SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo heard here this morning the bishop of San Fernando City appeal for a halt to political bickering and mudslinging, especially during the Christmas season.

The occasion was the traditional Catholic "simbang gabi" or dawn mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral here with the President in attendance.

In his homily, Bishop Paciano Aniceto called on the country’s politicians to put an end to the political in-fighting that has caused deep divisions and disunity among the people.

"My brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are gathered here in the Cathedral of San Fernando as a community of the faithful, not as adversaries. The waiting for Christ’s coming challenges all of us to put aside our political ambitions and political persecution, to dismantle divisions. Christmas is not a time to launch political attacks; it is a time of peace and joy," Bishop Aniceto said.

He said the Filipino faithful longs for peace, harmony and joy, especially at this time of the year. They don’t want to be burdened by political feuds that only create problems for the country’s economy, he added.

Aside from the President, local officials also attended the con-celebrated Mass, including San Fernando City Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, City Tourism chairperson Tess Lauz and Pampanga Chamber of Commerce chairman Levy Lauz.

Simbang gabi is a nine-day novena to the Blessed Mother that begins on Dec. 16 and culminates on Christmas eve with the celebration of the birth of Christ.

After the one-hour Mass, the President was ushered to the adjacent San Fernando City Hall to take a glimpse of this year’s grand champion in the Giant Lantern Festival hosted by the city government.

The President congratulated MNF Lantern Maker & General Merchandise proprietor Arnel Flores of Barangay Sto. Rosario, maker of the winning lantern, for topping this year’s edition of the annual Giant Lantern making contest in this city.

According to Flores, he and nine other lantern makers made the design of the "Big Star." Measuring 18 feet in diameter, and lighted with 5,260 bulbs, it took 21 days to complete the lantern at the cost of P200,000.

A six-year veteran in lantern-making, Flores expressed excitement at the prospect of having his winning craft displayed in Malacanang, or the Rizal Park, and possibly exhibiting it in New York, USA.

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The Cabinet is undertaking a review of the huge indebtedness of Manila Electric Co. to the government arising from the power that Meralco contracted to buy from the government-owned National Power Corp., Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ignacio R. Bunye said in his weekly column, "The View From The Palace," which comes out tomorrow (Monday).

Bunye cautioned, however, against any speculation on the outcome of the Cabinet review.

The Palace official was reacting to the banner story today (Sunday, Dec. 18) of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on the reported Meralco indebtedness to the government which it placed at P42 billion.

"The Cabinet is still in the process of reviewing its options on how to deal with the huge indebtedness of Meraclo but we are not dishing out speculations until a final decision is made that would be lawful, just and for the best interest of the people."

He pointed out, however, that "this government is consistently for the public welfare and the protection of power consumers."

Under a power supply agreement with Napocor, Meralco had committed to buy 3,600 megawatts of electricity daily from Napocor starting in 2001. But Meralco’s power purchases from Napocor have been falling over the years as the power firm turn more and more to its affiliated independent power producers for its energy supply.

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Malacaņang urged today political leaders who do not agree with the recommendations of the Constitutional Commission (ConCom) to come up with alternative proposals on constitutional changes.

In his weekly column, "The View From The Palace," which comes out tomorrow (Monday), Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye said it would be "unfair at this point to raise harsh judgment and negative speculations over the work of the Commission members, who generously gave their time, and expertise and whose only wish was to contribute to the brighter future of the country."

"This is the time for all our political leaders, especially those who do not agree with the recommendations of the ConCom, to come out with alternative proposals for Charter change," he said.

He said Malacanang deeply appreciates the good job done by the ConCom in "laying down the framework of the Charter debate and we must now bring the discussions to Congress and the people."

In a radio interview this morning, Bunye also explained that the ConCom’s recommendations would only serve as the framework of the discussions on the proposed Charter changes in both Houses of Congress.

"I reiterate that these are recommendations to speed up the discussions on the proposed Charter changes. These (recommendations) are all subject to the decision of both houses of Congress," he said.

The ConCom’s recommendation for a five-year transition period from the presidential to parliamentary form of government, the cancellation of the 2007 elections, and extending the term of office of all elective officials to 2010 under the proposed Charter has met strong opposition from some members of the legislature.

Bunye noted that the ConCom, headed by its chairman, Prof. Jose Abueva, has achieved its objective of proposing a guideline for Congress to deliberate on the proposed revisions of the Constitution after two and a half months of deliberations and consultations WITH the people all over the country.

On Dec. 16, the 54-member commission presented its recommendations to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a ceremony also attended by Vice President Noli de Castro, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, members of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., local officials and leaders of the business community.

The ConCom started its nationwide consultations last Sept. 8 following the President’s issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 453 calling for the revision of the 1987 Constitution to make it more responsive to global challenges.

The President had called for Charter changes in her State-of-the-Nation-Addresses (SONAs) in 2003 and this year as part of the Philippines Medium Term Development Plan (PMTDP).

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