Fast-changing times

This Bystander-ing week began most auspiciousy last Saturday evening, Sept. 7th, with Pope Francis leading a vigil for peace in troubled Syria in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in Rome. In addressing tens of thousands of people gathered there in answer to his call for a day of prayer and fasting for peace, and even more watching and listening to him over the mass media, he said that violence and war are never a way to peace. This, even as Washington has been courting its allies to support a strike against the Syrian regime.

I was able to watch the four-hour coverage of the Syria peace vigil over EWTN. We understand that the Pope’s call for peace was echoed by Christians and non-Christians alike in Syria and in vigils around the world. We understand, too, that the estimated 100,000 who took part in the vigil made it one of the largest in the West against proposed US-led military action against the regime of Syrian President Basher Assad, following the Aug. 21st chemical weapons attack near Damascus that killed hundreds of people.

In the Philippines, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle urged Filipinos to unite with the rest of the world in the search for an end to the Syrian conflict. While Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas called on Filipinos to go to confession and do acts of charity in addition to praying and fasting. Manila Auxiliary Bishop Roderick Pabillo said that Filipinos should be concerned about the civil war in Syria even if it is far away from the country.

But ironically last Monday, news broke out that in Zamboanga City in Mindanao, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) had killed some six people and taken at least some 35 hostages in a bid to derail peace talks. As I write this, military troops are locked in a standoff with some 200 to 300 MNLF gunmen which they have surrounded where they are holed up in six coastal villages in the outskirts of the city, where for now, classes and operations in government and business offices have been suspended.

To think that more than a month before this, the MNLF had begun to consolidate forces through so-called peace rallies to express support for the full implementation of the final peace agreement they had signed with the government in 1996!

Then earlier, Sunday, Sept. 8th, was observed by the Church as the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, although, to quote fellow CDN columnist Jason Baguia, ”It is not a very big celebration in Catholic countries outside the Philippines.” True, even in the Catholic calendar I have, the date this year, a Sunday, is only indicated as the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. But, Jason continues, “Mary can never be venerated at the cost of obscuring the Holy Trinity,” and while “The liturgy (makes) no mention of her birthday,” the faithful in the Philippines sing Mama Mary a Happy Birthday song in churches, and people flock to her (many) shrines across the country,” and in Cebu which has many churches named in her honor, pilgrimages were made last Sunday.

Then Monday, Sept. 9th, we in Cebu observed as an official holiday in honor of Cebu’s “Grand Old Man”, Don Sergio Osmeña, Sr. on his 135th birth anniversary. He was honored in Cebu City last Monday with the traditional ceremonies in front of the historical marker at the site of his former residence at the corner of Osmeña Boulevard and Legaspi Street. It was attended by Osmeña family members and relatives and Cebu City officials. In attendance was his grandson, Former City Mayor Tomas (“Tommy”) and his wife, City Councilor Margot Osmeña. I remember when I was still active in radio, I would be with the dyLA remote coverage staff covering the ceremonies.

Don Sergio was vice president to then President Manuel Quezon, and took over the Philippine Government in exile during the Japanese occupation of the country, when President Manuel Quezon died in exile in the US, Don Sergio was the only Cebuano to live in Malacañang and exemplified humility as a public servant. Humility in high positions has also been reported and admired in Pope Francis as leader of the Roman Catholic Church. What a valuable lesson in moral values in these fast-changing times!

Which is why I leave Bystander-ing observations next week on these developing (or “deteriorating”?) times, planned activities for last Wednesday, and memories of the horrifying 9/11/01 destruction centered that day in New York City in the US.

Allow me to mention a few people whom I knew before, those who are still with us or who have gone ahead of us.

Congratulations to new Cebuano members of the Bank of Commerce Board of Directors, Hon. Aniano Desierto. A lawyer, he was former Ombudsman and handled various positions in government and corporations. Before all these, he was my co-host as Danny Desierto on the pre-Martial Law Radio Station dyRC noontime program “Campus Capers.”

Now, do join me in prayers for the soul of the late Susan Fuentes, Queen of Visayan songs, who passed away last Saturday at the age of 58. I loved to play her records on my radio program of Visayan songs over radio station dyRC. May her soul rest in peace.

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