Anti-RH rally proves there is a Catholic vote!

For our special presentation on our talk show Straight from the Sky, we talked about what’s happening to the Education in this country? With us is my dear friend, Prof. Gabby Lopez, (he is not related to Gabby Lopez of ABS-CBN) who teaches at the Ateneo University and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). We have always believed that Education is the shortcut to poverty in this country, hence we’ve always asked the question… why then has Education in this country declined through the years. Just like our economy, the Philippines were second only to Japan and the same was true with Education. So where did we go wrong?

Prof. Lopez will explain the ills of our Educational system, which he says has become too politicized. I can only blame this to our flawed 1987 Constitution. Worse of all, we have a President who, during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), declared that we should adopt a Responsible or Planned Parenthood as a way to reduce the clogging of our schools. So watch this very interesting show on SkyCable’s channel 15 at 8:00 p.m. and replays at 9:00 p.m. on MWF on MyTV channel 28.

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The anti-RH rally last Saturday was without any doubt, the longest anti-Reproductive Health (RH) Rally I have ever seen in Cebu City. It was attended by the highest ranking members of the Archdiocese of Cebu led by Archbishop Jose Palma. He was joined by Cebu Governor Gwen F. Garcia and former Rep. Raul del Mar who was joined later by Rep. Cutie del Mar. The procession started exactly at 5:00 p.m. and as the head of the procession entered the Cebu Cathedral the tail end was still at the Nurses Home.

Honestly, I expected a smaller crowd. The Freeman estimates it at 60,000 while the other dailies pegged it around 10,000. To make sure we saw the whole procession, Task Force for Family & Life (TFFL) Visayas Chairman Douglas Gacasan and I climbed up the Skywalk along Cebu Normal University (CNU) so we could monitor the procession. It was already around 5:30 p.m. when we got there. By 6:45 p.m. the tail already passed us. So the figure of 60,000 by The Freeman is perhaps the closest to the truth.

No doubt there were thousands upon thousands of anti-RH advocates who answered the call of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to stand up and be counted for the unborn of this country. What was comforting was that… so many people joined the procession as it moved along Osmeña Blvd. If you ask me…this was one way for Cebuanos to show to our new Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma… that we are behind him in this fight against the RH Bill and yes, it proves… that there is a Catholic vote!

Mind you. I got text messages from my readers from places like Baguio City which also held a similar prayer rally under a strong rain with a mass concelebrated by Bishop Cenzon with 21 priests and later the Blessed Sacrament was exposed after the Holy Mass. In Manila at the EDSA Shrine, there was an estimated 30,000 people who joined Bishop Antonio Luis Tagle, while the Diocese of Palo, Leyte, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Pangasinan, Antipolo, Iloilo and Batangas held their own respective rallies attracting thousands of Catholics from all over.

This was the first time in a long time that the Catholic Church called for a mass action and here in Cebu… many of us responded to her call. Of course, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda issued a statement asking the Catholic Church to respect the wishes of the 70% of Filipinos who he insisted favor the RH Bill. Perhaps Mr. Lacierda ought to be told that two thousand years ago, a survey was conducted by Governor Pontius Pilate as to whom he shall release, Jesus Christ or Barabbas? You know that story well, they crucified an innocent man. Fight the RH Bill and save an unborn soul.

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All golfing eyes are focused in Cebu this week… right after the success of the Iron Man Philippines, which was held last week. This is the much-awaited week for the Aboitiz Invitational 2012 presented by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) where the top five players on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) will be competing from Aug.8-11, 2012. The 17-year old Filipino golf prodigy and rising star, Miguel Tabuena whom we played with a week ago will also be competing, while Jay Byron will be defending his title last year when he won the Aboitiz Invitational.

The purse for the Aboitiz Invitational is US$65,000 and we can expect Aussie golfers, Luke Bleumink, Anthony Choat, Ryan Bulloch and Peter Richardson of England to compete at the Cebu Country Club, which Grounds Superintendent Rey Patricio, Jr. has prepared for the best of the best. If you think that the Cebu Country Club’s greens are already fast… you haven’t see how fast it is. Welcome all golfers from wherever you are.

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