‘Grateful’, Gov Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga takes oath

Nabunturan, Davao de Oro--- It’s a dawn of a new beginning for the golden province in Davao Region as the first lady governor-elect of the Davao de Oro province took oath today (June 30, 2022), at the Nabunturan National Comprehensive High School Gymnasium, Poblacion Nabunturan, Davao de Oro.

Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga is the first-ever lady governor-elect in Davao de Oro since its separation from Davao del Norte in the year 1998 as an independent province. During the oath-taking and thanksgiving ceremony, Dabawenyos from all-over the province converged at the NCCHS Gymnasium to witness the official ceremony of the new governor along with Congressman Ruwel Peter S. Gonzaga of District II, Vice Governor Tyron Uy, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Members, Department Heads and assistants, Municipal Mayors, National Government Agencies, Brgy. Captains and the people of Davao de Oro.

 “Ako gyung gihinay-hinay ug pronounce every word of the oath arun musil-sil sa atung alimpatakan ug sa akong huna-huna in the presence of everyone here nga mao gyud na ang buhaton namong mga bag-o ninyong gipili nga opisyales,” said Governor Gonzaga during the oath-taking ceremony reassuring commendable public service for the people of the province. The new governor took her oath before Judge Cresenciana DC-Cruz, the Executive Judge of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) 3.

“We will faithfully defend and promote the constitution at all times,” added Gov. Gonzaga. Unwavering support filled the atmosphere of the whole gymnasium of NNCHS as the people applauded and cheered the new face of governance, a brand that makes government work for the welfare of the people.

A thanksgiving mass was offered first before the official oath taking ceremony, and followed by a turn-over ceremony held at the Executive Building, Provincial Capitol of Davao de Oro. Vice Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy officially turned over the governance of the province to Governor Dorothy Montejo Gonzaga. (𝐽. 𝐴𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎, 𝑃𝐴𝑂-𝐼𝑃𝑅𝐷 𝐷𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑜 𝑑𝑒 𝑂𝑟𝑜, 𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜s 𝑏𝑦 𝐽. 𝐶𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑧 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴. 𝐷𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑜)

Photocaptions:

𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻-𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗱𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗼.

Vice Governor-elect Tyron L. Uy, officially turned over to Governor-elect Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga the governance of the province right after the oath taking ceremony. The turn-over ceremony was held at the 4th Floor Executive Building, Provincial Capitol of Davao de Oro.

The ceremony is an act required by the Department of Interior and Local Government  (DILG) as a manifestation of showing transparency, accountability and good faith.

Be guarded against self-righteousness

By Fr. Roy Cimagala*

GIVEN our strong tendency to fall into self-righteousness, everyday we should devise some kind of plan or strategy to protect ourselves from it. That effort that definitely requires a lot of sacrifice and self-denial, would always be worth it.

Self-righteousness is a danger most common among the so-called ‘good’ or ‘pious’ people. The descriptive words are in quotations since the goodness and piety of those afflicted with this vicious spiritual disease is only apparent, since it lacks the real substance of the real righteousness.

And that’s because their idea of goodness and piety, their idea of righteousness is not properly based or grounded, nor is it properly oriented. Instead of having God as principle and end of their life and actions, as shown and taught by Christ and actualized  through the abiding action of the Holy Spirit, they only rely on their own ideas that can be developed through some complicated and attractive ideology and philosophy, or some tradition and culture that are not properly inspired.

This spiritual anomaly of self-righteousness can show itself in many ways, like being quick to judge, to brand, stereotype and condemn people, slow to understand others and to forgive, not wanting to be corrected, being highly opinionated and wanting to have the last word always, to dominate others, etc. It is notoriously impatient.

That’s why, we should never let go of our duty to be humble and to find ways to make humility always grow and deepen, because that’s the antidote to pride and conceit, the very virus of self-righteousness. All our thoughts and intentions, our words and deeds should have God as the beginning and end. Thus, we have to continually devise ways of keeping God always in mind, and of referring everything to him.

St. Paul, for example, keenly aware of his high dignity and responsibility as an apostle, highlighted the indispensability of humility. “My speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in the showing of the Spirit and power.” (1 Cor 2,3)

And in another instance, he said that he preached Christ crucified, “a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,” (cfr. 1 Cor 1,23), to emphasize the fact that the real righteousness that comes from God is never triumphalism according to worldly standards.

That’s why St. Paul gloried in his weakness. “It’s when I’m weak that I am strong.” And, “If I must glory, I will glory of the things that concern my infirmity.” (2 Cor 11,30) We should never think we are something, since everything good that we have comes from God. Let’s always remember that the only thing we can contribute on our own—without God—is evil, is sin.

We have to be most careful when we start to use our reasoning. Reason without faith and charity—in short, reason without God—is very dangerous. We can deftly use reason by citing all sorts of proofs, arguments, evidence, examples, doctrine and principles, stats, but if it is not inspired by faith and charity and delivered in humility, then it easily becomes a tool of pride, envy, hatred, revenge, deceit, etc.

Reason and truth should always be given in charity—“veritas in caritate,” as we have been reminded in an encyclical of Pope Benedict quoting St. Paul. It’s actually charity, the very essence of God (Deus caritas est), that gives reason and truth their true life and purpose, their living substance. 

The real righteousness has charity, as shown by Christ, as its very soul!

* Chaplain Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE), Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

Citizen Duterte flies home to Davao City

LAST SALUTE AS PRESIDENT President Rodrigo Duterte and his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on June 30, 2022. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

By Catherine S. Valente, Manila Times

AFTER six years as the country's president, Rodrigo Duterte returned to his hometown as a private citizen.

After departure ceremonies in Malacañang on Thursday, Duterte flew to Davao City.

"Mag-commercial flight siya (He will take a commercial flight)," outgoing National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said in an interview on the sidelines of the event in Malacañang.

Duterte capped his presidency on Thursday by welcoming Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. at the Palace before Marcos' inauguration at the National Museum.

Marcos arrived at Malacañang Palace past 10 a.m. and was greeted by Duterte at the top of the grand staircase.

He signed the guestbook before spending a few more moments with Duterte.

Duterte skipped the traditional car ride that would have brought him and Marcos to the National Museum.

The country's first president from Mindanao had contemplated seeking another electoral post after his term.

He initially accepted the nomination of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party to become its candidate for vice president, only to change his mind and announce his retirement from politics in October last year.

A month later, Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy for senator but backed out of the Senate race in December.

In a public address earlier this month, he urged Filipinos to "come to terms with reality" and support the country's new leaders.

Duterte had said the country's next leader should be "compassionate and decisive."

"President-elect Marcos would need the cooperation and help of everybody. We must give it to him," he said.