Last days of MassKara and the politicos

When MassKara ended last weekend, a big throng of politicos descended on Bacolod City with no less than former President Joseph Estrada who had barnstormed through several towns and cities of the province. But he ended up telling his audience that he may run for the presidency in 2010 as his last option.

This did not settle the questions among his listeners. He was trying to unify the opposition, but if they cannot attain the goal, Erap candidly said he may throw his hat into the ring – but only as a last option.

But what was significant was that with the help of former senator Ernesto Maceda, Erap presented the public the legal opinions of a retired Supreme Court justice, another from the Court of Appeals and six deans of law colleges, all reaching the conclusion that he could be eligible to run for president.

And Maceda even went out of his way to define the lengthy process of challenges in the Comelec and the Supreme Court that could actually result in the withholding of a ruling until the will of the people renders it moot and academic.

But one thing sure, though, Erap remains the idol of the masses, as attested by the big crowds that cheered him from Kabankalan City in the south, Pulupandan and the cities of Himamaylan, Sagay and Cadiz to Manapla in the north.

In short, it was more a barnstorming that also ended up with Erap making gestures to the sugar industry when he lauded former Administrator Niko Alonso as a “very sincere and dedicated public official.”

His final appearance at the L’Fisher Hotel’s La Proa Ballroom was with members of the Negros Press Club and the council of former presidents of the NPC.

Diamond anniversary of Bacolod Diocese

But that also meant that with the drumbeats having lapsed, the attention of the public was again focused on the celebration of the diamond anniversary of the Bacolod Diocese.

This was kicked off at the USLS Coliseum with a capacity crowd being regaled by a 60-man choir of clergymen performing Gregorian music, popular songs and other works of artists, including native songs.

The day after MassKara also marked the start of the two-day reunion of the lay alumni association of the Sacred Heart Seminary.

That brought a throng of some 200 former seminarians and their colleagues from as far as the United States. The latter group was headed by Rudy Concepcion and Ramon Ramos, both from Washington.

But even while the lay alumni were celebrating their reunion, priests later joined them in the Dinner for a Cause.

But before that, they also held a joint assembly with the lay alumni, and voted for the interim officers of the Sacred Heart Seminary Alumni Association.