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The dots in the map

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Twinkling with Ninfa R. Leonardia

How fortunate I was to catch the interview with Guiseppe Cardinal Versaldi yesterday on TV. It was a truly inspirational story and his interviewer, Elvira Go, just had the proper background and knowledgeability about the profession of priesthood to make their interview most interesting and informative. It made me start wondering what my life would be now if I, like most of my colegiala classmates, ingrained as we were in the teachings of the nuns at La Consolacion College, had decided to also enter the convent!

***

Aha, my kin and friends would probably say, “Then we would have no DAILY STAR now.” So, I guess, this is the mission given to me by our Lord, because, through it, I truly went through all the challenges of faith and courage, and, as I recall now, was also granted the blessing of perseverance! So, no regrets, even if it is often difficult to find subjects to write about when you are in “solitary confinement” with only TV to provide information, and the calls from very thoughtful and inspiring friends and kin.

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Yes, LCC did have a great influence on our lives – all my only sister and seven brothers – as we all finished our elementary and high school studies there. For Perla and me, it even included college, though we went on to UP for some masteral subjects which I did not finish, but she did, right in LCC. I remember how my mother once planned to transfer us to public schools because there were already nine of us studying, but the Mother Superior, then Sor Evangelista de San Agustin, would not allow it, and gave us huge discounts in tuition, especially, because Perla was always class valedictorian. Ah, the memory of high school days!

***

I guess I was inspired by the interview with Cardinal Versaldi, whose mother was also prominent in his memories involving his education. Mothers are really the most influential persons in our lives. We may hear some of our friends speak badly about their mothers, but they are exceptions, rather than the rule. The revelations of the Cardinal really stressed the importance of the love and influence of mothers, and those who have sometimes been mean to theirs, must try to make up for it now that they are still around!

***

In the meantime, things are happening abroad that are rather surprising the attention they should be giving to the still raging pandemic. As of yesterday, reports were suggesting that by the end of the day, Benjamin Netanyahu would no longer be president of Israel as coalition forces had been tightening up their move to oust him. As to who was the one picked to replace him, was not yet known, or even hinted. I hope that will not mean chaos in the country after he is gone. With the COVID still raging, would it be wise to figuratively “change horses in the middle of the stream”?

***

Anyway, today we will know what changes have come about. Let us be glad that our leadership remains stable as of this time, even if our President is not mincing words in declaring that he will have no more of the position after his term, and will just go home to Davao. So, are the wannabes itching to take over, if any? I add that because this does not seem to be the most desirable time to head the country unless you are the martyr type. He even warned his daughter never to attempt and try it! My goodness! He must have really and truly gotten sick of it all!

***  

I was surprised to hear the news that all over the country, senior citizens are generally afraid, and avoid vaccination against Covid-19. Why? What fearful information has been peddled to them to be afraid? Me, I admit, I have gone through the process of two shots, at separate times, of course, and did not have any “side effects” – no fever, aches and pains, not even an itch at the injection sites. Maybe, someone had been scaring them against it? Don’t be afraid, you will feel freer and more secure after you get them. You are assured that you cannot catch it, and cannot infect your loved ones and even your friends.

***  

Among the last items I noted in the news was the one announcing that the United States and Russia are preparing for face-to-face talks. That’s right, guys, talks will get your somewhere peaceful and will not cost lives or arms. Let them talk in a nice, friendly manner that will mean peace because other countries will not have to take sides. May I quote again the saying that “When giants fight, the pygmies tremble”? And who are the pygmies but we in the nations that are merely dots in the map?*

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