CAUSE AND EFFECT Hermes Trismegistus is known by the Greeks as the three times great. The same person is the one the Romans called Mercury with his winged shoes and hat. He is considered as the father of Science. He propounded the seven Mighty Principles of Life which are considered the keystones of knowledge and are the rule of life. For our purpose on this topic I shall discuss only the Principle of Cause and Effect which states: “Every cause has its effect and every effect its cause”. This law proves that all things happen according to laws and coincidences are result of unrecognized cause. Everything that we can comprehend are effects of different causes. Each effect has its own cause which in turn was just an effect of something that caused it previously. Things that we see and feel are not necessarily satisfactory but it could eventually be the cause we very much want to attain the effect that will actually satisfy us. For instance, we may not be happy with the unfinished projects we see around us the resulting mess effect out of unguarded causes. We find it difficult to solve problem effects as we find it even more difficult to trace back the root cause could merely be an effect in a series that happen way, way back. Goldman and Silva illustrated this principle of cause and effect through a short anecdote: One day a leaf fall in a California forest. It landed on the forest floor, and a fat green caterpillar that was inching along had to make a sharp turn to avoid it. The caterpillar came to a log and crawled up the side. Just as it reached the top of the log a man came by and sat down, squishing the caterpillar. The man jumped up and felt the goo on the seat of his pants. On returning home he changed clothes ad took the pants to the local cleaners. While there he met a young woman and began a conversation, which continued at nearby coffee shop. They began to date, fell in love, married and had a child. Their son being very clever, did well in school, became an attorney, and went into politics, rising in his party. And so, because a leaf fall in the forest one day, Richard Nixon became the 37th President of the United States. (end of the anecdote). But not all unguarded series of cause and effect lead to a happy ending like that of Richard Nixon’s story. A strong willed leader could sometimes guard and guide causes in order to gain good effects or results. For instance a small sari-sari store allowed in one corner of a clean street serves as a cause that gives effect to many similar stores which in turn serve as causes that give effect to bundles of garbage thrown around until the effects become causes to finally turn a clean thoroughfare into a virtual market place. Intelligent recognition of the effects could easily lead to the proper recognition of the causes that could actually be guarded and guided accordingly. The Newly organized Alfonso Council of Tourism shall sponsor a Grand Sanghiyang Festival this Coming December, 2012. I am hoping that they will be able t to find or create causes that could give effects worthy of presenting to incoming tourists and local visitors.

SENSIBLE Whether you, are an ordinary Alfonseño, an eager Balikbayan or a curious new-comer to Alfonso, you will all extremely enjoy the unusual sight and sound of the unique modern community. All your senses shall be highly stimulated as quickly as upon your arrival. The main Mabini street from the welcome arch at Palinta which used to welcome anyone with a pleasant decency is now a virtual Matket Place complete with all the market trimmings up to the far north end of the road. You will hear all kinds of sounds with their intricate timbers from bells emitted from many school in the vicinity, to roaring of different intensity produced by hurrying tricycles, jeepneys, giant buses and hundreds of motorcycles hurrying left and right at no particular pattern, multiple private cars that are now more common than common colds. Be ready for irritating tinnitus or little deafness later. You may no longer experience the smell of pilipig and other native flavors but as you stroll down you won’t miss the scent of different fishes, of garbage from many corners and assorted other smells most difficult to describe, coming from everywhere. To end up with allergic running nose is not uncommon. Merely looking around will provide you with multitude of eye-sores ranging from hanging broken posters, uneven signs, dumped garbage, graffiti of all kinds and the likes. At the end of your visual scanning be ready for a genuine eye sores. It is also interesting to try your calisthenics from avoiding the many movements of almost everything along your way merely to prevent any serious accident that may harm you greatly if not avoided. All these are easily experienced from what used to be the most welcoming street of the town. Other streets and Baranggays have their own peculiarities but as a whole as I always say, Alfonso remains a Paradise. After all your senses have experienced all the negative effects of a rotting world, if you make a little introspection you will easily realize that behind all the dark and unfavorable results of unguarded progress lies still the unaffected paradise of people unchanged by a cruel though supposedly more civilized society. You will still meet the ever helpful and understanding friends, the welcoming, kind and loving relatives. Behind the mechanical and unethical noise everywhere, women are still cooking delicious kakanins and many well-loved delicacies such as tabliya, achara, pastillas, valenciana, tinumis, adobo, sampurado, palarusdus, puto, kutsina, and many many more especially the most symbolic palutang. Men are still working hard for their families. Women still attend to their homes and children. Lolos still quickly shares their wisdoms and experiences as Lolas remain prayerful, loving and hospitable. Young men and women still value their reputation and are aware of life’s values. Religious chapels of different sects are everywhere. It is therefore not surprising that there are no Beer Houses or Red cottages as there are also no big factories and multiple employees coming from everywhere. Beautiful Resorts are sprouting left and right. No wonder Alfonso is quickly turning into a Retirees Haven. My only fear, God forbid, is the time when Alfonso shall be peopled by retirees from everywhere displacing the original Alfonseños and Allfonseñas who kept the culture and heritages of this Paradise for a long, long time. When that happens I'll be turning in my grave in protest because being an incurable patriotic of the old town, I belong to Alfonso as Alfonso belongs to me.