Friday last week was a day to remember that 40 years earlier, on Sept. 21, 1972, we entered a new historical era with the declaration of Martial Law for the country, actually implemented only a couple of days later, when we were shocked into a subdued silence. For a while, that is, until we realized the import of it all. Not just for the country as a whole, but for each and every one of us, personally.
Media last week relived these events and contributed personal experiences during those years. Ambeth Ocampo, in his Philippine Daily Inquirer column “Looking Back,” historically recounted this with “Remembering the 1970s”.
Last Friday, Sept. 21st, the Church also observed the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.
Last Friday, my late younger sister Francisca, would have been 87 years old. If I remember rightly, my mother derived her name from Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the Patroness of Naga City, a special devotion of my Bicolana mother. God rest the souls of both of them.
Last Friday, I was happy to join my fellow executive committee members of the Cebu Council of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, after having been away from our monthly meetings in the three months I was out of the country. This was our third meeting after having elected our new Council officers for the new triennium starting this year.
The good news: the Cebu Council won 18 Triennial Awards for 2009 to 2012, received during the regional committee meeting on Sept. 15 in Boracay Island, Aklan, for being highest in membership and in number of troop leaders and community women trained; for having produced two certified trainers; for being highest in NES (National Equipment Service) sales; for constantly achieving the highest percentage of NES per capita sales; for being the highest remitting council and for having achieved its goal in the National Thinking Day Fund Collections for four consecutive years; for being the highest remitting council to the Josefa Llanes Escoda Memento Fund; for having achieved the third highest percentage in badge work; as well as for having the third highest number of 27 patrol leaders (PL) with the PL Camp certificate.
Also for having consistently produced 15 Chief Girl Scout Medalists; for having organized a Junior Journalist Guild with newsletter for three consecutive years; for having conducted regular council board and executive council meetings for four consecutive years; and for having submitted annually the council’s annual audited financial report. Congratulations all!
Then last Saturday, Cebu media celebrated the conclusion of a most successful Cebu Press Freedom Week with a colorful “Media’s Got Talent” fellowship party at Laguna Garden Cafe at Ayala Terraces.
As a long-time broadcaster, now semi-retired but writing this s weekly Cebu Daily News column, thanks to publisher and acting editor-in-chief Eileen Mangubat, I still keep in touch with the tri-media as a Concerned Bystander. I especially appreciated the talents shown by Cebu media in reporting, participating in, and particularly presenting dramatized commentaries on the current political scene. Congratulations to the first-prize winning media group for dramatizing, with appropriately “masked” talents, the current political rivalry between top Cebu City and province political figures, to the riotous appreciation of the audience!
For this successful concluding presentation of Cebu Press Freedom Week, thanks to main sponsors San Miguel Corp. and Kepco, and Cebu Daily News as lead convenor.
Then last Sunday, I attended Holy Mass honoring Our Lady of Peñafrancia at the Capitol Parish Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church with main celebrant Msgr. Roberto Alesna of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, assisted by two Bicolano priests of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) from the University of San Carlos, and sponsored by the active Bicol Association in Cebu.
The elaborately decorated and lighted side altar at the Church had the beautiful image of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, Patroness of Naga City in Camarines Sur. I did mention last week my special affinity with Her because of my late Bicolana mother, who spoke of the Bicolano devotion to Her, and my having visited Her Church in Naga City later many years ago.
Speaking of religious devotions and practices, I was shocked to read about Msgr. Cristobal Garcia of Talisay, headlined in national and local dailies yesterday, based on a devastating feature on him in the October issue of National Geographic Magazine. The article raised his alleged involvement in ivory smuggling in the country, with his years-long collection of revered religious ivory icons that have been the subject of his historical and culturally respected, collection of antique icons. The article also brought up his case involving an “indiscretion” with altar boys some 20 years ago when he was a Dominican priest.
It’s ironic that this report should come out shortly after the conclusion of Cebu Press Freedom Week, and soon before the Oct. 21 canonization in Rome of Visayan martyr Blessed Pedro Calungsod. For now, we pray for and await the eventual results of investigations by both the Church and government agencies.
In closing, do remember in your prayers for the eternal repose of the souls of former Cebu Girl Scout Board members who recently passed away: Guadalupe Montecillo and Ada Martinez.
Till next week then, as always, may God continue to bless us, one and all!