After the ides of November

As we move into the second half of this 11th month of November, many of us find ourselves caught up in the busy, busy events and activities that usually pile up toward the end of a busy, busy year. This is particularly true with civic groups to which I belong. Last Nov. 3rd, the first Sunday of the month, the Cebu United Radio and TV Artists  Association, Inc or Curta held our regular monthly meeting at the Rizada residence in barangay Tisa. Topping the agenda was the finalization of details for a proposed and decided upon fundraising project, particularly for the benefit of many of retired and formerly active radio and TV talents. This had to do with soliciting sponsors for the Pauine program on religious Radio Station dyRF in cooperation with the Sisters of St. Paul.

Also discussed were other fundraising projects: the sale of raffle tickets for a Curta Christmas party scheduled for Dec. 16th, only a month away, and details for the traditional Curta Christmas caroling  or “daygon”.

Then last Nov. 10th, the second Sunday of the month, we held the monthly Women’s Kapihan, a program I host on radio station dyLA. It was a most lively panel discussion on the subject, “Legalization of Prostitution on the Philippines.” We discussed whether legalization of the commercialization of women was to the benefit only of the government (and only men?), and the breaking up of families and degradation of moral values. Povety is not the cause of prostitution.

Among measures suggested were the urgent need for a reorientation of values both in the home and in schools, and the campaign for the development and proposals of positive ways to earn money than in prostitution.

After that lively broadcast at the dyLA studios at the second floor of the Mariners’ Court at Pier 1, I came down to learn that Perla Seno, treasurer of the Associated Workers’ Foundation (AWFI) of the Associated  Labor Unions (ALU), owner of station dyLA , had passed away and lay in state at the adjacent St. Joseph the Workers’ Church.

Seno had passed away the day before at the age of 87. Her husband, lawyer Cecilio Seno, is a top ALU executive. During the long years I worked with dyLA as program director, she held office at the dyLA office. Our tables were near each other and we  became good friends. She was a friendly, unassuming executive. These personal memories came back to me, and I had time to share them with her son, Gerald, after I had  viewed her lying in state at the chapel.

She is survived by her husband, children, and a grandson. Please include her in your prayers.

The following day, Nov. 11th probably overlooked in our modern day concerns, was a holiday we used to observe in earlier years, Armistice Day, that marked the end of World War I in 1918.

Yesterday we inducted Beverly Dayanan Takahashi as a new member in Zonta Club of Cebu. In last month’s general membership meeting, she spoke as a guest about her professional involvement as a realtor.

In the administrative concerns that followed, we heard Zontian Letty Canoy’s report on the Organizational Structure of the club for 2012 to 2014, taken up in our Board of Dir ectors Meeting last Nov. 8th.  We also were informed about future activities of the club that include the District 17 Advocacy Committee Forum  on Nov. 24th and our joint Christmas party with Zonta Club of Cebu II on Dec. 8th.

The day before yesterday, Nov. 10th, we Zontians attended the 25th Annual Perlas Awards Silver Anniversary at the SM Theater One. I hope to take up this memorable event in my report next week, as well as other forthcoming events.

With Christmas only 41 days away, sales are going on in our various malls where lighted and decorated Christmas trees are on display with all the tinsel, gifts and other Christmas items. More on this subject next week.

Till then, as always, may God continue to bless us, one and all!