Just like many Cebuanos and Filipinos, I am very happy with the announcement of Pope Benedict XVI of the date for the canonization of Pedro Calungsod.
I am very excited with the date, Oct. 21. That would give us Cebuanos enough time to prepare Calungsod’s canonization. I am sure many Cebuano Catholics will go to the Vatican to witness the canonization ceremonies.
I have been praying for the canonization of the Blessed Pedro Calungsod and sought his intercession for some favors from God. I ask my fellow Cebuanos to pray to him not just for favors but also for his canonization to make an impact on our country.
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The impeachment trial has become more interesting especially for us non-lawyers because of what witnesses said last week about some peso accounts of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Another interesting twist is the Senate’s effort to unmask the personalities who possibly provided the prosecution data about the dollar account of Corona. Congressman Bonet Banal revealed that some people are helping them. He admitted that he saw a signature card that was left by someone in his parking lot and that he asked a bank official to verify it but was politely turned down.
From my vantage point the prosecution has already successfully exposed the peso account of Corona amounting about P31 million and the opening and closing of three accounts in one bank having a total deposit of about P34 million that is not reflected in Corona’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth. The defense panel said there was a reason for the existence of the substantial amount and its withdrawal on the day the Lower House impeached the Chief Justice.
President Noynoy Aquino is now stepping up the pressure against the Chief Justice by publicly criticizing him and commenting about the progress of the impeachment trial. The counter comment of the Chief Justice does not help. Corona attacked personally the President to the point of asking the President to reveal the result of his psychological examination. This is a rehash of the false allegation floated during the 2011 presidential campaign that there was a document proving that Aquino has a mental disorder.
There is no question that it is now the burden of the defense panel to refute what the prosecution has proven so far that in a way has made the pubic conclude that indeed Corona has stashed so much money that he failed to reflect it in his SALN. Many are hoping that the impeachment trial will end on or before Congress goes on recess.
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This Friday will be the 75th Charter Anniversary of Cebu City. It is going to be a grand holiday, the culmination of a week of programs and activities. The city will hold a dinner and award some outstanding personalities and institutions.
I was informed that actor Richard or Raymond Gutierrez is going to give the response on behalf of the Rama family during the morning program at the Rama monument in front of the Cebu City Fire Station in Natalio Bacalso Avenue.
Richard and Raymond are the sons of our first-degree cousin Annabelle Rama who got married to actor Eddie Gutierrez. Annabelle is the younger sister of Basak San Nicolas barangay captain George Rama. We in the Rama family are all proud of our grandfather Vicente and how he served the the city and country.