Good Morning Judge: On PAL’s Naga flight

THE REPORTED decision of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) to forego its Naga-Manila and Manila-Naga flight starting this coming January, 2018 and replace it with Naga-Clark Air Base and vice-versa has caught PAL commuters in Naga and Camarines Sur by surprise. Certainly the flight’s cancellation will have a negative effect on the tourism industry of the City of Naga and the Province of Camarines Sur, as well as the over-all economy of the place. While the decision of PAL is a management prerogative, the real reason for the PAL’s decision is not readily clear. As longtime holders of PAL Mabuhay Miles cards, this writer and his spouse Minda are regular PAL passengers. While the alternate route of Manila-Legaspi and vice-versa is readily available, it would be more expensive as the route is longer, aside from the fact that one has to travel by bus or van to Naga for a few more hours after travelling more from Manila to get to the Clark airport. It is the fervent hope of this writer that our city and provincial officials as well as the congressmen of the four districts of Camarines Sur could make the necessary representation with the PAL management to change its mind vis-à-vis the Naga-Manila-Naga flight cancellation. The recent order of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to actively support the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the war on drugs is raising concern among the Filipino people. The President justifies his order with the observation that “there was a notable resurgence in illegal drugs.” Given the sad experience in the past where the PNP operations against illegal drugs resulted to extra-judicial killings, Catholic church leaders view the decision of the President as a “bad move.” They maintained that PDEA should have been given ample chance to prove itself. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, however, down played the fear and concern by reportedly saying that “PDEA remained the led agency on the war on drugs” and that the “PNP, the military and other law enforcement agencies would only provide active support to the PDEA.” Be that as it may, it is our hope that the transfer of operation will not result, as before, to more extra-judicial killings. For one thing the war on drugs should have no let-up as it cannot be disputed that the way to peace and stability is a drug-free country. TRIVIA: Tomorrow December 8, is the Feast of our Lady of Immaculate Conception, the Patron Saint of our parish. It is a Holiday of Obligation and Eucharistic Celebrations in the parish which should be observed with the same Sunday mass schedules. There will be concelebrated mass at 5:00 pm to be followed by dinner-fellowship among the parishioners. Congratulations to Rev. Fr. Domingo “Aba” Florida, ICP Parish priest and his parish vicar Rev. Fr. Emil Valeza. The AdeNU high school batch ‘54 will have its Christmas party this coming Saturday, December 9, at the residence of their batch mate Jose “Peping” Faviner. It will be a pot luck luncheon-fellowship affair. Likewise, the Knights of Columbus, Nueva Caceres Council 7995, will have the members’ Christmas party at the Council Chamber at Penafrancia Parish tomorrow at 5:00 pm. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: “DRINK TO ME ONLY WITH THINE EYES AND I WILL PLEDGE WITH MINE OR LEAVE A KISS BUT IN THE CUP AND I WILL NOT ASK FOR WINE.” FROM: “SONG TO CELIA” BY: BEN JONSON FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE: “AS THE CRUCIBLE TESTS SILVER AND THE FURNISH GOLD, SO A MAN IS TESTED BY THE PRAISE HE RECEIVES.” PROVERBS 27:21