Service above personal politics, Baha urges city officials
BACOLOD CITY -- The Bacolod Anti-Baha Alliance (Baha) marked its 1st anniversary yesterday by holding a concelebrated mass at University of St. La Salle (USLS) with Msgr. Victorino A. Rivas as the main celebrant.
The mass was attended by Baha members, USLS students and a many concerned citizens who believed in the group's cause.
"I thank all of you for coming to join us in thanksgiving for the 1st anniversary of Baha. It has not been an easy year for Baha and we do not expect the days to come to be easy either," said Jean Trebol, chair of the group.
She added, "We pray to God to continue to guide us and to bless us with perserverance to relentlessly pursue our cause. We pray that our City Officials and national agencies will put service for the common good above their personal politics. We pray that all of you here will continue to support our cause, your cause for a clean, flood-free Bacolod."
Agnes Jalandoni added, "A year ago, we formed an alliance in order to impel our city government officials and national government agencies to once and for all utilize all the resources and laws at their disposal to solve the flooding problem of Bacolod City, and to encourage all citizens to do their share. We come together to celebrate in thanksgiving one year of commitment.
It has been an eventful year, filled with small successes and some disappointments. But through it all, we have experienced God's abiding presence, his fidelity manisfested in people who have supported us, who have rallied behind us, who have expressed their faith and hope in us. So even as we celebrate, we also come together to ask for God's strength so that we may face the challenges and obstacles that may come our way with steadfastness and deeper commitment. May we continue to open our hearts in concern for others, to be the voice for those who have no voice, to take up the fight for those who do not have the strength to fight for their cause."
Msgr. Rivas thanked Baha for taking up the cause in behalf of the community. He urged the local leaders to unite to solve the problem on flooding.