I HAVE been with Zonta 1 since the early ‘80s. Every year was a challenge and civic involvements were internalized with friendship and fellowship; every project imbibed with the passion to serve.

It will be a golden anniversary in 2018. The Council of Past Presidents and the current officers and members have all these years sustained its programs for women and children, education and value formation, health delivery, entrepreneurship, arts and culture. With active partnerships with the City and Province of Cebu, the academe, the socio-business sectors and other charitable institutions, as well as active leadership in the Zonta International, the Zonta 1 will continue its chain of stewardship to empower women to initiate and sustain services to improve the quality of life.

Lenten thoughts

I am blessed with a happy family and friends. My challenges come from Him who guides and sees how far I could go. Then, when I am about to give up, He takes over. I always remember “Footprints in the Sand.” At the point when a human thought he was abandoned, God said: “During your times of trial and suffering, when you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

Pope John XXIII was praying and thought he could no longer solve the problems around him. The Voice of God said: “Go to sleep, John. It’s my turn!”

My faith has been my shield. Oh, God knows the crises I had all these years. But, look, I’m still alive and strong. As the song goes, “Faith can move mountains.” Prayers coming from the heart, the Holy Rosary, and my devotions to the Holy Ghost for enlightenment; St. Ezekiel and St. Martin for our health; the Sto. Niño for almost irremediable problems; Our Mother of Perpetual Help, to ease my personal crises, have been my companions.

Life is beautiful. It is our handiwork to our Lord. Happy Easter to all.