April 1

The first day of the 4th month of this year. Oh, the delight of those who are able to tease and joke the innocent who unknowingly follow what they are told to do or believe what they hear from the pranksters!

April 1 allows the pranksters license to do so because April 1 is “April Fools’ Day!” So watch out today, okay?

Verify first, when you are asked to do an unusual errand, often unreasonable or challenging, before you agree and follow. It is never easy to be the butt of someone’s jokes!

Enjoy this day too as it heralds a new month for us all. It is spring in other countries, the season for flowers to bloom!

Coming in from very cold, dreary winter, many welcome spring, especially the much-awaited cherry blossoms that continue to be a feast for the eyes and hearts of onlookers.

For us here, April is summer, when the days become hotter!

Have you all noticed that temperatures are higher these days? Was it in Dauis Bohol, where the temperature was reported to be above 40 degrees?

Warnings and advice about what to do with heat strokes are now all over. Drink plenty of water, stay out of the sun!

Expect even hotter days ahead. And take care.

Talk of bad timing! Many areas of Metro Manila are experiencing water shortage now!

We hope that the increasingly extreme hot temperatures will allow more to seriously consider heeding, not ignoring, calls for us all to help mitigate or avert global warming. Let us not wait for 2030. Let us do our share to protect our earth and our people from global warming!

Early this week, were you among those who saw the planetary alignment with the moon? Imagine five planets together in the same night sky with the quarter moon!

What a beautiful, divine experience to witness that rare celestial display!

That made me recall my grandmother’s words, or warning, that if you see a star very close to the moon, then pray, pray hard and fervently, that it is not a sign of impending war.

Yes, this time, these were planets, not stars, up in the sky. But perhaps, what my Nanay Baning may have thought was a star before the World Wars she witnessed was a planet? In her time, all that appeared in the night sky, except for the moon, were stars!

Time for more prayers though, for peace. News reports lately have been about meetings of political allies, military drills of visiting troops, and so on.

Prayers are also needed by our dear Pope Francis hospitalized due to respiratory infection. May the Lord allow him to be healed soon as our world needs a courageous, prayerful, spiritual leader like him to lead us in a prayer for peace.

Providentially, Holy Week, which starts with Palm Sunday tomorrow, will allow more to spend time for prayers, for reflection, for good works, and acts of love.

With fewer restrictions for travel and mobility, expect the number of those who will travel within or outside of our country to hike! Already, the public has been alerted that certain transport schedules have already been fully booked especially for the Holy Week!

Confined for years because of COVID-19, thousands will certainly try to make up for those pandemic years and enjoy the beach, have reunions with family and friends here and abroad!

There will be many as well who will visit popular religious destinations throughout the country especially.

Soon, because it is a popular Holy Week practice here in Cebu, expect gifts and exchanges of binignit from neighbors and friends!

How many do you think will visit Bantayan so they can eat lechon and meat during Holy Week?

Happy April 1, everyone! Happy, God-blessed April too!