How Temple Yard Got Me Runnin'

I received my Service Award middle of this month in line with the 90th anniversary of this paper and I am so proud to have stayed here despite all the odds and the lows.

For Ma’am Sonia Cobarde’s recommendation with regards to my employment at The FREEMAN in 1998, thank you! For Boss Jiji Gullas’ immediate approval of the said recommendation, thank you very much! For Sir Sensino Padin’s endorsement that I be considered on regular status beginning January 26, 1998 – thank you so very much! And for Sir Nimrod Quiñones’ recommendation for my promotion to being copy editor, thank you a gazillion times. 

When I arrived at The FREEMAN 11 years ago, I brought along the modest life my parents taught me by example, and the influence of various contemporary Gospel artists I have come to respect and revere. Without them, I could have quit earlier in the race.

Temple Yard, for one, released their album in 1998 featuring “Runnin’” which helped me a lot to get through those rough and tough times; those dark days that had me questioning the core values of the organization.

It’s really lonely when you’re unconventional. However, Georgia-based Gospel reggae artist Temple Yard said, “…just keep running/running in the right direction/…just keep running/running at a steady pace/…just keep running/running under His protection/…just keep running/…got no time to waste.”

It could have been easier for me to drop the baton along the way, and get in touch again with my sanity at home in the mountain, as at that point so-called “termites” of the organization had eaten away a good portion of the foundation, sending it shaking and tottering. But, on the other hand, I realized that, as I implored to the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (the patroness of our parish) to bless me with a “good, stable job” that's nearest to what I truly love, I was being tested as to how far I could run in this race.

The Caribeat (general up-tempo Latin-edged Caribbean style akin to soca, zouk and junkanoo) of Temple Yard helped me beat the odds, though. Their edgy digital roots sound kept steering me to “…fight the good fight/…run the good race/they’re pointing fingers and calling us fools/let them mock us one last time/as we’re nearing that finish line.”

Thank God for music. Temple Yard showed me how to work in the rhythm of the Almighty right at His temple yard and deal with issues and challenges squarely.

Also, I am indebted to all the great forces of this universe for conspiring with destiny in leading me to The FREEMAN.

Now, I don’t have to look at how far I still have to go. Rather, to enjoy how far I have already come.