Christmas is fast approaching

A festive atmosphere gripped churchgoers of the Misa de Aguinaldo, the pre-dawn masses in Catholic churches both of Mexico and the Philippines.

But there were still those to whom the advent of Christmas brought about dreadful forthcomings. For the trio of Marichi Ramos, E. Valencia and Lorenzo Dilag the Christmas approaching is one that is full of unfavorable possibilities. So they spent their time fending what could possibly be the curtain on the directorship of the Bacolod City Water District.

But like the rest of the faithful, there were also the sad tidings of the death of close friends and associates that marred to a certain extent the celebration of Christmas.

Like for example, just last week, I received a long distance call that my sister-in-law, Mila Castanons-Espina, the widow of my youngest brother, Dodge, had also fallen asleep to join her dead husband.

My regret – I was not able to join my two cousins – Bert and Oscar bidding her farewell in Puerto Princesa where she was staying with her son-in-law, the former Rep. Antonio Alvarez.

The reason – the last time I met her in Manila recently was that I heard she had waited for my arrival. Shortly after, I noticed that she still recognized me. Shortly after Alzheimer'shit her and she asked her care-taker to bring her out because there was no more reason for her to stay which simply meant she had lapsed into forgetfulness.

Then, it also hit me hard. The death of former Rep. Zoilo de la Cruz, the president of the National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of the Philippine (NACUSIP).

Although we had not been closely associated before, Zoilo remains in memory as one of my close friends, and associates.

But the one that hit me hard was the demise of the late ex Rep. Teddy Benedicto. Although I knew that he was not a close relative of the late Roberto S. Benedicto, Teddy was one of the favorite solons of the Benedictos and the Montelibanos.

Actually, I was closer to him than I was to any of the Montelibanos. An Ateneo graduate, of law, Teddy was one of the lawyers who remained rooted in Catholicism. A macha Martillo was what the Spaniard used to call the die-hard faithful who remained rooted in their Catholic belief and remained faithful to the Church and to Christ.

What hurts me was the fact that when he died, Teddy’s widow, Mila, had not immediately informed me of his demise in Manila shortly after arrival from Canada. It was only later that I learned about it from a second hand source.

And only later did I get it direct from Mila. But I could understand the grief that must have affected her with the death of Teddy.

Then again there was the latest murder of Francisco Loarca, who was gunned down near a hotel at the Circumferential Road in Barangay Villamonte, just in front of the East View Hotel.

I immediately felt saddened by his loss to Cugie Loarca, a close friend. Actually there must be a reason for the death of Francisco but all I can say – whoever did it will soon have God throwing light on the motive for Loarca’s death.

But the most beautiful thing was what greeted me yesterday was the pledge by Mayor Monico Puentevella for members of Baciwa Board – especially Marichi Ramos, chairman Villanueva and director Lorendo Dilag – to ceasefire during the Christmas Season because he did not want them to be hurt by throwing at them what they could expect from the Bacolod public, especially the Baciwa union.

Puentevella said he was not at ease taking issue with a woman even if she is Marichi.

I don’t see any reason why she continues to cling to her post like gecko, was how Puentevella dubbed her posture.*

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