PAGBABAGO
A week ago, I attended the wedding of my grand niece, Geline Clemente to Pen Teves at St. Paul’s Parish in Eastwood. I expected the usual traditional wedding of Filipino families – with some 170 guests primarily family and close friends and colleagues, (described as small but is large when compared with counterparts in North America).
It was far from the serious rites that most of us elderly usually experience. Except for the traditional all-white attire of the couple, silver color scheme for sponsors and principals, the wedding march, a beautifully adorned church and reception site, and dinner fare, the rest was a welcome relief and quite unconventional. The couple and officiating priest cracked jokes and exchanged witty repartee.
Highlight was the post-dinner presentation where family and friends recalled events in the principals’ lives, so edifying and touching that tissues had to be passed around. Amusing episodes that drew lots of laughter were recounted. And a demonstration of current music in song and dance numbers among the slew of talent from both families. Singing and dancing continued among the young who stayed up to early evening. We wish the couple a long and happy life together!
Today, Dec. 28, the Christian world celebrates the Feast of Holy Innocents and recalls the slaughter of some 14,000 infants in Bethlehem by King Herod in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus.
It is also known as “Dia de los Infantes,” the equivalent of April Fool’s Day when irreverent jokes of all sorts were played on the innocent. People are warned to be careful because it is possible that they might be fooled.
As we approach the end of this year, one we describe as a year of both challenge and opportunity, we pray that the lessons of the past won’t be forgotten by the youth who represent the future that we pray and hope would eventually happen.
There are several unfinished tasks and challenges for those who continue to nurture the hope of attaining the goals that we have set but which we were unable to achieve. Among these include a more democratic form of governance with a strategy anchored on peace and the transformation of institutions so that each person could have a fairer share in power and resources.
The mid-term elections is one such opportunity. Even if we can only win in increments like being able to put seven new trustworthy leaders in the Senate, 40 new representatives in the Lower House, 25 new leaders in provincial government, 50 new mayors and 80 barangay captains representing the values and attributes of governance described above, we can begin to make a difference in the transformation movement.
We can then look forward to an increase in the number of this group in the 2028 presidential election. The other mode is for current leaders of the enlightened private sector and NGOs to work with existing government agencies on needed reforms on peace and national security, food, energy, environment, education, justice, social development, and other vital areas.
With these hopes and expectations, we wish everyone a blessed and a more productive year!