Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco

VIVA PIT Señor Santo Niño! Today, we celebrate the 500th Birth of Christianity in the Philippines! Fr. Ben Sim, S.J., wrote about the history of Ferdinand Magellan’s baptismal gift of the Baby Jesus to Queen Juana in April 1521!

Mark 10:13-16 “Let the Children come to me and don’t stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these!” 

There was a special reading of the Church in the Philippines for past Sunday’s Liturgy. Our devotion has grown and is much alive today amidst the Pandemic. I know of Christian, Juris, Gabriel whose parents prayed and were blessed with baby boys. My nephew, Christian, would always go to Cebu on January when they were still in the Philippines. We were in tears while virtually praying and saying our goodbyes to his Papa Lianing at 99. Then his wife shows an ultrasound picture of their baby boy. 

What a meaningful transition from his father who died, and now a new life through his baby boy - an answered prayer and blessing from God! We should always be thankful and dependent on God who eternally love us. 

I consider children as my VIPs in Zamboanga City. For years, together with UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), we worked to uplift their status. We recently worked on a safe project with HDES (Human Development and Empowerment Services) - an NGO, that I was blessed to work with ever since I was a Councilor. 

The State of the Children’s report was a highlight that we made sure to deliver annually for our children. We were blessed to have 3 UNICEF Country Heads visit Zamboanga City. 

Last year, we were part of the Child Friendly Cities Summit – Zamboanga was the only City to represent the Philippines with our project recognized to help fight against exploitation and abuse of children. With our Barangay Council for the Protection of Children very active in Zamboanga City, let us make it safe for our children to give them a better future Today! VIVA STO NINO! KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE and HAPPY! Amen. (MBC)

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