Anticipating the Diamond

The Bacolod Diocese celebrated yesterday with appropriate ceremonies the feast of its patron, Saint Sebastian, the soldier saint of Rome . The cathedral was figuratively filled to the rafters during the solemn concelebrated mass led by Bishop Vicente Navarra. One could see the fervor of parishioners as they participated in the rites and joined the community singing and prayers. Aside from the fact that it was a feast day, the event this year also fell on a Sunday, January 20, hence the overflow.

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Members of the clergy, some from abroad, also came to join the celebration. Specially recognized by Rector Fr. Felix Pasquin were Columban Missionaries, Fr. Brian Gore, and Fr. Michael “Mickey” Martin, both of whom had been assigned in southern Negros Occidental during the most crucial days of the insurgency in the province. There just wasn't enough time for reminiscences after the mass, but everybody present at the luncheon later tendered by the Palacio could still recall the days of the “Negros Nine” where Fr. Gore was one of the lead characters. Fr. Mickey then was head of the Columbans here, so he was always in the thick of things, one might say.

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Time has flown, indeed, Fr. Gore, who comes to Negros quite often, is now the head of the order in the Region, while Fr. Mickey is assigned in Malate, Manila . We all thought sadly of another member of their group, dear Fr. Niall O'Brien, who passed away in Pisa , Italy a few years ago. Fr. O'Brien had been working in Bacolod and wrote a column for the DAILY STAR for several years before his death. His remains were brought here to be buried in Kabankalan, the town, now city, he had served so faithfully.

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The day before, Saturday, the Cathedral held its liturgical rite of the opening of its door with Bishop Navarra officiating. Thousands of the faithful braved the drizzle that dampened the grounds as they waited for the ritual to begin. It was a very moving moment when the Bishop knocked on the heavy cathedral door until it sprang open and the crowds were allowed in. A solemn mass was also celebrated and Monsignor Vic Rivas delivered a very beautiful homily that very comprehensively explained the significance of the rites being prepared for the observance of the 75 th or Diamond anniversary of the diocese in October.

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It seemed a coincidence that, shortly after meeting the two Columban missionaries, who are witness to what their fellows could suffer in this part of the world, I saw the item in a metropolitan daily saying that the government is providing security measures for missionaries in Mindanao. This was an offshoot of the brutal killing of Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda in Tawi-Tawi last week. But it's not only in Mindanao where priests have become endangered species, like journalists. Some of them got kidnapped or killed in other parts of the country, too. Three of our priests in Negros Occidental were jailed, but, thank God, and the inspiration He gave to their “Father” here, the late Bishop Antonio Fortich, they were always protected and all survived.

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Also acknowledged specially during the fiesta mass was Fr. Norman Segovia, who is now serving a parish in San Jose , California . Fr. Norman belongs to the family of priests, children and grandchildren of the late devoted Catholics and exemplary parents, Eduardo and Evangelina Segovia, also of Bacolod and San Jose . Several other priests from various parishes also attended both the door opening rites and the feast day mass yesterday.

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Meanwhile, reports from the wires and cable TV announced yesterday that Hillary Clinton again won over Barack Obama, this time in Nevada . Somehow I felt this would happen because most of my friends from the U.S. said they were for Mrs. Clinton, and it had been mentioned in earlier bulletins that the Filipino-American and the Asian votes were believed crucial in that state. As for the Republicans, Mitt Romney took Nevada , but John McCain again shone in South Carolina . So it's nowhere near what you can call anybody's game yet.

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I had a mysterious phone call last night. When I picked up the phone, the caller only said: “I challenge the DAILY STAR to find out whose children are going to operate the shuttle buses and the coffee shop at the new airport,” and put down the phone before I could ask “Who is this?” We don't have time to entertain such cowardly ploys, but anybody who wants to pick up that challenge is welcome to it.*

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