Salamat!

Regards and thanks to all for everything. Para akong nakasandal sa pader. Even if you are thousands of miles away, isang karitelang halik to all, and maysa nga bagun nga pagragragsak.

The campaign is now eight days going. It has turned out to be a truly interesting journey. For the first time in many years, I am getting to know the real Baguio once more. The group has forayed into the few billionaires' preserves, to the middle class and poor sections of the city. We've also done the hustings in the original public market and the newly constructed malls. It's the latter two that present the true picture of what Baguio is.

We've also talked to the people - perhaps the most interesting aspect of the campaign - and have realized that there are indeed enough concerns to occupy a people-oriented city government and congressman.

The other side of the coin, so to speak, is that we have realized how important it is to bring down to real public awareness the manner by which much of the city has literally been sold to a few vested interests.

For instance, people gasp when they grasp the fact that all but just about three hectares of Camp John Hay are now accessible to them; that the golf course which was open to walk through after the base takeover is now exclusively for the few who can afford the million-peso membership fee or three hundred thousand-peso playing fee.

Baguio folk are also slowly realizing that whole roads in the central business district have been built over by private developers who owe the city millions of pesos in rentals or who brazenly deny any culpability over their illegal acts.

Burnham Park has also become central to our crusade. Slowly, the public is accepting that the wanton lease of large sections of the park to carpetbaggers has resulted in the exclusion of about half of the park from our previous free and everyday enjoyment of that last remaining green oasis in the heart of Baguio.

We have also taken issue over the turnover of practically all of the city's roads to a private corporation which now charges parking fees for the use of public roadsides. This, too, has been brought to court, an action that we intend to pursue through the elections and even after.

Lately, we have put before the people our objection to the so-called circumferential road that is expected to ring the middle outskirts. We have no beef over the intent. What we object to is the cost in environmental despoliation and human relocation. Initial estimates puts at eight thousand the number of pine trees that will be cut. That, plus the summary removal of perhaps two hundred homes, humble though they are, because of the road's design.

There are other similarly substantial matters we will bring to the public bar. The above are just the first. We will keep you posted. Not to worry, even now as we are writing this on the run, today being Palm Sunday and the campaign is on-going,

It is one-thirty in the afternoon and we have to meet briefly with the Association of Japanese Descendants at two. From there we proceed to Pacdal - - pony boys' country, if you recall - - and then do the rounds of that area of Pacdal. Then it's off to the health club of the Domalsins. Remember Nick Domalsin of Mr. Philippines fame?

That's all for now. We'll be in touch more often. We don't want the trusty typewriter to get rusty. But, we beg leave temporarily.

Tons of thanks.

Steve