Congratulations to Very Rev. Juan Rojas Lizaso Jr., a once-in-a-while, anonymous tipster-commenter to the Tribune, on celebrating his 80th birthday and 55th priestly ordination anniversary last Sunday, May 5, 2025.
Born May 2, 1945 in Baras town, he was the eldest of three children of the late Juan Lizaso of Baras and Josefa Rojas of Bato.
After he was ordained on April 19, 1970 at the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral in Legazpi City by Bishop Teotimo Pacis, he served in the Dioceses of Legazpi (1970-73) and Virac (1974 to present).
In between, he took up post-graduate studies in Pastoral Counseling and Religious Education at Fordham University and Seton Hall University in the USA where he was on missionary ministry in four parishes as associate pastor.
After celebrating the Thanksgiving Mass at Immaculate Conception Cathedral with Bishop Luisito Occiano and Bishop Emeritus Manolo delos Santos as well as more than 20 members of the Virac clergy and visiting priests as concelebrants, a sumptuous reception was held by the family and relatives at the Grand Ballroom of the Rakdell Inn.
A cousin of my 96-year-old Mama Zune, Tio Johnny is a frequent visitor at the Gianan residence in Rawis and would always say Mass for the Tribune founder, Fredeswindo Tomagan Gianan Sr., during his death anniversary.
Incidentally, the family marked Papa Indo’s 25th death anniversary last Sunday, May 4, in a simple dinner made memorable by the presence of our close relatives from Bacolod City.
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(UPDATED) An alleged ‘kidnapping’ incident was reported to the police in the capital town of Virac last Monday, May 5.
According to the official police report, a former barangay captain was abducted by six armed men from his house in Hicming at 1:40 AM, with the suspects taking the cellphones of his two children.
(The earlier, unverified report that appeared in this space said he was with a woman, former SK chairperson, which is not the case.)
His hands were tied and he was blindfolded, with the group aboard a van traveling to Hawan Ilaya where they left him by the roadside but not after taking a sling bag containing his phone and P40,000 cash.
It was the former SK chairperson, who was presumed to have been called by the victim, who contacted the police about his location.
Political observers are wary of describing the incident as election related as it could be a ploy to lay blame on the solon’s close rival, Virac Mayor Samuel Laynes.
Voters can easily recall the alleged robbery at the Batalay, Bato residence of Rodriguez just days before the 2022 local elections where P20 million in cash was claimed to have been taken by unidentified suspects.
Nothing came out of the investigation, leading to speculation that the incident was staged to gain sympathy for the then congressional candidate.
It is imperative for the local police to conduct an in-depth probe of the incident to determine who were responsible and to dispel rising concerns on social media about the peace and order situation in Catanduanes as far as the elections are concerned.
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We thank relatives, friends and readers for praying for the eternal repose of Tribune founder Fred Gianan Sr. during the 25tn anniversary of his death on May 4.
His passing due to pancreatic cancer in 2000 had the family, particularly this writer, in some difficulty particularly with managing the paper. Fortunately, and probably with his guidance from beyond, all went well.
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ELECTION IN GOOD OLD RUSSIA. After the Russian election Putin meets with his staff
Staff: “Sir Comrade Vlad, we have got good news and bad news for you.”
Putin: “I’m not scared of bad news, I’ve wrestled bears, tigers and a small rhino with my bare Russian hands. Hit me!”
Staff: “Your opponent got 51% of the votes.”
Putin: “That is terrible news! What on earth can be the good news?!”
Staff: “You got 52%.”