With days to go as we prepared for our much-awaited Christmas Day this year, when the familiar carol proclaims it should be “Silent Night … (when), all is calm, (and) all is bright …,” our days in the country seem darkest, beset with natural and human disasters and political turmoil. When Tropical Storm Sendong struck the eastern part of the country, particularly Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities in northern Mindanao, we were witness to mass floodings that washed away life, property, and even, more tragically, hope.
Now as the country surveys all of this, we learn that this was actually foretold three years ago by environmentalists but was given little importance in the country. This was confirmed in 2009 by a simulation of the effects of extreme weather by the Worldwide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF), Philippine Imperatives for Climate Change (PICC) and Filipino scientists. And if we still remember, much earlier, former US vice president Albert Gore reported this in his book (also then even discounted and scoffed at), “An Inconvenient Truth.” Our scientists may perhaps be considered modern-day seers or prophets.
Human disasters and political dissent and turmoil are also rife this season: of slayings and murder (even interfamily, incredibly), fires, destruction of property (illegally constructed by informal/poor settlers) by authorities, and crime committed from the poorest to those in high places. In politics, the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona has been set after the holidays.
But not to despair, because “when the nights are darkest (and cloudless), the stars shine brightest!” Church religious leaders and the people pray for a peaceful resolution in this critical time.
In the wake of tragic death and loss caused by Sendong, the outpouring of aid all over the country in money, food, services, and prayer is even more overwhelming, from private persons, civic and religious organizations, all from the humblest to the better endowed, God bless them all! And thank God, especially the Holy Child, our Santo Niño, for sparing our Cebu, as He has in the face of past typhoons and other major natural disasters that have struck other parts of the country.
Following daily alarming media reports, I have been concerned about friends and relatives in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, whom I had visited years ago when I was still active in radio. I have failed to get to them by landline or cell phone, probably because of the disruption of services there.
And now, with all the concern in the country, and particularly in Cebu, for the Sendong victims, life continues and must go on. It is inspiring to know that some have donated their budgets for Christmas parties, or converted these gatherings into fund-raising activities for the flood victims.
On Wednesday last week, the Cebu Girl Scout Council held an Executive Committee meeting to plan Christmas activities for our girls and the many selfless and untiring volunteers: teachers, Department of Education officials, and community workers.
First of these was the annual Handog sa Pasko held last Saturday, December 17th, at the SM City Event Center It featured musical competitions participated in by Girl Scouts in choral singing, ukulele and rondalla playing, and native dances with chosen Boy Scouts for escorts. These performances were separately performed for the elementary and secondary levels.
The Girl Scout participants represented public elementary and high schools in Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Danao Cities, and in Naga, San Fernando, Consolacion, Carmen and Oslob; and private pre-school, elementary and secondary schools in Cebu City, Alegria and Bogo. All confirmed when we held our Executive Committee. Others may have joined later. Since I was unfortunately unable to attend that Handog presentation, I should be able to report on the winning entries next week.
Then Thursday night last week, we held our Zonta Club 1 Christmas party at the Cebu Country Club. In the fun program after dinner we had question-and-answer-contests with prizes for winners, a raffle of donated gifts and gifts we had brought for gift exchanging, while our president Stella Bernabe had her personal gifts for all of us members.
Next week I should also report on our Girl Scout Council Christmas Gathering held yesterday at the Grand Convention Center. With all of these parties and get-togethers and the Sendong—incited rains last Friday, I was unable, unhappily, to attend our annual Cebu Daily News Christmas party usually held at the rooftop of the CDN building. I learned it was held this time at the second floor editorial offices because of the rain.
With all of this pre-Christmas activity, I was shocked to learn that my ailing compadre, Pare Amador “Ado” Villalon, who had been in the ICU of the Cebu Community Center for some time, passed away last week. His remains lie in state at his residence in his hometown of Moalboal until his interment there on the 28th. I last saw and chatted with him and his wife, Mare Yeng-yeng, (both parents-in-law of my daughter Raquel who passed away in the US in January last year) during the May 15th Moalboal fiesta, and now he is gone. Last Saturday after anticipated Mass at our parish church, I met a mutual friend of the Villalons, Inocencia “Sencia” Gamboa , who is visiting from the States and shared the sad news with her.
This Christmas, I will no longer spend it in Manila with my youngest son Ramon and his family, who immigrated to Canada last October. So my Christmas here in Cebu will be an opportunity to meet friends at other gatherings through the New Year and Sinulog time.
Before I close, do remember in your prayers the soul of my compadre Amador Villalon that he may rest in peace.
Till then, may God grant us all a blessed and joyous Christmas with those we love!