St. Therese relics tone
down tensions in Negros

         The advent here and in Kabankalan diocese of the relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus helped tone down the increasingly strident outcry over the ZTE-NBN broadband controversy. And, we hope that with the oncoming Holy Week, most of us can be spurred to introspect and turn our focus on God and the message of love of St. Therese.

          What is important is that we introspect and examine our consciences and contemplate what is happening to the country and our society. Thus, the Holy Week, which implies that focus on the Passion and Resurrection of Christ will enable all of us to internalize the message of love of the Savior.

          What was exhilarating was the sight of thousands of Negrense Catholics led by Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra, priests and nuns, warmly in procession as they paid tribute to the Carmelite nun who died so young after spending years in the cloistered life.

          Even the inmates of the provincial jail received a chance to touch the relics of the humble saint who, incidentally, has been declared a doctor of the church. That is a significant tribute to a saint who spent most of her time writing down her thoughts and experiences with God and Jesus Christ.

          Despite the sharp leap of the latest events in the controversy over the ZTE-NBN broadband deal, there hardly was much of a ripple among local laity whose eyes seemed to have been riveted on St. Therese of the Child Jesus and what she espouses – love for God and love for fellowmen.

          A truly welcome message prior to our annual traditional celebration of the Holy Week.

***

          Because I had been blessed by participating in the pilgrimage to Manila and Antipolo by members of the Neo-Catechumenal communities of Bata and Molo, I sort of have myself shielded from the competing psy-war beams by both the administration and opposition spinmasters about whether the President should resign or not and ancillary issues.

          But it still penetrated my consciousness that the country is undergoing a major political and economic crises.

          Political, in the sense that several sides in the ongoing controversy are in the midst of orchestrating the call for the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and the administration pen pushers have been also just as creative and vibrant in hitting back at her tormentors.

          But the most troubling development is that sharp rise in the inflation rate and the increased cost of basic commodities, including, naturally, sugar. Although a minor percentage of the daily household expenditure, we saw SRA Administrator Rafael Coscolluela yesterday explained that sugar price must have just followed the lead of other commodities.

          Thus, for Negrenses, there could be another outcry. Against sugar. The favorite whipping boy of militants and activists, although they all know that it is only a minuscule portion of the household expenditures.

          But, then, that’s the fact of life in this country.

***

          But the important thing to watch is the price of rice. If the climb gets faster, we may find the country in the grip of a major trouble. Despite assurances by the government that Vietnam has pledged to sell us 1.5 million tons of rice, there is no gain-saying that traders and merchants will try to cash in on the shortage of the primary staple. And that could spell trouble. Major trouble.

          And, then, you have AFP Chief Hermogenes Esperon re-telling that some recalcitrant elements are still trying to convince the military to rise against GMA and the administration. And even Gen. Allaga of the Marines reportedly admitted that the “rebellious” elements in the elite force number only about two percent of the 8,000 Marines force.

          But he hastily withdrew that statement later. In short, the AFP itself speaks in forked tongues.

          That does not stop some quarters from agitating soldiers to go against the Constitution for the sake of the country. That’s a big SSSSSS. When they succeed in convincing the military to take sides in the ongoing political conflict, they have no assurance that the soldiers will not ultimately just agree that it’s time for them to seize power rather than turn it over to the fractious political factions of the country.  But, God loves the Philippines. And we fervently pray that he does not allow us to undergo a Calvary.

***

          There was also the disturbing news from Aklan. Lezo former Mayor Alfredo Arcenio, the prime suspect in the slaying of Bombo Radyo broadcaster Herson Hinolan in 2004, reportedly surfaced after two years in hiding and immediately filed a petition for bail.

          What is disturbing is  that the lone witness against Arcenio, Peter Melgar, reportedly recanted and admitted that he may have committed a mistake in identifying Arcenio as the gunman who shot Hinolan to death on Nov. 13, 2004. Oh, well, truth will come out later. Justice, after all, is not only in this world, but also swiftly cuts through all the lies and dissimulation later.*

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