Good Morning Judge: No-El in 2022?

THE country has witnessed last January 9 the annual celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene. The procession back to Quiapo Church from the Luneta Park reportedly took 22 hours and the police have estimated that there were about 1.6 million devotees who participated in the procession. The devotees came from different parts of the country which only indicate that despite the passing of years the devotion to the Black Nazarene has not waned at all. Similar celebrations of the Feast were also held in some other parts of the country like Pampanga, Dagupan and other provincial capitals. Here at the Parish of the Holy Cross in Tabuco, Naga City, a similar celebration was also held. I was viewing the TV footage of the procession in Manila, the deep devotion and the huge number of devotees that it has mustered, are becoming akin to the procession of our Lady of the Virgin of Penafrancia during the Septermber traslacion in Naga. The recent move by Congress to meet as a constituent assembly to propose amendments to the present Constitution of the Philippines in order to convert our form of government from Presidential to Parliamentary form would necessarily extend the terms of the President and other local government officials. A no election scenario in 2022 is in the offing. It is unfortunate that most of our voters are not cognizant of the provisions of our Constitution and are not therefore fully aware of the impact of any constitutional change in their daily life. It is our hope that should the Duterte administration push thru its proposal to amend our Constitution, an information and educational campaign would be launched to keep the electorate well informed of the implications of any constitutional change. TRIVIA: This column condoles with the bereaved family of SK Pedro Alarcon Cordis who passed away last Sunday, January 7. His body lies at Funeraria Imperial at Penafrancia Avenue. Interment will be on Saturday, January 13. Bro Cordis was past Grand Knight of the Nueva Caceres Council 7995 and an active 4th Degree Knight of the Mons. Jorge Barlin Assembly. Congratulations to SK Pao Buenaflor who is celebrating his Nth birthday anniversary this coming Sunday, January 14, which incidentally is also the regular meeting of the 4th Degree Assembly. It is also the Renewal of Vows of all the officers and assembly members. Let’s roll out the barrel for Brod Pao during the fellowship. I owe you 1 bottle of Chivas Regal. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: “MOST PEOPLE ARE SO AFRAID TO DIE THAT, FROM THEIR EFFORT TO AVOID DEATH, THEY NEVER LIVE.” ANTHONY DE MELLO FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE: “NO ONE HAS EVER IMAGINED WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9