Masskara just for Bacolod

(First of two parts)

No, it’s not just the Masskara Festival that has drawn thousands to Bacolod. Heading toward its finale, the world famous festival sort of makes Bacolodnons seem pervious to the global financial crunch. At least, it does not show in their lifestyle the past few weeks.

Because it is not just Masskara they are celebrating, there is also the Diamond Anniversary of the Bacolod Diocese. And there are a lot more activities during weekends and the rest of the week. And that has brought in thousands of visitors from elsewhere.

Still, the most important event is the diocesan diamond jubilee. And this has attracted to Bacolod hundreds more from outside the province. Including many former seminarians of the Sacred Heart Diocesan Seminary, headed by Rudy Concepcion, representative of the Grand Alumni Association in the United States.

It was Jimmy Golez of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters (NFSP) who called my attention to the arrival here Thursday of Concepcion and several other ex-seminarians.

Easily the big event Saturday was the arrival here of some thousands of members of the Motorcycle Club of the Philippines, headed by Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.

Actually, the ones who understood their trek to Bacolod were the members of the Motorcycle Philippines Federal and the Unified Negros Island Motorcycle Federation.

They were greeted by Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco, Vice Gov. Emilio Yulo and Board Member Enrique Lacson among others. They were undertaking the Ride for Peace. And they also took time-out to impress on Negrenses the need for use of helmets while riding their motorcycles.

Revilla vs Cha-cha, GMA term extension

Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. admitted that he was against the move to change the Constitution. But he surprised most when he pointed out that he is against any move to extend the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Revilla was the guest speaker at the induction of officers of the Negros Occidental Group of Contractors during the weekend.

Although admittedly a pro-administration senator, Revilla astonished his audience when he categorically declared that he was against extending the term of President Arroyo, pointing out that it is against the Constitution. “We just have to follow the Constitution,” he stressed.

But he redeemed himself with the statement that the impeachment move against the President will not prosper.

“If it is not going to prosper then we’ll be wasting time. We have to focus on the real problems of the country. Instead, he advocated that we have to focus on the real problems of the country. We don’t look for the solution to the real problem of the country. We need to address the problem on poverty,” Revilla accented.

He also challenged the contractors to battle against corruption in government and all levels. He described corruption as the major cause for the shortage of funds to deliver basic services, including lack of basic necessities for the poverty-stricken Filipinos.

He also sweetened the pie when he signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and Negros Occidental for the P1-million medical assistance for indigent patients in the province. He added P5 to P10 million for the rehabilitation of the dilapidated hospital. Aside from Zayco and Yulo, Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer also attended the MOA signing.

Revilla was also the guest speaker of the Philippine Councilors’ League General Assembly here.

(To be continued)