Political Winds a-Blowin’

POLITICAL WINDS—The blowing of the political winds are starting to be felt. New survey results that can measure the political temperature of the public will start to be released as indicators of national candidates’ winnability or chances of being serious contenders for May 2016 elections. Watch closely those results. We are only 12 months away from election day!

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BBL CALVARY—hold the view that while we, the Catholic faithful, have gone through our own annual observance of Christ’s passion and death in Calvary and Resurrection last Holy Week, the road to “calvary” for the bangsamoro basic law is still long and difficult to travel.

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REGAIN TRUST—The Mamasapano incident has thrown a “monkey wrench” and disrupted the peace efforts. Unless the loss of trust, confidence and support of the general public are restored, BBL’s “glorious resurrection” in Congress, unfortunately, may not happen.

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NEW CONVENORS—Whether the new formation of a “citizens peace council” with its eminent members can help salvage the fate of the BBL, we cannot as yet tell this early. The Bishop Ulama Conference composed of Mindanao bishops and ulamas that was intentionally “sidelined” by the Aquino government would have been a great help. It may be too late in the day to re-harness the BUC to clean up today’s mess in the peace process.

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EASTER “SUGAT”—While I was in Buda some 4,000 feet in the mountains, I watched the traditional early dawn “sugat” or Mother Mary’s “encounter” with the risen Christ last Sunday. The barrio folks came out in their Sunday’s best for the occasion. By the way, without resurrection, there would have been no meaning to our Christian faith.

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DIVINE MERCY—Today is the feast in honor of the Divine Mercy, the fountainhead of all mercy and love coming from the Lord. “O Divine Mercy: We trust in you!”