Priests With Talents

Last weekend, Fr. El-el Capuyan of Padada Parish said mass in the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Barangay Guihing. I was fascinated listening to him sing a few lines during his sermon. I think we can, once in a while, do without those long boring sermons and just listen to our priests awe us with their God-given talents.

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MAKATI MOB—I watched the video where a “mob” (as described by Ombudsman Conchita Caprio) early this week, attacked PNP elements during the posting of the suspension order of Mayor Junjun Binay. VP Jojo Binay personally intervened and even was accused by a police officer of having collared and berated him. I think that was a defining moment. Before the eyes of a shocked public, the Binays needlessly squandered their political goodwill. It puts in grave jeopardy VP Jojo’s presidential run. Too bad!

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PARAGO—The recent killing of NPA Commander Parago by the AFP, brought back memories. In 1998, I was part of the humanitarian team headed by then Bishop Nanding Capalla to seek the release of Army Gen. Obillo and his aide then Major Ed Montealto who were held by NPA’s Parago. After our successful trip to the Netherlands where we negotiated with communist leaders Joma Sison, Louie Jalandoni, et al, we scaled the mountainside of upper Calinan, Davao City where the Army officers were turned over to us by Comdr. Parago himself after a short ceremony. The death of this long-reigning commander lording it over in the fastnesses of Davao City marks the turning of another page in the NPAs history book.

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RAINS—Finally, the rains have come. And the parched soil is starting to turn green. But once again, it reminds us that our farmers cannot be perennially left in the mercy of mother nature. We are an agricultural country. But the needed infra like irrigation, etc. are still acutely lacking.

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DUTERTE-MARCOS—This may be a bit too early but a Duterte-Marcos tandem in 2016 is starting to gather support. North-South combination makes political good sense.

I had a good chat with Sen. Bongbong Marcos last week in his office in Manila. He is bent on addressing the long dream of the bangsamoro by working on the BBL that will be constitutionally compliant.