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When Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was again reported to have another plummeting approval rating, making her the most unpopular Malacañang tenant (or squatter) in Philippine history, according to the Social Weather Station survey, Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. shot a one-sentence comment: “It’s because she doesn’t have the mandate of the people.”
By the word “mandate,” Nene could be referring to the bugged conversations between GMA and the election commissioner she had “helloed” — a “lapse in judgment” for which she said “I am sorry” on TV, penitent eyes and all, but would never step down in shame.
“What’s holding Mrs. Arroyo for now are her loyal military, police and solons,” said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. That’s why whatever she does — whenever she commits a serious blunder — she continues to be cheered at the Batasan and kept safe in Malacañang. Never mind if the people go hungry and angry.
It’s time Congress revisited the “Hello, Garci” case to settle once and for all this never-ending hullabaloo. Failure to do so would make lawmakers equally guilty, and that’s not good reading in history books for posterity.
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He wasn’t sticking out like a sore thumb. Visiting Australia for the World Youth Day, Roman Catholic pontiff Benedict XVI simply took courage to reveal the sins perpetrated on minors by some clergymen in Australia, describing their acts as evil and a grave betrayal of trust, which has disgraced the church. And he did not only say sorry for sexual abuses committed on children, he likewise vowed to bring to justice those responsible.
“I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured, and I assure them, as their pastor, that I, too, share in their suffering,” the pope told a mammoth crowd.
No, local Roman Catholic leaders won’t seek the pope’s visit in the Philippines to hear the same disquieting message. With due respect to Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Benedict’s use of strong language in condemning his subordinates’ acts, which he also did in his United States visit, should already crack the craniums of high-ranking local church leaders who are perceived to be covering up similar sins committed by some priests.
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The trouble-laden Bradford (Jones) United Church of Christ in the Philippines has a new set of young and vigorous ministers composing BUCCP’s Team Ministry. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that the reconciliation effort has yet to work for the BUCCP council, and its former pastor, who was unceremoniously fired. Initial findings that virtually cleared the pastor of the charges didn’t help, explaining why there are cases still pending in the labor and regional trial courts.
As I said in my previous columns, Bradford Church has a history of conflicts ever since it was founded more than a century ago, and these were often triggered by arrogance, often characterized by the “money-leadership attitude” of some church members who’re hungry of recognition, so to speak. They still have to learn from the past storms that greatly caused divisiveness among members. The situation has become a public concern, with the media actively covering the event.
I don’t see this as an alarming fact for the new pastors but a big challenge instead, as they continue to preach the redemptive teaching of Christ that the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), to which BUCCP belongs, upholds. UCCP is the church of some of the country’s prominent leaders, like former President Fidel V. Ramos and former Senate President Jovito Salonga, among others.
The new BUCCP Team Ministry is headed by Rev. Haniel Joses Torda Taganas, administrative pastor. Prior to his new stint, Reverend Taganas served as associate (youth pastor) chaplain of the Silliman University Church, Dumaguete City. He worked together with my nephew, Rev. Calum Roble Tabada. Teaming up with Rev. Taganas are Rev. Ester Doromal-Singuran, pastor for Christian Witness and Service; Rev. James Ebon Paquibot, youth pastor; and Pastor Irish Herceda-Tibus, pastor for Christian Education and Nurture. Pastor Tibus is the better half of former sports correspondent Van Clibborn M. Tibus, who is also a minister.
All the members of the Team Ministry, including Pastor Van, are products of Silliman’s Divinity School. Welcome!
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Here’s another “superbug” scientists label as deadly and unstoppable — an antibiotic-resistant bacterium that most household cleaning solutions and soaps can’t kill. My Internet research would lead me to a study that says that the number of people hospitalized with this dangerous intestinal superbug has been growing by more than 10,000 a year. And it does not only cause tummy discomfort; it kills. Due to lack of space, the main part of this interesting subject will be discussed in the next column.
