The Catholic Church celebrates this Wednesday the feast day of St. Cyril (San Cirilo), bishop of Jerusalem, Israel for 35 years, and Doctor of the Universal Church.

A distinguished theologian of the early Church, St. Cyril’s instructions were the source of documents for the Church’s early teachings. His writings were considered as the most important sources on how the Church celebrated the liturgy and the sacraments during the first few decades after the legalization of Christianity.

A great instructor of catechumens, his lasting legacy was the book “The Cathechizes,” which contained the instructions he gave the catechumens in preparation for baptism.

Born in 315 in Jerusalem, St. Cyril studied the scriptures as a child. St. Maximus, patriarch of Jerusalem, ordained him priest in 343. He served as bishop of Jerusalem from 351 up to the time of his death in 386.

Pope Leo XIII declared him Doctor of the Church in 1883 and ordered that his office and mass be said throughout the Universal Church. (Christina I. Hermoso)

PNP taps media
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has been soliciting all the help that it could get to ensure peaceful and credible elections on May 10.

Last Wednesday, Director General Jesus Verzosa, PNP chief, said they are now even working with the media and the religious sector to promote peace among the contending political groups by initiating peace covenants, peace advocacy forums and roundtable discussion.

"I also enjoin all peace-loving Filipinos to exercise their civic duty by being vigilant during the elections in order that we will continue to uphold and further strengthen our country’s democratic processes and institutions," said Verzosa.

"On the part of the PNP, your police will always remain committed," he added.

In fact, the official said he had already ordered the entire 130,000-strong PNP personnel to remain focused on the effective performance of election duties.

This is to ensure, he said, that the true will of the people shall prevail as what President Arroyo, who critics have been accusing of trying to work to perpetuate herself in power, want to leave as one of her legacies. (Aaron Recuenco)

Safety inspectors
The newly appointed chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has ordered the immediate hiring of 47 technical safety inspectors to address the air safety concerns of the country.

Director General Alfonso Cusi ordered the emergency hiring of the inspectors just before leaving for Brussels to attend a meeting with the European Community Air Safety Commission (EC-ASC).

Before leaving for Brussels, Cusi ordered the immediate hiring of 47 qualified technical personnel to man the Flight Standards Inspectorate Service. At the same time, he issued an order that will ground all air operators who are not certificated by December 1, 2010.

“There is urgency in our current position to demonstrate that we have strong oversight of the air carriers active in the Philippines and that our regulations and practices are aligned with international civil aviation standards,” Cusi said.

Cusi also sought the assistance of the Civil Service Commission for the immediate approval of the Minimum Quality Standards for the needed technical staff.

“All these efforts are aimed at improving the quality of our technical personnel for a consistent and effective safety oversight of our airports and air carriers,” he said. (Anjo Perez)