Moving with the changing times

As a bystander observing the stream and parade of life in these modern, fast-shifting times, I continue to keep up and move along, becoming involved with people and participating in many significant events along the way. Thanks to the mass media in which I had been involved most of my professional life, I continue to keep in touch. And in the many years that I have been further blessed with, I continue, filled with hope, to share with you personally and through the mass media, these experiences and what they may contribute to us all as this Concerned Bystander.

January in this Year of Faith, we in the Philippines and in Cebu honor Christ as the Child born in Bethlehem with succeeding festivities: His Epiphany or Manifestation on the 6th, and as the Sto. Niño or Holy Child on Sunday the 20th. Other festivities honoring Him as the Holy Child are also happily held in other towns and provinces in the country. While earlier in Quiapo in Manila He was honored as the Cross-bearing Black Nazarene.

I have personal memories of the Black Nazarene when my parents invoked His help for my late younger sister Francisca, then hospitalized in Manila and diagnosed with the dreaded meningitis at the age of three. In those years when today’s modern drugs were still unheard of, she was eventually healed through the resourceful efforts of the doctors, after prayers to Him by my father and mother. I remember my mother praying for my sick sister as she moved on her knees all the way from the door to His altar at Quiapo. After my sister was healed, she performed the same act in thanksgiving. To us this was a miracle considering that doctors at the Philippine General Hospital had almost given up hope, considering the severity of a disease from which many had died in those early days, and even still do now, despite modern medical developments.

And now we lovingly honor the Sto Niño of Cebu on His 447th annual fiesta since the Augustinians started the festivity. A very early morning Walk with Jesus was held before the first of the Novena Masses for Him at the Basilica del Sto. Niño started last January 10th and ended today.

The 4 a.m. Walk for Mary today from Fuente Osmeña to the basilica was followed by the Misa de Traslacion and a motorcade of the Sto. Niño to St. Joseph’s shrine in Mandaue City. Tomorrow, Saturday, the image of the Sto. Niño will be brought in a fluvial procession from the Ouano Wharf to Pier 1 in Cebu City. It will be involved in the reenactment of the Baptism of Queen Juana and Rajah Humabon in front of the basilica. In the evening the Solemn Foot Procession is expected to be participated in by hundreds of devotees. The Pontifical Mass for the Feast of the Sto. Niño wil be celebrated by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

All of these religious activities during the Feast of the Sto. Nino I gratefully recall being blessed to cover live over radio station dyLA with fellow broadcasters and engineering staff of the station during my memorable active years with them.

These current religious activities and the following Sinulog celebration in joyous music and colorful dances I share with you again this time in this weekly column in Cebu Daily News.

To re-word a familiar saying into “once a media person, always a media person,” yesterday’s Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that the Commission on Elections has minimized “political advertising and cut airtime of candidates’ commercials.” That “a candidate running for a national post is only allowed a total of 120 minutes of airtime on TV, and 180 minutes for radio in all networks during the 90-day campaign period beginning February 12.” “Local candidates are given 60 minutes of airtime on TV and 90 minutes of advertsing throughout the 45-day campaign period starting March 30.”

I remember during my broadcasting years how commercial advertising airtime was reasonably limited, while these days, it can drive a listener or viewer “nuts” with innumerable commercials cutting in on our appreciation of radio programs and causing them to run overtime.

Politically, this campaign time continues to make news reports in (or wreak havoc on?) the country and here in Cebu. That impasse at the Provincial Capitol continues as we dizzyingly try to make heads or tails reading or hearing, “she says, he says, they say”, et al. Hopefully the current Feast of the Sto. Niño and the following Sinulog should cool things down and eventually make for the unity we urgently need and pray for.

Now, for more positive news. Last Saturday, at our monthly Women’s Kapihan program which I host at 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on dyLA, our topic was on “Predictions for Women for 2013 (Year of the Water Snake).” Our panel consisting of Cebu Women’s Network officers, board and members provided a lively session, considering that most of them, some of whom are already retired, continue to work actively with local women’s councils in their respective barangays.

They proposed continuing to recruit active members working on programs for gender-responsive women. Secretary Portia Dacalos proposed challenging men regarding these concerns. Auditor Fe Cabatingan added that we should also support men to get them to cooperate. Fe also said that self-employed women should watch their capital and let it roll on, while Portia also said that capital assistance should be monitored. Board member Elsa Basanez also contributed in this connection with her activities and experiences with women senior citizens.

Lolet Aliño, executive director of Legal Alternatives for Women (LAW) Center, Inc. said that proposed grants currently available should be renewed for groups instead of individuals. That women keep in touch with what is happening, especially regarding children’s concerns, especially with the current technology and computers and remembering to keep their families together. That education regarding capital assistance be provided, that discipline is also needed, and that women should be other-oriented, not self-centered.

With these suggestions, and the continuing campaign on violence against women, it is hoped women will continue their ascendancy in the work world and that they use their tech savvy at work and at home, regarding marketing and (yes!) even in fashion.

With much, much more to share with you in this year of changes, do join us again next week. Until then, as always, may God bless us, one and all!