Opus Dei—Work of God

June  26 is the feast day of SAINT JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA, a Spanish priest who founded the OPUS DEI, now a global  organization composed of religious and lay members who sanctify themselves through ordinary acts or activities. OPUS DEI literally means “work of God”.

Archbishop Romulo Valles concelebrated an “anticipated” Holy Mass at the Sacred Heart parish church in Barrio Obrero last Friday.

A businessman friend, BOYET QUINTO gifted me Msgr. Escriva’s book entitled ‘THE WAY — FURROW THE FORGE’. It contains compiled  cryptic passages from the saint’s own words culled from his writings and speeches. It’s so inspiring to be reminded that one need not be a priest, or a religious to do acts of God. An ordinary activity in our own respective workplaces can bring sanctification to one. Especially when it is a deed of mercy, sacrifice or selflessness for another. All of us can have our own “work of God” and be sanctified.

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LITTLE PRESIDENT — I had  a long chat for almost two hours with Executive Secretary JOJO OCHOA last Monday in his Malacanang office. I was joined by USEC NABIL TAN who has recently been designated chief of the MINDANAO MONITORING OFFICE which provides inputs to the Malacanang on things happening (or not happening) in Mindanao.

I marveled at  ES JOJO’s  political savvy and practical but strategic grasp of the workings of the bureaucracy  and the other nuances that must be handled by the Office of the President.

I told him that in a fleeting moment (for 3 days) in the past, I was also “LITTLE PRESIDENT” when former ES ED ERMITA left for an official trip and I was briefly designated by the President as acting Executive Secretary.

We had a good laugh when I said it was good for my own epitaph when the time comes.

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POWER SITUATION —The power situation in Mindanao has stabilized due to the onset of the rainy season and the increase in the  water level in Lake Lanao that runs  the hydropower plants.

But let’s not drop our guard. By August, we will again experience some power interruptions because of the scheduled maintenance work on  our backbone plants. Also, we know that new power capacities with the operationalization of new power plants in Mindanao will still come in 2015 or so. Before that time, the power deficiency will be upon us from time to time.