From gold to diamond

My sister and I were going through the things of our late mother Wednesday and one of the items I came upon was a copy of the souvenir program issued by the Diocese of Bacolod on its 50 th anniversary, or Golden Jubilee! It seemed to me to be a very strange coincidence, because the same diocese had also launched the celebration of its 75 th , or Diamond Jubilee, only last Sunday, January 20! I went through the pages of the program in a very nostalgic mood, especially upon seeing the pictures and messages from both church and government officials then.

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The publication presented a brief history of the Diocese from 1933 to 1983. But it credited as the “most momentous” event the visit of Pope John Paul II to the diocese and the San Sebastian Cathedral, on February 20, 1981. Prominent among the messages printed were those from the Vatican Secretary of State where he imparted the Apostolic Blessing of the Holy Father, another from the Apostolic Nuncio then, Bruno Torpigliani, and also from Cardinal Jaime Sin. I felt sentimental when I saw the picture and the message of then Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich, whose memory is still very much alive in the hearts of his flock.

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The program also carried excerpts from the speech of the Holy Father delivered at the Template especially constructed at the Bacolod Reclamation Area. The millions who came from all over the island must surely remember that shining moment. There are also significant photographs and the list of committee heads and members, many of whom, alas, are now gone. It was indeed a grand celebration participated in by all sectors of the community, with Bishop Fortich as over-all chairman. I also especially noted that Fr. Felix Pasquin, who is now rector of the Diocese, was the head of the committee on Media and Publicity. How swiftly the 25 years have gone from that memorable golden day! Last Sunday's celebration was to launch the 75 th already.

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I am happy that we have a new airport in the province that has promise of becoming a landing place for international flights, but I am happier still with the news that the old one we have in Bacolod City will continue to function. Like majority of Bacolod “origs”, I mourned the possibility that it would be closed permanently. Imagine, this one is even older than Bacolod City , it is a true landmark and any native of Bacolod surely cannot help sadness at its loss.

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Remember, Bacolod only became a city in 1938, while the Bacolod airport was established in 1936 yet. It has been the site of so many historic events, the most outstanding of which was the visit to the city by the late Pope John Paul II. As for the claims of Bacolod airport haters that an administrative order does not allow the existence of airports within 25 kilometers of each other, that order was issued 40 or maybe 50 years ago, when airplanes were not as hi-tech as they are now. Note that one item, in fact the first one, cited by the United States Federal Aviation Administration for downgrading our industry is the fact that, we still operate on ANTIQUATED, not up-to-date regulations!

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In other Asian countries, airports are cropping up everywhere, making travel, especially for tourists, very convenient. Just imagine how attractive we would be to tourists if we could fly them from Bacolod to Iloilo , to Kalibo, Capiz, even to Boracay. I still remember the time when we could fly to Iloilo in about 10 minutes, to Kalibo in 15 minutes. If Kabankalan will also have its own airport, then even those of its residents who want to come here or to Negros Oriental, can probably do so in the fastest possible time. We don't have that many planes now, but who knows? The time may not be far off when smaller aircraft will be more popular, certainly, they will be more economical.

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Outgoing Civil Service Commission head Karina Constantino David did make her point to the group of Makati businessmen to whom she made her revelation about 40 percent of the top officials appointed to high offices are NOT qualified for them, and that athere are too many undersecretaries and assistant secretaries. Yesterday, reports said that the President has reacted by sacking 20 of those appointees. David said there are about 3,500 of them. Whew!*

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