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The onset of Christmas is rather late this year in our country that has “the longest Christmas season,” which is anticipated as early as the first “-ber” month of the year, September, extending through the Feast of the Three Kings, the Sinulog, and finally ending at Candlemas or “Candelaria” on February 2nd.
Could it be because of the disturbing, still unresolved news developments the country is faced with? Developments that continue to drag on, interminably, it seems, even. But as I write, Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante has finally arrived to face the Senate inquiry. The question now is – Will he or will he not (“be able” to) talk?
Well, the other day, I noted a news item about schoolchildren participating in a Christmas lantern or parol-making contest, which finally anticipates what Christmas should be, a light in the darkness of these days. Like the light from Filipino star lanterns, reminiscent of the Star that led the Magi to the Baby Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem.
Well, in the seemingly dark night that we bewail, there are also a number of stars to brighten us up, thank God.
The United States presidential election last week that climaxed with President-elect Barack Obama’s acceptance speech signaled an optimistic youthful and positive change in national attitudes, with a well-thought-out plan for national governmental action in the States. And it has brought about favorable global attention.
Here at home, the brief visit of ailing Mayor Tomas Osmeña from the States, where he is undergoing extensive cancer treatment, to deliver his State of the City Address, assures us the city is in good hands with his duly delegated officials. If I remember correctly, his father, the late Mayor Serging Osmeña, also used to be away from the city a number of times during his terms, but he always left the city in competent hands.
Speaking of competence for peoples’ welfare, thank God, too, that we are blessed with many non-government organizations (NGO) that are ably doing their share. Among them, Plan Philippines, with its program and services for women and children in the province of Cebu. Area Supervisor Mario Panonce and Plan Anti-trafficking Project Coordinator Teresita Canieso were our guests in our monthly Women’s Kapihan on Station DYLA last Saturday. Plan Philippines is a member of the Cebu Provincial Women’s Task Force on Anti-Tafficking, Pornography and Cyber-Sex.
Plan International, a child-centered NGO, started out in Spain in 1937, came to the Philippines as Plan Philippines in 1961, working among the poorest municipalities in over 20 provinces in seven of our regions. It has been working in 56 barangays on Camotes Islands, Cebu, since the 1980s. While Plan is child-centered, it is also concerned with the community in which the children live.
Plan projects focus on child livelihood, learning, governance, protection, and disaster and risk reduction. The current Plan 5-year Anti-Trafficking project through 2013 includes advocacy and work with illegal recruitment survivors. Its current undertaking with the task force is the production of anti-trafficking posters financed by Plan Philippines.
Then at our CURTA (Cebu United Radio and TV Artists) meeting last Sunday at founder Mil Rzada Jr.’s Labangon residence, we discussed details for our second presentation of “Sam Enchanted Evening,” a Christmas dinner, concert, and ballroom dancing for a medical cause – for our ailing members. Guest singers include Dante Luzon, Baby Condeno, and Dr. Warfe and Athens Engracia, among others. It will be held, at the Ballroom Hall of Baseline Restaurant on Saturday, December 6th, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available from CURTA members and at the gate on December 6th.
Last Monday, I was privileged to attend the launching at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel of “Por Vida” (Stories Authored “By Life”), a Headline Media Projects TV program to be aired Tuesdays, 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Cable Channel 23, starting this Tuesday, November 18th. The program is hosted by Marlinda Angbetic Tan and directed by Archie Modeqillo, good friends and media colleagues both. The first episode, which we previewed, is titled “Hayco.” It is about the remarkably creative and inventive founder of a Cebuano institution, Hayco Engineering, Mr. Go Ching Hai, whom I have also been privileged to know, with his wife Martina “Beling” Go and their family. Do watch it and succeeding episodes.
Meanwhile, last Tuesday, November 11th (significantly, recalling a later but tragic 11th, 9/11/01) passed by almost uneventually, now observed in the States as Veterans’ Day, marking the end of WW I, but rememberedyears earlier as Armistice Day.
For now, do remember in your prayers the soul of Pete Abangan, local radio political commentator, friend and former Station dyLA colleague of mine, who passed away last Monday. May he rest in peace.
Until next week, as always, may God continue to bless us all!
