Home in Him

THIS SEASON of joy, an occasion for tears.

If only for one carol – I’ll be home for Christmas. Whoever sings it – Bing Crosby or Michael Buble, Whitney Houston or Josh Groban – reduces me to a crying heap.
Just the first strains are more than enough to work up the lacrimal glands –  
I’m dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it’s a long road back
I promise you…
Thoughts of toiling fathers in the scorching desert sand, of seafaring husbands amid the frozen winter seas, of care-giving mothers in some retirement home, of child-rearing sisters in some high-rise flats – all of them wishing, longing, pining —
I’ll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
Aye, presents under the tree, but not so much – indeed, not ever – for snow and mistletoe. As for the parol, simbang gabi, and bibingka, puto bumbong, suman, and tamales.

And, above all, family —   
Christmas eve will find you
Where the love light gleams
At the Misa de Aguinaldo singing Gloria in Excelsis joyfully welcoming with the angels and the shepherds the birth of the Savior.

And then, from the humblest hovels to the grandest mansions, the whole family, in prayerful thanksgiving, partaking of the noche buena feast.   
I’ll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.
The overseas Filipino worker sings. And I just can’t help but wail with him. 
Still, he, she can dream of some homecoming.
Alas, that is not so with the folk uprooted, displaced, death-visited, wherever injustice and terror still supremely reign.  
For them, home for Christmas is now all in the heart, pained memories of what once was. Of what can never be again.
Of them, what can we sing?
Only dirges to haunt the barely surviving. 
Suffering deepening. The weeping unceasing.

Still, hope eternally springs.

There in the Book a cause for some soul-uplifting: “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”  
No home at His aborning. Home for all mankind is in Him. 
Rejoice.    

(First published in December 2012)

Fellowship for Clark

 

THIS ANNUAL fellowship has become a platform for the reaffirmation of the relationship, professional and cordial, between the Clark agencies and the media. As well as for the renewal of our commitment of support for the development of Clark.

Lest we forget, this is also a time for thanksgiving. And we have much, much to thank for this year.

For one, the excellence in good corporate governance collectively -- the Clark Development Corp. and the Clark International Airport Corp. ranking highest, and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority raised to the Hall of Fame in the Performance Scorecard of Government-Owned and -Controlled Corporations – is more than enough a cause for a grateful celebration.

Individually, there is as much excellence we have seen in all three agencies this year. Top of mind now –

The BCDA for the multi-billion developments at Hann Reserve starting to rise in New Clark City, the Central Bank mint, among many others.

From its virtual relegation to the backburner with the Clark International Airport operation and management handed over to the Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp., CIAC has come into its own anew with a multi-modal hub of events, tourism and entertainment, food trading, among others in the pipeline sooner than soon.

The CDC’s rich harvest of awards from just about every corporate and government entity, not the least of which is the jewel in the crown for 2023 – Asia Leaders Awards “Woman of the Year” which is yet another first in the woman of many firsts, CDC president-CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera.

We can only exclaim, thank God, for Clark. And we in the media have a lot of good news to proclaim.

In this great scheme of events, the adverse issues that obtained this year between us are nothing more than the proverbial tempest in a teapot.

Ruffled relationships, that nonetheless took an intermediary to unravel, indeed a mediatrix beloved by all. Motivated only as she is by her unwavering faith in Clark, her unfaltering hope in its potential, and her unconditional love for her people who shall reap rewards from its development. I refer to no other than Nanay Lilia G. Pineda.

Whence this syllogism has become a personal article of faith, a pledge of commitment: Mahal ako ni Nanay. Mahal ko si Nanay. Kaya – sa abot ng hangganan ng mga pamantayan at panuntunan ng malayang pamahayagan – mamahalin ko rin ang mga minamahal ni Nanay. Amor con amor se paga, wika nga ng mga Kastila.

Tiyak ko na ang damdaming ito ay umiiral din sa ating hanay sa media. Katunayan, nitong Nobyembre lamang, sa pagtatalaga sa tungkulin ng bagong pamunuan ng Central Luzon Media Association – Pampanga Chapter, umusbong mula sa maimahinasyong diwa ng doble-bisionaryong si Ginoong Deng Pangilinan ang pinagtagpi-tagping mga titik at bilang na naging pahayag pagpapahalaga na siya na ngayong bukambibig ng buong kapatiran.

Maari bang tumayo si Ginoong Deng para siya mismo ang magpahayag sa atin ng kanyang siniping kawikaan – “143-VST, VST-143.”

Sa CIAC, ay mayroon na ring pagbati ng pagapapahalaga ang CLMA-Pampanga na nabuo naman noong balitaan-talakayan nito kasama ang president ng ahensiya: “Arrey, hooray! Hooray, Arrey!”

At marapat lamang na mayroon din ang BCDA: “For Clark’s sake, it’s Jake!”

Hanggang dito na lamang. Maraming salamat. Mabuhay po tayong lahat!

(Message delivered as chairman emeritus of the CLMA-Pampanga Chapter during the BCDA-CDC-CIAC Media Fellowship held at Royce Hotel and Casino, 14 Dec. 2023)