Again, about that controversial cemetery

For tonight’s special presentation on our talkshow Straight from the Sky, we bring you a discussion on Aboitiz Equity Ventures’ (AEV) Aboitiz Future Leaders Summit, which had its 6th summit last Aug.19-20 at the Radisson Blu Hotel. I’ve done two shows about this very fascinating summit that gives the top students in the universities all over the country a chance to sit down with the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of the Aboitiz Group of Companies.

 Whenever I attend these summits, it always brings me to reminisce back to our student days… and how lucky the present generation of students are that they have the golden opportunity to be in such a special program. This is one unique program that can spread the Aboitiz culture embodied in their motto, “Passion for better ways” and best of all, it brings hope that we can have a better future for our country thanks to this highly-successful program.

 To tell us all about the Aboitiz Future Leaders Summit we have with us Ms. Nastasha Neri, Talent Retention Manager, Mia Zamora HR Manager, Kimberly May Villacrusis, Talent Attraction Specialists, Vianney Yap OD & Special Projects and Ms. Wilma Elizabeth Rada, STC student participant of the 6th Aboitiz Leaders Summit. So please watch this very interesting show and learn how they conceptualized and implemented this program aimed to come up with our future leaders on SkyCable’s channel 15 at 8:00pm tonight.

* * *

 I’m a bit perplexed why Mayor Michael Rama would want to discuss again with the Cebu City Council about that controversial cemetery project that they hastily approved at the time when Rep. Tomas Osmeña was still Mayor of Cebu City because Mike Rama was the Vice Mayor at that time. If there is anyone who knows whether this project was railroaded or not, it is Mayor Mike Rama. We’ve already written about this topic in length that former Mayor Tomas Osmeña was walking a legal tightrope when he had this project approved just a week before the May 10, 2010 elections.

 Another burning legal issue is whether a local government unit can donate public property to a religious organization because of the doctrine of the separation of church and state. Last but not the least of these issues is the question on whether or not the people living along the area was consulted about having a cemetery near the plush Beverly Hills subdivision or the Beverly Glen subdivision which is below the cemetery. Mind you, I never knew of this plan until this controversy erupted in the newspapers.

 If I was living in Beverly Glen or Peace Valley, I would vehemently oppose this project simply because during a heavy downpour, the rains would cascade down like a raging river into the main road of Peace Valley and exit all the way to Escario St. Notwithstanding those legal issues, it doesn’t matter to me whether this property was donated to Evangelical Christian Coalition of Cebu, Inc. or the Catholic Church… it is the wrong place for a cemetery as it is surrounded by subdivisions.

 At this point, what we can expect from Mayor Mike Rama is some details as to why this project was railroaded in the Cebu City Council. If the intention of the donation was political, I could easily understand why. But we are still in the dark as to why the former mayor is risking a possible legal battle on behalf of an Evangelical Christian group?

* * *

 It was quite an interesting week last week when the Aboitiz Invitational 2011 reeled off with the Pro-Am last Tuesday where selected members from various golf clubs played with the more than a hundred professional golfers playing the Asian Development Tour (ADT) chaired by Kyi Hla Chan and the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., chaired by Enrique “Ricky” Razon and for the Cebu leg, it’s sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV). Mind you, it’s not everyday that Cebu plays host to an international golf tournament.

 For most of the three days of golfing, only one golfer played under par, which has given the Cebu Country Club, Inc. (CCC) a new reputation as a tough and difficult course. Thanks to the ground preparation by Clifford Celdran, he has given the CCC a new reputation amongst the best of the best golfers in the Philippines. Last Saturday, the 4th day, was no doubt the most exciting day because by the back nine of the last day, defending champion Jay Bayron was tied amongst four other players. So it was anyone’s game from there. But Jay Bayron came up with five birdies all in the back nine to end up with a 64 and clinching the Aboitiz Invitational two years in a row. It would certainly be a more interesting Aboitiz Invitational next year!

* * *

Email: [email protected]