More blessings to see us through troubled times

These days, as we approach mid-month with environmental and political problems plaguing the country (as they also seem to be with much of the rest of the world), let us pause and look to the compensating graces and joys that God gives us to see us through, as we now count the days to Christmas day.

October, as “Pink October,” is observed as Breast Cancer Month. In thankgiving, breast cancer survivors now band together in thanksgiving and in turn campaign with health and medical practitioners and media for early cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

Then, Saturday last week, Oct. 5th was World Teachers’ Day, a day to remember with thanks the teachers who taught us our early A-B-Cs, reading, writing and ‘rithmetic and the rest of our early school days, up to the present, to prepare us for life today. When I eventually taught after my first college courses in education at the then Cebu Normal School, and completed my bachelor’s degree at the University of San Carlos (USC), eventually teaching in college, and ventured into broadcast media, (thanks to a suggestion from my then USC professor Angel Anden), I continue to appreciate even more what I owe my teachers and professors, God bless them all!

October is also Animal Safety and Protection Month publicized for people’s pets last Oct. 4th, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Friars Minor. Born to a rich family in Assisi, he spent his youth in worldy pleasures until at 25, Jesus spoke to him from the Crucifix in church asking him to repair and restore a small chapel now falling into ruins. He then started repairing it, giving clothes and money to the poor. He then began living a life of prayer and penance, attracting many followers for whom Pope Innocent III, in 1210, approved a new order, the Friars Minor. Saint Francis initiated at Greccio the beautiful tradition of making the crib for Christmas. He later received the stigmata of Our Lord, and composed the Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon, expressing his unbounded love for nature. He died at the age of 44.

All these graces and joys should serve to strengthen and inspire us to face the trying circumstances and events that face us today: the natural disasters in the wake of extreme weather conditions, including typhoons, floods, earthquakes and their impact on our health and safety, and the troubled internecine strife in Mindanao. Can the current extreme weather be the inconvenient truth resulting from our carelessness with God’s natural gifts for us?

But even more so, this due to our greed for money and power at the expense of our needy brothers and sisters, trying to honestly work for the betterment of their families’ lives and well-being. How much the questionable, actually scandalous and corrupt misuse of funds like the Priority Development Assistance Fund, Disbursement Acceleration Program funds and the Malampaya funds, among others, could do for our needy, instead of further enriching those already well-provided-for top political echelons! Do forgive this Concerned Bystander for breaking out this way! Just follow the daily news reports and weep (or tear your heart out).

And now for happier and more positive developments. Last Sunday, we held our monthly meeting of the Cebu United Radio and TV Artists or Curta Corp. at the Rizada residence of our late founder and head, Emiliano Rizada, Jr. in Tisa, Cebu City. This is one monthly get-together that I look forward to, since it gives me an occasion to meet former colleagues I came to know in my 25-year stint at Cebu’s pioneer radio station, dyRC, which broadcast a variety of programs, some of which I hosted: live variety and musical show, as well as drama talents in our then popular soap operas. While many of the originals have gone on, like the late singer Al Commendador who recently passed away at the age of 74, God rest his soul, I also get to meet the younger set of talents.

We discussed plans and held rehearsals for our singer-participants in a cultural revival of Cebuano music and song in the program, “Pasiklap: Operitang Hilaw,” a fund-raising project of Curta. It will feature beautiful old Cebuano songs to rekindle love for our literary and musical heritage. It is scheduled to be held on Nov. 30th at the Teatro Casino at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug. Our Curta members are now soliciting sponsors and are already engaged in selling tickets for the show. More details on this next week.

Meanwhile, tomorrow, Oct. 12th, the LAW Center, Inc. is launching its partnership with the US Embassy Manila through Media Advocacy on Radio, TV and online reach. It will be held starting at 11 a.m. at the 3rd Floor of the Marina Court adjacent to Pier I.

The monthly Women’s Kapihan which I host over Station dyLA will also be held later in the same location at 2 to 3 p.m.

Subject for discussion on Kapihan is “Human Trafficking in the Visayas and Cebu Province: A Situationer and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.” Guests will be Rosemarie Salazar, a social worker of the Department of Social Welfare And Development in Central Visayas and a representative from the Regional Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking. Dicussants will be Cebu Women’s Network officers, board and members. Do listen in.

In closing, in this blessed month of October, these religious feasts: on Oct. 1st, St. Therese of the Child Jesus; Oct. 2nd, of the Guardian Angels; Oct. 4th, of St. Francis of Assisi; Oct. 7th of the Holy Rosary (also the birthday of my late husband, Sergio), and on Oct. 8th, Happy Birthday wishes to my Comadre Rosario Villalon of Moalboal; tomorrow, Oct. 12th, of Our Lady of the Pillar, patroness of Spain and all the Hispanic nations; and on Oct. 15th, of St. Teresa of Avila, Patron Saint of Talisay City whom we greet, in advance, a Happy Fiesta!

Till next week now, may God continue to bless us, one and all!