November’s first half
Today, Nov. 11th, used to be commemorated as Armistice Day to mark the ending of World War I with the signing of a truce in 1918 among the nations involved. It is now observed as Veteran’s Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada and the United Kingdom. We in the Philippines used to observe it too, until we gained our independence from the United States in 1946 after the end of World War II. In remembering this, we note that the month of November is a most eventful month, not only historically, but also in current events and in religious feasts.
At ll o’clock this morning, 11,000 people are expected to gather at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Dagupan City in Pangasinan to pray the Rosary for World Peace. The event is being held today, 11-11-11, a date plagued by uncertainty and superstitious beliefs due to the so-called “mystical” combination of three 11’s that happens only once in a century. The Inquirer reported that Archbishop Socrates Villegas “stressed the need for the youth to recover the Rosary… on a date which has ‘sadly aroused many superstitious beliefs and activities to gain fortune.’”
Tomorrow, the 12th, Lapu-Lapu City holds the fluvial procession in honor of the Virgen de Regla/Virgin of the Rule, their patroness, and the first day of the Novena to Her whose Feast and the Lapu-Lapu City fiesta falls on the 21st.
On other religious commemorations besides those I mentioned at the tail end of my column last week. November 4th was the feast day of St. Charles Borromeo, after whom the University of San Carlos is named. St. Charles, bishop, then cardinal and eventually archbishop of Milan after bringing the Council of Trent, set out to implement its decrees. Miraculously surviving an attempt on his life by a renegade priest, he died in 1584 at the age of 46. Years ago in a visit to the Cathedral of Milan, I recognized his tomb by the name on the tombstone: San Carlo Borromini.
In this connection, congratulations to the University of San Carlos College of Law for having been conferred the award for Excellence in Legal Education by the Legal Education Board. The College has also been recognized as heading the five top colleges of law in the Philippines.
The relics of another patron saint of education, St. John Baptist de la Salle, arrived in Cebu during the week in the course of a worldwide tour to stay at the Dela Salle College in Toledo for a while for veneration by devotees. St. John is the patron of the La Salle University and Colleges, as well as the patron of teachers.
Then last Saturday, the 5th, we of Zonta 1 together with family, relatives and friends, attended the 40th day novena Mass for the late Go Ching Hai, husband of good friend Beling Go and father of fellow Zontian Nellie Go Chiu, at the Cebu Country Club. Mass celebrant Fr. Ernesto Javier, SJ, of the Sacred Heart School Jesuits, delivered a most inspiring homily honoring Ching Hai, as friends call him.
At the dinner held there afterwards, I condoled with Beling, Nellie and Edward Jayco. Edward, Ching Hai’s youngest and only son, pioneered dancesport in Cebu, which is now popular nationwide. As chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission, he recently announced the support of private schools in a bid to break the Guinness world record for the highest number of chess players in the chess tournament in January next year.
I also met there friends I had not seen for some time, and learned about the recent passing away of another friend, Catalina dela Riarte, for whom, may I also request your prayers that her soul may rest in peace?
In the wake this week of a series of crimes, especially the Revilla tragedy, dubbed by media as “Shakespearean,” “biblical” and even “telenovelic”; the still unsettled slaying of Ricky Pempengco, father of rising young international singing star Charice and the current political conflicts in Cebu, among others, it is inspiring to learn about how young achievers are providing hope for better days with their achievements.
Young Shari Julla Gonzales, 16, a mass communication student of St. Theresa’s College, just won the Bridging Leader Award over 82 other scholars of the Young Minds Academy of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. Her thoughts on how to become a leader: “Just keep dreaming. Never let fear keep you from the game. Always keep your feet on the ground, and remain humble.”
In our Cebu Girls Scouts activities, seven Cebu Senior Girl Scouts will be awarded the Chief Girl Scout Medal on Monday, the 14th, at presentation ceremonies at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention in Pasay City. Five from Buanoy National High School for their respective projects: Jeanely Postrano and Maristel Alfornon for Health: Help Children Grow; Riza Mae Capus and Ailee May Artajo for Ecology: Waste Management and Honey Fe Narra for Livelihood: Poultry Raising. Two from Vicente Cosido Memorial National High School in Balamban for their projects in Health: Help Children Grow, and Health Garden. Congratulations to them and their respective Troop Leaders!
Last Thursday, we held our monthly Zonta 1 General Membership meeting in anticipation of our Fashion ’n Rhythm, a Night with the Oscars, together with the Consular Corps of Cebu on the 17th. Tomorrow, the nation will be watching and listening to the coverage in Las Vegas of the much anticipated Manny Pacquiao –Jose Manuel Marquez encounter in the boxing ring there.
As we anticipate Christmas with lights and lanterns, I shall share with you next week the pre-Christmas plans of our Cebu United Radio and TV Artists Inc. as well as our monthly Cebu Women’s Network program which I host tomorrow afternoon at station dyLA and other activities and concerns in this busy month of November.
Until next week, then, as always, may God continue to bless us one and all!
