What Now?

(This column appears in today's edition of the Leyte-Samar Daily Express)

Hi there! It’s another weekend and we are 22 days away to the big day which is the 100th birthday of the Diocese of Calbayog. The Papal Nuncio has confirmed his attendance in the celebration on April 10, 2010. More details on the event in my forthcoming columns.

And what’s with today’s title? It’s my take on “where to?”, that usual question this time of the year when schools churn out a good number of graduates. Yes I’m referring to both the real schools and the diploma mills. Suddenly I hear Frank Sinatra crooning “What now my love?” Yes what now that a good number of our young people have left school and joined the ranks of those with diplomas to boast, but sadly with still uncertain future in the jobs market. It’s all over the place, even graduates from reputable schools can have a hard time looking for a job, no need to mention how those from schools ruled by the lesser gods will fare. Well, es la vida.

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New Deacons for the Diocese of Calbayog. Bishop Isabelo Abarquez on Wednesday presided over an ordination ceremony at the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral

Ordained as deacons were Rev. Joseph Rabuya De Guzman (of San Policarpo, Calbayog City ), Rev. Roger Mañoza Oñate (of Oquendo, Calbayog City ), Rev. Cris Uy Tan (of Pagsangjan, Samar), Rev. Mario Benjamin Cobilla Mangubat (of Villareal, Samar), Rev. Ronjie Cabrales Raquil (of Pinabacdao, Samar) and Rev. Jake Jester Portugaliza Yboa (of Catbalogan, Samar ).

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The Presidential campaign. Senator Manny Villar would have been the first presidential candidate to visit Calbayog after the official campaign period started. He was expected to fly in a week ago today. For still unknown reasons, only Senator Loren Legarda made it.

Senator Noynoy Aquino flew in last Wednesday. He gave a presscon with the local media before talking to his supporters at the Nijaga Park .

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As reported a good number of countries paid homage to women two Mondays ago. I thought I was just gonna look at it as just that, another celebration, until I came across a yahoo news article which gave focus on how the day can hardly be had in some parts of the world. I though I’d like to share a part of that article:

“What made last Monday’s observance is that it marked the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The day doesn't get a great deal of attention within the United States , but many other countries honor it with a national holiday. Nations that officially honor it are far flung, ranging from China and Russia to Macedonia and Vietnam . Some countries will encourage men to lavish gifts on the women in their lives, in the tradition of greeting-card holidays like Father's Day and Mother's Day. Other countries promote women-only commemorations of the day, with all-female parties and dinners.”

“We were happy to report about activities for women. But then, International Women's Day is still an occasion of danger, rather then levity, in some parts of the world. In 2007, numerous men and women were beaten and arrested by government officials in Iran for merely planning to celebrate the holiday.”

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Let me leave you with something to smile about this week. The last part of a piece which I suppose was written by a woman. It’s battle of the sexes again: Men & Women: The difference... Men are just happier people. What do you expect from such simple creatures?

NICKNAMES: If Laura, Kate and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Kate and Sarah. If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each as Fat Boy, Godzilla and Four-Eyes.

EATING OUT: When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each through in £20, even though it's only for £32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back. When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.

BATHROOMS: A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap and a towel from M&S. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items.

ARGUMENTS: A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.

FUTURE: A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.

SUCCESS: A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man.

MARRIAGE: A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't. A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does.

DRESSING UP: A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the bins, answer the phone, read a book, and get the post. A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.

NATURAL: Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed. Women somehow deteriorate during the night.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing.

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This is it for now. Have a nice weekend everyone! Ciao!