The Lenten Season

IT is at this time of the year that many schools in the country usually hold their graduation rites. Thousands of graduates will once again march out of schools proudly carrying their diplomas evidencing the different professional courses they have obtained after four or six years of studies. They would go out into a world of competition seeking jobs to match their new profession. Unfortunately, however, there may be less job openings than there are job seekers. Job fairs generally sponsored by the Department of Labor in cooperation with some business groups and corporations serve as an avenue for finding job opportunities. In the meantime, congratulations and good luck to all graduates.

A PDI report shows that in a research conducted by the British Journal of Sports Medicine, a brisk stroke once or twice a week is enough to reduce the risk of dying from heart attack, stroke or cancer; people who walked or gardened 10 minutes a day to an hour each week had an 18-percent lower risk of death from any cause compared to “full-on couch potatoes.” At SM where I usually have my brisk walking every other day and on Saturdays and Sundays, one round along the SM perimeter consists of 500-meter distance so that if one makes four (4) rounds he makes two (2) kilometers distance of walking. Thus, two kilometers per day just comes up with the research made by the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

TRIVIA:

Congratulations to Bishop Rex Andrew C. Alarcon for his Episcopal Ordination as the New Bishop of Daet, Camarines Norte. The ordination was held last March 19 at the Saint John Evangelist Metropolitan Cathedral in Naga. The cathedral was full to the brim as thousands of well wishers attended the services led by Most Reverend Rolando Tria Tirona, Archbishop of Caceres, as Principal Consecrator with Most Rev.Adolfo Tito Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio of Australia, and Most Rev. Manolo De Los Santos, Bishop of Virac as co-consecrators .The Papal Nuncio as representative of the Pope was also in attendance. A concert in celebration of the episcopal ordination was held at the University of Sta. Isabel Auditorium last Tuesday evening (March 19) led by Bicolana Suprano Ina Maria Aldecoa and baritone Tom Frinta with Augusto Espino on the piano and the Lozada Piano Trio Ralph Waldo Taylon (violin), Giuseppe Andre Diestro (cello) Mischelle Nicolasora (piano).

It was nice to see once again Bishop Manolo De Los Santos of Virac, Catanduanes whom we have not seen for quiet a while. He said that he is a regular reader of the Bicol Mail and this column. Do have a great day Mons.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

“EVERY TOMORROW HAS TWO HANDLES. WE CAN HOLD IT WITH THE HANDLE OF ANXIETY OR THE HANDLE OF FAITH.” HENRY WARD BEECHER

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“THE WISE MAN HAS EYES IN HIS HEAD, BUT THE FOOL WALKS IN DARKNESS.” - ECCLE: 2:14