house if we are angry at them. On our way to success, in our travels anywhere, on the job, in the office and everywhere, we must watch our steps. Let us not live in maximum living with minimum wage.

“But the country is so pretty… God must be a cowboy at heart, He made wide open spaces from the start. He made grass, trees and mountains, and a horse to be a friend, and trails to lead old cowboys home again.” A beautiful song about simple living.

What is at the end of the two tunnels on the road to Asin? A place to relax and be happy. Cleansing starts from oneself. Don’t worry, be happy. Treat yourself and family to a trip to Asin and you will see what I mean. In Asin, live life of the “not rich” and feel natural deep down. If not, at least be original. The mind is one precious possession. Let us not give it up by default. Think your own thoughts and not what others want you to think. That is democracy. Let your thoughts be free like birds in the sky. Do not censure them and criticize them and hate yourself if they don’t always fall in with the opinion of the majority.

“I got peace like a river, I got joy like a fountain, I got love like an ocean” in Asin. Happy trails to everyone and give yourselves a break. Welcome to the “autonomous” region of Asin. Happy trails ahead. - RDS