PRESIDENT Gloria Arroyo prayed for peace and reconciliation in one of Cebu’s popular religious landmarks.
Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district) escorted Arroyo when she dropped by at the famous Marian Monks of Holy Eucharistic Adoration in Simala, Sibonga, Cebu.
She stayed for 30 minutes to pray and talk to the monks at the monastery.
She was escorted by Brothers Joseph and Martin of the Marian Monks.
“She wanted to say a prayer for peace and reconciliation,” a monk told Sun.Star Cebu.
The president also asked for more “testimonies of miracles.”
Crowds outside the monastery heard clapping while Arroyo was inside.
But a monk said they were not celebrating anything.
“There were no promises. We never asked for (promises) anyway,” the monk also said.
Some devotees were surprised with the arrival of the President, although there were some indicators that she was coming.
A couple of tarpaulins with welcome messages for the president were hung at conspicuous points.
Others were prepared enough and were able to bring their digital cameras with them.
After visiting the monastery, Arroyo proceeded to the church and was given some time alone to pray at the altar of the Virgin Mary.
When the president was on her way out of the Simala church, devotees flocked around her and she seemed to have been leading a procession.
Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos said it was the first time a president visited the Simala Church, which has always been flocked for its supposed miracles.
It is most popular among those taking examinations. As testimonies, nurses’ caps, nameplates and several memorabilia from devotees are hang in frames inside the church.
Before visiting Simala, Arroyo led the groundbreaking of the newest Philippine Science High School (PSHS)-Central Visayas Campus in Barangay Talaytay, Argao.
There was also a time capsule-laying ceremony and she observed the enrollment of incoming freshmen.
Arroyo also got an overview of the school from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Sec. Estrella Alabastro.
PSHS is the only academic system directly under DOST rather than the Department of Education.
Arroyo, who revealed that her father and former president Diosdado Macapagal started the PSHS system, took the microphone and talked about how the school can mold
tomorrow’s research engineers.
PSHS offers electives in science and technology.
Third year and fourth year students will be given an exam to determine whether the student would be more appropriate in the science program or in the technology/engineering program.
The elective will depend on the student’s inclination.
During her visit in Cebu last month when she signed the new University of the Philippines Charter, Arroyo also talked about the need for more research engineers in the country.
“Modernization would need the critical mass of research and development-capable manpower that will attract technology-based investors to our country,” Arroyo had said then.
She quoted a United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) study that said that there should be 340 researchers, scientists and engineers for every one million population in developing countries. The Philippines only has 48 per one million Filipinos.
During the groundbreaking, Gullas, Alabastro, Argao-born Sec. Cerge Remonde, Argao Mayor Edsel Galeos, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Felix Guanzon and former district congressman Simeon Kintanar were also present.
The PSHS-Central Visayas Campus was Kintanar’s dream.
“There is such a thing as the brightest of the bright students. If they are given the proper training in Math and Science they can become good leaders in the industry and in government,” Kintanar told reporters yesterday.
PSHS-Central Visayas is said to have the latest technology, enhanced curriculum in science and technology, as well as the best teachers to mold students to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Alabastro admitted that, in general, the Philippines is not very competitive in science and technology due to the lack of funding.
With a recent fiscal reform though, science and technology has been prioritized by the National Government in the hopes of spawning more researchers. (JGA)
