CELEBRATE freedom by acting responsibly and doing good deeds, a priest challenged media workers yesterday in the mass that opened the annual Cebu Press Freedom Week. <\/p>\n
Sa matag exercise sa atong kagawasan nga gihatag sa atong Ginoo, atong subayon sa mga maayong bulohaton (Our use of our freedom should be accompanied by good deeds), said Fr. Jonas Mejares, OSA. <\/p>\n
Mejares, the rector of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nio, also reminded news workers to work not only for rewards and to use their skills to bring the good news. The Church, he said, recognizes the work of journalists and other media workers because they can help spread the teachings of God. <\/p>\n
Let us become what we ought to be, good children of God, in serving the community by bringing the truth, he said. <\/p>\n
His homily elaborated on a reading (from Isaiah 55:6-9) that called on those present to seek God and abandon wicked ways and evil thoughts. For My thoughts are not your thoughts and your ways are not My ways, declares God. For the heavens are as high above earth as My ways are above your ways, My thoughts above your thoughts. <\/p>\n
On its 20th year, Cebu Press Freedom Weeks opening coincided exactly with the 42nd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law by Ferdinand Marcos. Among the dictatorships earliest moves were the closure of media companies and the arrest of opposition figures, activists and journalists. <\/p>\n
Days before the start of the Press Freedom Week festivities this year, the Talisay City Council approved a resolution supporting the annual event. <\/p>\n
In his resolution, Talisay City councilor Danilo Caballero said that Cebu Press Freedom Week and Cebu Broadcasters Month help remind the public of the ills of Martial Law. <\/p>\n
Media in Cebu still plays a vital role in preserving this freedom up to today and continuously celebrates it with the people, Caballero added. <\/p>\n
After the mass, Mejares sang a medley, including a few bars of the Louis Armstrong song What a Wonderful World and Heal the World by Michael Jackson, which made several participants whip out camera phones and tablets to record the performance. <\/p>\n
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Singing priest to media: Use freedom, skills responsibly<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CELEBRATE freedom by acting responsibly and doing good deeds, a priest challenged media workers yesterday in the mass that opened the annual Cebu Press Freedom Week. Sa matag exercise sa atong kagawasan nga gihatag sa atong Ginoo, atong subayon sa mga maayong bulohaton (Our use of our freedom should be accompanied by good deeds), said Fr. Continue reading