As a longtime Bystander, I have been noting the colorful passing of the years and the touchstones that mark them along the way. So here we are now in the tenth month of this eventful second (of four) –ber months of the year, October. In the early Roman year, it was the eighth, or “octa-” month just as September was the seventh (“septa-”) month, November the ninth (“nova-”) and December the tenth (“deca-”).
For Catholics, October is Mission Month. It is the Month of the Holy Rosary with the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary observed on Oct. 7th. Other religious feasts in this first week of the month include the Memorial of St. Therese (“Little Flower”) of the Child Jesus last Monday the 1st; the Memorial of the Guardian Angels on Tuesday the 2nd, and the Memorial of St. Francis Assisi yesterday, the 4th. Yesterday was also celebrated as World Animal Day, St. Francis Assisi being the patron saint of animals.
October is also Pink October for advocates against breast cancer, one of the most common cancers among women. Ramon Aboitiz Fund Inc. (RAFI) leads civic activities about cancer awareness and early detection. Starting Oct. 10th, they are holding free public forums on breast cancer, with volunteers providing advice on early detection through self examination. Do follow local media reports on activities about this.
In current news events, partisan politics is heating up in the local and national scene. As a voter, I find the situation perplexing as I wonder, what are the issues, what and where are the groups or parties that stand for and espouse these, who are running for what positions, and with what plans, purposes or ends? Old and familiar alliances have been split and new and bewildering alliances are being formed. And with the now current “mudslinging” and “crossovers” in parties and alliances, where is the Ship of State bound for?
This week, Oct. 1 to 5, voter registration was suspended to give way for candidates for next year’s elections to file their certificates of candidacy, together with their certificates of nomination and acceptance, unless they want to be considered independent candidates. Official candidates are to have been duly registered with equally registered political parties or coalitions of political parties. Let us hope this will guide us to make our choices as to their aims and thrusts.
I am inclined to favor candidates with records of integrity, achievements in their respective fields or in public service, and previous political and/or government service. The current political parties confuse me.
To the disturbing National Geographic report on so called “involvement” of a local religious personality in the smuggling of ivory for religious icons, to the extent of even digging up a long past indiscretion, add the resurrection of the involvement of a now imprisoned-for-life Cebuano/Spanish youth in the Chiong sisters’ abduction and murder years ago in a current documentary film. This Bystander figuratively “stands by” non-judgmental as media reports continue. Non-judgmental as far as “shooting who?”—the messenger and/or the message (or even subjects for that matter).
On a happier subject, on the 21st, we shall have our second Filipino saint with the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI. This will be attended by hundreds of Filipino devotees. I hope to watch this covered on TV.
At our Alliance of Two Hearts Parish Church in Banawa, the images of San Lorenzo Ruiz and Blessed/soon-to-be San Pedro Calungsod are on their respective stands on the left and right sides of the main altar. In this connection, the Philippine Daily Inquirer has published an article, also reprinted in Cebu Daily News, which I have ciipped for my files. These include a slim booklet on Pedro Calungsod, Young Proto-Martyr (+2 April 1672) by C. G. Arevalo, S.J., which I bought at the Sacred Heart Parish last April.
And now, for other significant dates and people in this month of October.
Last Oct. 2nd marked the 149th birth anniversary of Rafael Crame, the first Filipino to lead the country’s police force. Yesterday, Oct. 4th, the Cebu City Medical Center observed its 51st ammiversary. Today, Oct. 5th, marks the end of Teacher’s Month. In this connection, Yvette Tan, a Filipino educator and researcher of the Education Development Center, Inc., was one of the top six awardees during the International Literacy Day held in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 7th. She was involved in multi-media technology on educational data-gathering covering the southern Philippine provinces of Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and those in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Her innovative technique on “The improved collection and use of student reading performance data in the southern Philippines”, bested more than 50 submissions from 25 countries. Congratulations!
October is also Museum Month. In this connection, Cebu’s Casa Gorordo Museum has opened the exhibit “Mga Bayani sa Sugbu”, featuring historical figures in Cebu from the 1898 Revolution against Spain to the 1930s. It celebrates their works in varied fields from freedom fighting to politics to vernacular literature. The exhibit runs through Oct. 15th.
This Bystander hopes to include other patriots and heroes, as well as personalities who have made their mark in Philippine life. Until then, as always, may God continue to bless us, one and all!