I HAD the pleasure of having breakfast with the Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Francisco Ortigas III and Monsignor Diego Monroy Ponce, Vicario General y Episcopal de Quadalupe Rector del Sanctuario, Basilica de Guadalupe, Mexico City, who visited Cebu last week.

The meeting was arranged by their friend Sammy Chioson. With them was the Assistant to the Ambassador Marian Legarda. Although their trip was more of a personal reunion with friends, it gave them the chance to meet Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Cebu City Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, Vice Mayor Mike Rama, Consul Jaime Picornell and some religious congregations in Manila, Makati, Bacolod, Iloilo, Don Bosco and Cebu, where many Mexican nuns have been serving, specifically in the Augustinian Recollect order.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

They brought the message of peace and unity, which La Virgen de Guadalupe has time and again reminded us. Well, Our Lady of Guadalupe is Cebu’s patroness, and the Cebuanos are her faithful followers. The monsignor was amazed at how beautiful the Guadalupe Church is—so different when he saw it years ago.

During our conversation, Ambassador Ortigas talked about the historical and religious bond between the Philippines and Mexico, and hoped that both nations continue to instill in the youth the humanitarian values of love and forgiveness to attain peace and unity.

The visitors cited how difficult it was to survive with the calamities Mexico faced, like the A(H1N1) fever, but like the Filipinos, the people prayed hard, helped one another and coped with these trials. The monsignor believed that problems are tests of our faith and fortitude. All I can say was “amen” for he was indeed so right.

Happenings

The Province of Cebu and Guangdong, People Republic of China, signed the Memo of Sisterhood Agreement to further promote cultural and economic cooperation. Gov. Gwen Garcia and Gov. Huang Hua Hua led the political and diplomatic dignitaries who witnessed the event held at the Capitol Social Hall. Guangdong is China’s economic and tourism giant.

The Glamour and Glitz 2 unfolds at 6: 30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel. The Zontians and their friends will have dinner first before the family-inspired fashion musicale to celebrate the ruby anniversary of Zonta 1.Whatever donations friends will offer will be a great help to the adopt-a-school and scholarship projects of the club, among others. As a token of friendship, we are raffling off some door prizes.