Job well done

Allow me to congratulate the organizers of the sucessful holding of the National Thanksgiving Mass for the canonization of San Pedro Calungsod.

A congratulatory note should also be given to the PNP for securing the venue and keeping peace and order.   Thank you to the Cebu city government for sharing part of the South Road Properties as the venue where the  San Pedro template was built.

SM Prime Holdings should also be thanked for helping prepare the venue and build the templete. Finally  all praises go out to all the devotees for their active participation and cooperation in making the event a  great success. The Archdiocese of Cebu led by Archbhishop Palma should also be congratulated for leading us in the preparation of  the event.

There are many silent heroes who have gone unrecognized especially those who worked on  the template and paved the access roads so to them, thank you and congratulations. I watched the liturgical event on television and was happy to note that President Aquino arrived just in time for the start of the  Mass.

The event was so solemn that many of the people who went there were filled with graces from the Lord and San Pedro Calungsod.

* * *

While we were busy preparing for the National Thanksgiving Mass in Cebu City, the jewelry worn by Lapu-Lapu City’s patron  Birhen sa Regal was stolen early in the morning by some unscrupulous people. The city had just celebrated its feast in honor of the Virgin of the Rule so the  donation box had a substantial amount inside when it was also looted.

Police said they initially suspect that two thieves carried out the crime. Fingerprints lifted from the glass case  pointed to a child and adult malefactor, who may have committed the  crime. The Catholic faithful are bewildered by the theft and can’t  understand why the jewelry pieces, most of them donated by devotees, were stolen but the crown and some rings she was wearing were left intact.

There were  69 necklaces, 70 rings and 16 bracelets missing.

It is hoped that the  police can solve the crime soon in order to give justice to the Catholic Church and to Birhen sa Regla.

* * *

The country just registered a 7.1 growth in gross domestic product (GDP) making the Philippines the strongest economic performer in Southeast Asia.  Some of the businessmen interviewed  welcome this development and credited the national government for the unexpected growth rate.

Some sectors of the community downplayed the good news saying that it does not matter to them because the benefits of this   growth rate has  not trickled down.

I think that reaction is expected from some sectors of the urban poor especially those who expect dole outs from the government and don’t engage in productive work.  If we continue to sustain economic  growth, this will eventually reach down to  the masses but it won’t happen overnight. We have to continue to work hard in order to have it felt by the people.

It is also important that the growth rate become relevant to ordinary people.  The increase in GDP must generate employment and allow the poor to  improve  their standard of living. Then  hopefully this will grow the middle class in  society.

I believe the advocacy of good government by the Aquino government has already produced good results and I am hoping that we can continue to sustain it to  finally get rid of government corruption.