Catholics should experience a "conversion"

Mayor Tommy Osmeña is once again having another medical crisis. This time it is a mass in his gall bladder, which he himself said “it could be fatal.” Thus there is indeed a need for Tommy and Margot to go to the United States for a medical treatment. This reminds me of that unexpected medical crisis (a stroke) he had way back on March 9, 2002 when all of us thought that he was a goner. Call it timely that the doctors in Chong Hua Hospital were able to address to him right away.

Yet, when the Mayor recovered, we visited him and saw that he still needed some kind of operation, which is why he went to Boston and was the recipient of the latest medical technology where a thin cooper wire was inserted from his leg and snake all the way to his brain to sort of plug those clogged blood vessels. Now I gathered that this procedure has become common place in many medical centers. That was truly a close call for Tommy.

Is this another close call for the Mayor? At this point we hope and pray that he can lick this new medical crisis and we’re all praying that he does. Yes, even Gov. Gwen Garcia sent him a message of prayers, which perhaps hopefully is the beginning of the thawing of their otherwise difficult relations.

Call it a coincidence that the Mayor medical condition was discovered right after he closed that deal for the South Reclamation Properties (SRP). Now that despite all what his critics threw at him, he was able to prove that after all, the SRP was a good project that would create the critical mass for the development of the south side of Cebu. Before the SRP, all roads led to the North side, which is why today traffic is so bad in that area. In the end, Tommy proved to his critics he was right on the money. So now he can focus his attention on his personal health or if that fails, his spiritual well-being.

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That our generation is now in that age group whom when we meet with friends either at weddings or funerals, the main topic of discussion that doesn’t end in a heated argument (like when we talk about politics or religion) is our individual health. Yes, this year when our Class 66 of the University of San Carlos Boys High School (USC-BHS) had a reunion, the first questions asked is… “What happened to so and so and why isn’t he here?” Remember the lucky ones were those who attended the reunion.

However after all these years, many of our friends have “returned” to the Lord, which we often call having a “conversion”… a word that many nominal Catholics cannot understand because most of them believe that Catholics no longer need any conversion. Most Catholics believe that conversion is only for non-believers, pagans or Protestants who come back to the fold of the Catholic Church.

If only many Catholics joined a charismatic group like Oasis of Love, Bukas Loob sa Diyos (BLD) Alay sa Diyos or Couples for Christ, they would learn that conversion is for everyone, even Catholics. I had my “Damascus experience” (This is what Saul experienced on the road to Damascus, where he’s name was changed to Paul) 10-years ago when I had my Marriage Encounter and later took a Life of the Spirit Seminar (LSS) and indeed life has changed a lot since then. As they say about life, you lose some or you win some. But we do get rich in understanding life much better than before.

No doubt many of us past through our own medical crisis and in a sort of way… I learned from many friends who through the years have invited me to join their charismatic organization that there was one commonality amongst them… they all had their medical troubles and in a way, God gave them a new lease of life. Alas, too often many who recovered from their medical scare forget that it was the Lord who gave them another chance. That life is indeed short is a reality we have to accept and that in the end, we shall see the face of the Lord in all his glory and majesty.

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My family’s heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Engr. Gavino Unchuan who passed away last Monday at the ripe age of 94. In his youth, he graduated Cum Laude in Civil Engineering at the University of the Philippines (UP) and built the Bacolod Reclamation, which was eventually taken over by Marcos cronies when Martial Law was declared. Being one of Cebu’s foremost contractors, he won the bid to construct the main airfield of what is now the Mactan International Airport (MIA) where Mr. Kiener was merely his subcontractor. It was then the country’s single biggest contract at that time.

But what I know of Noy Binoy was his humility. He constructed most of the major buildings and roads and bridges in the Visayas and Mindanao before he retired. He is survived by his wife, Esther Lozada Unchuan and his children, Eddie (deceased) Dr. Ramon, Francisco (Paquito) Nena and Jimmy. May we request the pious reader to please pray for the repose of his soul. Interment is on Thursday Oct.9th in Cempark after a 1:00 p.m. Mass in Redemptorist Church.