True to his word, our dear friend Edouard Garcia has started sending his column from Paris, where he is now based. Of course, we expect our dear “ELG” to continue sending his write-ups on Parisian life, but we can’t help envying him for what could be a very safe haven in these days of the COVID virus! With the communication between countries now made very easy by modern gadgets, I am sure we can trust dear Edouard to continue sending his write-ups with his very colorful and interesting pictures that so many have commented on. Who would ever think that the DAILY STAR, a humble newspaper, could bring Parisian life and events to his hometown, I mean, city?
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Anyway, I expect Edouard to pop up anytime soon, or at least when this pandemic is over. I don’t know if it has hit Paris and other European cities, but so long as our dear Edouard is there, and may come home again after this scourge has been contained, we shall be expecting dear Edouard to continue sending his column and making us familiar with the lifestyle in Gay Paree! As to his next homecoming, I think it may not be soon, with pandemic still raging in some areas. I guess that means we have to wait a while, but so many areas of communication available nowadays, I bet we hear from him again soon.
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As I always love to quote, “It’s an ill wind that blows no good”. This time the good is in the sudden announcement that there will be rollbacks in the prices of oil and oil products. So, we should not be desperate and just hope and pray for more blessings and that our people can cope with whatever setbacks are in store for humanity these days. But we could acknowledge that the discovery of the vaccine against the COVID is one of the blessings we have received. So let us take advantage of it while there is a chance.
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As I type this, a report on TV was going on about a rollback in oil prices! It has been quite a while since we have seen, or taken advantage of a reduction on oil prices, so let is make the most of it. Unfortunately, a newly filled tank in one’s vehicle is the most we can take advantage of because I understand that we are not allowed to “hoard” gasoline. So only the wealthy, who own several vehicles can take advantage, by filling up all of them and sit back until another price increase in fuel come up again!
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If I have missed a few columns lately, I apologize to my “suki” readers who call up and ask what is wrong with me. I guess they did not know that I was hospitalized for pneumonia a few months ago and not being a “spring chicken” anymore, I guess the effects are not as easy to conquer. But your DAILY STAR struggles to keep shining and, yes, twinkling despite the setbacks, thanks to our readers and advertisers who, I am very thankful to say, continue to support us. I hope they are also praying for our continued existence!
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Do you know that the DAILY STAR will mark its 40th anniversary in April? Oh, what travails and tribulations we went through during those years. There were times when we wondered how we could go on, but never gave up, bolstered by faith in the Lord and the loyalty of some stockholders. And we are proud to say that purely from our own efforts and faith in prayer, we were able to buy a lot and erect our building. And this, I am very proud to claim we did without getting any bank loans! Looking back at that now, I cannot help but acknowledge that the good Lord listened to our prayers and figuratively “helped us through the night”.
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I am writing this, as with my write-ups in the past four months in my “sickroom” which is in a ground floor area because I can no longer climb stairs and, in fact, can only move on a wheelchair I inherited from my late sister, Perla. I guess the Good Lord, who has blessed the DAILY STAR all those years, continues to look with favor on this project that miraculously survived so many vicissitudes in its lifetime. That is why I am asking our faithful readers, advertisers and supporters to go on praying with us, and for us with the very first DAILY newspaper, that has, so far, won many national awards in its lifetime.
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Okay, okay, I am now waxing sentimental. But you’d be if a project you have loved and worked on with the few members who stuck it out with us despite their own personal problems. In five months more we will mark our 40th birthday. What a challenge it has been and for what we give thanks to our Dear Lord and the people who stuck it out with us, not only materially, but also with their prayers! I think this proves another saying that “Faith can move mountains”. It has done that for your DAILY STAR.*
