Will PAL serve beer now?

Yesterday, the Diocese of Bacolod honored its Shepherd, the Most Reverend Vicente Navarra who marked the Golden Jubilee of his priesthood, with a luncheon and program at the La Proa Main of Bacolod’s L’Fisher Hotel. What a beautiful day for celebrating a milestone! And how fortunate are his people in this diocese to be able to share it with him.

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But the occasion was not only to mark the milestone in Bishop Navarra’s life in the priesthood. The Easter celebration was also an occasion to call for support for the on-going project of the diocese under him, the Domus Dei Complex, a haven for retired priests, that is now functioning in Silay, but which needs a lot more improvements. And so it was titled “Lunch for a Cause”, the beneficiary being the home envisioned by the Bishop for his retired or ailing priests.

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Meanwhile, it was very inspiring to see the continuing zeal and devotion of Filipinos during the observance of Holy Week this year. In Bacolod City, the Good Friday procession was probably one of the biggest held in recent years. It was also heartening to note that there are now some new “passos”, those carriages carrying the figures portraying the scenes and the people involved in the last hours of Jesus Christ.

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The Visita Iglesia, another time-honored traditions, was participated in by thousands who flocked to all the churches in the city, for a moment of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. I was particularly happy to note that more and more young people are participating, and foregoing other kinds of celebrations on Maundy Thursday. Also, it seemed most of the groups visiting the churches were composed of entire families, together, in keeping the practices of their faith.

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It is also good to note that, in our province and city, at least, we do not see such warped religious practices as those adopted by some people in Luzon, of undergoing, not only self-flaggelation, but even having themselves nailed to the Cross, supposedly to keep a vow made in exchange for a favor granted, or an ailment cured. A disturbing report yesterday said that in Pampanga and Bulacan, 27 persons had themselves crucified, as a way of joining Jesus in the agony He suffered at Golgotha. I wonder if measures are being taken to have them treated to prevent infection later? It seems as if even the pronouncements of the Church against such practices have no effect on those people.

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Meanwhile, it was a shock to hear, just shortly before Holy
Week, about the arrest of some foreigners in this country who are involved in the cruel business of conducting dogfights, using pitbulls for their combatants. The report said more than 200 of these dogs are being kept in miserable conditions, barely fed, and made to fight while spectators place bets on theme. The promoter of the dogfights were found to be Koreans, and even the police who discovered the practice were shocked and appalled.

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Somehow, it is alarming to note how many Koreans are coming to the Philippines, even to Negros Island, ostensibly to learn English from our schools. But lately, we hear of some of them being involved in crimes, and, with their funds, there is a possibility that they may be thinking of just bribing our law enforcers to get away with what they are doing. While we welcome tourists, meaning, foreign ones, in our country, we have no need for criminally-inclined ones and law-breakers, who could also be the scum in their own land. I think our immigration officials should be more discriminating about the Koreans they allow in.

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So San Miguel Corporation has bought into Philippine Airlines. It will now be part of the country’s flag carrier, with just a hairline between the amounts of their investments. I hear SMC will be in charge of Management, and is that good news? Maybe it means they will serve beer on flights? The last time I took PAL, they did not even serve juice of coffee anymore, just about 25 pieces of peanuts and some crackers. I’m not batting for beer, of course, but maybe a little more sustenance especially during very early or very late flights? Let’s wait and see.*

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