Signs of the times

  By Jun Velasco

MARIANETH Amper, 11, of Davao City committed suicide on Nov. 2 due to extreme poverty.

A letter found under her pillow was asking a TV program
“Wish ko Lang” to provide a bicycle, a school bag and jobs for her parents. Marianetth who was among the top grade 6 pupils in her class   tied a nylon rope around her neck and hanged herself at their house.  It was learned that the night before, she asked her  father P100 for a school project that she would submit  on Monday,  but  jobless, her father begged off.
                                       

This graphic portrait of poverty is typical throughout the islands.  Our omni-present Archbishop Oscar Cruz described the suicide “a summit of desperation” and blamed “everyone, including each and every one of us for Marianeth’s death.”

Another religious leader, Bishop Eliezer Pascua of the National Council of Churches reacted more painfully “we have called them (Marianeth’s family and the like) poor and eyesores, but what do you call a society which made them like this?”

While poring on Marianeth’s sad story, we saw a Phil. Star headline, “GMA releases additional P1-B fund for hunger.”

Anywhere in the national broadsheets and the other multimedia outlets, we  get a daily dose  of  our  national officials accusing each other of pocketing millions of dollars worth of government projects which are  intended for the poor.

Where is reason here? Where is “for-the-poor” here? This is the outrage that drove the Archbishop to blame society as a whole for Marianeth’s suicide.

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Tragedy struck the Saguisags last Thursday dawn when former Senator Rene Saguisag’s van was hit by a speeding truck on Pasay Road in Makati City.

Rene’s wife, Dulce Maramba from the famous Maramba family of Sta. Barbara and Malasiqui towns was hardest hit and she died instantly.

The timing of the accident was ironic because the Saguisag couple and three others were returning home from a ballroom dancing. See the contrast?  Many have warned us about life’s fragile nature.  The incident also underscores the truism that life is a paradox, full of surprises, and so, if your goal is to find peace and explanation for all these hard-to-believe incidents in our lives, always ask the Lord’s guidance.  Reason, logic, scientific explanation will not suffice because these are mere devices of mortal men.  Only God provides.

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High school classmate Marlene Espino Ocampo is reopening her Diner, famed meeting place of select, special and discriminating people with high taste in music, food and fashion that passes Marlene’s imprimatur.  It’s devious without her imprimatur.  

Now located on  the 2nd floor of  the family or  Espino Bldg. at Burgos and Bonifacio Streets fronting the St. John’s Cathedral,  Diner when located at Tony Manas’ Di-Or Village a couple of years back  had to restrain its fine sound  because the area is residential.  Now, it boasts of concerts on a big TV screen that raged in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

Re-opening date is Dec. 8, and Expected to show up are Marlene’s kin, Governor Spines, Mayor Al Fernandez, former Governors Oscar Orbos and Tito Primicias, Benjie Lim who are all Marlene’s chums, Belen Fernandez, Edna Gonzales, Chito and Macky Samson, Boy Rayos, Gons Duque, Bobby Tan, George Estrada, Raffy and Toti Baraan, Norman Velasco, Ashok Vasandani, Alvin, Michael and Alfie Fernandez, and many others.  Let’s swing there.

* * *

An   interesting fight for the ABC leadership in San Carlos City is fast shaping up with two of our friends, Jess Pagsolingan, Barangay Rizal captain, and Lito Millora, Barangay Roxas captain as main protagonists.  Mayor Ayoy Resuello has reportedly anointed Jess to the chagrin of Lito who says his family has been staunch supporters of the Resuellos dating back to the late Mayor Jolly’s daysàin Dagupan, Angel Gumarang of Bonuan Gueset (the largest barangay in Bangus Country) seems to be   dictating the tempo of the flight along with Jun Quinto, Jake Reyes, Lino Fernandez and Guillermo Vallejos, former Rene Saguisag’s Dagupan  students Teddy Manaois and Gons Duque  are saddened by the tragedy that befell his family. Same here. Kaibigan natin sina Rene and late wife Dulce.  May she rest in peace.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/ Readers may reach columnist at junmv@yahoo.com . For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)