“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentation 3:22-23
I am Philian Louise Weygan Allan, born in 1957 in the city of Baguio to Galo and Maria Weygan. Born, raised and studied with my 7 siblings in the public and private schools in our city. We are a healthy big family with no major illness when we were younger, except for those occasional attacks during the flu season. We roamed the mountains and valleys, swim the rivers, grow our gardens and raise our chickens, pigs and rabbits. A childhood full of memories and entering to a competitive high school and a breeze of the wind in college.
While I was working and doing my Master in the University of the Philippines-Baguio. One morning while we were in church, I was suddenly struck with pain and could no longer carry myself to walk. I limped and the next day my mother brought me to the hospital where all sorts of x-ray, test and doctors’ appointment ensued. I was diagnosed with a broken back, a fractured spine lumbar 5 and 6 and was pinching my nerves. Every movement was pronounced with pain and sitting and standing is impossible.
For over than five months, I was unable to walk, confined to traction in bed and wasted away.
Those five months, the late Dr Servando Liban II, a neurologist worked on my case like a hawk. He believed I will walk again even when I did not believe I will. Worked on my case when I made the decision not to go through surgery and instead take a more conservative treatment when my 5th and 6th lumbar got crashed and bit into my nerves which rendered my feet useless. Dr Liban explained very well the situation and gave an option of surgery or conservative treatment, there were no guarantees but I choose to go the conservative way of having lumbar traction, pain relievers, and other medicine that would help me recover. He would do a weekly home visit to check on me, check that I am tied to my traction day and night with intervals.
Those five months I was not able to walk and stayed in bed, my parents, my siblings would take turns putting and removing my traction; washing me up, putting and removing the bedpan, serving and clearing out my food and assisting me with almost everything that a normal person should be doing. There were times, I can pull my self and sit down on the bed or slide down to the chair that they left beside my elevated bed. At the foot of my bed was the traction being pulled by a sack of stones as weights, at one time I remember it was a sack of sand with a specific weight requirement.
Those five months my siblings were in school and my parents were at work. As I lay in bed I would listen to the radio, the teaching and worship songs that were played in a radio cassette player. I would know the time that a drama was played, the country sounds were on, the news would be aired. And when I was not listening to the radio, I was listening to evangelical teaching tapes by religious leaders and religious songs, hymns and worship from cassette tapes left by my mom and dad for me to while the day that I am left at home.
At the later months, I find myself nauseated, feverish and at times groggy and delirious. Maybe for laying down too long, the side effects of medicines and maybe a mind that wanders. Came a time I give up as everything I eat came out, and even prayers were not able to calm my tired and broken body. I cried a lot and prayed more. Then I wrote my last will and testament, wrote goodbye letters to my parents and by March 6 I was ready to meet the FATHER.
That week in March 1982, my parents were attending activities of the miracle crusade team of Janet Combs at the Church of the Resurrection. They joined the teachings, the healing ministry and the nightly worship service. On that particular March 6, a team of Episcopal Church Women led by the late Mrs. Esther Cosalan joined my mother and they prayed for me. I cried as I lay down in bed, knowing that, that morning I asked God to take me home with him to eternity. They surrounded my bed, reading the Bible, singing praise and worship, praying, laying their hands on me. After they were done, Aunty Esther took my hand and said “Philian you rise up and walk!” I was in pain as they helped me get up, sit in my bed, they put my shoes on and then led me to the living room. And miracles of miracles, Mom and Aunty Esther held my hand and crying, I walked from my room to the Sala.
Since the Night worship service was happening in church and the women were going to go, they asked me if I can join them. So, my siblings changed my clothes, put my socks and pink walking shoes. (How can I remember those details boggles my mind, it is amazing, as I was in a bad state before that) While in church, I was sitting, standing and when testimony came, I was helped and walked to the front and shared my testimony on how God healed me instead of taking me home. That was my first time to share my testimony on how God healed me, gave me a new life and extended it. Gave me the answer of a prayer, a husband a bigger family, and see the nephews, nieces and grandchildren grow.
Forty years from March 6, 1982 has been a long time. I have travelled far and wide, have met people from all walks of life and of different cultures, have taught and learned in different classrooms and locations. God allowed me practice a profession and a vocation, made me an educator, a cross culture missionary, development worker, and a public legislator.
Forty years ago, a miracle happened and continue to happen in these times.
O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am. (psalm 39:4)
At the end of the day, we thank God for what has been, we praise Him for he is faithful
Posted on: January 25, 2022
SETTING GUIDELINES ON THE SUNDAY MARKET IN SESSION ROAD IN CELEBRATION OF VARIOUS FESTIVALS
SECTION 2. BASIC POLICIES AND DEFINITION OF TERMS
- It is the policy of the city that pursuant to Sec 21 of the local government code and its implementing rules and regulation, the City of Baguio shall close a road (Session Road) on Sunday for fiesta celebration, agricultural or industrial fairs, flea markets, or shopping areas and where goods, merchandise, foodstuffs, commodities, or articles of commerce may be sold and dispensed to the general public;
- It is the city’s policy to provide venues for micro, small, medium Entrepreneurs (MSMEs), local farmers, startup initiatives, organized displaced vendors and overseas workers, new and old entrepreneurs in showcasing their products towards improving living conditions, keeping vibrant local economy and uplifting moral and spiritual wellbeing;
- The city shall adhere to the required business registrations, health protocols, sanitation and environmental regulations while advancing good character, and vehicle mobility around the Central Business District;
- It is the policy of the City that the Session Road Sunday Market is temporary in nature in terms of a)structures which are removed after the activity, b) participation registration is on a Sunday basis, c) and celebrations are on a season, monthly or event period except on occasions where an existing ordinance provides that Session Road be closed for market.
family is important
Posted on: May 2, 2021
During this Pandemic, the lock downs have created venues and opportunities that brought some families together for the longest time. This is a blessing to some and to others a restriction. No matter how one sees it; the opportunity or the restriction; the blessing or the curse. It is that half empty, half full glass viewpoint. No matter how we perceive these times to be, to most it was an opportunity to focus and value family.
Thinking about family, makes me remember my father. He was a family provider all our lives as a family. He has been working and our family never lack, though some would say “not so because I wanted something I never got.” But I remember as a small child where food was paramount, we never lacked because of mom and dad. When I was in UB Science High School I can always buy the required books, watch all the required shows and would run to the market to mom, or to Dad’s office if we need to buy a book or pay some contribution of some sort. As a college student I was already working, but still mom and dad paid all the bills. Except some of my tuition when I was on scholarship.
Me and my siblings even earned extra money by helping in the chores and in the market. It was all family life. Those days with mom, dad and siblings gave us memories of our younger days where we do most things together. These did not continue as we grow older and each of us had our own friends, own families and own undertaking.
Family life was extended a little for us because our parents allowed us to be part of the family businesses they set up. Some of us experienced working in the market – hilltop and later on Hanger Market. Most of us, if not all, had worked in the school at one time in our life. I worked in the accounting office as a working student in college. Some of us siblings worked at the hotel and the retail business of my mom. I remember my brother working with dad in the insurance business. My mom and dad were always engaged in one business and would invite us to join them, and some of us did.
Unfortunately, family life was also interrupted with some family squabbles which could be traced back to times that my dad was an absentee dad during our childhood days. Amazing how those seem to have been magnified when we hear someone say “dad, you were not there.” Or during a graduation, where dad was not around to hang the medals to his children and I remember my brother no longer going back on stage to claim his last medal because my dad was not around. It was because dad was somewhere else “serving others.”
In his later years, dad tried to catch up with the family. And when he heard the misgivings, he apologized for his lack of participation in some portions of our lives that to children were seen important. He apologized not only once, but I counted three occasions where he apologized, for his absence during our childhood moments of celebration. We were already grownups and my siblings have already their families and had a better understanding of family life – balancing looking for family provision and spending quality time with family.
This pandemic time, maybe the longest time that my husband and I would be together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and every day of the month. It started last year when we were in San Diego, California when the Covid 19 broke, and came home just one day before the lockdown was declared by the President and the AITF. From that day on, most days were spent together building relationships, renewing friendship and creating memories within the confines of home.
There were times, that I have to leave my husband and be in the city doing work but it also gives me the reflection of what has happened to my father in his old age. Feeling sorry he was not part of our family life and celebrations. And in that reflection, I had made a comfortable decision that in all things – family first after God. So, it is now, and I will not wait that at the later part of my life I will regret. That instead of being with my husband I was out there serving others, and will regret later. God has been good that even in my age he has given me the capability to learn and be able to work at home, learn virtual conferences, where my presence in my absence.
My city hall office continues to run as none of my staff are senior citizens and none have become covid positive. I continue to pray for their protection and health. Because of their presence, the virtual platforms and the connectivity, I continue to be with family and still work 24 hours, seven days a week.
the March that was
Posted on: May 2, 2021
March 2021 passed so fast and now April is gone too. March came and disrupted my schedules, my plans, my normal activities, I also missed a lot of them. A regular Tuesday radio program. that never happened because I forgot the days. The Sangal Di kultura that is a venue to share some thought, have remained to be in the mind and never written.
The city council sessions that were heated with debates that returned proposed ordinances I wrote, back to my committee for a couple of times for a phrase or a word that does not fancy a fellow legislator. The month, where I had schedules that were haywire as I battle with occasional physical issues of minor pains and discomfort that complicates basic motions of walk and sit.
April went so fast as I quarantine and balance family, work demands and church commitments. March and April, will go down on a record that I keep getting sick after every exposure outside the home. Is it psychological or signs my immune system is going down? More often I pray the healer’s prayer.
But let me remember moments and thought of the March that was.
March 6 was a spiritual renewal for me 39 years ago. The night I stood and walked from a sick bed where I laid wasting away for over six months, unable to walk, doing nothing but laying down in my bed at the mercy of my parents and siblings. And that morning I wrote my last will and testament, prayed and committed my life – a broken body and spirit, and begged that God take me home to the heavens. That night the women fellowship prayer warriors from the church, that my mom was a member of had that much faith to ask them to come and pray for me so I will walk. God’s faithfulness was at work and I walked, gave my testimony in the church service that night. How I came to be in that state, will be another story.
March, my brother-in-law Billy died. I saw my husband seemingly lost and would take a day for him to finally accept the fact and join the wake. It was a time to comfort the family as we also took care of some practical concerns of the wake and the burial. Manong Billy was the politician that never was. He can be sitting with top head of the Liberal Party that he supports (he crossed lines, when I run for public office) and could also be seen among the young people playing darts at the bar. He could be where people most congregate whether political or not and would even easily speak out his mind. He will be long remembered by people he has mingled with and by the family he loved and served. When he visits our home for a party or simply dropping by, he would be bringing in blessings – bananas or other fruits or simply some bread.
March 30 was the birthday of our late Mom, which our family celebrated together but alone. Mother Maria as she was fondly called by family and relatives. In our childhood Mom was a stay home mother, a typical survival home farmer tending lots of chickens, pigs and at one time rabbits for food and for sale. We had our own vegetable home gardens. Whatever we produce beyond our needs of pechay and bananas we sell to the neighbors. And as if that was not enough, we had our uma in the mountains which is now called Quirino Hill. At that time, we call it Carabao mountain as it looks like the back of a carabao sitting down. We had camote, bananas, peanuts, cassava and other things that my mom, auntie and us siblings would plant in the barren space of the mountain. Mother has always been our teacher in “love of work” “observe the seasons of the year” “industriousness” “never a dull moment life” she was full of energy and never runs out of things to do. The March 2021 that was.
strawberry fields forever
Posted on: August 18, 2020
Strawberry fields forever
The Barangay Agriculture and Fisheries Committee (BAFC) Ordinance is on its third and final Reading scheduled for August 10, 2020.
The city has already lined up some projects for these BAFC to participate in. First will be six green houses for strawberries, one to be a model farm in the City Vet and Agriculture Office and the five to be given to the following pilot barangays; Loakan Apugan, Minesview, Middle Rock Quarry, Lower Dagsian, Bakakeng Norte/Sur. There will still be 19 greenhouses to be implemented next year. This is also in line with the ordinance to pioneer 5 BAFC.
My interest in strawberry fields was re kindled with a visit of Brenda Solang Sudaypan and Sol Langay to the office showing me some big strawberries. I was giving my divided attention as I was late for an activity at the city hall grounds. But I could see their determination that I hear them out. So, I sat down and they related to me that there are strawberries in Santo Tomas. At that time, I thought all the strawberry fields are now in Benguet. But it is not so, because when we were kids, there were strawberry fields in North Sanitary Camp, across the river from our home.
So that afternoon, out of the bag of Brenda came out the King Strawberries and I thought she was joking. It was the biggest and reddest strawberries I saw for a long time. Anyway, they told me of an association that is involved in agriculture and so I asked what can I do for them, we did not have a clear idea of how we can work together. So, I suggested that one day we will do a farmer’s market. And told them to inform the barangay of what can be done, we tried to schedule them for other activities.
Then they sent me an invitation for the induction of their new set of officers, that was the time that we finally made a farm visit and also their induction in the presence of the Highly Urbanized Cities Agriculture and Fisheries Council. (HUCAFC) the Barangay Officials and Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan. After the induction and snacks, we went for strawberry picking and farm visit before we finally walked around and talked on some ideas towards a plan. That time we were talking about farmer’s market and an Agri Tourism for the Bilis, Santo Tomas.
We envisioned an Agri Tourism project composed of a parking lot, a registration kiosk, a view point, a snack bar, strawberry picking, vegetable store, a souvenir shop and a photo booth. The idea was to have a walking path that goes around and also up to the view point. That sharing did not have a second chance to be discussed as the pandemic ensued. It was to be a community project and not privately run.
The farmer’s market was also discussed with the members of the barangay council specially Kag Ike Picpikan and the PB Cawaing. It was good because the barangay had their first farmer’s market during their anniversary this year. It still has to be seen how they can make it more responsive to the needs of the farmers and the general public.
Going back to the strawberry fields, the city has now realigned the mushroom project to the strawberry project by providing 6 greenhouses this year and another 19 units by next year. This will encourage the production of strawberries in the urban and rural barangays of the city. This will revive a product that has a big market in the city of Baguio.
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