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Zambo to get more Covid vaccines ‘Beng’s pandemic response commended’ T
HE NATIONAL Government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) said it will send more Covid-19 vaccines to Zamboanga City in an effort to further augment and support the local government’s response to the pandemic. Secretary Vince Dizon, ly and met behind doors ernment, and the Zamthe Deputy Chief Imple- with the members of the boanga City Task Force menter of the IATF-MEID Regional IATF-MEID led on Covid-19 chaired by policies and his team was by the Department of the Mayor Beng Climaco. in Zamboanga City recent- Interior and Local GovContinue on page 2
Frontliners, not a priority at UnionBank Secretary Vince Dizon, the Deputy Chief Implementer of the IATF-MEID policies, with Mayor Beng Climaco in Zamboanga City. (Bong Serondo)
Over P13-billion in funds ready for LGUs THE NATIONAL government has set aside some P13.5 billion in funds for various infrastructure and development projects for local govern-
ments in all 16 regions, except those in the Muslim autonomous region in Mindanao, said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año. He said the project is
part of the “Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to Local Government Units” (LGSF-FALGU) under Continue on page 3
‘Sunday lockdown’ picnic nabisto! Makikita sa larawang ito na kuha ni Ron Aballe, miyembro ng Barangay Santa Maria Information Officer Network, ang maraming mga tao na nag-picnic at naligo sa ilog habang nasa ilalim ng “Sunday lockdown” ang buong Zamboanga City. (Kuha ni Barangay Santa Maria BION Ron Abayle) Read Story on page 7
Zamboanga Peninsula
Basilan
WHILE MANY commercial establishments in Zamboanga City have priority lanes for frontliners, the UnionBank of the Philippines branch along Mayor Jaldon Street has none. The bank’s security tomers and have to line guards said frontliners are up or wait for their turn. treated as ordinary cus- This was the complaint
made by a female media frontliner who went to the bank to deposit money. “While other banks and commercial Continue on page 7
Return of Filipinos from Sabah suspended THE NATIONAL Task Force Against Covid-19 has temporarily suspended the entry of Filipino deportees following the Continue on page 3
Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana listens to Mayor Beng Climaco during a meeting in Zamboanga City. (Kathy Wee Sit Library Photo)
La alcaldesa apela de nuevo al publico EL ALCALDESA Beng Climaco ha hecho un nuevo llamamiento a los residentes para que sigan estrictamente los proto-
colos de salud y siempre usen mascarilla y protector facial cuando estén en lugares públicos debido al creciente número de
Sulu
casos de Covid-19. En un emotivo llamamiento transmitido en las redes sociales, Continue on page 7
Tawi-tawi
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The Zamboanga Post
May 31-June 6, 2021
Zambo to get more Covid vaccines ‘Beng’s pandemic response commended’
Baguio City Benjamin Magalong, also the IATF-MEID’s contact tracing czar, speaks during an executive meeting in Zamboanga City. (Bong Serondo) Continued from page 1 Dizon discussed the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Zamboanga City and assured Climaco of the strong support of the national government by augmenting the allocation of vaccines in an effort to swiftly inoculate at least 700,000 residents and achieve herd immunity. “Only through vaccination, people will be amply protected against coronavirus amidst the surge in infections,” he said. Thousands of senior citizens and people with comorbidity (those with more than one disease or condition at the same time) have been inoculated against Covid-19 in Zamboanga City as the local government continues its mass vaccination program despite the lack of supply of the medicine needed to prevent the further spread of the virus. Climaco has repeatedly urged residents - especially the elderly sector and those with comorbidity - to register online. She said residents who are
18-years old and above are also encouraged to register online - www.zambocovax.com or by visiting the nearest health center. Health workers, Climaco added, are also conducting house-to-house visits in different barangays to get the names of those who want to be vaccinated and include them in the vaccination master list. AstraZeneca The mayor, who already signed a $2 million (or roughly P100 million) deal with the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, said the local government’s vaccination program will cover 694,696 residents or 70% of the projected 2021 population of 992,423 inhabitants. The initial P200 million for the purchase of the vaccines are included in the P4.38-billion 2021 Executive Budget of the local government, according to Climaco, who is also a member of the Committee on Vaccine Availment of the League of Cities of
the Philippines. Climaco said the local government will allocate P100 million more for additional Covid vaccines. The City Health Office and representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) continue to monitor the vaccination program in different inoculation sites here. Based on the latest data, nearly 17,000 people from priority groups A1 (Medical frontliners), A2 (Senior citizens) and A3 (People with comorbidity) had been inoculated. The local health situation quickly changed after the IATF-MEID relaxed its travel protocols across the country and allowed people to go from one place to another without medical certificates and RT-PCR tests. Private and government hospitals here have put up additional Covid-19 wards to address the growing number of patients with the deadly respiratory disease, but it was not even enough. And Climaco ordered the construction
of at least 1,000-bed isolation facilities so as not to overwhelm the hospitals. Dizon said they are also supporting stricter community quarantine measures in Zamboanga City and the ongoing construction of additional isolation facilities and the establishment of modular hospitals here. Good Job Mayor! Dizon’s team also commended Climaco and the local Covid-19 task force, for a “job well done” in the battle against the deadly respiratory disease. He said Secretary Carlito Galvez, in-charge of the government’s procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, also spoke with Climaco and assured the mayor that the Department of Health will send more vaccines to Zamboanga City. “I just want to confirm categorically that Secretary Galvez, our vaccine czar, spoke with Mayor Beng Climaco and committed to increase the number of vaccines to be deployed to Zamboanga City because of the growing cases, and more so because of the impor-
tance of Zamboanga to the economy of Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).” “So committed na po yun, we will be coordinating with Mayor Beng and her team to ensure a steady flow of vaccines. We are also very happy that Mayor Beng and her team has demonstrated very efficient roll out of vaccines in the past couple of weeks despite the low supply that has been allocated. So thank you very much Mayor Beng, very clear po yong commitment ng national government sa Zamboanga City,” Dizon said. Anti-Climaco Dizon’s statement and commendation of Climaco’s Covid-19 response and her sincere effort to control the spread of the virus has left a sour taste in the mouth of the mayor’s political foes and critics. And they even questioned Dizon’s appreciation of the local government’s Covid-19 response efforts and resorted to spreading fake news and false information on social and mainstream media and criticized both
Dizon and Climaco, and undermining not only the local government’s efforts, but the IATT-MEID as well. Processes Jay-R Candido, of the Office of the Civil Defense-Operations Center, said the Regional IATF-MEID headed by DILG Regional Director Paizal Abutazil, approves all recommendations by the Zamboanga Task Force on Covid-19 whether to place the city under stricter community quarantine or extend it. Candido said the OCD Task Force on Covid-19 headed by Regional Director Manuel Luis Ochotorena implements whatever orders or directives Regional IATF-MEID issues. He said Climaco can issue executive orders to further strengthen the Covid-19 health protocols and it does not need approval by the Regional IATF-MEID. “We are monitoring the Covid-19 cases in Zamboanga City, and also in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur because of the spike in Covid cases,” he told the Zamboanga Post by phone from Pagadian City. (Zamboanga Post)
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The Zamboanga Post
May 31-June 6, 2021
Return of Filipinos from Sabah suspended
Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana and Mayor Beng Climaco during a meeting in Zamboanga City. (Giana Andrion - Library Photo)
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Over P13-billion in funds ready for LGUs Continued from page 1 the Office of Project Development Services (OPDS) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Año urged local governments to avail of the LGSF-FALGU for their local infrastructure and development projects and submit the documentary requirements until June 30 this year. He said local chief executives must submit a letter of request specifying the projects, locations, and fund allocation and addressed it to the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The DILG regional offices will conduct preliminary evaluation of requests and then forward to the DBM central office through the Office of the Secretary - Technical Review Unit. The DBM will then determine compliance with the requirements, according to Año.
“Nakalaan talaga para sa inyo ang pondong ito kaya samantalahin ninyo ang pagkakataon para masimulan ninyo ang papapatupad ng mahahalagang proyekto at pagbangon ng ekonomiya sa inyong mga lugar,” he said. Año said only 319 local governments have been allocated with LGSF-FALGU funding for their projects amounting to P2.93-billion which accounts for 22% of this year’s fund. He emphasized that provincial governors, cities, and municipalities with limited Internal Revenue Allotment can utilize the LGSF-FALGU funds for delivery of priority programs and projects listed in their Local Development Investment Program. Among the infrastructure and other projects covered under LGSF-FALGU are roads, bridges, public markets, slaughter houses, multi-pur-
pose buildings and halls, multi-purpose pavements, drainage canals, sea wall and river wall, water system projects, including stand-alone water points, evacuation centers, public parks, fish ports, and post-harvest facilities such as ice plant and cold storage facilities. Considering the public health emergency situation, Año said the LGSF-FALGU funds can also be used to purchase ambulance, trucks, minidump trucks, multi-purpose vehicles, street lighting or barangay electrification; medical equipment, financial assistance for health and sports programs; assistance programs and projects for education, health and social protection in light of the Covid-19 pandemic; and assistance to indigent individuals such as medical, burial, transportation, food assistance, cash-for- work, and educational assistance. (Zamboanga Post)
Continued from page 1 request made by the local government due to the high number of Covid-19 cases here. Mayor Beng Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, said Zamboanga now has over 2,500 active coronavirus cases and the number is steadily increasing due to violation of health protocols by residents. Climaco said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who heads the National Task Force Against Covid-19, approved her appeal for a moratorium on the return of Filipinos from Sabah, many of them illegal entrants. The mayor said the moratorium will run for at least two weeks after Lorenzana approved it. She said Lorenzana texted her, saying: “Okay, Mayor Beng. We will suspend the (arrival of) ROFs from Sabah for two weeks initial.” ROFs refers to Returning Overseas Filipinos. Climaco said she personally appealed to Lorenzana and explained to him the current health situation in
Zamboanga. “This is what I texted the good Secretary Lorenzana: We appeal for a moratorium of Sabah ROFs because we cannot manage patients. Life is very fragile and Covid very potent. We need to protect everyone, including our frontliners.” Zamboanga City is the entry point for returning Filipino workers and deportees from Sabah. It is also a converging point for those from Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and other provinces going to Manila or travellers returning home. The sudden spike in Covid-19 infections here from just under three dozen active cases in early March to probably around 3,000 by end of May - occurred following the easing of travel restrictions by the national government and the revival of the tourism industry in the country. The uniformed travel protocols were approved by national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases under Resolution No. 101 which
forgoes documentary requirements such as RT-PCR testing and medical certificate for travellers across the country in an effort to revive the economy. It was crafted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the League of Provinces of the Philippines, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and the League of Cities of the Philippines. The surge in Covid-19 cases in Zamboanga City may have been caused by new strains of coronavirus that are now plaguing the National Capital Region and other provinces in the country. The Department of Health also confirmed in March the presence of Covid-19 U.K. variant in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur from 2 overseas Filipino workers who arrived home from Kuwait and Abu Dhabi in February. (Zamboanga Post)
WE ARE NOW HIRING! Advertising Executives in Zamboanga City, Pagadian City, Dipolog City, Ipil and Kabasalan towns in Zamboanga Sibugay. Please e-mail your application letter and bio-data with 2x2 picture to: The Manager - The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com Qualifications: Male or female, must be hardworking, honest and willing to travel within or outside their area of residency. College graduate or not, can communicate very well both in oral and written, and has a pleasing personality and is very good in dealing with people.
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The Zamboanga Post
May 31-June 6, 2021
Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go.
May 31-June 6, 2021
The Zamboanga Post
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Zamboanga Pictures in the News Photos by : Bong Serondo, ZCPO, Agnes Wee, Aldrin Natividad, Gilbert Rio, Vermon Jay, and CSWDO.
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The Zamboanga Post
May 31-June 6, 2021
Across : 1. Frosted 5. Exercise club 8. Blunders 12. Lawn tool 13. Recline 14. Jump 15. More tired 17. Dwell 18. Cushion 19. Uncorked 21. Tit for ___ 24. Reduces 26. Baseball stat 27. Bread browner 30. Stately tree 31. Fruit skins 33. Street (abbr.) 34. Unpleasant sight 36. Golf prop 37. Harpooned 40. Stop 41. Commences 43. Zodiac sign 45. Volcanic flow 46. Car exhaust 51. Prophecy 52. Rodent 53. Shoe fastener 54. “Titanic” foe 55. Perceive 56. Aware of Down : 1. Tax inits. 2. Pres. Coolidge 3. Get by 4. Bottomless 5. Playground fixture 6. Crusted dessert 7. Hairspray type 8. Burstyn and DeGeneres 9. Establish again 10. Speak wildly 11. Rushed 16. Chum 20. Pod dwellers 21. Family diagram 22. With competence 23. Modern convenience 25. Navigate
The Zamboanga Post
An Edition of the Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
Maritess Fernandez
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The Zamboanga Post
May 31-June 6, 2021
‘Sunday lockdown’ picnic nabisto! From page 1 SA KABILA ng mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng health protocols, patuloy pa rin na lumalabag sa guidelines ang maraming mga residente sa Zamboanga City. Kamakailan lamang, nagulantang ang mga opisyal ng Barangay Santa Maria matapos na makitang naliligo sa ilog ang maraming mga tao kahit pa nasa ilalim ng Sunday lockdown ang buong Zamboanga. Karamihan sa mga lumabag sa batas ay mga residente ng Barangay Santa Maria, Pasonanca at Tumaga. Nag-picnic at naligo ang mga ito sa ilog kahit pa mahigpit na ipinagbabawal. Mismong mga miyembro ng Barangay Sita Task Force at mga parak at barangay tanod sa pangunguna ni Barangay Chairman Los Eli Angeles ng Santa Maria ang lumusob sa lugar matapos na matimbrihan ang mga naliligo sa naturang ilog.
Binigyan umano ng orientation ukol sa health protocols ang lahat ng lumabag sa batas, ngunit hindi naman agad mabatid kung sila ba ay pinagmulta. Isa ang Barangay Santa Maria sa may pinaka-maraming
Covid-19 cases sa Zamboanga. Maraming mga residente ang matitigas ang ulo at patuloy na lumalabag sa health protocols at daan-daan ang nahuhuli ng pulisya araw-araw. (Zamboanga Post)
La alcaldesa apela de nuevo al publico Continued from page 1 Climaco dijo que el creciente nUmero de casos de Covid-19 en Zamboanga se encuentra ahora a un ritmo alarmante con mas de 2500 casos activos y mas 300 muertes y los hospitales ahora estan llenos de pacientes. A continuacion se muestra el texto de la declaracion del alcaldesa: “Querido compueblanos de ciudad na Zamboanga, este tiempo el caso del Covid na Zamboanga mas de 2,500 - compueblanos de atun enfermo y mas de 300 el ya muri. Ta hace yo el apelo cay el de atun maga isolation facilities bien falta, el de atun maga hospital bien lleno, mismo na de mio familia ya despedi, mio tio y tia na de ila edad na mas de 95 hasta 99 anos. Cosa pa gaha que puede hace para puede
ustedes entende que bien peligroso gayot el Covid y ta causa muerte na familia. El de ustedes gobierno local sin descanso ta hace el todo le que debe para puede empuja na favor de Dios el curada y comida hasta na de atun maga barangay todo ta hace esfuerzo para protege con el maga familia. Ta apela gat yo con todo con ustedes, pabor gayot coopera usa el necesario proteccion del face mask, face shield y distancia fisica. Duele para con migo queda bajo (el ciudad de Zamboanga) para na MECQ cay por causa continua kita hace maga esfuerzo que el otro maga vivientes ta sinti el tormento poreso quierre yo apela con todo con ustedes – si na maga otro lugar (como) na NCR y na Cebu que tiene alto caso de Covid y ya puede
sila uni y combate, kita pa gaha maga Cristiano, Muslim, Lumad Zamboanguenos? Poreso ta pide gat yo todo con ustedes, por amor del de atun mismo cuerpo y familia, y amor de Dios, uni kita todo somete el de atun familia, de atun cuerpo para man bakuna cay este dale canatun solusyon. Yo, como el Alcaldesa y maga compañeros na gobierno local, ta hace el esfuerzo para dale mas solusyon y bakuna na de atun ciudad. Poreso este tiempo de ustedes cooperacion por amor del de atun ciudad, amor de familia Zamboangueño, coopera kita para tene victoria contra el Covid y junto kita con fe na Dios, amor na familia y esperanza na nuevo ciudad de Zamboanga puede kita combate con el Covid por favor coopera.” (Zamboanga Post)
Frontliners, not a priority at UnionBank Continued from page 1 establishments, including malls and supermarkets and utility firms are prioritizing frontliners, but sad to say UnionBank isn’t,” she said. “We are always working against time and a little consideration for the work we do is a big
appreciation, but apparently this does not apply to UnionBank.” She cited the good practice of the Bank of the Philippine Islands which gives priority to all frontliners. Even at KCC Mall de Zamboanga Supermarket
and Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative and its payment centers, including at CityMall and Watsons, among others, always give way to the frontliners in respect to their dangerous work and contribution to the community and public service. (Zamboanga Post)
Ateneo de Zamboanga, shopping malls offer facilities for Covid vaccination MAYOR BENG Climaco, head of the local Covid-19 task force, praised the Ateneo de Zamboanga University and two of Zamboanga City’s largest shopping malls - the KCC Mall de Zamboanga and SM City Mindpro - for offering their facilities as vaccination sites and further boosting the local government’s mass inoculation program. Climaco, head of the local task force on Covid-19, said thousands of medical frontliners and senior citizens, including people with comorbidity, had been vaccinated here. She also appealed to residents to register online through - zambocovax.com – so they can be included in the vaccination list. “Residents should avail of the Covid-19 vaccination program because this is very vital in our fight against the deadly (respiratory) disease. We are appealing to all to register online and get vaccinated to help prevent the spread of the virus,” she said. The national government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) said it would send more vaccines to Zamboanga City following the spike in fresh Covid-19 cases due to the complacency of residents. Secretary Vince Dizon, the IATF-MEID’s Deputy Chief Implementer of Covid-19 policies,
and his team was in Zamboanga recently and met with Climaco and members of the local Covid-19 task force and the Regional IATF-MEID and discussed added measures to control the spread of the disease. “We will be coordinating with Mayor Beng and her team to ensure a steady flow of vaccines,” Dizon said. He also commended Climaco’s leadership and how the local government handled the health crisis. “(Mayor Beng) has demonstrated very efficient roll out of vaccines in the past couple of weeks despite the low supply that has been allocated.” Dizon told Climaco that President Rodrigo Duterte instructed him (and the IATFMEID) to provide all the necessary support and assistance to Zamboanga City which has over 2,500 active Covid-19 cases now from only three dozen earlier in March. The spike in Covid-19 cases is believed to have been aggravated by the presence of U.K. variant or other new strains in Zamboanga City. In February, two overseas Filipino workers who returned home in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte were tested positive for the U.K. variant. “We will always be here for Zamboanga, (us in the IATF-MEID) Secretary (Carlito) Galvez, (in-charge of the
government’s procurement of vaccines); (Baguio City and Covid-19 Contact Czar) Mayor Benjie (Magalong); (Health) Secretary (Francisco) Duque, (DPWH) Secretary (Mark) Villar. All of us in the IATF-MEID, will always prioritize Zamboanga City, not only because of the rising cases but because of the importance of Zamboanga City in the overall economy of Mindanao,” Dizon said. “We commit that vaccines will come to Zamboanga City and Region 9…to roll out fast, and roll out to as many countrymen and women as possible. Thank you again for your leadership Mayor Beng,” he added. Also in Dizon’s team were Health Assistant Secretary Romeo Ong and IATF-MEID Special Adviser Dr. Teodoro Herbosa. The group also brought along medicines, personal protective equipment for hospitals, ventilators and other equipment, including 10,000 antigen kits. Climaco thanked Duterte and Dizon and all other members of the IATF-MEID and the Department of Health for continuously supporting the local government’s Covid-19 response. “Muchas gracias Presidente Duterte and all the members of the IATF-MEID and DOH for supporting our Covid response and other concerns,” she said. (Zamboanga Post)
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The Zamboanga Post
May 31-June 6, 2021
May 31-June 6, 2021
The Zamboanga Post
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May 31-June 6, 2021
Zambo hit by flash floods
F
LASH FLOODS hit several villages in Zamboanga City and damaged farmlands and destroyed fishponds after heavy rains swept Mindanao last week. Weather experts The local government blamed the flooding to said the flash floods inunthe Inter-Tropical Con- dated some 671 hectares of vergence Zone where a farmlands and fishponds band of clouds consisting in the eastern coast, leavof showers, with occa- ing over P44 million in sional thunderstorms en- damages and some 1,396 circles the globe near the farmers affected by the equator. freak weather system.
The worst affected by the flooding were Barangays Manicahan, Curuan, Vitali and Tumaga, according to the City Agriculturist Office. Mayor Beng Climaco ordered the social workers to provide relief goods to families displaced by the flash floods as the City Agriculturist Office prepares its recommendations for assistance to affected farmers. (Zamboanga Post)
Photos released by the City Agriculturist Office show the inundated barangays following heavy rains that triggered flash floods in many parts of Zamboanga.
Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco
Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 John 20:19-23 “Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”
OCVET continues services despite pandemic
Photos released by Dr. Arnedo Agbayani, head of the OCVET’s Animal Health Division show OCVET personnel working hard despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the health crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Office of City Veterinarian (OCVET) continues with the strict inspection of livestock entering Zamboanga City to ensure the animals do not carry diseases or viruses. The OCVET checkpoint at the Zamboanga Sibugay border also tightened its guard against
African swine fever and Bird flu to protect hog and poultry raisers here. It also extended veterinary services amid the grave risks of Covid-19. The OCVET also praised Vice Mayor Rommel Agan and City Council members Jihan Edding and Jimmy Villaflores for their all-out support to the efforts of the OCVET. And OCVET, under Dr
Zamboanga Peninsula
Mario Arriola, also lauded the support of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian in Zamboanga del Sur and Sinunuc Barangay Chairwoman Pilarica Ledesma in the recent recovery of sea turtles. (Zamboanga post)
Basilan
Sr. Mary Agnes Xavier, of the Holy Spirit, OCD.
WE PRAY in today’s response to renew us from the old normal to a new normal. The pandemic is very much present and more deadly. We can only dream of the past, but we can never bring it back. Our world today requires face masks, face shield and social distancing. No more hugging and the “beso-beso” and the shaking of hands that politicians are expected to do. We are brought to our knees in tears mourning the loss of loved ones. Helpless for those infected who have difficulty breathing and trying our best to help the families on lockdown and quarantine. Todo este mientras ta tiene miedo na di aton mismo cuerpo contagia na Covid! Today is a great feast of the Church: “The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.” Este el promesa de Hesus, imbia con el quien guia co su decipolo el Espiritu de Verdad, Amor y Fuerza. Desde maga “cubarde” que tiene miedo, ya abaja el Espiritu Santo como lengua de fuego que ya dale animo para conversa y proclama aserca del Cristo Resusitao! Sequence Veni, Sancte Spiritus Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home Shed a ray of light divine! Come, Father of the poor! Come, source of all our store! Come, within our bosoms shine. You, of comforters the best; You, the soul’s most welcome guest; Sweet refreshment here below; In our labor, rest most sweet; Grateful coolness in the heat;
Sulu
Solace in the midst of woe. O most blessed Light divine, Shine within these hearts of yours, And our inmost being fill! Where you are not, we have naught, Nothing good in deed or thought, Nothing free from taint of ill. Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour your dew; Wash the stains of guilt away: Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray. On the faithful, who adore And confess you, evermore In your sevenfold gift descend; Give them virtue’s sure reward; Give them your salvation, Lord; Give them joys that never end. Amen. This is the Great Prayer before the Gospel. In the world plagued by the Pandemic we echo: “Heal our wounds, our strength renew!” We reported 2,439 active cases and more than 367 deaths and among them was a dear Mother, Mentor and Guide: Sr. Mary Agnes Xavier, of the Holy Spirit, OCD. Indeed her life reflected the great missionary St. Francis Xavier guided by the Holy Spirit. She led many souls to Jesus and Mary. Sr. Agnes was the third mortality together with Sr. Mary Bernard, of the Sacred Passion, OCD; and Sr. Ann, of the Mother of God, OCD. The Carmelites have been our prayer warriors, contemplative nuns dedicated in prayer for us all. The Convent in R. T. Lim Boulevard in Cawa-Cawa was a place of peace. People sought guidance and made prayer requests whether giving eggs for
good weather or for general intercessions. Sr. Ann, a Zamboangueña, was very gracious, when I was on retreat. She chose a special meal for us, being in-charge of the kitchen. Sr. Bernie was the composure of the cloistered nuns, prayerful and observant, always there to minister to all who sought help. Their deaths reflect true discipleship to Jesus to the very end. Fue extraño, they were inside the convent, pero no hay escapada na Covid. I cannot fully comprehend their deaths, the danger of Covid and our City in crisis with critical challenges. When I faced confusion, Sr. Agnes told me to say: “Mary show yourself, a Mother to us!” She also taught me to “catch the gaze of Jesus!” Bien duele y triste perde vida porcausa na enfermedad. Mucho familia afectado and I carry all these weight on my shoulders. “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!” I commend all these to the Holy Spirit to grant me wisdom to navigate and overcome the pandemic for our people and our City. The recent visit of the NIATF (National Government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) team guided us with needed isolation, granular lockdown and analytic data. Health Assistant Secretary Romy Ong, our dear Zamboangueño awardee, whispered an assurance: “Kaya lang se!” We work hard and unite to lower cases and stop the mortality. Jesus tells us: “Peace be with you! We believe and have faith in Jesus!” (MBC)
Tawi-tawi