For our special political presentation tonight in Straight from the Sky, we bring you a group that is apolitical. They do not belong to any political parties, but they are supporting and campaigning for one Presidential candidate, namely, former Defense Sec. Gilbert “GIBO” Teodoro Jr. This group calls itself the Cebu Green Team, one of the 50 Green Team chapters all over the country.
With us is Green Team Chairman Rex Carampatana, Dr. Eduardo Lee, M.D. who heads the Doctors for GIBO, Archt. Tessie Javier of the Cebuanas for GIBO and two members of the GIBO Youth Volunteers, Ms. Anya Unchuan and Don Rayos.
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I attended the Humane Vitae Awards of the National Pro-Lifers in Government Service Recognition night at the Marriott Hotel spearheaded by Dr. Rene Josef Bullecer, Country Director of Human Life International Pilipinas with no less than his Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and members of the Task Force for Family and Life-Visayas in full attendance. This was the recognition night given by the Cebu Archdiocese to the people who went to the trenches and fight that demonic proposal called the Reproductive Health (RH) Bill.
The Humanae Vitae Awards were given to Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr. House Speaker Prospero Nograles, Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia, Deputy Speaker Rep. Raul del Mar, Rep. Pablo John Garcia and Gov. Gwen F. Garcia. The total and complete surprise of the evening was that the Cebu Archdiocese of Cebu recognized his humble writer for the articles we wrote against the RH Bill. While I was invited to the event, I really didn’t expect to be given the same award that they bestowed to our elected leaders who in so many ways, helped the Catholic Church wage battle against those pushing for the RH Bill.
In his acceptance speech, Rep. Raul del Mar gave credit to House Speaker Nograles for his leadership; they both steered the House to the point that the proponents of the RH Bill stood no chance to call for a vote on the RH Bill. This was crucial as Rep. del Mar confided to me that they didn’t have the numbers to kill the bill. But Rep. del Mar warns that this bill, like the evil Phoenix, will resurface in the 15th Congress, which means we cannot sit on our laurels, but rather prepare for a future battle.
Rep. Pabling Garcia gave a most eloquent speech, the one he failed to deliver in the house since it was no longer necessary as the RH Bill wasn’t calendared when the session ended. Rep. Garcia said that even the title of this bill is deceptive, because it prevents reproduction. He said that he is the 7th in a family of 11 children. If his parents decided to use contraceptive and have only five children, he wouldn’t be getting the award that evening. He added that, “In my own family, I have eight children, if we decided to have only five or six kids, then there would be no Rep. Pablo John, my youngest, who is a Congressman and a pro-life supporter.”
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Email: vsbobita@mozcom.com