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The colorful traditional star lanterns in church at last Saturday?s anticipated Mass for the Feast of Christ the King, presaged the four Sundays in Advent of the Christmas season, the First Sunday in Advent of which we will observe this Sunday. Then the other night at my favorite mall, light-outlined angel figures blowing trumpets decorated the posts of street lights with new large illuminated star lanterns. Farther on, children?s hand-crafted star lanterns decked a school house along the way, and homes adorned with more lighted lanterns, gave assurance that Christmas is truly on the way, despite all the dark news shadowing our days, financially and politically.
Meanwhile, various annual Christmas parties have been scheduled earlier this year to avoid the confusing conflict among parties in earlier years. Earliest of these this year is the traditional Aboitiz Christmas party for the media. I remember the first one to which I was invited. It was climaxed with a beautiful night cruise along the Cebu-Mactan channel to enjoy the company of media colleagues, viewing the Christmas lights on the first Mandaue-Mactan bridge, and along the Cebu City and Lapulapu shores. Later, the parties were held in various hotels and resorts. Tonight, we are celebrating at the Marco Polo Hotel with its exciting view of our pre-Christmas-lighted City.
On December 7th, the members of Curta (Cebu United Radio and TV Artists), Corp., of which I am happy to be one of their consultants, will hold our Christmas party at the Labangon residence of Curta founder Mil Rizada, Jr. This is the day after our dinner- for-a-cause, ?Sam Enchanted Evening-2,? at the Baseline Restaurant Ballroom Hall, the tickets for which function are still available from Curta members and at Baseline.
Then on December 18th, we of Zonta I will celebrate our Christmas party cum monthly meeting at Pier I at the Park Mall across from the CICC in Mandaue City. Earlier in the day, we shall be giving Christmas gifts to a total of 102 pupils at our Budlaan Day Care Center in the morning, and Ermita Day Care Center in the afternoon.
On December 20th, the Girls Scouts of the Philippines (GSP)?Cebu Council holds its annual ?Handog sa Pasko? at the SM Entertainment Plaza, climaxed with the coronation of our GSP Christmas Queen and Princess 2008.
Then, the day after, the 21st, our Christmas party for GSP-Cebu Council board members, district commissioners, district field advisers, school commissioners and school scouting coordinators, will be held at the National Science High School auditorium, the first time we have celebrated Christmas in a school. We look forward to appreciating their educational facilities and their ecologically developed and maintained school site in Labangon.
Today, seven outstanding Cebu Girl Scouts are each being awarded at Malacanang in Manila, with the Chief Girl Scout Medal, for their respective successful one-year community projects. They are Cadet Girl Scouts Denise Alberio and Carmie Doblado of Vicente Cosido Memorial National High School (NHS) in Cambinocot, Cebu City; Czarina Ysabel Pacaldo of Marigondon NHS, Laplapu City; and Marwel Leno, Jean Mae Haralve, Bethlehem Alimpoos, and Justinie Ricafort, all of Buanoy NHS in Balamban.
These Girl Scouts had the advantage of time for dedicated community work in their rural areas. Their projects included safe water and sanitary toilet conditions; a feeding program for the malnourished; waste management; and preservation of Philippine culture and tradition. Congratulations to you and the rural areas you serve!
These last two months of the year are particularly significant for our country: Saturday, November 30th is Andres Bonfacio Day, and December 30th when we honor our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who is also honored and remembered by other countries he had visited and served in, as well as by our Filipinos who now reside there.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the first of December, the Cultural and Historical Afairs Commission, headed by acting Mayor Mike Rama, will hold the grand launching of ?Pasko sa Sugbu? at 6 p.m. at Fuente Osmeña with a cultural program and welcome remarks from acting Mayor Rama and Councilor Eduardo Rama who chairs the city youth development council. Then follows the countdown for the lighting of the giant Christmas tree there, now a Christmas landmark, sponsored by M. Lhuillier.
And now, congratulations to two Cebu judges who have manifested their independence in the current ?clime of corruption? ? newly designated Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes and Judge Gabriel Ingles, who writes a column for Cebu Daily News.
Also for recently retired Cebu Normal University (CNU) president Esther Velasquez, now a consultant on international relations of the Cebu provincial government. Congratulations!
In closing, condolences to the families, and prayers for the peaceful repose of former Cebu City Mayor Eulogio ?Yoyong? Borres and CDN columnist Job Tabada. God bless!
