THE cold that began on January 31 was almost gone by February 3, the fourth day, but was I healthy enough to go back to the gym? Since my voice was still hoarse, I decided to continue staying home. “Listen to your body”—that’s what low-carb doctors and coaches have always taught us, so I listened.
Colds can be caused by inflammation. With all the carbo-loading I was doing since December, I was expecting my body to eventually say, Enough already. And that’s exactly what happened that weekend. It has had enough. Time to reboot, refresh, and reset the carnivore diet. Which I did once the macadamias were consumed.
Yes, I had a small pack of macadamias, bought in December during my carbo-loading days. The more carbs ingested, the higher the carb cravings. Kind of awakening the sweet tooth.
In case the current batch of carbs is found wanting, Serg’s is planning a major comeback this year. My generation grew up with Serg’s. Surely we will be among the chocoholics lining up at the supermarket cashier to sate our nostalgic chocolatey memories. Oh. Except me. I don’t want a repeat of that colds episode.
And I need constant mental clarity 24/7 with all the goals I have for this year. No pressure, though. Because only I can pressure myself. Unless government agencies are raring to join the maddening crowd of pressure creators, which they’re wont to do, their hard habit of making the Pinoy’s life miserable.
What’s the first word that comes to mind each time you hear the word “government”? I’m sure it’s not joy. Nor is it happiness, glee, fun. Not faith, hope, charity. Not honesty, respect, trust. Not assurance, security, reliance. Instead, there’s graft, corruption, taxes, fees, scams, commissions, stress, problems, floods, traffic, helplessness, darkness, hearings, ghosts, comedians, actors, showbiz, gobbledygook.
With the government setting a bad example, individuals and private firms may also follow that example, leaving the Pinoy with hopelessness and the thought of immigrating to his favorite tour destination.
The young ones have all the chances to live and work abroad. The young once may have to consider if their joints can withstand the cold that winter brings. Once you’ve reached a certain age, you’re set in your ways and adjusting with a new country may only bring you stress, the stress that you want to leave behind in Pinas.
Still, starting anew has no age limit. Metamorphosis is not only for butterflies and salamanders.
Politicians, however, can only change colors, like the chameleon. Which reminds me of Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon”: “Red, gold and green/Every day is like survival.”
Politicians have no fear in changing their political colors. Yellow today, pink tomorrow. But in Cagayan de Oro, the Cagayanon knows who’s orange, violet, or green. Although several campaigns ago, two of them did merge to become orange-violet, a color combination that was painful to the eyes. Ouch.
And then, orange and green merged for the 2025 political campaign. Easier on the eyes. And it worked.
There’s one prominent CDO politician who doesn’t seem to have a political color anymore. In 2025, he became violet, a color that would have been unthinkable for him in 2013 when he ran against it. Does that make him a chameleon?
