Freddie in love

I am intrigued with the relationship of 60-year-old singer Freddie Aguilar and his 16-year-old girlfriend which has upset many quarters and prompted the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to look into the legal implications as the girl is a minor.

A lawyer filed a criminal case against Aguilar for qualified seduction. The singer countered that no law bars a 60-year-old man from falling in love with a 16-year-old girl. Under the law, carnal relations between a man and a girl younger than 18 is defined as child abuse since minors are protected by law against exploitation.

Society frowns on such relationships because of this concern for taking undue advantage of a youngster. The age gap is also an issue. What happens to the relationship when the man grows older and the woman is still so young?

I think the issue here is the maturity of the partners to enter into a serious relationship. Was the minor properly guided by her parents before taking up with Aguilar? She’s still under the care of her parents. What does she know about love and its implications at that tender age?

If I were the DSWD I would rather let the girl undergo counseling. Freddie Aguilar should also have a session to help him handle the relationship and reflect whether he truly loves the girl and would be responsible for the girl in the future.

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I support the project of Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama to construct a new Cebu City Medical Center through the “Piso MO, Hospital KO” fundraising campaign.

The mayor no longer expects the Osmeña-controlled council to support this project so he has gone directly to the people to help raise the funds for a bigger 1,000-bed government hospital.

I hope the City Council comes to its senses and supports the project and the vision for a new, state-of-the-art hospital to serve Cebuanos. This project is supported wholeheartedly by the people because they know the hospital is for their own welfare.

I am confident the project will be fulfilled with so many sectors helping to make the dream a reality. I also hope the national government would extend financial assistance for this and that the fire department would voluntarily vacate their space in the city-owned land if it’s needed for the project.

It is the height of misplaced arrogance to insist on staying on a property that is better used for a hospital. The mayor already promised to provide the fire department a relocation site.

The reason for the refusal may be basically political because the fire department is under the DILG headed by Secretary Mar Roxas who is not a party mate of the mayor. It reminds me of the President’s visit to Cebu after the earthquake. He inspected the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño and Provincial Capitol but skipped seeing the mayor of Cebu city.

That was childish behavior and a missed opportunity to show statesmanship. There should be no political color during response to a disaster but, unfortunately, the President and his cabinet don’t seem to know this.