Thousands of faithful await Papal Nuncio

The Diocese of Bacolod is eagerly awaiting the arrival on Sunday of Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, Papal Nuncio to the Philippines. The papal envoy will preside on Monday over the consecration of Fr. Gerry Alminaza as auxiliary bishop of the Jaro Archdiocese.

Adam is the dean of the diplomatic corps as the Vatican ambassador to the Philippines.

He spearheads the group of three archbishops and 20 bishops from all over the country who will attend the Alminaza consecration on Monday.

Just for his Sunday arrival at 10:30 a.m., thousands of Catholic faithful are ready to welcome Archbishop Edward Adams.

Upon arrival at the Silay Airport, the Papal Nuncio will lead the motorcade that will pass through Silay City, proceeding to the Bacolod City San Sebastian Cathedral for the liturgical reception.

Local officials led by Silay City Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano are expected to welcome the papal envoy.

The Planta, the newly inaugurated hotel of Bacolod, will host the Papal Nuncio.

On Sunday, Archbishop Adams will visit the Pope John Paul National Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family. At 6:30 p.m., he will join the dinner to be hosted by the city government at the Bacolod government center.

On Monday morning, starting at 8:30 a.m., the Papal Nuncio, joined by CBCP president Archbishop Angel Lagdameo and Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra will preside over the consecration of Alminaza as auxiliary bishop of Jaro at the San Sebastian Cathedral.

Alminaza is the only child of Felix and Antonia Alminaza of Barangay San Jose, Sipalay City. He will also be celebrating his 49th birthday on Monday.

He studied Philosophy at the Sacred Heart Diocesan Seminary of Bacolod and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Negros Occidental Recoletos in 1981. His completed his Bachelor in Sacred Theology at the University of Sto. Tomas Central Seminary in 1985.

Bishop-elect Alminaza also has a Master of Arts in Religious Education with core concentration on pastoral counseling and spiritual direction from Fordham University in New York in 1994.

He is currently a candidate for a doctorate degree in education management. He was the rector of the seminary when Pope Benedict XVI named him auxiliary bishop of Jaro.

The most excited with the impending arrival of the Papal Nuncio were the members of the Neocathechumal community, together with the communities of Molo, Iloilo City, who had earlier called on Msgr. Adams at the Papal Nunciature.

I recall how he warmly welcomed members of the two communities and made them feel comfortable. He went around with ease and grace.

Bishop-elect Alminaza, however, was a low-key rector of the seminary. I had known him for sometime and I consider him a bright but humble person. And I am sure that he will prove to be a good bishop, as he was a good shepherd to his seminary flock.

Ave, Msgr. Alminaza and ad mulcos annos.

Ombudsman orders Bacolod mayor, 6 others to answer charges

The Ombudsman-Visayas ordered six Bacolod officials, led by City Mayor Evelio Leonardia, and a private respondent to answer the charges against them on the allegedly irregular bidding to procure 10 six-wheeler dump trucks. The Ombudsman said there was enough basis to proceed with the investigation on the case against the city officials.

Barangay captain Ricardo Sanson of Barangay 34 and several others filed the complaint against Leonardia and the other city officials.

The respondents are Leonardia, executive assistant to the mayor Goldwyn Nifras, city legal officer Allan Zamora, budget officer Luzviminda Treyes, administrator Roger Balo, planning officer Lemuel Reynaldo, and Enrique Agustin of the Commercial Motors Corp.

Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol gave them 10 days to file their reply to the complaint.

Sanson’s complaint was filed together with those of kagawad Rolie Vera of Punua Taytay and broadcaster Franklin Villanueva for alleged violation of RA 3015 and for dishonesty, abuse of authority, grave misconduct and acts prejudicial to public service.

Zamora, meanwhile, told local media that the mayor had cancelled the award even before the filing of the case last April 24.

Leonardia reportedly approved the recommendation of Zamora to nullify the award to CMC for the 10 six-wheeler trucks and ordered a new bidding to be conducted for the acquisition of the dump trucks.

Balo, on the other hand, stressed that he intends to file a case against the complainant for perjury and moral damages, pointing out that he was out of the country when the bidding was completed. He presented to media his passport showing that he left for the US on Nov. 3 last year and returned to the country only last March 26.

Well, it seems that politics is still the name of the game in Bacolod. And many more similar incidents are on the table before 2010.