Christmas anticipation is now on in this third “-ber” month of the year, instead of September in earlier years. Thankfully, there is now also a cheerful outlook in spite of the current human state of affairs, aggravated by stormy weather conditions, reports of strife on the international front, and corruption high and low in public and private dealings, thankfully, too, offset by widespread watchful and militant awareness, and public condemnation bringing those responsible to judicial proceedings.
Signs of these times are the popular presence of Christmas lights in the traditional parol or lighted lanterns representing the Christmas star that the led the Magi to the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. Then there are also lightings of decorated Christmas trees (earlier natural and now artificial!). But most significant of all is the replication of the central Nativity Scene in our tradition Belen.
An earlier celebratory event to share with you was that of the 25th Annual Perlas Awards Silver Anniversary “Tribute to the Modern Filipino Heroes” presented by the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (PFI) at the SM Theater One at SM City Cebu. Many of the 116 awardees from 1987 through 2011 were in attendance. I represented Education and Media among five of those proclaimed for 2004 to 2005, which also included a special posthumous award for the late lawyer, Arbet Sta. Ana Yongco of our Legal Alternatives for Women (Law) Center, Inc.
The program significantly included welcome remarks and rationale of the awards by Rev. Fr. Ernesto Javier, S.J., PFI president Tess Chan acknowledging guests and benefactors; PFI Past President Dr. Milagros Espina acknowledging Perlas Awardees; and a symbolic conferment of the 2012 Silver Award to Leticia Tampos Man-ongtong, a 25-year domestic worker in Hong Kong; Wilfreda Lepiten Misterio, OFWA regional director; and Evella Dorato, officer-in-charge of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, with the citation read by PFI vice president Marissa Fernan and the conferment of the Silver Perlas Award by Rev. Fr. Ernesto Javier and past PFI presidents.
The program also presented musical interludes and tributes with the SAKDAP 1996 to 1997 awardee; Eva Santos, a 1997 to 1998 awardee; and a choreographed banduria and rondalla presentation by the Sisters of Mary Girls, 2007 to 2008 awardees.
Also presented were videos celebrating 25 years of the Perlas Awards and a special tribute to the Overseas Filipino worker, the modern Filipino heroes.
The program finale was a festive Sinulog Dance in honor of Sr. Sto. Nino led by 2010 to 2011 Awardee Estelita “Nang Tita” Diola and the 1997 to 1998 Awardee Sandiego Dance Troupe.
Then last Wednesday, Nov. 21st, we held our Girl Scouts pf the Philippines (GSP) Cebu Council held our Executive Committee meeting. We happily learned from our program committee that our Council had received 9 awards at the Visayas Regional Junior, Senior and Cadet Encampment at our Camp Marina last Oct. 24 to 29. Our Juniors won for having the Most Number of Gadgets and for being the Best in Gadget Making Our Seniors had the Most Number in Functional Gadgets, were the Best in Gadget Making, Camp Layout, Campfire Presentation, and Best in Mural Paintings. Our Council was first runner-up in the Council Extravaganza, and had sent the Biggest Delegation to the Encampment.
In our 2012 Search for the Cebu City Model Girl Scout, we had two on the Star Level from Mabolo Elementary School (ES). On the Junior Level, we had two from the Guadalupe ES Cebu South District and one from the Mabolo ES North District. On the Senior Level, we had three from the Cebu City National Science High School (CCNSHS) and one each from the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) and the University of San Carlos. And on the Cadet Level, we had two from the CCNSHS, two from the USJ-R and one from the Abellana National High School.
Tomorrow we present the 2012 Chief Girl Scout Medal at the CCP Complex in Pasay City. Details on this next week, including other forthcoming activities we discussed. To all, congratulations!
Also last Wednesday, Lapu-Lapu City observed its annual fiesta in honor of Nuestra Señora de Regla (Our Lady of the Rule), despite current indeterminate weather conditions. I remember we of the Cebu Council GSP used to attend that fiesta as our Cebu GSP past president Paz Radaza, now Lapu-Lapu City Mayor, always invited us over. This year, the date coincided with our Cebu Council Executive Meeting during which we expressed our Happy Fiesta greetings to them.
The day before, Tuesday the 20th, our Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Archbishop Jose Palma, together with other Philippine churchmen travelled to Rome to attend the consistory there for the new Cardinals, including the Philippines’ Cardinal-Designate Luis Antonio Tagle. I look forward to the TV coverage of that special event.
Meanwhile, here in Cebu the current indeterminate weather condition has resulted in the flooding of the South Road Properties area where the templete for the thanksgiving Mass for St. Pedro Calungsod will be held on Nov. 30th. We hope that condition there can be improved, as we all pray for favourable conditions on that date.
Now for other events on the social calendar. Yesterday evening, the 22nd, was the launching of the flagship project of Contempor Property Holdings at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, a real estate project in which our latest Zonta I member Beverly Dayanan is deeply involved.
This afternoon at 3 p.m., I am attending the Ikebana exhibit at the Montebello Garden Hotel on invitation of fellow Zontian Zelia Borromeo.
And tomorrow, Saturday, the 24th, Carcar will mark their “Kabkaban Fiesta” in honor of their patroness, St. Catherine of Alexandria. A blessed and happy fiesta to you there!
In closing, please include in your prayers for the souls of two fellow media persons who recently passed away, Marlon Bellita of TV, radio and press, and Angeles Diez, a fellow Cebu Radio and TV Artists (Curta), Inc. member, that their souls may rest in peace.
Till next week then, as always, may God continue to bless us, one and all!