Two forces into one

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

So all is well that ends well. That may be a very hackneyed saying but it truly applies to the conflict that had been going on in the town of Murcia, Negros Occidental, recently.

For several weeks there seemed to be a stand-off, not an actual collision between the officials of the town and of the local Parish, that had been escalating to the point that the residents became apprehensive, and were perceived to be taking sides in the issue between their leaders: the government sanctioned ones on one side, and the ones assigned to them by their Church on the other.

It had gotten to the point when some residents would not even discuss the ongoing disagreements with each other, so strong had their involvement become.

The great pity was that, the contending parties were both working towards the same goal, the elimination of the drug threat in their town. Indeed, this was a very serious problem, one that could gravely affect life in the community. And so it puzzled those from the outside looking in that the contenders could not see their way towards settling their differences and pooling their resources in battling the menace to their town and their people.

But the sun shone at last, yesterday, with the settlement of the problem, through the mediation of the Bishop, who went out of his way, and was granted the grace and inspiration to bring the contenders together and make them see the light.

And as he himself said, it was through the power of prayer that the inspiration came to bring the controversy to a very peaceful and satisfactory end. Now the people of Murcia can be assured that they will have, not two forces against each other, but two inspired and determined ones, working for the benefit of their town and of their people. And for this, we congratulate them all.*