Relief work in the Metropolis

There’s nothing one can give thanks to God for but the knowledge that one’s children are also involved in helping the relief effort in the metropolis.

That was one reason why I failed to attend Saturday night’s asalto for Msgr. Vicente Rivas, who was celebrating his birthday and that of the late Msgr. Antonio Y. Fortich.

Both are my former idols and very respected clergymen of the Bacolod diocese. Msgr. Fortich had long departed from among us, but his stewardship of the Bacolod Diocese, especially the poor, is an icon of Christian reach out.

My Junior Rolando Espina joined me at the house Saturday evening. But he joined the fun run despite the fact that he had just competed completion the Iron Man fete in Cebu City where he rendered a creditable feat despite the fact that he plunged into it without having overcome the jetlag of their trip from Ireland to Cebu City.

But Jun Jun did one good thing. Impressive. He managed to convince my grandson Giancarlo Paolini to join the fun run.

A good start was how he termed it.

But that is not the point. As I had said, the most important part of what has been happening to my children in Manila was that including my grandson, “Connie,” were all engaged in giving relief efforts.

Inday Salvaciom Varona, who is with ABS-CBN, failed to get in touch yesterday. She was in Muntinlupa after just arriving from Tac;oban, Leyte, where she was also involved in the relief efforts.

My other daughter, Malou, was with her gasoline firm.

“We are busy trying to complete packing the relief items we are donating to the flood victims. We tied up with the Philippine National Red Cross,” said Malou.

The others, have been in their own way busy trying to gather as much assistance from neighbors and other well-meaning individuals.

“You can’t imagine the number of flood victims,” said Malou yesterday.

But there was the bugging question on the predicament of Metropolitan residents. With the election coming, baka the promised projects and programs for the illegal settlers and their relocation will be forgotten again until after the election next year, she added.

That was exactly the same question I was about to ask of her. I had long lived Manila and saw the emergence of the metropolis into what is today – a sprawling squatters areas except for some islands of modernity such as the Makati Commercial Center, Ortigas Avenue, and Cubao, and others.

Is the past, I had written about the threats posed by illegal settlers and their potential damage they can cause to the metropolis.

But all these crumbled in the face of the mass exodus to the center by the immigrants from the surrounding areas and the provinces and how Metro Manila has grow into a gigantic squatters’ area.

And that was precisely the one that reminded me of Msgr. Fortich and Msgr. Rivas’ efforts to uplift the marginalized poor of the province. Of course, there have been some improvements in them. But they are just on the surface. The more profound causes of poverty remain the same.

Of course, these are things that cannot be changed overnight. Some things have to wait for the tide of history. A slow but gradual process of enlightenment is needed. The gains are tedious. But somehow, God in His infinite mercy, has helped alter the situation somewhat even if the elite and the poor remain seemingly impervious to the prompting of the Holy Spirit for them to change their ways and attitudes.

Thanks God for both Msgr. Fortich and Msgr. Rivas.

***

Undoubtedly, the Liberal Party of Bacolod could become the vanguard of a vigorous effort to alter the political landscape of the city with the number of prestigious councilors of the city having taken their oaths as members of the party.

Rep. Albee Benitez, LP chairman of the province, said the party rejects the principle of convenience in favor of the politics of conscience.

The array of the LP councilors is formidable. Elmer Sy, Sonya Verdeflor, Archie Baribar, former Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Marie Palermo, and broadcaster Mario Solidum.

Of course, that is still dependent on the outcome of the selection of the standard bearer of the LP for the mayoralty rare.

But I am sure that the LP will be the party that can upend the team of Judge Thaddeus Sayson and his vice mayoralty bet, and that of City Mayor Evelio Leonardia who is running for congressman of the lone district.

A very interesting development to watch.*

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