Keep this week holy

Two years ago his wife left him because he was not earning enough to support her and their children. Then the other day, this tricycle driver from Quezon City hit the right combination for the winning numbers in the lotto draw, and became an instant millionaire, with his winnings of almost P60 million. So what next? Expect a sudden emotional reconciliation. But what if a lot of other women are already there, hoping to be Mr. Trike Driver's partners?

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What about this Typhoon Maysak, who seems to be bent on hitting our country right on the days when the observance of Holy Week will be peaking? The alleged super-typhoon, that has already done a lot of damage in Micronesia, is expected to hit our country at a time when we are supposed to be experiencing very dry weather, as we had done in previous years. This thing called climate change is really proving itself, because what we are going through is no longer the norm we had known all our lives.

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By the way, Maysak is the international name of this one, but when it enters our shores, it will be rebaptized as “Chedeng”. Again I wonder why our weathermen insist on having a different name for typhoons that come our way. When Yolanda struck and devastated several parts of the Visayas last year, people abroad who generously came to our help with donations in cash and kind, often got confused, because, to them, what had wrought the devastation was “Haiyan”. Even now, we still hear of reports about Haiyan” and often someone has to explain that it, and
“Yolanda”, are one and the same.

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When we used to swelter in the heat of the sun during Holy Weeks past, we can expect, therefore, to be soaking in the rains that Chedeng may bring now. I can only pray, and I hope all other devotees will, that Good Friday be spared by Chedeng because that is when the traditional procession that Catholics look forward to as their major participation in the sacrifice of Lent takes place. Let us hope that our prayers will be answered.

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It was saddening to hear about the incident in Libya where a Filipino was killed when their vehicle was hit by a rocket attack in the place called Zawiya. The Pinoy was with four others who were wounded. Another car was also hit and its occupants, a Sudanese and a Libyan were also wounded, and taken to hospitals after the senseless attack. In the case of the Filipinos, we grieve for them, but at the same time also blame them for pushing their luck too far.

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Remember how the government had been appealing to them to come home, even making available transportation to fly them back, which they ignored? There were supposed to be more than 8,000 Pinoys working in Libya, but, so far, only half, or about 4,000 had heeded the call and came home. The rest, probably wanting to cling to their high-paying jobs there, chose to take chances, and therefore can blame nobody but themselves for their muleheadedness. Now their families may lose them, and also the benefits of their pay, when they are gone.

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Meanwhile, those who are parishioners, or who hear mass frequently, especially Thursdays, at the Queen of Peace Church (Hua Ming), must be wondering about the composition of their male choir during the ceremonies that seems to have improved very much lately, with their full-throated renditions of the hymns that encourage the participation of the congregation. Well, I asked for the names of the members, and if you want to compliment them, they are Grand Knight Mario Pao, Danny L. Yap, for melody, Tito Maramba, tenor, with Benny Pascual, Bob Villasor, and Ben Ortega as members, and Mr. Magbanua as organist.

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It is already Holy Wednesday today and we are nearing the climax of our Lenten penitential observations with Holy Thursday and Good Friday following. Let us celebrate these holy days with the proper recollection and sacrifices, and avoid making them the time for our outings, picnics and merry-making, give them the dignity they call for, and reserve the rejoicing and fun activities for the day of Our Lord's resurrection.*

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