Coming to a climax

This shortest and most significant historical month this year came to a historical  climax for Cebu last Tuesday with our observance of the 28th anniversary of Edsa 1 for the first time here in Cebu City.

For here is where the seed-inspiration for the uprising, the late Corazon “Cory” Aquino, took refuge in a quiet monastery in Cebu from the then hard-ruling head of the country in Manila. When the celebratory observations in Manila eventually subsided to almost perfunctory attention in 27 years, it “came home to roost” so to say, in Cebu, led by now President Benigno “P-Noy”Aquino III, son of the late President Cory, which I report on today, the 28th day of the month.

So, as the Cebu Daily News headlined its feature story on this last Wednesday, it came home to celebrate the historical date at ceremonies at our Provincial Capitol frontage, and so, “People Power is no longer about Edsa.”

When I started writing for Cebu Daily News  as a Concerned Bystander 16 years ago  while still actively involved in radio broadcasting, I usually made it a point to either cover special events personally, or, as an anchor at the station when these events were  broadcast, closely following developments covered by our special events broadcasters. Now, thanks to all-encompassing television and further detailed reports in print media, I have a broader range of what is happening as a Concerned Bystander.

Cebu City observed another historical day the day before, Monday, the 24th, when we celebrated its 77th anniversary as a Chartered City. The day opened with Mass and a flag-raising ceremony at the Plaza Sugbu in front of the City Hall’s legislative building.

This was followed by a floral offering at the bust of Don Vicente Rama in front of the Cebu City Bureau of Fire Protection 7 along Natalio Bacalso Avenue. Don Vicente, considered the Father of the Cebu City Charter, lobbied for the proclamation of Cebu as a city by virtue of Commonwealth Act No. 58 on Feb. 24, 1937 or 77 years ago.

At the 77th Charter Anniversary Testimonial Dinner and Awarding Ceremony in the evening at Marco Polo Hotel, awards were given to those who contributed to Cebu’s history and development: a Centennial Award, 19 Mayor’s Special Awards, three for Outstanding Institutions, five for Outstanding Individuals, two Posthumous Awards and a Lifetime Service Award to His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.  The local Press Media has enumerated all of these.

This Concerned Bystander, for once, was a participant as one of the five Outstanding Individuals. I was asked to close the affair with a brief talk on my long years of involvement in radio broadcasting media: 25 years at dyRC and 27 years at dyLA, with a couple of 3-month international travel and study awards: Smith-Mundt for Radio and TV in the United States, and an International Labor Organization (ILO) travel and study grant for Labor in Turin, Italy, as well as a current monthly radio program I host on dyLA, “Women’s Kapihan.”

I also write for the print media as a Cebu Daily News columnist for 16 years up to the present. I was also asked to talk about my involvement in the rights and involvement of women in the Cebu Women’s Network as well as young girls in the Girl Scouts of the Philippines Cebu Council. And finally on my current involvement with Senior Citizen’s rights and current benefits.

Now, for our Zonta I General Membership Meeting Thursday last week, February 20th. Our evaluation of what we had busily accomplished last month, was highlighted by a brief PowerPoint presentation  showing our Medellin Typhoon Relief work reported by our Zontian I Marven Triambulo. It was about our relief mission in Panugnawan, Medellin, in partnership with the Hiroshima-Philippine Friendship Society, GCH Foundation, Inc., and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce.

Distributed to some 500 families were assorted goods like towels, hygiene kits, clothes, shoes, toys and food.

The following day, Friday, Feb. 21st, we held the monthly executive committee meeting of our Cebu Council of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines. We heard a program committee report on the Council’s recently held 2014 Council Twinklers’ Playday, Star Holiday, Junior, Senior and Cadet Encampments participated in by our Cebu City and Province Girl Scouts.
For deliberation and action, we considered our forthcoming 2014 Annual Council and Awards Ceremony as to venue, service award nominees and awards which include medals in bronze, silver, gold and jade.

Nominees for awards will include registered district and school commissioners, district and barangay committees as well as co-leaders and associate members, all for 2013 to 2014, as well as active members of the Girl Scouting (GS) movement, and supporters of our GS programs, trainings and finance.

It is all of these, officially registered member and officials, as well as so many volunteers and supporters that we recognize for their heartfelt support for our Girls Scouts’ overall growth and development. God bless them all!

What a hectic, truly dizzying climax to February as we turn tomorrow to the next month, March, which we will observe as Women’s Month, the main subject of our Bystander-ing next week.

Until then, may God continue to bless us, one and all!