Gov. Gwen Garcia will not seek a higher office!

While the supporters of former President Corazon “Tita Cory” Aquino have been having masses (let me emphasize that all Holy Masses are healing masses) for her recovery, we in Cebu also did the same over the weekend, holding masses in many churches like the Cebu Cathedral asking for a miracle that she would survive this medical crisis. Call it coincidental that former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada also went to the Cathedral as a wedding sponsor… and also to promote and endorse a local product owned by Mr. Jonathan Guardo, who said that he would be running for the Congressional seat to be vacated by Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu South District).

Let me just comment on Erap’s plan to ran for President… that when he ran for President before, he fared very poorly in Cebu. How much more now that he has been convicted of the crime of plunder? In his message to Africans while in Ghana, US President Barack Obama said, “No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves.” That message should also have the same importance to us in this country, because our political leaders have enriched themselves beyond their means at the expense of the poor Filipino. So Erap, please spare us from another political upheaval because of your pride and give this nation better leaders!

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Last Friday, Gov. Gwen F. Garcia gave her State of the Province (SOPA) Address and something very notable struck me immediately when she reported that the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) has earned close to P47 million since it opened its doors during the 13th ASEAN Leaders Summit in 2007, where it was subjected to a great controversy. At the end of the day, this is not a “White Elephant” as feared by her critics.

Gov. Gwen then pointed to her declaration of an “All-Out War” against the communist insurgency where as of last count, 81 rebels have already surrendered, not counting those that the military and the police have already captured. That the numbers of the CCP have already started to dwindle is clear-cut evidence that Gov. Gwen’s policies are right on the nail in fighting insurgency and the root causes of what breeds Communism.

Towards the end of her speech, Gov. Gwen reaffirmed what we already know… that she was not running or seeking a higher office and will finish her last term as Governor of Cebu. When she first ran for Governor, it was a very close win. But on her first re-election, she made Cebu political history with her landslide victory. Today, I would say that she’s practically invincible in Cebu! That we get the right leaders in these trying times is mute testament that God’s hand is always with us, taking care of his people.

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I was in Manila for a day trip last Friday for an important afternoon meeting, but since I got on an earlier flight, my good friend, Major General Gilbert Llanto (Ret.) invited me to his company, dubbed the Leading Edge International Academy, Inc. along Diego Silang Ave. where he gave me a most unique experience in flying a Flight Simulator that his school uses to teach our budding pilots without having to pay so much to fly a real airplane. Of course, Leading Edge International Academy has a stable of Cessna 172’s that most pilots train to fly, but it is in Poro Point, La Union, where there is less air traffic so students can concentrate on flying.

So Gen. Gilbert made me sit at the co-pilot’s seat with Col. Eufemio Sillo who gave me instructions on the use of the aircraft instrumentation and its controls. This computer simulator can be transformed into a single or twin engine and its instruments configured with the aircraft you will be flying. It can also be made to simulate emergencies, like loss of an engine or power failure.

After a few minutes of flight, Col. Sillo gave me the stick, so to speak (its aircraft lingo for steering wheel) and they made me land first on an aircraft carrier, which at the last few seconds, I realized was a helicopter landing pad and we got out of there in nick of time and found the USS Nimitz and on our first try, we landed on her deck. Then we took off from the carrier and landed at the NAIA runway. This technology is available for use of pilots by major airlines. But it is the first time that I’ve seen one by a flight school.

MGen. Llanto is chairman of the Board, while GGen. Manuel Natividad (ret.) is the vice-chairman. Their president is BGen. Alfredo Ramirez (ret.), while Col. George Capili (ret.) is the marketing manager and Maj. Norman Ortiz (ret.) is his assistant marketing. Capt. Benjamin Blando was the flight simulator instructor who also gave me a few tips on flying the simulator. It was a great experience for me, a non-pilot to be able to do such maneuvers that pilots train for. Perhaps it is my penchant for aviation that gave me that inner insight to be able to fly. With flight schools like Leading Edge International, they can train more pilots faster at less cost than ever before.

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