Communists holding Christmas parties?

For tonight's special presentation on Straight from the Sky, we talk about a very holy person who lived in the 17th Century and founded a congregation called the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM). She's Mother Ignacia del Espirito Santo. Yesterday March 4th was the 344th baptismal anniversary of this very holy person. A hundred years after Miguel de Legazpi founded the City of Manila the natives whom the Spaniards called "Indios" or the Chinese who intermarried with the Indios (I'd like to point out that we were only called Filipinos when under American rule) called "Mestizo Sangleys" could never enter the Church as clergy or nuns as we were not up to European standards. We were looked down.

But Ignacia del Espirito Santo was supposed to marry a man that her family wanted for her but because her faith was strong she left the family for she wanted her life to be at the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. She founded the RVM, the first religious congregation of Filipinos, a congregation that has grown so much and has houses not only in the Philippines but abroad.

With us tonight is Sister Ma. Theresa Valdez, James Alvarado, Montana, "Babie" Saniel of the Mother Ignacia Movement, who will give us the life and times of Mother Ignacia, whose movement is working feverishly to have her canonized as a saint. I understand that the Vatican only needs one more process to have her declared as "Blessed" and through this show, we hope that more Filipinos would pray for her beatification and those who are sick may also ask for her intercession to add to the hundreds of miracles already attributed to her. Please watch this show on SkyCable's channel 15 at 8:00 pm so you can learn more about Mother Ignacia del Espirito Santo.

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Last Saturday morning, I saw the show of Dong Puno. His topic was about Armed Forces Chief of State (AFP) Gen. Hermogenes Esperon who held a presscon that showed a 20-year-old video clip of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) Chairman Jose Mari Sison openly and proudly declaring that the CPP was a huge organization with two million members with a thousand organizations. The biggest among them is the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Kilusang Magkbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Bayan, Gabriela and other groups.

Wait, that's really nothing new! I heard about this video clip 20 years ago when I was just starting my career as a journalist, but it is only now that I saw it. In those days I was also in the forefront against the Communist insurgency joining a group we formed called Philippine Alliance Against Communism (PAAC) and later, the Cebu Chapter of Alsa Masa. Indeed, Joma back in those days proudly bragged that all the organizations he mentioned were part and parcel of the CPP, including the bloodthirsty New People's Army (NPA), something we've always said and wrote about.

I was keenly interested in listening to Bayan Partylist Rep. Teddy Casino who obviously has mastered the art of double speak, openly admitting that the CPP is an illegal organization, yet he agrees that their armed struggle is legitimate. That means, Rep. Casino agrees that the CPP-NPA continue with their armed struggle. But what about that Christmas party with Joma and Ara Mina? Hey, Communists do not believe in God, but they hold Christmas parties? Once more, this proves to you that the CPP are nothing but a bunch of terrorists and liars!

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One of the highlights of the Charter Day celebrations of the City of Cebu is giving Atty. Norberto Quisumbing, Jr. (NQJR) the title of "Adopted Son of Cebu." I'm sure by just looking at all the one-page advertisements showing Mr. NQJR, he was obviously delighted to be given such an honor because the City of Mandaue wanted to get back the same title given to him. I honestly do not know at this time whether that honor was already taken away from him. But as the local papers reported, he jokingly said, "I hope you will not take this away."

In truth, NQJR has only himself to blame for interfering in Mandaue City politics. It has long been a dream of his to have one of his sons become a politician, unfortunately, the closest one among his sons, Luis, is not cut out to be a politician. Hence, he had to settle with his grandson Luigi, and that's when he got into trouble with Mandaue City politicians.

When I learned that the City of Cebu would bestow on him the title of Adopted Son, I didn't even write a single comment, as this is the prerogative of Mayor Tomas Osmeña. But now that he is an adopted son of Cebu City, perhaps Mr. Quisumbing should show what true Cebuanos do, help each other. That means, he should now agree that water from MCWD wells in Compostela to flow to Cebu City, a proposal he vehemently blocked!

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