There are reports over the radio that the incumbent OIC Market Supervisor of Naga City Public market Mr. Florencio T. Mongoso, Jr. has reportedly discovered millions of missing funds from market fees collection perpetrated by a public market official. Further reports show that the matter has been officially brought to the attention of City Mayor Jesse M. Robredo and the latter has reportedly ordered an investigation. I believe that City Mayor Robredo should go further by asking the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a separate investigation to determine possible link between the assassination of former market supervisor Paco Ojeda and the discovery of the missing collections from market fees. An independent investigation on this particular angle alone is probably in order aside from the administrative investigation initiated by the mayor.

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        As I write this column, millions of voters in the United States will go to the polls to elect the representatives from 50 states of the USA who will elect the representatives to the 528-members Electoral College who in turn would elect the new US President and Vice-President. The candidates who get 270 or more electoral votes wins the Presidency and the Vice- Presidency . Unlike our electoral process, the candidates who may garner majority of the popular votes do not necessarily become the president and the vice-president. The electoral votes are the determining factor. Filipino-Americans who are now permanent residents of the USA are also expected to participate in the historic election where the probability of the first black president to ever occupy the White House.

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        To paraphrase a well known poet, all of us have a rendezvous with death at some disputed barricade, and any man’s death diminishes us because we are part of mankind. Indeed, I and my entire family particularly mourn the recent demise of Mons. Pablito Aguilar whose remains is presently laid to rest at the Pili Parish Pastoral Hall for vigil. The sudden passing away of Mons Pablito is more deeply felt because he was a good friend and a classmate at the Ateneo de Naga University high school class 1954. His batch mates of Ateneo class 1954. Are scheduled to have their vigil on Friday November 7 at the Holy Rosary Major Seminary where the remains will be transferred from Pili. Internment is scheduled on November 8. A dedicated servant of his flock, Mons. Pablito lived and died by the principles he believed in.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

        “TO HOPE MEANS TO BE READY AT EVERY MOMENT FOR THAT WHICH IS NOT YET BORN AND YET NOT BECOME DESPERATE IF THERE IS NO BIRTH IN OUR LIFETIME.”

ERICH FROMM

FOR OUR WORD OF LIFE:

        “HOME IS THE SAILOR, HOME FROM THE SEA AND THE HUNTER FROM THE HILL.”

AUTHOR UNKNOWN