RAIN OF FIRE

Fellowship of church leaders
CESAR G. BONILLA

LAOAG CITY -- March has been traditionally Fire Prevention Month. The month is an opportunity for each home and building owner to take stock: and have the wiring of his building inspected to ensure proper placement of fire extinguishers.

Extinguishers should be checked to see if these are loaded with fire fighting chemical substances which are still active and not stale. We must learn fire prevention so that people wouldn’t be unnecessarily killed or injured.

The fire that razed five business establishments near the Laoag City Commercial Complex may have awakened each and every one of us to be more alert in preventing such a tragedy.
We have to internalize safety measures that are preventive rather than remedial measures in cases of conflagrations. In most urban centers all throughout the archipelago, the density of population and the proximity of houses to each other are a hazard to life and limb.

Following the Laoag fire, members of the Chinese community in the city lauded the ever prepared firemen of San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte for being active in instituting necessary remedies pertaining to fire fighting.

We commend San Nicolas Mayor Alfredo Valdez, Jr. for his highly acclaimed public administration like those related to fire.
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My warm felicitation to all students of Sarat National High School especially to Christina Angelica, the niece of my favorite adviser during my secondary education at Sta. Rosa Academy, Ms. Geronima dela Cruz.

Their Foundation Day anniversary was a fitting tribute to the greatness of this institution which showered the younger generation with quality education, proper ethics, public relations, and good manners and right conduct. To all the members of the faculty -- the future of the youth depends on you.
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The ecumenical fellowship of Church of leaders was recently held here under the leadership of Roman Catholic Church Bishop Sergion Lasam Utleg. The sermon of the good bishop inspired the religious faithful to be more vigilant and be “guardians of truth” which until now remains elusive.

The gathering of religious leaders was an anti-corruption movement to ensure transparent, clean and honest governance. The leaders mentioned the IMPSA deal, Diosadado Macapagal Boulevard, NAIA Terminal 3, Fertilizer Scam, North Rail Project, ZTE-NBN, Cyber Education Project, South Rail Project and the alleged expensive purchasing of X-ray machines from China and the “hello, Garci” controversy.

Teachers and students attended the 3 p.m. mass at the St. William’s Cathedral followed by a march to the Iglesia Filipina Independiente for the reading of statements. The marchers included those from the Roman Catholic Church, Iglesia Independiente, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, National Council of Churches in the Philippines and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
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This united effort of religious leaders can be a potent weapon to get rid of graft and corruption and to eliminate the mockery of our democratic system. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authorities emanates from them. The natural right of man is inalienable and cannot be encroached upon even by a powerful king.

People deserve a good government composed of God-fearing, honest and upright local and national leaders. Greed for money and all forms of material possessions is a Satanic enticement. Be contented of what you have if this is a product of honest labor. Government officials should lead by example and refrain from excuses and alibis just to advance their worldly desires like building an empire of greedy giants. Reformation is moderation, rebirth and conversion.
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The celebration of Women’s Day is significant as the Search for Binibining Pilipinas goes on whose winners will represent the country in different international beauty competitions. In many activities all over the country, there will be speeches extolling the strides made by Filipino women as equals of men in nation-building.

Much remains to be done to forward women’s rights. Many of our women forced to find employment abroad are being exploited. Here in our country, there is an alarming increase in the number of rape cases. Some lines still remain closed to female applicants. There is lack of facilities for battered wives. We are confident that there are a lot of lawmaker’s sensitive of promoting women’s welfare and rights.
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Despite all the tirades against the present government, there is need for journalists not to be biased in their reports in moral awakening.

Her administration may be embroiled in a lot of controversies but President Gloria Macapagal-
Arroyo struck me as a paragon of motherhood and the only President whom I interviewed face-to-face during her visit at the windmill projects of the provincial government.

She struck me as a brilliant leader who has a magnificent vision for the country to progress. I was privileged to ask some questions which has something to do with local governance. She was fluent in Ilocano dialect.

Now that she is walking a tight rope, let the wheels of justice be done in the proper forum by observing democratic search for truth. There should be no grandstanding and advancement of personal agenda which could only result to more disunity.