e always find an interview session with Edu Manzano exciting. That is because he remains candid especially when there are delicate issues about him, and he remains funny as ever. And that retentive memory (considering the years that have passed) never fails to blow us away.

Edu remembers the very first time we ever met in a press conference (a long, long time ago I tell you) and the way he remembers the names of the press people, that's truly a gift. And we love him for that.

Anyway, during the official announcement of his permanent assignment as "Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba" host by way of a press conference, Edu made sure everyone enjoyed their time with him that afternoon at the ABS CBN's 9501 function room.

There was drama, as he started looking back on his life: The ups and downs, the trying times most especially, until this moment when he seems to be the most sought-after host in local television.

"I am truly grateful. This is a blessing. You've all seen me rise to popularity, then fall flat on my face, then pick up again and achieve a certain level of accomplishments, then fall again. And now, I've been given this chance and it overwhelms me sometimes. But truly, I am thankful," he said.

There was laughter, as he began narrating how he had to learn every aspect of hosting the show, the hardest of which was the technical side. "The production and staff behind ‘GKNB' were so mean to me because I was making a lot of mistakes at the beginning of my stint, they don't want to feed me. Before with Kris Aquino (the show's original host) they ask her and they buy her food from Cibo. With me, they couldn't care less. They only give me soda crackers and water," he said.

There was action, when he talked of how ABS-CBN has willingly put up with his schedule allowing him to do his work as Optical Media Board chairman, in between his commitments with the network. "They work around my schedules and because of that, they don't make me lose efficiency and effectivity in my job outside of ABS. We still can conduct raids every week, every day if possible and it's all because they don't impose too much pressure on my working schedule with them. What a blessing!," he said.

There was cavalry and gallantry, when Edu admits that should Kris Aquino decide to take her post back, he would have willingly relinquished any hold on it. "When I took this job at first, it was very clear to me that I was pinch-hitting for Kris only. And I promised Kris that because this is her baby, I will do everything in my power not to let her down. So, if it were a different situation today and she has decided to come back to the show, then there will absolutely be no problem with that. I will gladly give it back to Kris," he said.

As it is, Edu has been getting excellent reviews for hosting the show, especially after they have decided to make him as casual as possible, according to production unit manager Alou Almaden. "We're happy with how Edu has adapted to the job. Everything fell in its proper place that's why it became possible for us to offer him the post officially."

And there was intrigue, Edu will also be co-hosting ABS-CBN's brand new morning program "Umagang Kay Ganda" starting June 25 and the juicier part of that is he will be together with his lady love Pinky Webb in that show. When asked to comment on it, Edu appeared speechless at first with just that meaningful smile plastered on his lips. Afterwards he went on to say, "I am happy to be able to work in the same network with her. I thank all of you for being kind to me," he ended.

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Hulog ng Langit Foundation

Over the weekend, we unbelievably obliged to an insistent invitation to witness the most recent charitable projects of highly controversial figure Mark Jimenez for his Hulog ng Langit Foundation, the baptism (in Catholic rites) of some 2,000 marginalized people from Pandacan, Manila .

The Linear Park in Pandacan (it was located right at the heart of the oil depot in that part of Metro Manila, as we found out when we got there) was already teeming with people: Those who will be baptized (babies and adults alike) accompanied by their parents, volunteers and employees of the foundation, security and police personnel, supporters of Mark Jimenez and media people.

When we were ushered to a table beside the stage where the rites were being held, Mr. Jimenez, all dressed in white and accompanied by his 10-year-old mestiza daughter, sat beside us and we immediately asked him questions to satisfy our curiosity.

How long has he been doing this? The man who is always in the news of late about things other than his philantrophist deeds, told us, "this is the first year we're doing this but I plan to continue on with this project until I'm old and gray."

Why baptism among other things that he could possibly do for the poor? "This was made very clear to me after a vision came to me while I was incarcerated in the US last year. I think it was a message from God, sent through an image that asked me ‘what have I done with the rest of my brothers?' Right after that, I knew I had to pave the way for most of our kababayans to get baptized."

Has he always been a religious devout? Mr. Jimenez said, "No." He went on to say that he just sort of touched base with his spirituality after suffering in jail while he was in America .

Jimenez said similar baptismal event first happened Wednesday, and at the end of the past week, Hulog ng Langit Foundation was able to facilitate the baptismal of close to 8,000 people in Manila only. He also held another event Sunday near Malacañang Park . His vision, he said, is to bring this all over the country and to be able to do it simultaneously in several cities.

Aside from free baptismal, Jimenez's foundation also shoulders the clothes worn by the children and adults to be baptized, food and entertainment to celebrate their "Christening." Jimenez also stood as their Ninong.

He brushed aside our question probing how much he usually spends for an event like this one saying that "expenses are not important. What's important is I'm able to be an instrument of their spiritual renewal. We all need a chance of renewal in our lives. Mahirap kasi, gawa tayo ng gawa ng mabuti para tayo makapunta sa langit pero hindi naman pala tayo binyagan, kaya balewala. In a way, this project gives them a pass already to be in heaven," he said.

* * *

And inasmuch as we respect Mr. Jimenez's convictions and we applaud his charitable works, it was truly unsettling for us not to be able to share our very own views about getting to heaven.

With the indulgence of everyone, let me just remind all that us, fallible human beings cannot and will never ever have a chance to earn our way to heaven. We all are sinners and the Bible says sin is punishable by death.

But even our own death cannot give us this chance to be in heaven because it is simply not an acceptable payment in the eyes of the Holy God. We cannot enter heaven by the sacrifices that we make, nor by the good works that we do, and certainly not by the rituals that we accomplish.

Just imagine how much advantage the more privileged people will have if this is how God gauges who goes to Heaven or not? Or if it is by way of good works, how much good works does one need to secure that salvation?

Our salvation depends on Jesus Christ alone and what He did on the Cross for each and everyone of us. He is by nature, man and God that's why His sacrifice on the Cross became just payment for the sin of mankind. That was the only sacrifice that was acceptable to His Father. Remember the so often quoted, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No One comes to the Father except through me" line? That's the essence of Jesus' sacrifice and it involves each and everyone of us.

Jesus's dying on the cross, as we saw how horrible it had been in Mel Gibson's opus "The Passion of the Christ," was mankind's triumph over sin, death and Satan. It is our call to be grateful for the chance at forgiveness from transgressions and submission of our faith and confidence in a God who suffered so we may have life. Salvation is a gift from God that must be lived by faith. Faith in Jesus Christ alone.

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