The role of Church in politics
I read with interest the articles “Religion and politics according to Pope Benedict XVI” of Randy David (PDI 03/28/09) and “Panlilio bid new Church intervention” of Amando Doronilla (03/30/09). On the one hand, David said the interrelation between the Church and State “has caused confusion.” On the other hand, Doronilla stated “he bishops are in a quandary as well. They are acutely aware of the interventions of the Church hierarchy to curb the abuses of the regime of Ferdinand Marcos and the high-profile activist role of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin in the dictator’s overthrow in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.” I wish to add my own opinion on the same issues.
In the 1987 Constitution, there are two points to be understood as regards the separation between the Church and State. One is that there is no official religion of the State and two the State may not favor one religion over others. This is in accord with Pope Benedict’s words: “The state may not impose religion, yet it must guarantee religious freedom and harmony between the followers of different religions.” There is no constitutional provision that prohibits the clergy and the religious from partisan politics. Only the Church’s own teachings and laws bar them from participating. It would be seriously wrong then to say that Gov. Panlilio violates that provision of constitution on the separation of the Church and State.
As a Catholic, I strongly believe that the Church is never partisan but that doesn’t change the fact that it has the moral duty to renew the political society in accordance with the Gospel values. The Church is duty-bound to proclaim the Gospel “to all creation” and that includes the political order. The Church, as the pope said, cannot replace the State but, in my opinion, it has to transform it in the light of the light of the Gospel. The State is peppered with many social sins and most of them are probably committed by Catholic politicians. For the clergy to be silent, or ignore, and downplay about the social sins of the Catholic politicians would be equivalent to allowing themselves to become cooperators of the commission of such sins. Doronilla mentioned of the interventions of the Church during the Marcos regime. The Church cannot simultaneously commit to renewing the political order in harmony with the Gospel values, while tolerating the Catholic politicians to attack the Church by their dishonesty and other unchristian ways. The bishops and the clergy are the voices of the Church and as such we expect them to continue to be our voices amidst the many injustices in our society.
The Church has bred her own destroyers. They are not only destroying the nation within but also the Church. Just because there are few bad Catholic politicians it doesn’t mean of course that we have to pain the Church with broad and negative brush.
About the alleged plan of Gov. Panlilio to run for the presidency, I share this excerpt from the Catechism on the Church and Politics by the CBCP: “Question: Is there any case when the Bishops can authoritatively order the lay faithful to vote for one particular and concrete option? Answer: Yes, there is and the case would certainly be extraordinary. This happens when a political action is clearly the only one demanded by the Gospel. An example is when a presidential candidate is clearly bent to destroy the Church and its mission of salvation and has all the resources to win, while hiding his malevolent intentions behind political promises. In this case the Church may authoritatively demand the faithful, even under the pain of sin, to vote against this particular candidate. But such situations are understandably very rare.”
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Gov. Panlilio for President? Why not!
Gov. Panlilio for President? Why not!
I recently attended a symposium on Good Governance by Pampanga Gov. Ed Palilio at St. Peter Gonzales de Thelmo Parish Church here in Aparri. The governor graphically narrated how he won the 2007 elections in Pampanga. He scholarly explained elements of good governance like transparency, accountability, participation of people in governance, among others, by the use of his first hand experiences as governor.
Personally there is nothing new in the concept of governance which he shared. There is good governance because of bad governance. But what was striking to hearing was the role and responsibility of the people, especially the Catholic faithful, in good governance. He said that the people should elect the right leaders of this country and not to allow moneyed people like the jueteng lords pushing down our throats their choice of candidates. Worse, these kingmakers would themselves decide to become political kings. Simply put, our people should vote according to their informed conscience and should not allow the kingmakers to magically fix the results of elections.
During the open forum, I asked the governor two things: first, is there a deadline for his period of discernment and divulge later to us whether or not he is running for the presidency? Governor Panlilio said that he is not setting a deadline. But when shall we know that his period of discernment is over? I asked him too whether he would take the challenge to run for the presidency if there would be no good candidates to choose from. He was consistent with his answer that he was open to the possibility of running for the presidency but only as the last option.
I agree with some who say that come 2010 national elections it would be the Good pitted against the Evil. If Governor Panlilio runs for the presidency he would be on the side of the Good of course. But without him as a presidential candidate, the 2010 national elections just the same would be a playing field of naughty devils. Our country would remain as hell as ever.
Why don’t we have a Christian Vote? Let us not be particular about the religious denomination this time. If a presidential candidate is bent to destroy the teachings of Christ then let us finish him with our Christian Vote. And any presidential candidate who lives a life of the gospel values of Christ then let us support and champion his cause.
I recently attended a symposium on Good Governance by Pampanga Gov. Ed Palilio at St. Peter Gonzales de Thelmo Parish Church here in Aparri. The governor graphically narrated how he won the 2007 elections in Pampanga. He scholarly explained elements of good governance like transparency, accountability, participation of people in governance, among others, by the use of his first hand experiences as governor.
Personally there is nothing new in the concept of governance which he shared. There is good governance because of bad governance. But what was striking to hearing was the role and responsibility of the people, especially the Catholic faithful, in good governance. He said that the people should elect the right leaders of this country and not to allow moneyed people like the jueteng lords pushing down our throats their choice of candidates. Worse, these kingmakers would themselves decide to become political kings. Simply put, our people should vote according to their informed conscience and should not allow the kingmakers to magically fix the results of elections.
During the open forum, I asked the governor two things: first, is there a deadline for his period of discernment and divulge later to us whether or not he is running for the presidency? Governor Panlilio said that he is not setting a deadline. But when shall we know that his period of discernment is over? I asked him too whether he would take the challenge to run for the presidency if there would be no good candidates to choose from. He was consistent with his answer that he was open to the possibility of running for the presidency but only as the last option.
I agree with some who say that come 2010 national elections it would be the Good pitted against the Evil. If Governor Panlilio runs for the presidency he would be on the side of the Good of course. But without him as a presidential candidate, the 2010 national elections just the same would be a playing field of naughty devils. Our country would remain as hell as ever.
Why don’t we have a Christian Vote? Let us not be particular about the religious denomination this time. If a presidential candidate is bent to destroy the teachings of Christ then let us finish him with our Christian Vote. And any presidential candidate who lives a life of the gospel values of Christ then let us support and champion his cause.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Political squid ink
Political squid ink
It is a political squid stratagem. The resurgence of Dacer-Corbito double murder case is clearly timed to divert the attention of our people. Such stories are obviously dripped with squid ink. Like the squid, Malacanang oozes out a cloud of ink and hides behind it. They bury the more important issues like unemployment of returning OFWs, charter change, fertilizer scam, ZTE deal, VFA, and other major corruption scandals. Probably in a bid to defuse criticisms against the present administration they want us to focus on issues that unfold stunningly similar to telenobelas. They want us to be amused with old stories but with turns and twists. Besides, nobody seriously believes that the re-emergence of the Dacer-Corbito case is not politically motivated. Probably Malacanang has the impression that Senator Lacson and former President Estrada, who are allegedly involved in the double murder case, are the closest rivals of their presidential candidate.
I read that squid produces ink when confronted by predators. It's also a way for the squid to warn its fellow squid to react to a threat. The squid tactic cues the supporters of Malacanang to react to the attacks being made against the present administration. And their political allies react with no less dramatic by stimulating the debates on charter change in order to save the president. The political imperative is to remain in power beyond 2010.
We are watching silently these unfortunate events in our country and we are saddened and in fact angry that we are being fooled by our leaders. We don’t feel that the government cares enough for the dignity of our nation because our leaders are fighting for political survival.
Well, a word to the wise is enough. Remember, you can fool some people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
It is a political squid stratagem. The resurgence of Dacer-Corbito double murder case is clearly timed to divert the attention of our people. Such stories are obviously dripped with squid ink. Like the squid, Malacanang oozes out a cloud of ink and hides behind it. They bury the more important issues like unemployment of returning OFWs, charter change, fertilizer scam, ZTE deal, VFA, and other major corruption scandals. Probably in a bid to defuse criticisms against the present administration they want us to focus on issues that unfold stunningly similar to telenobelas. They want us to be amused with old stories but with turns and twists. Besides, nobody seriously believes that the re-emergence of the Dacer-Corbito case is not politically motivated. Probably Malacanang has the impression that Senator Lacson and former President Estrada, who are allegedly involved in the double murder case, are the closest rivals of their presidential candidate.
I read that squid produces ink when confronted by predators. It's also a way for the squid to warn its fellow squid to react to a threat. The squid tactic cues the supporters of Malacanang to react to the attacks being made against the present administration. And their political allies react with no less dramatic by stimulating the debates on charter change in order to save the president. The political imperative is to remain in power beyond 2010.
We are watching silently these unfortunate events in our country and we are saddened and in fact angry that we are being fooled by our leaders. We don’t feel that the government cares enough for the dignity of our nation because our leaders are fighting for political survival.
Well, a word to the wise is enough. Remember, you can fool some people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Let us retool our people
Let us retool our people
We deserve better leaders in this country but we don’t seem to get them. Why? With the entire hullabaloo we make as to who should be elected as the next president in the 2010 national elections, we overlook the importance of the role our people play. We should remember it is our people who are going to elect the president and nobody else.
It is understandable that we look for in the next president or any other elected official qualities of honesty, commitment, hard work, and with moral courage. But this is less significant if we take a preview of the qualities of our people who cast their votes. It does matter of course that a presidential candidate is electable or winnable but it does matter too how the people vote. The presidential candidate may have all the sterling traits of a president but these are rubbish and even anomalous when people do not mind them.
Our people are too busy to stay alive as they live through privation. It is likened to not making a conscious choice of food being served when one is suffering from toothache. They stare wide-eyed into their empty pockets and their empty tummies give a moan of frustration. This is the most unfortunate predicament of most of our poor people nowadays. Many of our people are more interested on what they can take away from the candidates like money. It is a common knowledge that elections in our country are ruled by money power. Candidates woo our people through the distribution of money to them. Money, not the qualities of the candidates, assumes the biggest role in every election in our country. Money rules and it is what it takes to win an election. Worse, moneyed candidates even prefer to lose our respect than lose an election.
I have long wondered if our people can be more serious with their role as electorate in the 2010 national elections because many of our people have not really given much thought on the importance of electing better leaders. They don’t have the time to digest all information about the qualities of the candidates nor their programs of government. They spend more their time on filling their stomach. They sidestep the question “Which candidate will bring about change in the country” with the question “How much money can we get from these candidates?”
It is time to retool our people. Let us teach them that they should demand for change in this country. It is important then that we have to have a serious voters’ education program. Let us prepare our voters to choose the right leaders.
We deserve better leaders in this country but we don’t seem to get them. Why? With the entire hullabaloo we make as to who should be elected as the next president in the 2010 national elections, we overlook the importance of the role our people play. We should remember it is our people who are going to elect the president and nobody else.
It is understandable that we look for in the next president or any other elected official qualities of honesty, commitment, hard work, and with moral courage. But this is less significant if we take a preview of the qualities of our people who cast their votes. It does matter of course that a presidential candidate is electable or winnable but it does matter too how the people vote. The presidential candidate may have all the sterling traits of a president but these are rubbish and even anomalous when people do not mind them.
Our people are too busy to stay alive as they live through privation. It is likened to not making a conscious choice of food being served when one is suffering from toothache. They stare wide-eyed into their empty pockets and their empty tummies give a moan of frustration. This is the most unfortunate predicament of most of our poor people nowadays. Many of our people are more interested on what they can take away from the candidates like money. It is a common knowledge that elections in our country are ruled by money power. Candidates woo our people through the distribution of money to them. Money, not the qualities of the candidates, assumes the biggest role in every election in our country. Money rules and it is what it takes to win an election. Worse, moneyed candidates even prefer to lose our respect than lose an election.
I have long wondered if our people can be more serious with their role as electorate in the 2010 national elections because many of our people have not really given much thought on the importance of electing better leaders. They don’t have the time to digest all information about the qualities of the candidates nor their programs of government. They spend more their time on filling their stomach. They sidestep the question “Which candidate will bring about change in the country” with the question “How much money can we get from these candidates?”
It is time to retool our people. Let us teach them that they should demand for change in this country. It is important then that we have to have a serious voters’ education program. Let us prepare our voters to choose the right leaders.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Welcome to GlobalBalita.com!
Welcome to GlobalBalita.com!
GlobalBalita.com is dedicated to publishing articles about Filipinos and all that affect them.
The new site will still have all the content you’ve come to love here—we’ve just made it a lot easier to navigate through. We will also introduce the Pinoy Forum (an online message board) where you can have discussions or share your opinions with other Filipinos. Look for that in the next month.
We’re still making enhancements to the site and would love your feedback on the progress thus far. You can now subscribe to our RSS Feed, making it easier for you to see the latest articles. Feel free to comment or email perrydiaz@gmail.com.
Thank you for following PerryScope.org and all of its contributors. The site was successful because of the readers. We look forward to meeting you here at GlobalBalita.com where you can find all the previously published stories from PerryScope.org as well as new ones.
LATEST FROM GLOBAL BALITA
We have eight very interesting news, opinions, and stories today:
1. Lito Banayo writes about the long, long list of presidentiables and the "art of the possible." He says, "In the tragic comedy that is the Philippine polity, we will have to watch what the little lady does or hides, says or whispers, assembles or dissembles, as she pirouettes atop the tips of bayonets."
2. Alex Vidal writes about limitless opportunities for medical professionals in the U.S., with or without the recession.
3. Ben Serrano writes, "Finally, President did the right thing on Alabang Boys' case." However, he says, "Madam, kindly take a second look at Caraga Region’s illegal drugs and illegal gambling problems, they are worsening than ever deep insider and reliable information from the field claimed. I pray it’s not true."
4. Ben Serrano asks, "What’s the use of elegant government offices when its people are dying of hunger, victimized of fraudulent schemes taking chances they profit but ended up bankrupt not only financially but morally?"
5. Billy Esposo writes about a true story: How God found an atheist.
6. Is a "Third Force" looming in the political horizon? Read two articles about the possibility of Gov. Fr. Ed Panlilio running for president in 2010.
7. Reginald Tamayo writes, "We are likened to sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers. Sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers are difficult to awaken. However, once awakened, they are often confused and disoriented." Interesting and insightful.
8. Alex Vidal writes, "Filipino athletes stand to earn more cash incentives if they harvest medals in the 2012 London Olympics compared to what members of the United States track and field team will get for the same feat."
All the best,
Perry Diaz
*******************************
The long, long list
by LITO BANAYO
from MALAYA
Those who have been regular readers of Malaya and this space will recall our articles on the ten presidentiables (I still wonder at the grammatical precision of that description, but language and communication is a dynamic thing, so there). It started with “The Hamlet Act” of Joseph Ejercito Estrada, 13th President of the Philippines, (08 Jan 2009) and the second to be ousted from office by what savants call “people power”. It ended with an article on “The atypical Ping” (12 Feb 2009). In all, I wrote [...]
To read more, click here The long, long list
*******************************
With or without recession: ‘Medical professionals have limitless opportunities in US’
by Alex P. Vidal
AURORA, Illinois — Gemma Esmalla-Kosanam of Igbaras, Iloilo in the Philippines already holds a masters degree in nursing she obtained from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, but she decided to pursue a higher education and will soon finish her doctorate in management and leadership.
“My goal is to become a corporate nurse executive, a CEO (chief executive officer),” beamed Kosanam, 38, married to Indian national Venugopal. “With a doctorate degree, it is easy to go to the academe.”
She credits “strong family support”, her husband in [...]
To read more, click here With or without recession: ‘Medical professionals have limitless opportunities in US’
*******************************
Finally, President Arroyo did the right thing on Alabang Boys’ case, congratulations Madam!
by Ben Serrano
BUTUAN CITY- There is really also a need to appreciate people who really does his or her homework while head butt those who are sleeping on their duties, the worst is, some are pretending to have fallen asleep when in truth they are fully awake and this kind of people are dangerous. Filipinos call it, “Ang taong gising ay mahirap gisingin.”
And finally, seeing the worsening illegal drug problems in this country, President Arroyo did the right decision on the “Alabang Boys Case.”
Some may don’ like it but on [...]
To read more, click here Finally, President Arroyo did the right thing on Alabang Boys’ case, congratulations Madam!
*******************************
Misinformed people and the Presidentiables of 2010
by Ben Serrano
BUTUAN CITY- What’s the use of a new and shining budget office without a budget to alleviate dire poverty at its worst but only served elite politicians (in reality through big bucks of commissions or kickbacks from budgeted government projects earning kickbacks to buy votes during election day)?
This maybe the reason why the regional director like his politician friends are now extremely wealthy with all the adorning luxury vehicles at their disposal while majority of the people are wallowing in poverty and just walked without slippers …
To read more, click here Misinformed people and the Presidentiables of 2010
*******************************
A true story: How God found an atheist
AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
by William M. Esposo
from Philstar
Your Chair Wrecker loves to share meaningful stories and articles that improve our values, thinking, perspectives and insights. Today, your Chair Wrecker will share with you this touching true story that a Jesuit from Loyola in Chicago wrote and circulated.
Father John Powell is a professor at Loyola University in Chicago and he once had a student named Tommy in his Theology of Faith class. Tommy happened to be an atheist.
When Tommy turned in his final exam, he asked Fr. Powell in a [...]
To read more, click here A true story: How God found an atheist
*******************************
“Third Force” looming in the political horizon
With a “third force” looming in the political horizon, can it break the traditional politicians’ grip on power? Can this “third force” lead a “people power” movement to victory at the 2010 elections? — Perry Diaz
Panlilio eyes Presidency
by Tina Dumlao
from Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – This early, pledges from overseas are coming in for Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio.
An elderly gentleman has expressed his intention to part with $100 from his budget for hypertension and diabetes medicine. A Filipino in New York is also putting in $100, and another is contributing $5.
A member [...]
To read more, click here “Third Force” looming in the political horizon
*******************************
A sleepwalking society
by Reginald Tamayo
The 2010 election is in the offing and still our country is reeling in economic crisis. The government boasts that our economy is improving because it grounded on sound economic principles and that ours is comparatively better than those of our Asean neighbors. This presumptuousness of the government is belied by widespread unemployment, skyrocketing prices of basic commodities, and the sight of poverty along the country side, among others. Our national leaders, instead of focusing themselves on how to address these national concerns, they embroil themselves in politics …
To read more, click here A sleepwalking society
*******************************
Effects of Recession? - Pinoy Olympians to earn more than U.S. tracksters if they win medals
by Alex P. Vidal
CHICAGO, Illinois — Filipino athletes stand to earn more cash incentives if they harvest medals in the 2012 London Olympics compared to what members of the United States track and field team will get for the same feat.
While the Philippine government, with the help of a giant telecommunication company, has pledged to award cash prizes worth P12 million (about $232,800), P3 million (about $58,200) and P1 million ($19,400) for gold, silver and bronze medal winners, the United States Olympic Committee will give only $25,000 (about P1.175 million)[...]
To read more, click here Effects of Recession? - Pinoy Olympians to earn more than U.S. tracksters if they win medals
Visit www.GlobalBalita.com for more news, updates and to comment.
END
GlobalBalita.com is dedicated to publishing articles about Filipinos and all that affect them.
The new site will still have all the content you’ve come to love here—we’ve just made it a lot easier to navigate through. We will also introduce the Pinoy Forum (an online message board) where you can have discussions or share your opinions with other Filipinos. Look for that in the next month.
We’re still making enhancements to the site and would love your feedback on the progress thus far. You can now subscribe to our RSS Feed, making it easier for you to see the latest articles. Feel free to comment or email perrydiaz@gmail.com.
Thank you for following PerryScope.org and all of its contributors. The site was successful because of the readers. We look forward to meeting you here at GlobalBalita.com where you can find all the previously published stories from PerryScope.org as well as new ones.
LATEST FROM GLOBAL BALITA
We have eight very interesting news, opinions, and stories today:
1. Lito Banayo writes about the long, long list of presidentiables and the "art of the possible." He says, "In the tragic comedy that is the Philippine polity, we will have to watch what the little lady does or hides, says or whispers, assembles or dissembles, as she pirouettes atop the tips of bayonets."
2. Alex Vidal writes about limitless opportunities for medical professionals in the U.S., with or without the recession.
3. Ben Serrano writes, "Finally, President did the right thing on Alabang Boys' case." However, he says, "Madam, kindly take a second look at Caraga Region’s illegal drugs and illegal gambling problems, they are worsening than ever deep insider and reliable information from the field claimed. I pray it’s not true."
4. Ben Serrano asks, "What’s the use of elegant government offices when its people are dying of hunger, victimized of fraudulent schemes taking chances they profit but ended up bankrupt not only financially but morally?"
5. Billy Esposo writes about a true story: How God found an atheist.
6. Is a "Third Force" looming in the political horizon? Read two articles about the possibility of Gov. Fr. Ed Panlilio running for president in 2010.
7. Reginald Tamayo writes, "We are likened to sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers. Sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers are difficult to awaken. However, once awakened, they are often confused and disoriented." Interesting and insightful.
8. Alex Vidal writes, "Filipino athletes stand to earn more cash incentives if they harvest medals in the 2012 London Olympics compared to what members of the United States track and field team will get for the same feat."
All the best,
Perry Diaz
*******************************
The long, long list
by LITO BANAYO
from MALAYA
Those who have been regular readers of Malaya and this space will recall our articles on the ten presidentiables (I still wonder at the grammatical precision of that description, but language and communication is a dynamic thing, so there). It started with “The Hamlet Act” of Joseph Ejercito Estrada, 13th President of the Philippines, (08 Jan 2009) and the second to be ousted from office by what savants call “people power”. It ended with an article on “The atypical Ping” (12 Feb 2009). In all, I wrote [...]
To read more, click here The long, long list
*******************************
With or without recession: ‘Medical professionals have limitless opportunities in US’
by Alex P. Vidal
AURORA, Illinois — Gemma Esmalla-Kosanam of Igbaras, Iloilo in the Philippines already holds a masters degree in nursing she obtained from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, but she decided to pursue a higher education and will soon finish her doctorate in management and leadership.
“My goal is to become a corporate nurse executive, a CEO (chief executive officer),” beamed Kosanam, 38, married to Indian national Venugopal. “With a doctorate degree, it is easy to go to the academe.”
She credits “strong family support”, her husband in [...]
To read more, click here With or without recession: ‘Medical professionals have limitless opportunities in US’
*******************************
Finally, President Arroyo did the right thing on Alabang Boys’ case, congratulations Madam!
by Ben Serrano
BUTUAN CITY- There is really also a need to appreciate people who really does his or her homework while head butt those who are sleeping on their duties, the worst is, some are pretending to have fallen asleep when in truth they are fully awake and this kind of people are dangerous. Filipinos call it, “Ang taong gising ay mahirap gisingin.”
And finally, seeing the worsening illegal drug problems in this country, President Arroyo did the right decision on the “Alabang Boys Case.”
Some may don’ like it but on [...]
To read more, click here Finally, President Arroyo did the right thing on Alabang Boys’ case, congratulations Madam!
*******************************
Misinformed people and the Presidentiables of 2010
by Ben Serrano
BUTUAN CITY- What’s the use of a new and shining budget office without a budget to alleviate dire poverty at its worst but only served elite politicians (in reality through big bucks of commissions or kickbacks from budgeted government projects earning kickbacks to buy votes during election day)?
This maybe the reason why the regional director like his politician friends are now extremely wealthy with all the adorning luxury vehicles at their disposal while majority of the people are wallowing in poverty and just walked without slippers …
To read more, click here Misinformed people and the Presidentiables of 2010
*******************************
A true story: How God found an atheist
AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR
by William M. Esposo
from Philstar
Your Chair Wrecker loves to share meaningful stories and articles that improve our values, thinking, perspectives and insights. Today, your Chair Wrecker will share with you this touching true story that a Jesuit from Loyola in Chicago wrote and circulated.
Father John Powell is a professor at Loyola University in Chicago and he once had a student named Tommy in his Theology of Faith class. Tommy happened to be an atheist.
When Tommy turned in his final exam, he asked Fr. Powell in a [...]
To read more, click here A true story: How God found an atheist
*******************************
“Third Force” looming in the political horizon
With a “third force” looming in the political horizon, can it break the traditional politicians’ grip on power? Can this “third force” lead a “people power” movement to victory at the 2010 elections? — Perry Diaz
Panlilio eyes Presidency
by Tina Dumlao
from Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – This early, pledges from overseas are coming in for Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio.
An elderly gentleman has expressed his intention to part with $100 from his budget for hypertension and diabetes medicine. A Filipino in New York is also putting in $100, and another is contributing $5.
A member [...]
To read more, click here “Third Force” looming in the political horizon
*******************************
A sleepwalking society
by Reginald Tamayo
The 2010 election is in the offing and still our country is reeling in economic crisis. The government boasts that our economy is improving because it grounded on sound economic principles and that ours is comparatively better than those of our Asean neighbors. This presumptuousness of the government is belied by widespread unemployment, skyrocketing prices of basic commodities, and the sight of poverty along the country side, among others. Our national leaders, instead of focusing themselves on how to address these national concerns, they embroil themselves in politics …
To read more, click here A sleepwalking society
*******************************
Effects of Recession? - Pinoy Olympians to earn more than U.S. tracksters if they win medals
by Alex P. Vidal
CHICAGO, Illinois — Filipino athletes stand to earn more cash incentives if they harvest medals in the 2012 London Olympics compared to what members of the United States track and field team will get for the same feat.
While the Philippine government, with the help of a giant telecommunication company, has pledged to award cash prizes worth P12 million (about $232,800), P3 million (about $58,200) and P1 million ($19,400) for gold, silver and bronze medal winners, the United States Olympic Committee will give only $25,000 (about P1.175 million)[...]
To read more, click here Effects of Recession? - Pinoy Olympians to earn more than U.S. tracksters if they win medals
Visit www.GlobalBalita.com for more news, updates and to comment.
END
Monday, March 23, 2009
Gov. Ed Panlilio- a politician of God's words
Gov. Ed Panlilio- a politician of God's words
Please allow me to react on the article “Leave priesthood first, Panlilio told” (PDI March 23). The article said “Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio should leave the priesthood if he were to further his political career by running for president in 2010.” This reminds us of Pope John Paul who insisted that the canon law forbids the priests "to assume public offices that involve ... the exercise of civil power."
I find this very disturbing. Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council, 1991 (PCP-II) says that priests, religious men and women, and lay people, i.e., the Church “must involved in the area of politics when Gospel values are at stake.” Then why ask Gov. Panlilio to renounce his priesthood when he could be instrumental and in a better position as a priest in renewing the political landscape of this country according to the Gospel values?
There is no doubt priests must uphold the teachings of the Church. In the past, many of them have played their roles as moral guardians especially during election period. While it is true that they should not involve themselves in partisan politics they should not also be indifferent with their duties to provide the moral compass for the people to elect only those candidates who uphold the teachings and ethos of the Catholic Church.
They have done this for the nth time. They have taken seriously their moral and political duty to guide the flock in electing those who are authentic Christians to become public servants. They do this because they are cognizant of the fact that there are many politicians who are being Pharisaical in calling themselves as Christians. However, their efforts are in vain. Most of our people are stubborn and they do not listen to the admonitions of our priests. Our people still elect devious politicians who do not care for the needs of our countrymen and ignore the teachings of the Church. And as a consequence, these ruthless politicians do not only bring ruin and scandal in the government but also to the Church.
Shall we allow this to happen again come 2010 elections? Must we in this country render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s perpetually? Must we allow our lives to be shortchanged by the politicians who think nothing but their own self-interest? Must we allow these elected leaders to continue making a mockery of the Church and do things that run counter to the Gospel values?
Let me describe Panlilio as a politician of God’s words. He brings the Gospel values in governance. He witnesses the Gospel values in politics. He evangelizes our political culture and intersperses it with the teachings of the Church.
When he as a priest was allowed to run for the governorship, what should prohibit him to run for the presidency?
Please allow me to react on the article “Leave priesthood first, Panlilio told” (PDI March 23). The article said “Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio should leave the priesthood if he were to further his political career by running for president in 2010.” This reminds us of Pope John Paul who insisted that the canon law forbids the priests "to assume public offices that involve ... the exercise of civil power."
I find this very disturbing. Acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council, 1991 (PCP-II) says that priests, religious men and women, and lay people, i.e., the Church “must involved in the area of politics when Gospel values are at stake.” Then why ask Gov. Panlilio to renounce his priesthood when he could be instrumental and in a better position as a priest in renewing the political landscape of this country according to the Gospel values?
There is no doubt priests must uphold the teachings of the Church. In the past, many of them have played their roles as moral guardians especially during election period. While it is true that they should not involve themselves in partisan politics they should not also be indifferent with their duties to provide the moral compass for the people to elect only those candidates who uphold the teachings and ethos of the Catholic Church.
They have done this for the nth time. They have taken seriously their moral and political duty to guide the flock in electing those who are authentic Christians to become public servants. They do this because they are cognizant of the fact that there are many politicians who are being Pharisaical in calling themselves as Christians. However, their efforts are in vain. Most of our people are stubborn and they do not listen to the admonitions of our priests. Our people still elect devious politicians who do not care for the needs of our countrymen and ignore the teachings of the Church. And as a consequence, these ruthless politicians do not only bring ruin and scandal in the government but also to the Church.
Shall we allow this to happen again come 2010 elections? Must we in this country render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s perpetually? Must we allow our lives to be shortchanged by the politicians who think nothing but their own self-interest? Must we allow these elected leaders to continue making a mockery of the Church and do things that run counter to the Gospel values?
Let me describe Panlilio as a politician of God’s words. He brings the Gospel values in governance. He witnesses the Gospel values in politics. He evangelizes our political culture and intersperses it with the teachings of the Church.
When he as a priest was allowed to run for the governorship, what should prohibit him to run for the presidency?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
"Let the lying lips be put to silence"
"Let the lying lips be put to silence"
For some obvious reasons, many lies are told by ruthless politicians before, during, and after elections. Politicians who are only concerned about winning in the elections do not mind telling lies. We are sometimes not even bothered by this at all. We usually choose to remain silent and enjoy hearing these politicians as they peddle lies. Worse, sometimes we even repeat these lies ourselves. This is a kind of disease known in the medical community as pathological lying. Any person who cannot control his telling of lies is said to be suffering from this kind of disease.
But is it true that unprincipled politicians cannot control their telling of lies? There are politicians who purposely tell lies to manipulate people. Simply put they can control their lies. For purposes of clarity let us look at the definition of lying. Webster Dictionary fittingly defines what lying is and, if I may say, describes the lying attitude of these politicians, to wit: to make a statement that one knows is false, especially with the intent to deceive; to give a false impression or action or false statement, especially with the intent to deceive; to make a false statement in order to evade the truth; and, the invention of a false story or excuse in order to deceive. It would then be wrong to describe these devious politicians as pathological liars. Probably they deserve better title- habitual liars.
Lying is everywhere in this country. It has become a commonplace. Like a virus it spreads in our society where lying is almost a way of life to many people. Lying had caused many scandals in the government. Lying had hurt many innocent lives. The moral climate in our country has been declining because of lying. I fear that our children would also fall into the habit of lying because there are few truthful adults to emulate. How many more lies must we listen to from this society? How many more lies must we tell? How many more political scandals must we endure because of lying?
It seems that we tell lies because we are afraid to tell the truth. We are also afraid of its consequences. Telling the truth hurt some people. That’s why some opt not to tell the truth. Shall we tell lies then in order not to hurt people? No one likes to be lied to. Even the liar does not like to be lied to. It is very sad that there seems to be more lying lips in this country than helping hands. Let us stop this epidemic lying in this country. The book of Psalms admonishes us- "Let the lying lips be put to silence."
For some obvious reasons, many lies are told by ruthless politicians before, during, and after elections. Politicians who are only concerned about winning in the elections do not mind telling lies. We are sometimes not even bothered by this at all. We usually choose to remain silent and enjoy hearing these politicians as they peddle lies. Worse, sometimes we even repeat these lies ourselves. This is a kind of disease known in the medical community as pathological lying. Any person who cannot control his telling of lies is said to be suffering from this kind of disease.
But is it true that unprincipled politicians cannot control their telling of lies? There are politicians who purposely tell lies to manipulate people. Simply put they can control their lies. For purposes of clarity let us look at the definition of lying. Webster Dictionary fittingly defines what lying is and, if I may say, describes the lying attitude of these politicians, to wit: to make a statement that one knows is false, especially with the intent to deceive; to give a false impression or action or false statement, especially with the intent to deceive; to make a false statement in order to evade the truth; and, the invention of a false story or excuse in order to deceive. It would then be wrong to describe these devious politicians as pathological liars. Probably they deserve better title- habitual liars.
Lying is everywhere in this country. It has become a commonplace. Like a virus it spreads in our society where lying is almost a way of life to many people. Lying had caused many scandals in the government. Lying had hurt many innocent lives. The moral climate in our country has been declining because of lying. I fear that our children would also fall into the habit of lying because there are few truthful adults to emulate. How many more lies must we listen to from this society? How many more lies must we tell? How many more political scandals must we endure because of lying?
It seems that we tell lies because we are afraid to tell the truth. We are also afraid of its consequences. Telling the truth hurt some people. That’s why some opt not to tell the truth. Shall we tell lies then in order not to hurt people? No one likes to be lied to. Even the liar does not like to be lied to. It is very sad that there seems to be more lying lips in this country than helping hands. Let us stop this epidemic lying in this country. The book of Psalms admonishes us- "Let the lying lips be put to silence."
Friday, March 13, 2009
Wanted: honest leaders and people
Wanted: honest leaders and people
Looking for new breed of leaders is one of the most widely talked about topic nowadays. This is understandable considering that 2010 election is fast approaching. It is our wish as Filipinos to have leaders that can inspire and enrich our lives, leaders who can serve our best interests and liberate us from poverty. We don’t need leaders who manipulate us, peddle lies and leaders who are greedy, and immoral.
Do we have these new breed of leaders today who have a sense of mission and direction to bring about moral change in our country? Do we have leaders who know simply what is good and evil and the difference between temperance and greed? While none of the leaders in the past elections fit our ideal breed of leaders, we ironically and continually choose the lesser evils among them. Isn’t that a sad waste of time and effort that we cannot choose moral leaders except the lesser evils among those who present themselves as leaders? This manner of choosing our leaders is seemingly unbroken. Every election we choose the lesser evil ones and later we get the shocks of our lives when these leaders scandalized us by their dishonest ways and shady deals. Where have all the good leaders of this country gone?
In our search for the new breed of leaders, honesty to one self and to others should be the first criterion. Anybody who presents himself as a leader but knows too well that he cannot do the job is a dishonest leader. Plato in his Republic conceptualized a leader- a philosopher first, then king second. The philosopher-king would be a dishonest monarch if he relegates himself to the level of warriors or artisans. Virtually, many among our leaders are not completely honest. A senator or a councilor is not honest to himself and to the electorate, though popular among the masses, when he cannot legislate. A presidentiable is not also honest to himself and to the people when his only qualification is his wealth or charm but none of the skills and qualities of a president. Anyone who leads a moral life and has the skills and competence to become a leader should come out and be elected as a moral leader. Anyone who in all honesty leads a shady life and has no competence to lead should humbly drop his plan to get elected into public office.
We demand honesty in our leaders because we allow them to have power over our lives. We exact honesty in their leadership because we want them to look after our nation and make our lives as citizens better.
Likewise we the electorate should be honest with ourselves. Let us have a reality check. How do we feel when our leaders fail us? To be honest, we feel angry and entertained. We are angry because we are disappointed by our leaders. We are amused because we see the human frailties in them and we did not expect so much from them after all. We think that they are entitled to do their corrupt practices in the government because they are human beings after all. We have that mind set that government officials are always corrupt and we don’t expect them to be saints. In fact, we get excited, like watching telenobelas, in finding out how these government officials weave their stories when they get stuck in scandals and controversies.
In this coming 2010 election, let us be honest. Let us do this not only for ourselves but for posterity’s sake. Let us not be lured by the looks and promises of leaders. Let us not be fascinated by their inducements and charms. For the Philippines to move on and be great again, we need honest leaders and we need honest people in this country.
Looking for new breed of leaders is one of the most widely talked about topic nowadays. This is understandable considering that 2010 election is fast approaching. It is our wish as Filipinos to have leaders that can inspire and enrich our lives, leaders who can serve our best interests and liberate us from poverty. We don’t need leaders who manipulate us, peddle lies and leaders who are greedy, and immoral.
Do we have these new breed of leaders today who have a sense of mission and direction to bring about moral change in our country? Do we have leaders who know simply what is good and evil and the difference between temperance and greed? While none of the leaders in the past elections fit our ideal breed of leaders, we ironically and continually choose the lesser evils among them. Isn’t that a sad waste of time and effort that we cannot choose moral leaders except the lesser evils among those who present themselves as leaders? This manner of choosing our leaders is seemingly unbroken. Every election we choose the lesser evil ones and later we get the shocks of our lives when these leaders scandalized us by their dishonest ways and shady deals. Where have all the good leaders of this country gone?
In our search for the new breed of leaders, honesty to one self and to others should be the first criterion. Anybody who presents himself as a leader but knows too well that he cannot do the job is a dishonest leader. Plato in his Republic conceptualized a leader- a philosopher first, then king second. The philosopher-king would be a dishonest monarch if he relegates himself to the level of warriors or artisans. Virtually, many among our leaders are not completely honest. A senator or a councilor is not honest to himself and to the electorate, though popular among the masses, when he cannot legislate. A presidentiable is not also honest to himself and to the people when his only qualification is his wealth or charm but none of the skills and qualities of a president. Anyone who leads a moral life and has the skills and competence to become a leader should come out and be elected as a moral leader. Anyone who in all honesty leads a shady life and has no competence to lead should humbly drop his plan to get elected into public office.
We demand honesty in our leaders because we allow them to have power over our lives. We exact honesty in their leadership because we want them to look after our nation and make our lives as citizens better.
Likewise we the electorate should be honest with ourselves. Let us have a reality check. How do we feel when our leaders fail us? To be honest, we feel angry and entertained. We are angry because we are disappointed by our leaders. We are amused because we see the human frailties in them and we did not expect so much from them after all. We think that they are entitled to do their corrupt practices in the government because they are human beings after all. We have that mind set that government officials are always corrupt and we don’t expect them to be saints. In fact, we get excited, like watching telenobelas, in finding out how these government officials weave their stories when they get stuck in scandals and controversies.
In this coming 2010 election, let us be honest. Let us do this not only for ourselves but for posterity’s sake. Let us not be lured by the looks and promises of leaders. Let us not be fascinated by their inducements and charms. For the Philippines to move on and be great again, we need honest leaders and we need honest people in this country.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Latest From Balita-USA
THE LATEST FROM BALITA-USA
We are currently in the process of finishing the construction of the GLOBAL BALITA website -- the "Global Filipinos in perspective." Read the articles of some of the best oipinon writers and journalists. GLOBAL BALITA will be launch next week. Stay tuned.
We have nine very interesting news, opinions, and stories today:
1. Reginald Tamayo asks, "Is there such a thing as a Filipino identity?" Read his insightful thoughts on this issue.
2. Billy Esposo writes about how others view our "shameless Filipino elite."
3. Tony Abaya writes about why justice is denied when justice is delayed in our judicial system.
4. Herman Tiu Laurel writes, "Like wolves or sharks going for the kill, the Philippine oligarchy has once again descended upon the power industry; this time for its piece de resistance—Meralco."
5. Renato Redentor Constantino writes, "Year after year, behind the burnished marble slab, beneath the old wood cross beams of consumption, black coat and black tie delivered the liturgy of bling and the brass cross, and the sanctity of the system was upheld."
6. Thea Alberto writes about Kris Aquino's anger over the release of the killers of her father, Ninoy Aquino.
7. Marlon Ramos writes of his interview with the prison chaplain who believes that the freed convicted "killers" of Ninoy Aquino did not kill Aquino.
8. Ben Serrano writes, "The Manobo-Mamanwa Joint Tribal Council Conference Association today have requested the Congress particularly the House Committees on People’s Participation and the Indigenous Peoples to conduct congressional inquiry on alleged wanton neglect and violation of the indigenous people’s rights."
9. My weekly PerryScope delves into the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas "Mercy" Gutierrez. Should Congress show mercy or no mercy?
Once again, BALITA TODAY strives to bring to your "doorstep" interesting articles for your reading pleasure.
All the best,
Perry Diaz
We are currently in the process of finishing the construction of the GLOBAL BALITA website -- the "Global Filipinos in perspective." Read the articles of some of the best oipinon writers and journalists. GLOBAL BALITA will be launch next week. Stay tuned.
We have nine very interesting news, opinions, and stories today:
1. Reginald Tamayo asks, "Is there such a thing as a Filipino identity?" Read his insightful thoughts on this issue.
2. Billy Esposo writes about how others view our "shameless Filipino elite."
3. Tony Abaya writes about why justice is denied when justice is delayed in our judicial system.
4. Herman Tiu Laurel writes, "Like wolves or sharks going for the kill, the Philippine oligarchy has once again descended upon the power industry; this time for its piece de resistance—Meralco."
5. Renato Redentor Constantino writes, "Year after year, behind the burnished marble slab, beneath the old wood cross beams of consumption, black coat and black tie delivered the liturgy of bling and the brass cross, and the sanctity of the system was upheld."
6. Thea Alberto writes about Kris Aquino's anger over the release of the killers of her father, Ninoy Aquino.
7. Marlon Ramos writes of his interview with the prison chaplain who believes that the freed convicted "killers" of Ninoy Aquino did not kill Aquino.
8. Ben Serrano writes, "The Manobo-Mamanwa Joint Tribal Council Conference Association today have requested the Congress particularly the House Committees on People’s Participation and the Indigenous Peoples to conduct congressional inquiry on alleged wanton neglect and violation of the indigenous people’s rights."
9. My weekly PerryScope delves into the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas "Mercy" Gutierrez. Should Congress show mercy or no mercy?
Once again, BALITA TODAY strives to bring to your "doorstep" interesting articles for your reading pleasure.
All the best,
Perry Diaz
Friday, March 6, 2009
Clemency and forgiveness
Clemency and forgiveness
I was in my sophomore year at UP Diliman when Ninoy was gunned down on the tarmac of the then Manila International Airport. We know that his death set off public outrage that ended the Marcos regime in 1986. In my own little way, I blended my outcry with the enraged people by writing political essays about Ninoy’s death and posted them on the free walls of the UP College of Arts and Science building. I even shared copies to friends from different universities. However, I don’t remember making an essay about the ten soldiers who were jailed for the murder of Ninoy.
Now the soldiers are set free after being granted with clemency. There are lots of questions being asked. Is the granting of clemency to these soldiers tantamount to forgiving them? Does the death of Ninoy finally achieve justice? Do these soldiers deserve our forgiveness? Are we asked to forgive and forget? With these handful questions, I am inspired this time to write something about the fate of these ten soldiers.
There is a simple way of understanding justice and clemency by the use of a mathematical equation. If I borrow from a friend P100 then I return to him the same amount of P100 then that is justice. It is injustice if I only return P80.00 to my friend instead of P100.00. In other words, in an uneven equation it is injustice. From this notion, there is no justice when the ten soldiers were freed because they cannot restore or repay the harm to Ninoy their victim. These words in a song capture this point- “Kung ano ang iyong inutang ay siya ring kabayaran.” What about clemency? The concept of clemency is more aptly applied in the situation of the freed soldiers. Clemency welcomes an unbalanced scale of justice. If I can only pay the amount of P80.00 to my friend and my friend writes-off the remaining balance of P20.00 then it is done out ofmercy or clemency. Probably my friend sees the difficult situation I am in and he knows that I am incapable of paying the amount in full. In the case of the ten soldiers, the president sees fit to commute their sentence and grants executive clemency because of good behavior. In other words, they won’t serve their sentence in full in the national penitentiary because of clemency.
Do the ten soldiers deserve our forgiveness? Many say that only the victim or the wronged party can forgive his offenders. Nobody can substitute the victim in his granting of forgiveness to his offenders. But it is worth remembering the slogan “Hindi ka nag-iisa!” This bespeaks that Ninoy was not only the victim of the repressive regime but Filipinos all over were victims too. But forgiveness can only be meaningful and is generously deserved when there is admission of guilt on the part of the offenders. From the looks of it, we don’t find any feeling of remorse or regret on the part of the ten soldiers. They seem to have developed the talent of pretending. It is hard to forgive an offender when he disowns the responsibility of his wrongdoing.
Granting without admitting that they deserve our forgiveness given their admission of guilt, shall we forget what they did to Ninoy? Forgiving is not forgetting the wrongdoing. Forgiving is an empty word when we sidestep the wrongdoing. Ignoring what they did to Ninoy would only cheapen his martyrdom. His martyrdom would be nothing but a sheer street crime committed by crooks. His martyrdom would be bereft of any meaning and his words “the Filipino is worth dying for” would just be parts of an empty rhetoric.
Finally, though the ten soldiers are given a fresh start they cannot hope to be forgiven and they cannot expect that what they did to Ninoy be forgotten.
I was in my sophomore year at UP Diliman when Ninoy was gunned down on the tarmac of the then Manila International Airport. We know that his death set off public outrage that ended the Marcos regime in 1986. In my own little way, I blended my outcry with the enraged people by writing political essays about Ninoy’s death and posted them on the free walls of the UP College of Arts and Science building. I even shared copies to friends from different universities. However, I don’t remember making an essay about the ten soldiers who were jailed for the murder of Ninoy.
Now the soldiers are set free after being granted with clemency. There are lots of questions being asked. Is the granting of clemency to these soldiers tantamount to forgiving them? Does the death of Ninoy finally achieve justice? Do these soldiers deserve our forgiveness? Are we asked to forgive and forget? With these handful questions, I am inspired this time to write something about the fate of these ten soldiers.
There is a simple way of understanding justice and clemency by the use of a mathematical equation. If I borrow from a friend P100 then I return to him the same amount of P100 then that is justice. It is injustice if I only return P80.00 to my friend instead of P100.00. In other words, in an uneven equation it is injustice. From this notion, there is no justice when the ten soldiers were freed because they cannot restore or repay the harm to Ninoy their victim. These words in a song capture this point- “Kung ano ang iyong inutang ay siya ring kabayaran.” What about clemency? The concept of clemency is more aptly applied in the situation of the freed soldiers. Clemency welcomes an unbalanced scale of justice. If I can only pay the amount of P80.00 to my friend and my friend writes-off the remaining balance of P20.00 then it is done out ofmercy or clemency. Probably my friend sees the difficult situation I am in and he knows that I am incapable of paying the amount in full. In the case of the ten soldiers, the president sees fit to commute their sentence and grants executive clemency because of good behavior. In other words, they won’t serve their sentence in full in the national penitentiary because of clemency.
Do the ten soldiers deserve our forgiveness? Many say that only the victim or the wronged party can forgive his offenders. Nobody can substitute the victim in his granting of forgiveness to his offenders. But it is worth remembering the slogan “Hindi ka nag-iisa!” This bespeaks that Ninoy was not only the victim of the repressive regime but Filipinos all over were victims too. But forgiveness can only be meaningful and is generously deserved when there is admission of guilt on the part of the offenders. From the looks of it, we don’t find any feeling of remorse or regret on the part of the ten soldiers. They seem to have developed the talent of pretending. It is hard to forgive an offender when he disowns the responsibility of his wrongdoing.
Granting without admitting that they deserve our forgiveness given their admission of guilt, shall we forget what they did to Ninoy? Forgiving is not forgetting the wrongdoing. Forgiving is an empty word when we sidestep the wrongdoing. Ignoring what they did to Ninoy would only cheapen his martyrdom. His martyrdom would be nothing but a sheer street crime committed by crooks. His martyrdom would be bereft of any meaning and his words “the Filipino is worth dying for” would just be parts of an empty rhetoric.
Finally, though the ten soldiers are given a fresh start they cannot hope to be forgiven and they cannot expect that what they did to Ninoy be forgotten.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
How I love the Philippines
How I love the Philippines
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:13:00 03/03/2009
Filed Under: Social Issues, Graft & Corruption
Most Read Other Most Read Stories x
Opinion
Rihanna is new face of DV
Shameless
Impunity
How I love the Philippines
Not enough study went into reply bill
What is ‘Philippine’ or ‘national’?
I want to be a...
Open door to media lynching
General Danny Lim, rebel with a cause
Laughing back
Arroyos to benefit most from reply bill
The persecution of Dennis Villa-Ignacio
Opinion Most Read RSS
I am a Filipino and I am proud of being one. And I love this country not only because it is where I live but because it is where my roots are. It is the sanctuary of the Filipino values I cherish, and it is where my home and my heart are. Here I was born and here will my final resting place be.
I show my love for myself as a Filipino and for this country by being a good citizen. I don’t just watch what is happening in this country. I humbly participate in building this nation into a better place even when there are some of us who spit on the face of our motherland. I show my concern for this country by expressing my dismay and displeasure if the state of the nation is bleak and the political leadership is weak. I show my care for this country by encouraging others to look deeper into themselves and find ways to make this country more decent and more respectable. I wish I could say something riveting or moving to them.
In my prayerful wishes, they will not be forgotten.
I am a voice of change and I would like to add this voice to the chorus calling for a genuine moral change in this country. I am aware that there are other sounds in the air — the noisiest among them from politicians who think they are the saviors of this country but are in fact modern-day Pharisees praying with pretentious piety before the public; but deep inside they are as evil and treacherous as vipers.
The reason we are in a continuing cycle of national crises is that we don’t love our country enough. It is not love but apathy when we watch our country being gang-raped by political psychopaths. It is not also love but boredom when we allow the illegal numbers game “jueteng,” graft and corruption, immorality and other social evils to persist.
Nowadays, there seems to be no Filipino leader who has the moral resolve to make a difference in the lives of the Filipinos. Instead, it appears that we are pleased to coddle the present crop of leaders who are plundering our resources and desecrating our social and moral environments.
It is not love but sheer hatred that we are showing our country when we are submissive, aloof and detached to these nasty, revolting social realities we are in.
I wish our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal or Ninoy Aquino had been born during these trying times to inspire us, to put meaning into our lives as a people, and lead us into a culture of genuine change. It is so sad that we don’t have the likes of them in our midst. Regretfully, the leadership torch they passed to us has been extinguished by this present generation. This is a shame for this country.
Still, I am in love with this country. I wish I could be another Rizal or another Ninoy just to prove that I really love this country.
REGINALD B. TAMAYO, Member, Sangguniang Bayan, Aparri, Cagayan
Copyright 2009 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 20:13:00 03/03/2009
Filed Under: Social Issues, Graft & Corruption
Most Read Other Most Read Stories x
Opinion
Rihanna is new face of DV
Shameless
Impunity
How I love the Philippines
Not enough study went into reply bill
What is ‘Philippine’ or ‘national’?
I want to be a...
Open door to media lynching
General Danny Lim, rebel with a cause
Laughing back
Arroyos to benefit most from reply bill
The persecution of Dennis Villa-Ignacio
Opinion Most Read RSS
I am a Filipino and I am proud of being one. And I love this country not only because it is where I live but because it is where my roots are. It is the sanctuary of the Filipino values I cherish, and it is where my home and my heart are. Here I was born and here will my final resting place be.
I show my love for myself as a Filipino and for this country by being a good citizen. I don’t just watch what is happening in this country. I humbly participate in building this nation into a better place even when there are some of us who spit on the face of our motherland. I show my concern for this country by expressing my dismay and displeasure if the state of the nation is bleak and the political leadership is weak. I show my care for this country by encouraging others to look deeper into themselves and find ways to make this country more decent and more respectable. I wish I could say something riveting or moving to them.
In my prayerful wishes, they will not be forgotten.
I am a voice of change and I would like to add this voice to the chorus calling for a genuine moral change in this country. I am aware that there are other sounds in the air — the noisiest among them from politicians who think they are the saviors of this country but are in fact modern-day Pharisees praying with pretentious piety before the public; but deep inside they are as evil and treacherous as vipers.
The reason we are in a continuing cycle of national crises is that we don’t love our country enough. It is not love but apathy when we watch our country being gang-raped by political psychopaths. It is not also love but boredom when we allow the illegal numbers game “jueteng,” graft and corruption, immorality and other social evils to persist.
Nowadays, there seems to be no Filipino leader who has the moral resolve to make a difference in the lives of the Filipinos. Instead, it appears that we are pleased to coddle the present crop of leaders who are plundering our resources and desecrating our social and moral environments.
It is not love but sheer hatred that we are showing our country when we are submissive, aloof and detached to these nasty, revolting social realities we are in.
I wish our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal or Ninoy Aquino had been born during these trying times to inspire us, to put meaning into our lives as a people, and lead us into a culture of genuine change. It is so sad that we don’t have the likes of them in our midst. Regretfully, the leadership torch they passed to us has been extinguished by this present generation. This is a shame for this country.
Still, I am in love with this country. I wish I could be another Rizal or another Ninoy just to prove that I really love this country.
REGINALD B. TAMAYO, Member, Sangguniang Bayan, Aparri, Cagayan
Copyright 2009 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Monday, March 2, 2009
A sleepwalking society
A sleepwalking society
2010 election is in the offing and still our country is reeling in economic crisis. The government boasts that our economy is improving because it grounded on sound economic principles and that ours is comparatively better than those of our Asean neighbors. This presumptuousness of the government is belied by widespread unemployment, skyrocketing prices of basic commodities, and the sight of poverty along the country side, among others. Our national leaders, instead of focusing themselves on how to address these national concerns, they embroil themselves in politics of mudslinging, finger-pointing, and popularity contest. Instead of getting a national consensus of pooling ourselves together and collectively seek solutions to these crises, we wallow in a national shame of unending scandals of graft and corruption and immorality which make life in this country hard and almost unbearable.
The government cannot alleviate social poverty by handing out a measly amount of money to those who could hardly afford to pay their electric bills or to the needy senior citizens. This only creates a culture of mendicancy and a society of parasites and far from being a solution to resuscitate our dying economy. These palliative steps are cheap political ploys and gimmicks which were poorly worked out to create an image of a compassionate national leadership and to boost its popularity.
We are likened to sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers. Sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers are difficult to awaken. However, once awakened, they are often confused and disoriented. In 1986, we were awakened and we overthrew a dictator. After that historical awakening, nowadays our confusion and disorientation are recurrent. Like the sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers, we are being awakened by our prophetic church and some well-meaning members of the political opposition but we seem to be in our deep sleep that we do not get up amidst our screaming with terror.
When shall we wake up? I contend that people who are sleep dislike having their sleep disturbed. But this is an emergency case. It is high time that we open our eyes wide. It is time for us to be awakened and realize that many political crooks and clowns are fooling us and flooding our consciousness with their mean and shameful political games. We should wake up not soon but now. Unless we still have to wait for a worse thing to happen, that is, for us to experience bedwetting in our slumbers.
2010 election is in the offing and still our country is reeling in economic crisis. The government boasts that our economy is improving because it grounded on sound economic principles and that ours is comparatively better than those of our Asean neighbors. This presumptuousness of the government is belied by widespread unemployment, skyrocketing prices of basic commodities, and the sight of poverty along the country side, among others. Our national leaders, instead of focusing themselves on how to address these national concerns, they embroil themselves in politics of mudslinging, finger-pointing, and popularity contest. Instead of getting a national consensus of pooling ourselves together and collectively seek solutions to these crises, we wallow in a national shame of unending scandals of graft and corruption and immorality which make life in this country hard and almost unbearable.
The government cannot alleviate social poverty by handing out a measly amount of money to those who could hardly afford to pay their electric bills or to the needy senior citizens. This only creates a culture of mendicancy and a society of parasites and far from being a solution to resuscitate our dying economy. These palliative steps are cheap political ploys and gimmicks which were poorly worked out to create an image of a compassionate national leadership and to boost its popularity.
We are likened to sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers. Sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers are difficult to awaken. However, once awakened, they are often confused and disoriented. In 1986, we were awakened and we overthrew a dictator. After that historical awakening, nowadays our confusion and disorientation are recurrent. Like the sleepwalkers and sleeptalkers, we are being awakened by our prophetic church and some well-meaning members of the political opposition but we seem to be in our deep sleep that we do not get up amidst our screaming with terror.
When shall we wake up? I contend that people who are sleep dislike having their sleep disturbed. But this is an emergency case. It is high time that we open our eyes wide. It is time for us to be awakened and realize that many political crooks and clowns are fooling us and flooding our consciousness with their mean and shameful political games. We should wake up not soon but now. Unless we still have to wait for a worse thing to happen, that is, for us to experience bedwetting in our slumbers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
