Two saints' relics in Capiz

Joe A. ANSINO

SIGMA, CAPIZ - The relics of Saint John Paul II and Saint John XXIII arrived in the
Province of Capiz, particularly at Barangay Mangoso in the Municipality of Sigma. last May 26,
Monday.
The relics of the two newest saints of the Roman Catholics will gave the Capiceos
ample time to venerate the two saints right after the morning Healing Mass until 7:00 p.m.
starting May 26 up to May 29.
Veneration is a special expression of religious trust and honor accorded by the faithful to
the saints. It must be differential and treated as one degree lower than worship which is solely
given to God.
The relics arrived at Roxas City Airport at around 6:00 o'clock in the morning on May 26
then brought to the Saint John Paul II Mission Station at Mangoso, Sigma, Capiz for the 10:00
o'clock in the morning Opening Mass presided by Most Rev. Jose F. Advincula Jr., D.D.,
archbishop of Capiz.
In relation to the ocasion and to inform the public of the rare opportunity to join in and
receive blessings through the solemn public exposition and veneration of the sacred relics of
Saint John Paul II and Saint John XXIII, a press conference was held at the Immaculate
Concepcion Metropolitan Cathedral in Roxas City at 1:00 p.m., the same day.
At 4:00 p.m., there was a Healing Mass presided by Fr. Ivan Delfin.
On May 27, 28 and 29 there were 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Healing Masses where the
afternoon Healing Mass were presided by Fr. Alfred Asuncion Fr. Anthony Aguason and Fr.
Emilio Arbatin, respectively.
On May 27, at 5:00 p.m., Mr. Alphonsus D. Tesoro, head of the Provincial Tourism and
Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO) led a sharing session.
On the following day, there was a Procession which started 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon.
Tonight, May 29, there will be a Night Vigil from 7:00 p.m. until 12:00 midnight.
Tomorrow, May 30, the Healing and Despedida Mass will start at 1:00 o'clock in the
morning.
Then, the relics will be convoyed to Roxas City Airport starting 4:00 a.m.

Philhealth members won't be charged

Joe A. ANSINO
 ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ - Philhealth Capiz Manager Joe Frederick Diaz assured the
Philhealth members here, especially the sponsored ones, that they will not be charged by the
private hospitals.
The assurance was made following the reports that the Private Hospitals Association of
the Philippines, Inc. (PHAPI) has decided to charge the patients of their hospital bills despite of
their Philhealth membership and have their expenses refunded by the Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation.
According to the reports the PHAPI has come up to that decision because of
its claims that Philhealth has not yet paid.
According to Diaz, the PHAPI in Western Visayas assured them that the decision will not
be applied here.
He said that the PHAPI in Western Visayas, particularly in the Province of Capiz, does
not have problem or issue with Philhealth in so far as claims are concerned.
"We pay them in 18 to 24 days," he clarified.
He added that there are even times wherein the Philhealth communicates with the PHAPI
telling it to fetch its check.
Diaz stressed that they are able to pay the claims in such a short period because of the
better fiscal management of Regional Vice
President Lourdes Diocson.
Diaz said that whenever there is big bulk of claims, personnel from other departments are
immediately detailed to augment to the claims department.

NGCP maintains power lines

Joe A. ANSINO

PANITAN, CAPIZ - Ten hours power shutdown was experienced by the member-
consumers of Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO) last May 24, Saturday.
Prior notice was sent to the different media outlets in Capiz for dissemination to the
public.
According to Mitchelle T. Vicente, Regional Communication Department (RCD) officer
of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Western Visayas, the scheduled
power shutdown took place from 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
She added that said power shutdown of 691 V Roxas-Panitan line which affected some
parts of Capiz was made to facilitate the maintenance of transformer number 3 of Panitan
substation.
New VIC scholars list released
Joe A. ANSINO

ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ - List of names of new VIC scholars of the provincial government
of Capiz was released last May 23, Friday.
Incoming first year college students flung to the bulletin board outside the Office of the
Governor starting May 23 to check whether or not their names were included on the list posted
there.
There were few who after checking the list two or three times but still not finding their
names left immediately.
Fortunate ones whose names were included in the list proceeded to the Office of the
Governor and signed their respective name.
The incoming college students who aspired to avail of the VIC scholarship were earlier
requested to submit documents and then take the written examination.
Successful examiners whose names were included in the list are the new scholars of the
provincial government through its Viable Innovative College (VIC) scholarship program.
Under this program, the scholars are free to take any four-year course from any college or
university here.

Capiz Talks
Jose Roweno A. ANSINO

MAR for President (4)

THOSE NAMED AS POSSIBLE RUNNING-MATES of Vice Governor Esteban Evan

B. Contreras are the possible running-mates also of Congressman Antonio del Rosario. It is
possible as well that the Liberal Party will advise Cong Tony to have a running-mate from the
independent politicians or from the National Unity Party. Like VG Contreras, he may have Mr.
Joel P. Longares, Dao Mayor Joselito Y. Escutin or Congressman Fredenil H. Castro as running-
mate. Yes, all these scenarios are possible as part of "MAR for President" campaign.
The Liberal Party has
another vocal aspirant for the gubernatorial position comes 2016. Mayor Gideon Ike Patricio of
the Municipality of Pilar insists that he deserves the highest provincial position in Capiz.
According to him, he is the most senior Liberal Party member in the province.
 Talking of seniority, no one can contest Patricio. In fact, he has been leader of Pilareos
for so many years. After a 3 consecutive term he just give the chance to serve for one term to his
beautiful wife. The Pilareos support Madam Rita Lyn B. Patricio, not only because she is
beautiful, but because the Pilareos love the Patricios.
Politics is a complex and complicated game. There are so many things that need to be
considered. Seniority is only one aspect of it. Moreover, even in the Philippine Army or the
Philippine National Police which used to observe seniority does not use it anymore as sole basis
of promotion.
Mayor Ike is the father of Pilar Sangguniang Bayan member Mitchelle John B. Patricio.
The young Patricio is very charismatic. He has gotten the trust and confidence of his colleagues
in Pilar to be their leader. The members of the Philippine Councilors League in the Province of
Capiz and in the whole Western Visayas chose him also as
their leader.
Mayor Ike and Mitchelle John together in the provincial board will be a tremendous
tandem. The younger Patricio is not that vocal in the provincial board, but he has the super
active, enthusiastic and dreamful thinking of a Filipino youth.
Patricio's capability and enthusiasm in fighting illegal fishing and mining activities are
important ingredients in the formulation of fishery and environmental legislative acts in the
House of Representatives. In addition, many Capiceos believe that Mayor Ike has the guts and
capability in fighting illegal gambling and illegal drugs.
Aside from Pestao,
there are two members of the NUP who may oppose Patricio in the congressional race. Mayor
Joji Avelino of Pontevedra is one. Another one is former Roxas City Mayor Vicente Bermejo.
A few days after the May 2013 election, Mr. Pestao declared that he will run for the
congressional position in the 1st district in 2016. Many said that the pronouncement was made as
an expression of opposition on the winning of Cong Tony. The root cause was the issue on the
alleged mis-operation of the Metro Roxas Water District. Meaning to say, there is possibility that
people from Roxas City, Panay and Panit-an who benefit from the services of MRD will vote for
Pestao. In other words, Patricio may get solid votes from the Pilareos, but not enough to match
the votes from the tree areas mentioned. The good thing is that Pontevedra, President Roxas and
Maayon are of the Liberal Party.
Most likely, Mr. Pestao will run as independent candidate. Meaning to say, the NUP will
have to have its own candidate. It will be either Avelino or Bermejo. Avelino is expected to get
more votes from Pontevedra. While Bermejo is expected to get the votes of the Panayanons. He
will also get votes from Roxas City where he had served mayor.
Mayor Ike may also run for the vice gubernatorial position. However, just like VG
Contreras and Cong Tony, he may not have a strong standard bearer. So far, the Liberal Party
seems to have no strong gubernatorial candidate from the 2nd district. The good news is, it seems
that the NUP has no candidate for the gubernatorial position also.