Another oil shocker

Oh dear! What a shock it was to read a government press release last night that fuel prices will be soaring again today, with the unbelievable increases of P1.75 per liter of gasoline, and P1.95 for diesel! So the days of lower-priced fuel were just to placate us after several months of high prices. Now we are being hit with sky-rocketing costs, and who knows when we will see them go back to those of the past few weeks?

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The reason being given for the sudden hike is that the oil exporting countries are not producing enough and have cut their supply. If that is not a form of extreme cruelty, I don't know what it is. It seems these countries, secure in their own sufficiency, are making the rest of us non-producers dance to a tune they choose to play. I am very sorry for those who did not know of this last night, as they could have taken the chance to fill up before midnight.

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Now that the cost of fuel is this high, it is time for those in charge of traffic to do something to see to it that vehicles move faster along our streets and roads. The snail's pace that we often have to take while traveling, not only means inconvenience, but also more expense, with oil prices as they are now. I am sure transport companies will be wailing for fare hikes again, and you can't blame them. And parents of schoolchildren will be moaning about the bigger transportation allowances they have to provide their kids.

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But we have to sympathize more for the people of Metro Manila. As it is traffic there has become the most atrocious ever, and I don't think those special teams being fielded to solve the crawling traffic along the main thoroughfares like EDSA, for instance, will not only have their hands full with the misbehaving motorists, but also with the anger of commuters. What a time for those oil producers to do this. When, Oh when, will the world discover a substitute for their oil?

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Well, at least he finally put an end to the anxiety of his promoters. For several months now, the admirers and backers of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte have been pushing for his declaration of his candidacy for president. And the guy seemed to be leading them on one moment, then denying he has plans for it the next. Groups all over the country who believe he is the only one who could solve all its problems have spent their time, money and efforts to make people aware of his capacity.

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But yesterday, he dashed all their hopes and plans by announcing that he is definitely not running in 2016. In fact, he even stressed that he is retiring then, and leaving the mayorship of Davao to a member of his family, his feisty daughter Sara, remember the one who boxed the city sheriff for one thing or another during a demolition of some squatter area? Maybe he thinks she is his clone and could be as forceful an executive as he is. As for him, he claims now that what he is going to do is go around campaigning for federalism.

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I can just imagine the excitement of Catholics in Cuba with the impending visit of His Holiness, Pope Francis, to that country this month. Wire reports say he will arrive in Cuba on September 19, and both the government and the Church are involved in the preparations for his visit. Will their reception equal or surpass that given him in the Philippines? From Cuba, Pope Francis will proceed to the United States where he can expect another rousing welcome. A great feature of his U.S. visit is that he will be addressing the United States Congress on September 22, the first Prelate ever to do so. I bet media will be in a great frenzy over this activity.

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Maybe we in the Philippines can keep up with the itinerary of the Holy Father through TV. This is something not only Catholics want to watch and, in some way, participate in. Until now the aura of his short visit to our country seems to still be wafting in the air. And so it might, also in the countries he is visiting now. Viva il Papa!*

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