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This week I got an invitation to co-host the program Babaye over Cebu Catholic TV Network (CCTN) 47. The episode, which is going to air on Sunday, coincided with International Women?s Month (IWN). During the video tape recording, someone asked whether there was a connection between IWM and Fire Prevention Month. A suggestion that there is finds truth in the observation that women can be very fiery or passionate with their views and advocacies. Lahi ang level sa kababayen-an kun ang ilang baruganan maoy hisgotan.
Last Sunday, feisty Cebuana Annabelle Rama, mother of celebrity Ruffa Gutierrez, was fuming mad at Kris Aquino for treating her daughter rudely on nationwide TV. Ruffa?s mom was hot under the collar because the shabby treatment of her daughter did not just happen on that particular program but also in previous episodes. Showbiz on Sunday is my favourite de-stress program and I have seen how Kris would make remarks that tend to put down her own co-host. The remarkable thing is that Ruffa is able to take it all in stride until last Sunday.
Annabelle?s call not to vote for Noynoy Aquino because she is mad at Kris comes down to being funny and ridiculous. But who can really blame Annabelle? Kinsa man na siya? (Who does she think she is?) was how the feisty Annabelle Rama expressed her indignation.
Barangay Basak captain George Rama, Annabelle?s brother, and cousins Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama and political analyst Ricky Rama Poca tried to downplay her bad mood and took the occasion to pledge their support for Noynoy Aquino. I got the impression they?re used to dealing with Annabelle?s sapot that each time she hits the roof, they?re not upset a bit. Kris has already apologized on nationwide TV and the Gutierrezes have been pacified, but it remains to be seen if a political fallout would ensue from the showbiz catfight.
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The women?s program over CCTN hosted by my friend and colleague, Stella Monteno gains momentum this month as various women?s advocacies are brought to the fore. Our guest this week is philanthropist and style icon Mariquita Salimbangon Yeung, chairman and founder of the charity organization that bears her name. As on site coordinator for Operation Smile International, MSYCF is in the thick of preparations for the medical mission which reels off on March 18.
The MSY charitable foundation?s partnership with Operation Smile International started in 1998 after US doctors Bill and Kathy Magee, founders of OSI invited Kit to handle the Cebu mission. The scope of work is staggering as it entails helping organize counterpart for the Op Smile International medical team and hordes of volunteers to handle non-medical tasks during the two-week mission.
Rounding up patients from all over the Visayas and Mindanao, getting volunteers and setting up the venue can be taxing, as with looking for sponsors to extend free hotel accommodations, transportation, food services, etc. for foreign and local medical plastic surgeons, paediatricians, dentists, anaesthesiologists, etc.
How does the point person cope with each Op Smile year? For Kit, every year brings new challenges but it also hones their talents and capability to organize. Tales of unexpected assistance turning up to make things happen for the hundreds of indigent children in need of corrective surgery can fill a whole book so to speak. ?When the mission is clear, the mechanism will appear,? sums up the faith that Kit has in the pet project.
Since she is into politics, what kind of outlook would she bring to local governance if she wrests the mayorship of Bogo City from incumbent Junie Martinez? His decades-old political control of the district is based in this main town but Junie?s grip in the 4th district loosened after Benhur Salimbangon won the 4th district race in 2007. The issue has boiled down to a legal battle after Tining Martinez scored victory in the Supreme Court.
The political showdown in the 4th district is the most awaited contest outside of the presidential race because we could be seeing the political restoration of the Martinezes after a brief hiatus, or it will signal their end and the beginning of a new political dynasty. In any case, TV viewers should check out Kit?s answer to our question on Sunday at 6 in the evening.
More than 13 years of medical mission experience has gained for Kit a resource of understanding and knowhow that could serve as preparation for the political contest and the prize that awaits it. She does not relish the idea of a political clash but she can look at it as just another challenge, albeit bigger and more difficult. More important, she can draw strength and wisdom from the advocacy that defines her life to some degree.
