Cebu Daily News First Posted 06:19:00 10/18/2009
Filed Under: Politics, Religion & Belief
WRAPPING up a two-day visit in Cebu, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III sought divine guidance, rallied new recruits, explained his stand on contraceptives to Catholic advocates, and talked about his track record before college students.Aquino dropped by the Carmelite monastery which housed his mother, the late president Corazon Aquino, overnight in the tense hours of Feb. 23, 1986 lution on the eve of the People Power revolt.
“This particular convent is where my mother stayed during the '86 revolution. It's the first time I have been able to visit them...Madaming dadaanan na mabigat, kailangan namin ng spiritual nurturing. We will be facing heavy challenges ahead, we need spiritual nurturing,” he said.
The senator, accompanied by his running mate Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas III, visited the convent in Mabolo, where Cory and daughter Kris spent the night after leading a civil disobedience rally in Fuente Osmeña 23 years ago.
Sen. Aquino said he was unable to join his mother during her visits to the Carmelite convent in Cebu.
Aquino and Mar had a closed-door audience with the cloistered nuns. They chatted in private for an hour, while a handful of supporters waited outside.
Photographers got a glimpse, when the parlor door opened, of the men and nuns kneeling in prayer.
Visitors are not allowed to enter the cloister beyond the receiving area, but the Carmelites made an exception for Mrs. Aquino during the emergency in 1986.
It’s customary , however, for visitors to receive a blessing from the brown-habit wearing nuns.
The nuns had a chance to quiz Aquino on his stand on reproductive health issues, which Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal questioned.
“We had a very good exchange of ideas. Hopefully, we were able to show them our perspective and that of the Church,” Aquino said.
Vidal earlier told reporters his “great disappointment” with Aquino for supporting the Reproductive Health Bill which the Church vigorously opposes.
Aquino clarified that he did not sign or co-author the bill. However, he does favor allowing the use of government funds to make contraceptives available in health centers.
Last Friday, the senator talked with students of Southwestern University where he dismissed criticism about his legislative record in Congress.
“I seek a seat in the government to become a public servant. Should I call for a press conference so that people will know what I have done? I don't want to boast what I have done for you,” Aquino told the students in a forum.
A Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism report showed that Aquino authored two bills. One defines parameters for selecting police chiefs in local government units (LGUs) and the other bans the reappointment of Judicial and Bar Council members who served their full terms.
The senator also proposed a reward system in government service in order to help curb corruption.
Meanwhile, pro-Aquino groups launched the “piso at puso sa pagbabago (pesos and hearts for change)” fund-raising campaign.
Lawyer Aristotol Batuhan, the Cebu chapter coordinator of the Noynoy Aquino for President Movement (NAPM) said all donations are welcome regardless of political affiliations.
About 100 cans were distributed during the launching at the Sacred Heart Sports Club in Cebu City.
Batuhan said Sen. Aquino will return to Cebu to open the donation cans on the 77th birthday of his father, the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. on Nov. 27.
Ed Roces, the NAPM national chairman, administered the oath of their Cebu chapter officials and members.
Roces's father, Chino Roces also campaigned for former president Cory Aquino in the 1985 election.
Batuhan said he resigned from the local opposition Kugi Uswag Sugbu (Kusug) party to ensure that his campaign for Noynoy remains non-partisan.
“I believe that Noynoy has not been compromised by big businesses and he can bring transformation in Philippine politics,” he said.
Batuhan said Sen. Francis Escudero and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. were law schoolmates while Sen. Manuel Villar was a client of his Manila-based law firm.
He also worked for Joseph Estrada as undersecretary of the Presidential Management Staff.
If Aquino wins the presidency, Batuhan said the NAPM will continue to monitor his governance to see if he fulfilled his campaign promises.
With a story from Reporter Doris C. Bongcac
Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/news/view/20091018-230721/Noynoy-visits-Carmelite-convent-We-need-spritual-care-nuns-ask-about-RH
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