In just a little over a week, we witnessed and participated in an incredible roller-coaster ride of emotional experiences, thanks to media: traditional, modern and futuristic. As a longtime media practitioner in radio broadcast from its post-WWII return to Cebu with station kzRC, later dyRC and in print media thanks to Cebu Daily News from its inauguration in 1998, this Concerned Bystander is most thankful and appreciative of media for making it possible for even the usually home-bound to keep in touch with current events, local and global.
May, traditionally the Month of Flowers brought on by April showers, as a popular saying went, started out differently this year. Memorable for this year’s continuing over from last year’s startling climate changes earlier foreseen in Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth”: unusual weather in snow and windstorms, floods and parching aridity and the recent devastating tornadoes in six southeastern states in the US. Not to forget other earth-shaking disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, among many other natural phenomena.
So the first of May, traditionally Labor Day, was blessed with the beatification rites for the beloved Pope John Paul II as Blessed, a step away from eventual canonization. Watching the extended live TV coverage of the event, I remember having missed joining in his making the Stations of the Cross at the Roman Colosseum in the late ’70s because I was then busy preparing to come home at the end of a three-month ILO Labor Grant in Turin, Italy.
But miracle of miracles, on Blessed Pope John Paul II’s first visit to the Philippines in 198l, when he visited Cebu on Feb. 19th that year, I got to be the only broadcaster (with a dzRH broadcaster) among all other Cebu broadcasters covering the event in Cebuano, to cover in English his Papal Mass at the old Cebu Airport in Lahug. At the time, I was already working at radio station dyLA, the Labor Station.
That leads me on to the subject of Labor Day observed every May 1st, May also considered Labor Month. Thanks to dyLA, the Labor Station owned and operated by the Associated Labor Unions (ALU)–Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, I came to learn about the vital importance of labor. And even more so when I was awarded an International Labor Organization (ILO) grant together with public relations and communications personnel in labor from other East Asian nations. I have since then become involved and concerned with labor and labor situations as a media person.
When I was still actively involved at dyLA, I remember the day always opened with a Holy Mass celebrated at the ALU St. Joseph Chapel in honor of the saint himself, the Patron of Workers. I also remember one year when the Mass was concelebrated by over 10 priests whose first names were “Jose.” Those were happy, blessed years.
Then later in the same first day of May this year, like a bolt from out of the blue, the evening news reported the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in a covert operation by US commandos in his mansion-lair at Abbottabad, Pakistan. It is a continuing top news in media as I write this, knowing you, too, may also continue to follow it.
May 1st also marked the death from lingering illness of Vice Gov. Greg Sanchez, for whom I wrote prayers for health last week. His legacy as a three-term vice governor, as well as his involvement in civic and community affairs, in business and in media, among others, as well as visits, condolences and prayers for his soul also continue to banner news reports in Cebu until his interment tomorrow. May God grant eternal rest to his soul.
May 1st was also Divine Mercy Sunday, the Solemnity of which was instituted by Blessed John Paul II from the revelations of our Lord of Divine Mercy to St. Sister Faustina. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is usually recited daily at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. We also learn that Blessed John Paul II also instituted the Luminous Mysteries in the recitation of the Holy Rosary. Also, May 1st marked the beginning of the daily Flores de Mayo children’s floral offerings to the Blessed Virgin.
Next week’s report will take up more Bystander-ing from an eventful end-of-the month of Apri overflowing into May that this week’s headlines crowded out: my meetings with our Girl Scouts Cebu Chapter, Zonta I and CURTA, among a lot more. Till then, may God continue to bless us, one and all!