Keeping in touch

This Bystander has been observant of the passing scene as a longtime media practioner from the early days of post-war radio through its growth and development, later transitioning into print media with the birth of of the Cebu Daily News through this column. As an observer, I have widened my reach observing through the immediate visual reality of television, but have admittedly not caught up with the new and rapidly growing technology of what is now social media.

Keeping in touch involves, first, reading and viewing the news from headlines to news reports. Next I turn to the editorials, then to the columns and feedback opinions from readers and viewers. That is when I silently join in on the discussion as a fellow opinion panelist, the result of which goes into this, my weekly column, my written contribution to the general discussion, so to say.

It is disturbing to learn about the current rioting in the United Kingdom rising from a cause or causes that are not definite; the fighting and killing in historic places that include Libya, Syria and Afghanistan; of late, the financial recession that must follow the downgrading of the credit rating of the United States and the effect of this on the finances of our dollar-earning OFWs and that of their families here.

Add to these, environmental disasters worldwide that have also included us in floods and landslides resulting in loss of homes, lives and livestock. In the face of this, this currently discovered spate of cyberporn and trafficking of the youth and of drugs.

Through all these and much more, especially in the matter of peace and order, it is assuring that President Aquino has apparently seen a breakthrough in our relations with a couple of major Muslim groups in his recent meeting with top MILF leaders.

And in sports, where our Manny Paquiao has distinguished the country in his field of sports, he is followed by recently successful boxing contender Dodie Penalosa Jr.; our Special Olympics Team distinguishing themselves and our country with their harvest of 22 gold medals; then the Azkals in the relatively new (for the country) sport of football; and most recently, the new Cobra Philippine Dragon Boat team, adding to their slew of medals with their victory in the 10th International World Championship at Tampa Bay in Florida. All this, ironically, despite having been ousted as a National Sports Association by the Philippine Olympic Committee and denied any funding by the Philippine Sports Commission. What gives?

In the field of educational achievements, two young Filipino math aces brought home bronze medals from the just-concluded 2011 Chine Girls Mathematics Olympiad in Zhenshem, Guangdong province. Eight other members of the Philippine Math team brought home merit awards in the contest ruled by Chine. Congratulations, all!

Then there was that controversial art exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, resulting in the resignation of the director and the closing of the exhibit itself. What could your stand be on that? As also on this long- debated and protested-against RH bill?

Here in Cebu City, we have been tragically burned out in a number of our needier districts with a series of fires, one of them ironically in the wake of a drenching downpour. And in Talisay City, famed or its tasty lechon, the latest fire was a piggery there resulting in livestock charred beyond the celebrated quality of their lechon.

Al these in a series of even more tragedies and triumphs than I can mention in this limited weekly column.

Now to briefly report on our Cebu Girl Scout Executive Committee meeting last month. We have been holding Council Training workshops on outdoor leadership since the end of July, continuing through this month, September and October, in the towns of Bantayan, Dumanhug, Argao, San Fernando, Mabolo, Consolacion, Danao north, San Remigio and Poro. While in-service training will be held for the council staff, a number of them relatively new, with the retirement of many of our veteran staff members. This will be held on Aug. 19th-21st at Camp Marina. As one involved in children’s and women’s concerns, I am happy to continue being part of the Girl Scout movement as a charter member of the council board.

Speaking of women, at our monthly Women’s Kapihan tomorrow, which I host tomorrow afternoon at radio station dyLA , our topic for discussion will be “Women in governance.” Our guest resource person will be Ms Shirley Cabanero, former Talisay City councilor. She is presently working as Cebu consultant for the Women Development program of Cebu province. Our panelists are officers, board members, and members of the Cebu Women’s Network (CWN), which, together with the Legal Alternatives for Women (LAW Center) Inc. are the organizers behind the monthly radio broadcast of the Women’s Kapihan. I hope to report further on this next week.

Then last Sunday after the general assembly of the Cebu United Radio and Television Artists (CURTA) Inc., we finalized plans for our “Beauty of Life” dinner, program and concert on Friday, Aug. 19th next week. This will be held at the convention hall of the Sacred Heart Center at D. Jakosalem Street. August 19th is the birthday of our late founder, Emiliano Rizada Jr. More details on this in my column after the celebration.

In closing, we remember significant dates past in August. Aug. 4th we remembered the election to the papacy of St. Pius X in 1903. Aug. 5th was the birth date in 1908 of National Artist in Literature Jose Garcia Villa. Aug. 6th marked the death in 1978 of Pope Paul VI. While Aug. 10th marked the 113th birth anniversary of nationalist statesman Lorenzo Tanada, known as the “Grand Old Man of Philippine Politics.”

So very much for now, so until next week, then, as always, may God continue to bless us one and all!