Vice Mayor Javelosa
laid to rest

Sagaynons will escort the remains of Vice Mayor Ken Javelosa to his grave today. It will be a sad send-off worthy of one who had devoted his remaining adult life to the city of Sagay.

To the family of Ken and his loved ones, as well as his kin, our condolence and shared grief of the loss of Ken. But we are sure that God has already accepted his in His bosom as a true Christian.

***

You know, it was during the past few days while I was recuperating from a prolonged hospitalization that I also heard a lot of talks about stem cell therapy.

I realized only last week that, contrary to my previous impression, many in Negros Occidental had availed of the treatment. For all its worth.

Apparently one of those who already tried to avail of the stem cell therapy was Ken. But, as pointed out by kin, it was too late.

I was with a group of Filipino-Chinese citizens last Monday discussing stem cell therapy and its having invaded Negros like a wild wind.

I learned later that many of my friends and acquaintances are actually patients of Manila-based physicians who fly down to Negros to administer to them the treatment.

But I also heard that most of these patients had not listened to the warning from the Department of Health about the medical treatment which, to most, seemed like a miracle cure for various ailments, including cancers.

I’ve also heard of an aging lady who frantically tried to have the therapy administered to her while in the throes of cancer. Unfortunately, the aging senior lady reportedly succumbed just a few weeks ago after undergoing her frustrating treatment.

In short, it is no miracle cure, contrary to claims by some patients.

Reynaldo Espina, my Chinese god-brother, admitted that he had it recently but said that it had relieved his upper shoulder’s throbbing pain. Whether that could be considered a cure is something that he did not hazard to state.

But he told me of another friend who reported having regained his physical normalcy. He can now walk straight. And his joint pains have disappeared. And his sexual potency has also returned, albeit reduced for the time being.

Among those who recently underwent stem cell therapy was my good friend, Sammy Palanca, the last time Sammy told me that he felt better.

But since that was just the day after he had undergone the treatment, Sammy promised to inform me of the progress of his rehabilitation.

***

That was a most touching scene played over TV Patrol Negros Monday.

The camera caught Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., shedding tears as department heads and members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan pledged their own funds for the construction of the classrooms for the Negros Occidental High School.

What had started out as a protest action against members of the provincial SP who had thumbed down the request for P10-million loan from the Land Bank for the classrooms of the NOHS, turned out to be a thanksgiving with candles and prayers in front of the provincial Capitol.

NOHS principal Mario Amaca, himself, was visibly moved by the gesture by top government officials and the private sector who volunteered help for the NOHS classroom project.

The president of the NOHS Alumni Association assured the teachers and students that the organization will be mobilized to raise funds for the project if the government officials refuse to do so.

Members of Class ’82 also pledged to dig into their pockets for more funds for the NOHS classroom construction. That’s something that drew more tears form the NOHS mentors.

What these recalcitrant board members had failed to consider was that there are thousands of alumni of the NOHS. Most of the top personalities of the province have been helped in their studies by the NOHS. And many of them are now top men in government and the private sector.

I realized this later when I had married my late wife. Dr. Lourdes L. Espina, valedictorian of Class ’82. It was only then that I realized that I had not just married Nene, but also the entire class and the entire alumni association.

That should serve as a warning to those who try to undercut what is good for the NOHS studentry. Somehow when they move, they do so in concert.

***

Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District), was the latest victim of a deliberate move aimed at torpedoing his reported good showing in the House of Representatives.

Jeffrey recently reacted to social network report showing that he had the third most number of absences.

Ferrer, however, produced for the DAILY STAR an official certification by House Secretary Marilyn Baura-Yap that he had only seven absences in the 5th Congress from Jan. 23 to Nov. 21.

Ferrer said the social media is often used by some unscrupulous persons to commit crimes against others, such as peddling forged or doctored documents.

Normally newspapers do not carry such reports without first double-checking as to their authenticity and genuineness.

So that’s the first thing to remember. Not everything that is written and tossed through the internet is always true.*

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