Maraming salamat sa mga tumu­tulong at nag-abuloy kay Lorna To­lentino. Siya ay nasa ospital pa rin at wala pang balita kung makakadalaw ba ang kanyang kapatid galing sa Pi­nas. Patuloy po ang ating pagdadasal at pakikibaka sa kanya lalong lalo na sa Paskong ito. Investigations galore in the Philip­pines While the Philippines struggles with investigations and impeachments, we see corrupt officials being convicted and sent to prison in other parts of the world like former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich who has been sen­tenced to 14 years for corruption. Yet, in the Philippines a seem­ingly endless list of officials are being charged or investigated starting from the former President herself – Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and now the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Former elections Commissioner Benjamin Abalos, businessman Roberto Ong-pin also face charges. Even the infa­mous Ampatuan Massacre is already going into its third year and no end is in sight.

Sex and society
Here in Canada and the U.S. sex crimes dominate the news these days. From sports personalities to poli­ticians and even the Church and the police are all tainted with the crime. It seems no one is immune from allega­tions of sexual misconduct. U.S. Republican presidential can­didate Herman Cain’s political am­bitions ahs been railroaded amid a plethora of alleged sexual dalliances during his mar­riage. Canadian Junior Hock­ey coach Graham James pleaded guilty to sexual assaults. Penn State football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky is accused of molest­ing boys as late as the 70’s and only now being tried. Most of these allegations involved children and we have to wonder whether there is a connection to the sex trafficking and tourism that is happening in developing countries like the Philippines.

In a CBC documentary on child prostitution in the Philippines, child-advocate and long-time missionary Fr. Shay Cullen made the observation that Western countries should be con­cerned about their own citizens who travel abroad for sex tourism. Fr. Cullen remarked that when these sexual predators return to their own countries they will invariably abuse the children in these countries.

At least these criminals are pros­ecuted and sent to prison unlike the Philippines where worst crimes are being committed with impunity and we rarely see any convictions.
*******
“Ang pag-asa ay may dalawang magagandang anak na babae: ang pangalan nila ay Galit at Tapang. Galit sa mga bagay na ganoon pa rin. Ta­pang upang gawing tama ang mga iyon.” (Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are anger and courage. Anger that things are the way they are. Courage to make them the way they ought to be.”) (St Augustine of Hippo)

< Prev		Next >