The Consumate Statesman

As we write this column, the whole nation is mourning the death of a great man in the person of Nene Pimentel. He has just been deservedly honored with a necrological services by his colleague in the Senate where he served for many years both as an ordinary member and later as Senate president. Indeed, his passing away is a great loss to our country especially at this time when uncertainties is befalling us. The pieces of legislation he has sponsored and passed in the Senate speak well of the man, foremost of which is the Local Government Code. As a member of the Constitutional Revision Commission, he was for a Federal form of government. It has been said that “death is a celebration of life.” Thus, a poet once wrote: “When he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars and he will make the face of heaven so fine, that all the world will be in love with the night and pay no respect to the garish sun.” In his lifetime, Senator Pimentel has always identified himself into serving the poor and the down trodden. He set an example by living by his principle and honorable but simple life. As epitomized by poet Ralph Waldo Emerson, and I quote: “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” That’s how that late Senator Nene Pimentel lived that’s why he will be long remembered!

Sometime back we wrote in this column our elation that about 88 Miss Earth Candidates will be in Naga to hold what organizers dubbed as Miss Earth Flora Coronation at the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum. We were hoping that it will project the pilgrim city of Naga into international limelight thus attracting more tourists to our city. Well, far from our expectation, reports from both print and broadcast media showed that there were only a handful who viewed the event even at a reduced price of P200. per ticket.

TRIVIA:

Greetings to Mayor Tom Bongalonta and the constituencies of the Municipality of Pili on the occasion of its town fiesta. Incidentally, the USI high school batch ‘55 have been invited for lunch at the residence of their batch mate Olive Bahillo.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK;

“I WANT OUR PEOPLE TO GROW AND BE LIKE THE MOLAVE, STRONG AND RESSILIENT, RISING ON THE HILLSIDE, UNAFRAID OF THE RAGING FLOOD, THE LIGHTNING OR THE STORM, CONFIDENT OF ITS OWN STRENGH,” MANUEL L. QUEZON

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

“LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH GIVE PRAISE TO THE LORD. HALLELUJAH!” PSALM 159:6