Activities in April

The Women’s Month of March is over, but women’s concerns “ain’t (ever) over,” if I may reconstruct the saying that goes “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.” Women’s concerns include their families, especially the most vulnerable, their children. Today’s media have spotlighted some of the more heartbreaking cases, among others, Ellah Joy Pique and others like her who have been victimized by cybersex pornographers, if not by outright rape and death. And currently, the shocking subjecting to humiliation of 6-year-old Jan-Jan in the “popular” evening TV show of Willie Revillame. The flood of outrage that followed has thankfully resulted in stern disciplinary measures from network and media officials. Wonder what happened to the Broadcast (Radio and Television) Code of Ethics that we were required to observe when I was still active in radio?

Prevention and prosecution of Violence Against Women (VAW) and Children is one of the main concerns of our Cebu Women’s Network (CWN). However in our monthly “Women’s Kapihan” tomorrow, April 9th, Saturday, at 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. over radio dyLA, our panel discussion will be on a happier and more positive subject: “Honoring Women Achievers.”

Then last Saturday, we held our annual CWN Women’s Assembly at the LAW (Legal Alternatives for Women) Center Inc. office at Sikatuna Street, Cebu City. Prof. Antonieta Rosel of the University of the Philippines Diliman, a Cebuana, was our resource speaker on the subject “Stress: Are Women More at Risk?” She pointed out three basic sources of stress: our environment, our body and our thoughts; and two types of stress: physical and psychological. She listed four dimensions of stress management: spiritual, mental, emotional and physical and how to cope.

In the open forum that followed, we learned more about ourselves, how to deal with others, to be open to people and relationships to help us along the way, as well as those who need us, the elderly and the young, not only for a season but also for a lifetime.

On Sunday, I got to bond again with former and current media colleagues in our monthly meeting of CURTA (Cebu United Radio and TV Artists) Inc. at the Rizada residence in barangay Tisa. After the monthly report on finances from monthly dues, donations, and fund-raising activities (including a forthcoming “Seven Last Words” broadcast on radio and TV for Holy Week) to take care of financial aid to sick and needy members, we discussed the problem of continuing membership growth and vitality. The board has been commissioned to plan for this for discussion next month.

Then last Thursday afternoon, with a friend, I went to pay our respects to and condole with the family of the late Enrique Diola Sr. at the Rolling Hills Mortuary. “Eking,” as he was known to friends, was one of Cebu’s well-known classical violinists from way back when I first met and knew him during the early years of then radio station kzRC, later dyRC, the first Cebu radio station to open after World War II. He and a fellow violinist Vicente Abellon used to play on our live musical programs. From then on, I would follow reports on his performances in programs and concerts, some of which I would either attend to meet him, or listen to over media.

At the wake, I met some of his children, among them Fr. Melo (Carmelo), and Eking’s doctor-son Carlos, a close friend of my son, Ramon. All these extended my friendship with Eking, for whose soul, I now pray, may rest in peace.

In closing, we remember some significant dates in these first days of April. Last Saturday, April 2nd, the Catholic Church in Cebu marked the martyrdom in 1672 of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, a Visayan native, slain for catechizing and baptizing natives in Guam. Last Sunday, April 3rd, the Cebu City government marked the 113th anniversary of the epic “Tres de Abril” battle where Pantaleon “Leon Kilat” Villegas of Negros Oriental led Cebuano revolutionaries on April 3, 1898, to rise against three centuries of Spanish rule. And tomorrow, April 9th, the country will observe “Araw ng Kagitingan.” Tomorrow, also, we of Zonta Club I will hold our Lenten retreat at past president Rufina Tanchan’s Beverly Hills residence. I shall have to leave after lunch for our radio dyLA “Women’s Kapihan” in the afternoon. More details on these activities and more will hold for next week.

Till then, as always, may God continue to bless us one and all!