Gripping
As if killings, kidnappings, and aviation and maritime disasters were not enough to leave people bereft, an infinitely gripping development was yet to come during the last few days. Last week, three masked men in black attire, stormed into the Paris office of the news weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo, and gunned down the editor, reporters and cartoonists. The world watched with horror the graphic reports of the incident by CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, and other foreign television networks. The gunmen, allegedly linked to the terrorist organization Al Qaeda, fled towards the woods, with part of the 5,500 police force hot on their trail. After three days of stand-off, four innocent hostages were killed by the terrorists who themselves were shot down by the police.
Prior to those episodes, a policewoman had been killed, presumably by a suspect linked to the same media killers. As of this writing, the suspect, said to be the girlfriend of one of the France media killers, is still on the run, also mobilizing thousands of police chasers to pick up the lead that she had gone to Turkey on her way to Syria.
There were suggestions the killings were not religion-inspired. Well, were they simply the handiwork of blood-thirsty fanatics angered by the weekly’s satirizing Mohammad the prophet, and Islam? It became clearer and clearer: the terrorists wanted to avenge their prophet. But they wanted to gun down all French Israelis. It’s not farfetched to say, the Israelis around the world.
The killings of Jews living in Paris stirred up the French nation’s diverse population of Jews, Christians, Muslims and simple believers that a nation without press freedom cannot be truly free. Sunday, more than three million of them staged a uniting rally, not just in protest, but to declare, that they will not allow terrorists to ruin their lives and the nation. Leaders of dozens of countries joined the march.
We don’t know how this situation is heading to. Will the war between Jews and Muslims ever end? For so long as the Israeli-Palestinian problem of land ownership exist, can there be peace between the two countries?
Let’s wait and see. And pray for peace.
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Meanwhile, my friend JH Antonio Cervantes forwarded a message that had been forwarded to him, saying, “#jesusCharlie: the world’s cartoonists react to the Paris massacre with their own poignant drawings.”
“Hundreds of cartoons have flooded the internet following the massacre at French newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
“Using the hashtag #jesuscharlie, artists shared their powerful and satirical sketches to advocate for free press, denounce violence and mourn their innocent colleagues from the French publication.
“Pens and pencils were used to represent the victims in many drawings, with some depicting sharpened pencils claiming retribution against their attackers.
“A common theme was the power of freedom of expression weighed against the violence used to oppose it.
“Supportive cartoons came from artists as far and wide as India, Egypt, Brazil, Canada, Spain and Belgium.”
According to Tony, Lillian Radulova of Daily Mail Australia wrote that “cartoonists around the world have flooded the streets and the internet with powerful drawings in defiance of the armed gunmen who attempted to silence the satirical French newspaper, Charlie Hebdo.
“Charlie Hebdo was well known for its controversial images which regularly satirized Islam amongst other religions, while the newspaper’s latest tweet featured a cartoon of Abu Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State.
As tens of thousands of people gathered on the streets across the world to show support for those who were slaughtered, cartoonists everywhere took to their drawing pads in an effort to prove that pens are far mightier than swords.”
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Our sincere condolences to the family of Dr. Eugenio V. Antonio III, who passed away Jan. 5. Gene, as he was popularly called, was honored and included in the Marquis Who’s Who Directory of Medical Specialists 22nd Edition of 1985/1986. He was Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee in the field of medicine in 1995. He is also honored and included in the Strathmore’s Who’s Who 2000-2001.
Gene is survived by his wife Maureen Dinglasan and children Eugenio IV, Franklin, Mark and Frances, Mariel, Elsa and Lauren, and grandchildren Frankie Jr, Anna and Joven.
His siblings are Alfonso (deceased), Belinda, Cynthia, Diana (deceased), Frances, Gibet, Hernan and Irene.
Gene belonged to the well-respected family of the late San Carlos City mayor Eugenio Antonio Jr., who was a legendary freedom fighter during World War II, and an Outstanding Sillimanian Awardee himself.
Memorial services were held for Gene at the Silliman University Church. His ashes will be moved to the Antonio mortuary in San Carlos City.
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The Order of the Knights of Rizal just awarded the Most Outstanding Jose Rizal Model of the Philippines 2014 batch.
The contest, created in 1988, gives recognition to outstanding college students in the country who best epitomize the Rizalian qualities of academic excellence, outstanding leadership, commendable character and involvement in community activities.
Ateneo de Manila University’s Ryan Carl Y. Yu topped the 2014 search for Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines. He and nine other winners were honored in fitting ceremonies Dec. 30 at the Knights of Rizal ceremonial hall in Manila, officiated by Jeremias “Jerry” C. Singson, KGCR, Supreme Commander, Virgilio R. Esguerra, KGCR, contest chairman, Emmanuel M. Cabusao, KGCR, contest author and judge, Edwin Bael, KGOR, Barry Bowman, KGOR and Contancio Chico, KCR, JRMSP committee members.
The others winners of this year’s contest were: Gabriel N. Asuncion, Ateneo de Naga University; April Joy G. Marquez, De la Salle, Lipa; Elijah Jose C. Barrios, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo; Arrianne Christelle J. Apostol, Camiguin Polytechnic State College; John Rey L. Pacete, Notre Dame of Midsayap College; Diosdado L. De La Rosa III, University of Perpetual Help System Laguna; Carmela Fe Acuyan, University of the Eastern Philippines; Vilma Joy P. Santos, Wesleyan University Philippines and Nobelle Ann A. Escalona, Colegio San Agustin Bacolod.
The winners were judged on the basis of academic excellence, student leadership in local, regional, national and international levels, involvement in community programs, personality, verbal communications and knowledge about Rizal. The board of judges was chaired by Lamberto C. Nanquil, KGCR, acting chairs of the Council of Elders (Past Supreme Commander), with Singson, Esguerra and Cabusao as members.
Each winner received a medal, trophy and a cash prize.
By the way, Sen. Bam Aquino was the Most Outstanding Jose Rizal Model Student of the Philippines of batch 1998. He graduated summa cum laude and class valedictorian at the Ateneo de Manila in April 1999.
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