Mubong Pagpasabot mahitungod sa Simbahan ug sa Politika

Angay ba nga manginlabot ang simbahan sa politika sa nasod?

          

Bayan ko, maging matalino ka. Huwag kaagad sasang-ayon.

Kung ang anino ng kapangyarihan ay hindi inilalantad sa tapat ng mesa-aregluhan, ang mga pakikipag-ayos ay nagiging isang salin-salita lamang sa pagsasang-ayon na maamo.

Baka marahil ang sintomas na ating nasasaksihan ngayon ay isang uri ng pampapigil na pagsasang-ayon: Kung baga, dudurogin na mismo natin ang ating konsensya bago pa tayo maunahan nila, at wala na silang madudurog pa.

O Bayan ko! Huwag ka sanang bibigay kaagad nang di man lang inaasahan at baka ika'y patihayang mapatumba, at wala ka man lang kahit anong makakapitan. Pag nangyari yon, ang silakbo sa loob mo ay kataka-takang titiwasay, na animo'y nasa kinahinatnang dulot ng isang buhawi -- awit ng ibon, sikat ng araw, sobrang puspos na mga kulay, wasak na paligid, at... ang iyong sarili, tuliro at paikod-ikod.

Bayan ko, huwag mo sana'ng simulang sabihin kung ano'ng gagawin mo pag di ka magtagumpay sa nais mo, dahil sa pinakasaglit pa lang na sabihin mo ito, ay nagpapahiwatig lamang na sang-ayon ka na sa kahihinatnan mo sa umpisa pa lang.

Bayan ko, ano man ang ibahagi mo sa iba, subalit ingatan mo at pangalagaan mo ang biyayang nakalaan para sa mga anak mo at sa mga anak ng mga anak mo.

       

Why not teach our own native languages instead?

Instead of teaching foreign languages such as Korean, Chinese, or Japanese, why not prioritize teaching our own native languages in addition to the Filipino language in our school curriculum?

For instance, consider our very own Visayan language. Over 30 languages constitute the Visayan language family. The Visayan language with the most speakers is Cebuano, spoken by over 30 million people as a native language in Central Visayas, parts of Eastern Visayas, and most of Mindanao.

Just think of the countless positive developments that could result when the young Tagalog pinoys of today and the next generations of the Tagalog-speaking regions of our country would someday be no longer linguistically alienated from the Visayan-speaking regions -- just as how the Bisaya-speaking pinoys learned Tagalog early in school making them not linguistically alienated from the Tagalog-speaking pinoys.

A huge percentage of the language barrier between Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao would significantly be reduced just by adding the Visayan language in our school curriculum! Isn't that amazing?! There would be a linguistically united Philippines when that happens!

Image, Courtesy To The Owner (CTTO). Personal addition of red punctuation marks and symbols are for added emphasis.

Wage hike is not just a question of competitiveness

Wage hike is not just a question of competitiveness, but also it is a matter of cost of living and much more. Honest and good business people do not just stop at considering only one factor to justify wage hike because raising the compensation of their employees is also a matter of cost of living which is very much directly related to the inflation level of basic commodities.

When inflation rate gets above normal level (normal inflation rate level is about 2% to 3%), the delicate relationship of the costs of goods, wages, and services get thrown out of balance.

The economic balance scale is a multi-arm multi-factor weighing device.

On the employee side of the economic balance scale: How many workers could and would continue to endure for long working at their best when their compensations are not able to meet their cost of living?

On the employer side of the balance scale: When an inflation is caused by a government's poor economic management, why are the employers always the ones made to shoulder for the adjustments in the workers' compensations? How many of the employers are able to sustain their operations without laying off workers or increasing the cost of their products and services?

On the consumer side of the balance scale: How many low income families are able to cope with the high cost of basic commodities without resorting to illegal means of earning something just to survive?

On the government side of the balance scale: Where should the point of balance justly lie, and where should it fairly be placed? Who should be responsible for setting the balance back to normal? Who should be held liable for upsetting the balance?

          

Be new! Let the world see the real light in you

There are quite a number of people who are sensing your heart's desire for public service, Ms. Mocha Uson. But your heart is being imprisoned by the hurts and pains of so many past and present negativity and emotions such that in some way it has started to harden ready for "war", as you have spoken it when you recently resigned as an ASec.

But with the content and format of this video interview post of yours, kudos, Mam! I am sensing that finally you are learning to reinvent yourself. This is a right and very good step in freeing your heart towards the way to being a true public servant.

Mas effective, Mam, ang ganitong paraan sa pag-convey mo ng positive message sa mga mamayan tungkol sa importanteng mga bagay (o kahit mga bagay-bagay man lang) na dapat malaman ng publiko tungkol sa kanilang gobyerno.

Hanggat pwede at kaya mong gawin, katulad ng ginawa mo ng video na ito ay sana ang dapat na magiging basic format at content ng inyong susunod pang mga post:

1. Totoo ang message at hindi fabricated. Use information na galing mismo firsthand sa resource person mo. Do not communicate to propagandize.

2. Whatever you convey, whether positive or negative, accept the fact that there will always be haters and critics. Therefore, just simply let haters hate, and let critics criticize.

3. Day by day, on your part, develop the ability to focus less and less on the negativity of their hate and criticism. Find instead something in their messages that you might possibly be able to exploit into something positive. But never fabricate truth just to support your opinion.

4. Learn to refrain from hitting back at haters and critics in the same way or style they are hating and criticizing. Avoid responding to them as soon as you feel the sting of their message. Take some time to at least let the sting subside to a manageable level, if you could not let it die down completely.

5. No government, no administration, no public official, no citizen, no netizen, is perfect. Thus, as much as possible focus on what positive things can be conveyed and can be done in the midst of issues and negativity. But never try to ignore the negative things that are worthy of getting due and appropriate attention.

6. Remember that a negative thing cannot be changed or erased by using other negative things to drown or counter the criticisms they have earned.

7. Learn to appreciate the criticisms that are worthy and constructive and try to build an honest reasonable opinion from the positive and constructive aspects of the worthy criticisms.

Kaya Ms. Mocha Uson, damihan mo pa ang ganitong klase na mga posts. Keysa you play a tedious and futile role of an online "guard dog" who keeps barking at every critic and criticism -- you would only be leading a pack of like-minded "guard dogs" who are barking the same way as you are, while when it comes to winning hearts and minds of the not-like-minded packs, your efforts and resources are just totally wasted.

Don't be a warrior for someone, or a defender of somebody. Rather, be your own self. Be on the side of truth and what is worthy. Be someone who is able to win the heart and mind of somebody -- not by the intimidation of "rabid barkings", but by the persuasion of the truth of positive messaging.

Mam, if you could use your charm and tenacity in this way, in time, even the fiercest critic will go silent and will resort to emojis and animated GIF reactions, if not reduced to silent stalkers of your posts.

Be new and let the world see the real light in you that you have kept inside of you for so long.

God bless you. Let His Holy Spirit guide your thoughts.

       

So you think you're not a bully?

Who can claim he/she is not a bully?

Stereotype bullies victimize the weaklings, the timid, or the innocents. But with the advent of social media, there is a rapidly increasing number of people engaging in a new "genre" of bullying that is targeting the stereotype bullies themselves. Nowadays, social media has become a handy but powerful bullying weapon for netizens to "freely" use.

Bullying is a vicious cycle. The bullying actions you spread around, would come around back to you. So if you act like a bully, then you can count on other people to bully you too.

Try to think of popular personalities who you consider as bullies, and see how much bullying they themselves are getting from other people and probably you including.

Differences (in race, gender, social class, culture, beliefs, ideology, politics, etc.) and the feeling of superiority are two significant factors that could trigger bullying.

The tendency of bullying is to focus only on the difference[s] that others have and interpreting it as an inferiority. To the mind of a bull, the color red is an irritating inferiority of a subject, so it attacks instinctively. 

We may have seen bullies of all kinds everywhere, particularly online. But in the way we engage in social media, have we not realized yet, that somehow, somewhere, there is a bully mentality buried deep in our "coconut shells"?

So who then can claim that they are the right kind of bullies to the wrong kind of bullies? Today, the Philippines (and the world in general) has become more a rich stock farm of fiercer bullies of all kinds (political, religious, ideological, racial, gender, social, etc.).

What kind of a bully are you?

          

Free Solar-Electric Jeep: An Alternative Solution to the Ever Increasing High Fuel Prices in our Country

Isn't this a very good alternative solution to the ever increasing high fuel prices in our country? And did I mention that this vehicle has zero smoke emission and is noise free?

The government should seriously consider this new technology and develop it even more!

Aside from giving Pantawid Pasada Fuel Cards, which is merely a temporary gap alleviation measure, why not think of concrete plans to deal with the problem of high and increasing fuel prices? DOTr, what happened to your public transport modernization project? Isn't this time a good opportunity to pursue this project?

          

The PacMan is building an "ark"

Even though the PacMan is building an "ark", yet someday when that certain "flood" shall come to pass, not all of those who he wanted to be in his "ark" will be able to make it on board. As in the days of Noah, only a handful of them will remain.

       

Finding solutions to rice inflation requires balancing acts

Sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas, tumataas din kaya ang kita ng ating mga magsasakang maghapong nakabilad sa init ng araw? Sapat ba ang ilang daang pisong kanilang kinikita para bumuhay ng pamilya? Pakinggan ang kanilang kuwento sa dokumentaryong ito ni Sandra Aguinaldo.

          

B a leader, instead of a boss. Rather lead than rule.

If you want your leadership to count and have real meaning, then transcend from being like a ruler leader into a servant leader.

If you believe that your leadership authority is God-given, then you ought to lead as a servant leader, rather than rule like a taskmaster.

Do away with being like a cruel judge who rules with an iron fist trampling on people's rights that stirs up hate and rebellion. Neither give oppressive decrees that ignites dissent, disloyalty and disunity.

Rather, be a humble and wise servant who leads by example that inspires loyalty, unity, and harmony and encourages cooperation. Let your edicts be righteous and just that uphold truth, justice, and liberty and promote peace.

       

Bagay tulad nito dapat madalas ginagawa

Mabuti at may nakaisip ng ganito. Sa sino mang mga nakaisip na gawing ganito ang format or mode ng pagpapahayag ng presidente sa kanyang mga saluobin o gustong sabihin sa taombayan, tama ang ginagawa ninyo. 

Alam natin na ang presidente ay may kahinaan pagdating sa kahusayan ng magalang na pananalita sa harap ng publiko. Nagiging masamang ugali na niya ang walang prenong pagmumura lalo na kung ang kanyang ego ay natatamaan. Kaya kung ang presidente ay isabak ninyo sa nakasanayang press conference format, kadalasan ay malamang lalabas na makapagbitiw ang presidente ng mga pamamahayag na hindi kanaisnais.

Ang hindi makakabuti sa panig ng presidente ay kapag maligaw na sa ibang direksyon ang lakbay at daloy ng tanungan at sagutan. Dahil sa sandaling ang kanyang isipan at ang kanyang pagsasagot ay natangay na sa direksyon ng agos at linya ng mga pagtatanong na nais tutukan ng mga taga media, e mawawala na siya sa kanyang maayos sana at plastadong pagpapahayag ng kanyang nais na sasabihin sa taombayan. At ang kadalasang mangyari ay aabot na naman sa punto na magmumura na naman ang pangulo dahil nalulunod na siya sa mga [sinasadyang] maintrigang mga linya ng pagtatanong ng mga taga media. E alam naman din natin na ang mga taga media ay wala rin silang kapreno-preno sa tindi ng kanilang maintrigang mga pagtatanong. At dahil sa kanilang pinanghahawakang kalayaan sa pamamahayag, ay natural lamang na magiging makulit at maintriga ang kanilang pagkuha ng mga impormasyon lalong-lalo na pag presidente na ang kanilang tinatanong.

Sana ang ganitong format ay magiging magandang panimula sa paraan ng pagpapahayag ng pangulo ng kanyang mga saluobing nais niyang ibahagi sa taombayan. At uulitin ko, sana simula pa lang ito, dahil kailangan at dapat na mag level up pa ito gradually into a system na habang tumatagal ay lalong nagiging produktibo at kapakipakinabang. Hindi kailangan na parang napaka opisyal at bongga ang dating. (Small hint ko lang ito: Level up patungo sa isang sistema na parang frequent periodic expanded/detailed SONA). Ang importante na kampante ang pangulo na ibahagi at ipahayag niya ang kanyang saluobin at mai-kwento niya kung ano-anong mga bagay ang nasa isip niya na may kinalaman sa bayan sa paraan na walang ego-pressing lines of intriguing questioning mula sa mga taga media.

Hindi natin ma-overemphasize pa ng lalo ang kahalagahan na marinig at malaman ng tamobayan at ng buong sambayanan ang tunay na mga saluobin ng pangulo kaugnay sa mga nangyayari sa ating bansa. At ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat, ay ang higit na kailangang malaman ng buong bansa ang update tungkol sa mga plano, direksyon, at hakbang na iniisip at ginagawa ng mga ibat-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno sa ilalim ng kanyang pamumuno. As well as yong mapagkumbabang pagkilala at paghahanap ng kalutasan sa mga kahinaan, kapalpakan, at kakulangan ng kanyang pamumuno. Sa ganitong paraan, magkakaroon ng bukas at tapat na kasangkapan ng kumonikasyon na magiging tulay sa pagitan ng pangulo at ng taombayan na kahit pa yong mga ayaw sa kanya ay dahan-dahan na ring matutong makikinig at makakaintindi sa mga plano, pamamalakad, kaunlaran, at kapalpakan ng kanyang pamumuno.

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Nais ko kayong hikayatin na pagmasdan ninyo ang isang probensya sa Central Visayas. Ang sistemang ito na napag-isipan at ginawa ninyo ngayon, ay matagal-tagal na ring ginagawa sa mga namumuno sa kanilang probinsya at pati sa mga namumuno sa kaninlang capital city.

Sa haba na ng panahon ng kanilang patuloy na paggamit ng pamamaraang ito ay nagiging malaking pakinabang ito sa partisipasyon ng kanilang mga mamayan na makibahagi sa pagtulung para sa kaunlaran ng kanilang probinsya at gayon din sa kanilang capital city.

Ang kanilang pamamaraan bagamat simpli lang subalit ito ay nag level up na ng husto in terms of public participation and effectiveness. Sana magaya nyo rin ito. Kaya para ma-adopt ninyo on a national scale ang simpling sistema o pamamaraan na ito, aralin ninyong mabuti kung papaano nila sinimulan ang sistemang ito at kung sino-sinong mga tao at anu-anong mga institusyon ang kasali nito at anu-ano ang mga dapat gawin at hindi dapat gawin para magiging epektibo ang nasabing pamamaraang ito.

Patnubayan sana kayo ng Maykapal.

       

Character role-playing; Changing of values and principles

Well, we all know that in the realm of relationships, people's preference as to how and to whom they associate with, may change at any available opportunity depending on their personal agenda.

For some people, changing of relationships or associates could be as ordinary as changing clothes. 

In politics, the act of changing relationships or associates has several personal aspects of change that go with it. Politicians often change image to suit a particular time, occasion, or opportunity. They also change their public appearance according to what impressions they would like to project. And occasionally, they change views and perspectives to align their actions with their agenda.

But, in all of the personal changes that people might be willing to undergo or do to themselves, the saddening thing to observe is when they are willing to sacrifice their core values and principles in order to gain things that they hope could ultimately benefit them in the end.

In the world of politics, politicians even have an aphorism for it: "In politics, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests."

Which sounds like: "Use and/or be used."

In the parlance of our millennials: "Gamitan pa more!"

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At the beginning, every time I saw and heard Atty. Harry Roque spoke on television about significant issues that are affecting our country, I saw in him a principled person who has unshakable core values.

Some years ago, because of his staunch advocacy on human rights, he earned the respect and admiration of almost all of our  kababayans as well as of people in the international community. With his excellent ability to spot violations and twisting of the law, many serious voters had prayed that hopefully he would become a staunch human-rights-defender senator someday.

Years back, I didn't know if some people may also had similar thoughts about Atty. Harry Roque, but at least in my evaluative thought then, that to a country whose history is filled with so much human rights violations, I once considered Atty. Roque (along with [the likes of] Atty. Allan Peter Cayetano and Atty. Koko Pimentel) as a very potential high-office public servant who was some steps closer to another human rights hero in the making whom the voiceless poor, whose human rights have been violated, can lean on for real help in obtaining justice.

But since his acceptance to serve as the president's spokesman, Atty. Harry Roque now seems to appear like in the same state as the hero Spiderman whose original heroic inner self is occasionally struggling against an acquired and quickened dark side of himself brought about by the responsibilities and obligations of the duty which he has voluntarily accepted.

Duty-wise, Atty. Roque (and so also are other duty-bound public officials such as DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra, DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and AFP Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez Jr.) maybe struggling against an inner dark side which is brought about by their sworn duty. But I chose not to lose hope in their abilities to triumph over their struggles. In their struggles, they may inadvertently make some errors. But if unavoidably they must commit any error, I'm fervently praying that they shall remain faithful to what is righteous. If they must err, then may they err on the side of truth, what is right, and what is truly just. 

Their respective positions and offices in government public service come with great power and authority. And what they do now could become an example for others to follow.

May God protect their hearts, enlighten their minds, and guide their actions.

"With great power, comes great responsibility." -- The Spiderman

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Meanwhile...

Senator Antonio Trillanes is perhaps Max turned Electro, or perhaps Dr. Otto Octavius turned Dr. Octopus -- a villain hero. An idealistic heroic character whose way of heroism mostly appears as villainous to his opponents. At the end of the day, his villainous heroism achieves, or at least proves, his idealism.

What about the president, President Duterte, what character can he be?... Well perhaps..., hmm.... Aha! I think he is of course the writer-director of the entire movie.

On each movie character, he puts a character attribute that he chooses from the different character attributes which he assumes in real life in tackling the different political challenges he himself is struggling within and without as the president.

And as according to the hero-villain dual character role he is forced to adopt as a required necessity of being the president who has enormous responsibilities and hard duties, he must direct the whole movie like a grand master in a modified multi-opponent-version chess game.

          

Huwag luluwag sa inyong mga panalangin

Pagmasdan ninyo ang mga araw ng kapanahonang ito dahil sagana ang mga araw na ito sa mga palatandaan. Kaya magmasid kayo para hindi kayo luluwag sa mga panalangin ninyo.

     

Iilan lamang ang mga ito sa mga palatandaan ng kasalukuyang kapanahonan ng ating bansa. Sa sinomang may angking karunungan sa pag-unawa ng mga palatandaan, subukan ninyong intindihin ng maigi ang mga ipinapahayag ng mga palatandaang ito.

       

Nasaan na ba ang tunay na pakialam at malasakit ninyo?!

Sa gitna nitong matinding inflation na dinaranas natin lalo na sa ating mga mahihirap na mga kababayan, nasaan na kayo, mga lider ng bansang ito?! Ano ba ang mas mahalaga at mas importante sayo? Nasaan na ba ang tunay na pakialam at malasakit ninyo?! Huwag ninyo sanang sayangin ang ibinigay sa inyo ng Panginoon na pagkakataong makatulong sa mga naghihirap lalo na sa mga panahong pinaka-kailangan kayo ng mga taong nangangailangan sa taos-pusong serbisyo publiko ninyo.

Bakit para bang hindi man lang kayo tumutulong sa paglutas ng problema sa bayan na ito? Dahil ba ay hindi kayo intrisado sa gawain na isinasangon sa inyo, at sa halip mas intrisado pa kayo sa kung ano lang ang hilig at kaya ninyo? E kung ganon, bakit pa kayo nagpahalal sa taombayan para umupo sa pwesto kung sa kalaunan man din lamang ay hindi pa pala kayo tunay na intrisado na gawin ang tungkolin ninyo lalo na sa mga panahon ng kahirapan tulad na lang sa kasalukoyang panahon nating ito?

Gumising na kayo! Ang bayan ay lubos na nangangailangan sa tulong ninyo! Dahil kayo ay halal na mga alagad publiko, at di lang yon, higit sa lahat, dahil kayo ay mga tinawag ng Panginoon na maging alagad sa bayan ninyo, kaya kahit sa ngayong mahirap na panahon man lang muna, ay ibahin sana ninyo ang kung ano ang mas mahalaga sa inyo,

Sapagka't kung saan naroon ang iyong kayamanan, doon naman doroon ang iyong puso. (Mateo 6:21)

       

Indeed! There is a way!

Arroyo on 6.4% inflation: I’ve had a more alarming situation as President

By: Pathricia Ann V. Roxas - Inquirer

02:49 PM September 05, 2018

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed confidence that the Duterte administration could solve the record-high 6.4 percent August inflation, saying she experienced “a more alarming” situation during her term as President.

“The government is doing what it can to address it… I have had a more alarming situation at 6.6 percent and I was able to solve it in a few months time so there can be a solution,” she told reporters in an ambush interview after the oath-taking rite of National Youth Commission Chairman Ronald Cardema in her office.

Although she said she wanted to base her suggestions on data, Arroyo had recalled that during her term, they had solved the 6.6 percent inflation in March 2009 by massive importation of rice and massive buying of rice from local farmers.

“I remember in my time, in March of 2009, the inflation was 6.6 percent but by June, it was down to 1.5 percent. So conceivably, even a sharp increase can be resolved. But we have to analyze what’s driving it and therefore how to address what’s driving it,” she explained.

“A lot of measures were taken, combination, but maybe the single biggest factor was the massive importation of rice together with buying massively with the local farmers,” she added.

The Pampanga 2nd District congresswoman also said she would consult her point man on counter inflation, Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, on what can be done this time aside from their earlier suggestion to address the five major drivers of inflation: exchange rate, rice, fish meat, and oil.

She also said the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law contributed “a very very small portion” to the inflation.

The government earlier reported that the inflation hit a new, nine-year high of 6.4 percent in August.

It was also the fastest rate of increase in prices of basic goods and services since March 2009’s 6.6 percent inflation rate during Arroyo’s time.

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Indeed, there is a way! In fact, it consists of many smaller paths that converge into a main big road. But the rambunctious affairs of the land are leading the seekers astray and away from the thing that they are looking for. Vines of hatred, anger, & bickering have quickly grown such that their leaves and branches have thickly covered the way causing most of the seekers to think that hopelessly they seem to be looking for the way blindly in vain.

But hope must never be lost. For the Lord is quietly equipping the seekers with prayers from those whose hearts whom the Lord is quickening so that their spirits will stay in constant presence with Him through their prayers. In the quiet sanctuaries of their spirits they fervently pray that wisdom, prudence, patience, calmness of mind and spirit, focus, dedication and persistence shall guide and lead those whose hearts are stirred by the Lord into finding that way.

Therefore, seekers: Be hopeless no more and be wary no more! Rather, be very confident and be very courageous!

As you seek for the way, this shall be your guide: Understand the ways and the movements of the waters; for what you should be looking for is a system as that of the waters. As the waters begin from high places and find their ways down towards the seas and the oceans, so shall it be like with the way which you are looking for. Behold with wisdom how the waters of the springs and the brooks flow and how they converge to feed the rivers and the lakes. And understand how the rivers and lakes eventually deliver their contents into the seas and the oceans. And fathom how the seas and the oceans sustain back the waters of the springs and the brooks. And finally, behold and marvel how the plants, trees, animals, and other living creatures thrive because of the system.

As blood is to the body, so is water to the earth; and in similar manner will the system [that you are seeking for] be to your land. When you fully understood the wisdom behind this system and gain the wisdom of how to apply it wisely (in accordance with the statutes of the One who designed this system) to every area of governance, then the land would live in harmony and abundance.

Now seekers, go and look for that way! Be filled with wisdom, prudence, patience, calmness of mind and spirit, focus, dedication and persistence. Be diligent and be not wasteful of time; for the nation is already at its last hour of the third watch of the night. And very soon it will enter the fourth watch of the night, and there will just be enough time left to find the sought way before the words given below could happen:

Sa sinomang may pandinig, ito ay pakinggan ninyo: "May isang araw na darating na may dalang di pangkariniwang sikat. Sa panahon ng araw, may mga naglalakbay, ngunit walang mga anino. May mga punong marami ang mga dahon, ngunit walang lilim. Sa panahon ng gabi, sa ilalim ng sikat ng buwan, may mga anino, ngunit walang makikitang mga naglalakbay. May lilim ang mga puno kahit walang mga dahon."

     

Panginoon, tulungan mo po kami

Halos araw-araw na lang may tumataas na presyo ng commodity. Naku po! Napaka sobrang taas na nang presyo ng bigas, isda, gulay, petrolyo, kuryente, at ngayon tubig! Papaano na kaya tayo nito mamumuhay ng maayos? Hanggang kailan ba kaya tatagal itong matinding pagdurasa na dinaranas nating mga Pilipino?

PLEASE... MAAWA NAMAN KAYO, KAYONG MGA NAMUMUNO SA BANSANG 'TO!

Mayroon pa ba kaya sa kanila ang nakakarinig at totoong nakikinig sa mga naghihirap? Mga sarili lang yata nilang kalagayan ang kanilang binibigyan halaga. Mga lider namin, bakit ba ninyo kami pinabayaan sa aming paghihirap? Saan na ba nakabaling ang mga puso ninyo ngayon?

Sa gitna nitong lalo pang lumalalang suliranin sa inflation ng ating bansa, ano na kaya ang kalagayan ng ating mga naghihikahos sa buhay na mga kababayan?

Panginoon, huwag mo po kaming pababayaan. Tulungan mo po kaming makaahon sa napakahirap na kalagayan naming ito.

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Sa sinomang may pandinig, ito ay pakinggan ninyo: "May isang araw na darating na may dalang di pangkariniwang sikat. Sa panahon ng araw, may mga naglalakbay, ngunit walang mga anino. May mga punong marami ang mga dahon, ngunit walang lilim. Sa panahon ng gabi, sa ilalim ng sikat ng buwan, may mga anino, ngunit walang makikitang mga naglalakbay. May lilim ang mga puno kahit walang mga dahon."

          

Let them go as according to their stated agenda

While many think that this travel may not be in a right timing, but just let it be. Let it be so as according to the travel agenda the President has presented.

May God abide in their trip.

       

When a "victimizer" jokes

In the deluded eyes of his supporters, and in the subdued view of even some of the well-intentioned people around P-Dut, the president's remarks on rape should be overlooked as merely a joke.

But if you consider a bit deeper why is it that D-Gong is fund of somewhat making light the topic regarding rape by way of "jokes" and tries putting the blame on the victim rather than on the perpetrator, one would wonder that perhaps unless P-Dut's own beautiful young daughter becomes a victim of rape (God forbid), abhorrent victim-blaming remarks about rape -- such as what filthy-mouthed P-Dut (OMG! Of all people, a president!) has ["jokingly"] said twice already publicly -- could only possibly come from a mental attitude of a "victimizer".

A "victimizer" would always choose to ignore or deny God so as to justify his mentality and actions. The self-deluding reasoning that a "victimizer" perhaps believed in is that if he deny God's existence, then his actions are not subject to any of God's moral laws and that any guilt that there is can just be played down by putting the blame on the victim.

Therefore to the mind of a "victimizer", kung maganda ka at natukso ako sa kagandahan mo, at di ko napigilan ang sarili ko at na-rape kita, then ikaw yung may kasalanan kasi bakit ka pa naging maganda at hindi man lang naging pangit para hindi mo ako sana natukso.

Or typically, sa isang pamilyadong tao: "Kasalanan ko ba kung naakit ako sa iba?! Tandaan mo to, kung makipaghiwalay ka sa akin, kasalanan mo to!"

            

Si P-Dut nga mabawg lubot nakakaplag og insaktong kaparang

MANILA, Philippines – Tough-talking Cebu City Mayor Tommy Osmeña is now the latest target of President Rodrigo Duterte's public tirades.

Duterte repeatedly cursed Osmeña in a speech in Mandaue City, on Thursday, August 30, threatened to slap him, and accused him of thinking he "owns" Cebu City.

"Hoy! Tomas! This isn’t the time of the Spaniards, okay? The way you talk it's as if you have a very high station in life…. You even said that I’m the protector of shabu," Duterte said in Bisaya.

He said he wanted a meeting with Osmeña to confront him about supposed "false stories" being spread about Duterte.

"I came here to see Cebu and because I wanted to speak with an official. He was spreading false stories. I told him I tasked someone to arrange a meeting between us because I will slap him," said the President.

He described Osmeña as "the kind of person who talks like, 'Leave Cebu alone. We can handle it.'" (WATCH: Rappler Talk: Tommy Osmeña on governing as a mayor under Duterte)

"Who are you to say that? As if you own Cebu. By what right? Just because you were a former president’s son or grandson?" continued Duterte.

The Cebu mayor is the grandson of former president Sergio Osmeña. He is the younger brother of former senator Sergio Osmeña III.

Duterte also warned Osmeña not to try to "bully" him.

"Anak ka ng puta (You son of a bitch).... Don’t believe that you are someone better. If we don’t understand each other, I will slap you in front of people. Don’t mess with me because I’m not a Cebuano that you can push around. I’m not a local here that you can bully," said Duterte.

Slamming Osmeña for supposedly spreading lies about the state of Duterte's health, the President lumped the Cebu local chief with other critics of his administration.

"You’re just like Sison. You should form a group with Sison, you, Trillanes and Pamatong," said Duterte, referring to Communist Party of the Phiippines founder Jose Maria Sison, opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and Elly Pamatong.

Pamatong earlier filed quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court seeking to oust Duterte.

Osmeña is one of the few mayors who has been critical of Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs, saying Duterte should look beyond police operations as the solution to fighting drugs.

In June, Osmeña's former aide was shot during an anti-drugs operation. Law enforcers claimed they recovered 15 sachets of suspected methamphetamine or shabu from him.

Osmeña has shrugged off threats to his life, amid the killings of local chief executives under the Duterte administration. The Cebu mayor earlier said he received information about an alleged plan to kill him, and then link him to illegal drugs. – Rappler.com

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P-Dut nga mabaw og lubot! Nakakaplag kag insaktong kaparang nimo?

Mura'g tinuod tingale ang panultihon nga samtang ang tao magkatiguwang, ang iya pud kunong lubot mag-anam pud kuno og kamabaw. Hehe... bantog ra diay pud nga ga-anam og ka-iritabli ning karaho nga P-Dut, kay nag-anam naman diay jud tingaleg kamabaw nang iyang lubot.

Ambot lang kaha pud ni si Tom-Os kung nagsugod na ba kaha pud og kamabaw ang iyang lubot? Aw mailhan ra ni pohon sa musunod nga mga adlaw kung mopatol ba siya sa mga minabawg-lubot nga mga gawi ni P-Dut.

Kung mag minabawg-lubot pud si Tom-Os, posible nga murag ingon ani pud tingale ang tuno sa iyang isumbalik og panulti ngadto kang P-Dut:

"Duterte! Anak ka ng tae.... Don’t believe that you are someone better. If we don’t understand each other, I will fuck your shallow ass in front of people. Don’t mess with me because I’m a true Cebuano that you can't push around. I’m a local who grew and live all my life here that you can't bully. Like you P-Dut, I'm just exercising my freedom to spit, este freedom of speech."

Hahay pastilan... Pagkamabaaaaw baya entawn og lubot aning P-Dut oi! Pagkadali ra baya niya entawn pasipukon ang iyang buringog nga ulo.

Ang pamunuan ni P-Dut, gubot pas lukot. Tungod man gud pud lagi kay ang pangutok niya mura man og mantika nga init na kaayo nga maski gamay ba lang nga pisik sa tubig, mo-uros man lang dayon og kalit.

Aw kung ingon ani na jud kamabaw ang lubot ni P-Dut, nan mosamot nga malingaw og panungog ni P-Dut kini silang Sison, Trillanes, Pamatong, ug ang naghinubrang nagkadaghang uban pa. Basin og mao ra unya ni mamahimong hinungdan nga madali og ka tigok ni si P-Dut. Hay pastilan... pagkasayon ra baya entawn lawgawon sa pangutok aning karaho nga P-Dut nga mabaw og lubot.

Unsaon naman lang nimo ron pagsulbad sa nagka grabe nga problema sa inflation sa atong nasod, Mr. P-Dut, kung ingon ana ra ka kasayon nga mapikon kung naay mosaway nimo?

Hoy! Kamo bang mga nagpalibot ni P-Dut, aber kinsa ninyo diha ang duna pay medyo lawm og lubot? Bi kuno bi, tan-awon daw nato kung duna ba moy igong katakos nga motambag ni P-Dut nga unta di na siya magpatuyang anang iyang pagka mabaw og lubot. Tambagan ba pud unta ninyo siya susama ba aning mga gipanulti ni San Roque ang patron sa mga masakiton:

"People in government should not be onion-skinned. The balm to wounded feelings is a clean conscience," matud ni San Roque kaniadtong Lunes, Agosto 20, sa usa ka news briefing sa Malacañang.

"Kung talagang hindi siya protector ni Peter Lim, eh 'di hindi siya protector ni Peter Lim. Dapat huwag siya masyadong masaktan kasi 'yan ang katotohanan," dugang pa nga pamahayag ni San Roque ang patron sa mga masakiton.

"Tom-Os does not have to do that (show proof). He said it, let it be.... If he is wrong, he will apologize. Until he does, he stands by it," matud gihapon ni San Roque ang patron sa mga masakiton.

So, kamong mga haduol ni P-Dut, kung wala ninyoy maski isa nga makatambag niya, nan basin hasta kamong tanan diha natakdan na sab sa iyang pagka mabawg lubot. Kung mao man galing nah, ay mas maayo pa tingale nga pabitasan na ninyo nang inyong mga lubot oi! Mobuhagay lagi jud nang inyong mga gipanghambin dihang mga dautang panuhot!

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Kining akong mga gipamahayag, ay minabawg-lubot baya lang pud ni. Ayaw lang gud pud ninyo seryosoha. Basin ba unyag mokibot pud dayon nang inyong mabaw nga mga lubot. Oi, oi, oi... wa bayay pikonay. Aw ang mapikon, mga magbaw jud og lubot pareho ni P-Dut nga perting mabawa og lubot!

          

This time, I kind of agree with Digong

This time, I agree with Digong's stated phrase. But I'm just not sure if he meant it or understood it in a similar context as most Christians understood it. But it does not follow that just because there is poverty that God does not exist -- it would be like a man, who is born with incurable blindness, preferring to believe that the sun does not exist merely because all he perceives all his life is darkness and he is not able to see and appreciate the soothing sunrise in every morning and neither is he able to witness and marvel at the beauty of sunset at the end of every day.

In some sense, Digong is right when he said that "IF there is God, there is no poverty." Perhaps unknown to him, but at least the way he phrased his statement implies that without God, there is poverty. The absence of God in a man's life could also mean man's rejection of God. Rejection of God means not wanting His ways of how we ought to live our lives in abundance. Only God knows all of the complexities of His creation, but man instead chose to do it on his own.

Did you know that there were two trees in the garden of Eden then? But mankind chose to ate the fruit of the forbidden tree (which represented all of the mortal worldly knowledge of good and evil) because they chose to entertain and believe THE LIE rather than believe God's word and obey his instructions and follow his ways. While in Eden with God, before mankind's fall, they live in all of God's abundance. However, when mankind was cast out of Eden and was living on their own in the ways of their acquired worldly knowledge of good and evil (as the result of eating the fruit of the forbidden tree), they are living their lives in lack and in a roller coaster of countless tribulations. And as descendants of our first parents, we too are experiencing it until now.

Just for the sake of intriguing our thoughts spiritually, briefly let me just pose this question: What if mankind then chose to desire the other tree in the garden of Eden, the Tree of Life? (Hope the concept awakens your spiritual interest. If you seek God's word thoroughly, then you will discover the answer to this deeply mysterious concept.)

Indeed, in God there is no poverty. It is only because of mankind's free choice of not following God's way of abundance that sin and poverty proliferated and prevailed in this world. Only by giving man free will that man, by his own volition and without coercion, can truly learn to embrace the truth, follow the way, and live life eternally in all of God's goodness.

       

On our hatred for the leaders and their offspring

Children shall not bear the iniquity of their parents, and neither shall the parents bear the iniquity of their children. (Ezekiel 18:20)

Every soul is accountable only for his/her own iniquities.

Walang pangulong nais mamuno na ang tanging pakay lamang ay kasamaan para sa kanyang mga masasakupan. At wala ring sino mang taong pinuno na, kahit gaano pa man ka mabait, ay hindi makakagawa ng pagkakamali. Marami sa kanila ay makakagawa o nakakagawa ng pagkakamaling hindi makakabuti o hindi nakakabuti sa kanilang mga nasasakupan at sa bayan.

Sa madaling salita, ang bawat pamumuno, kahit sino mang namumuno at kahit anumang uri ng pagpapatakbo ng pamumuno, kahit papano ay may dulot na mga kabutihan at gayundin mga bagay na hindi nakakabuti. Kayâ, yaposin at ikalulugod natin ang mga kabutihang dulot ng isang pamumuno. Subalit ang mga bagay ng isang pamumuno na hindi nakakadulot ng kabutihan ay ating ituro, punain, at iwaksi, habang sa ating mga sari-sariling kakayahan ay tutulong tayo sa paghahanap ng mga pamamaraang makakabuti sa lahat at sa bayan.

Kahit sa kasalukoyan, may marami-raming bilang pa rin ng ating mga kababayan na hanggang ngayon ay may natitira pa ring mga pagsusuklam sa pamumuno ng dating pangulong Ferdinand Marcos dahil sa mga bagay na nagawa o ginawa ng kanyang pamunuan na hindi nagdulot ng kabutihan sa ating bansa. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na ang mga kamaliang nagawa o ginawa ng Tatay at ng Nanay ng mga Marcos ay kamalian na rin ng mga anak na mga Marcos. Kahit pa na ang mga anak ay dugo ng mga Marcos, hinding-hindi pa rin tama na salinan at kargahan din ang mga anak ng paratang ng masamang reputasyon na napala ng kanilang mga magulang.

Totoo na, sa laman, ang bawat tao ay dugong-dugo ng kanilang mga magulang. Ngunit napakatotoo rin na hindi lang sa linya ng dugo nagmumula ang kasamaan o kabutihan ng tao. Bawat tao ay may sariling espiritu at pag-iisip. Kung ang espiritu ng kabutihan ay galing sa Maykapal, at kung ang tao ay hinawi ng Maykapal sa kanyang kaanyuhan at kahalintulad at hiningaan niya ito at sinalinan niya ng Kanyang Espiritu ang katawan nito para magkaroon ito ng buhay, sa madaling sabi, ang bawat tao ay may espiritu na nanggaling sa Dios at may lahi rin siya na nagmula sa Panginoon.

Kayâ di natin matitiyak na ang isang tao ay magiging masamang pinuno para lang sa payak na kadahilan na ang kanyang mga magulang ay naging masamang mga pinuno.  On the other hand, hindi rin natin matitiyak na ang isang tao ay magiging isang mabuting pinuno dahilan lang sa ang kanyang angkan ay may naging mabuting mga pinuno.

Let anyone aspiring for leadership prove his/her true worth. Huwag natin sila husgahan basi sa masama o mabuting reputasyon ng kanilang angkan, kundi husgahan natin sila sa kung anong totoong laman ng kanilang mga puso at isipan at kung sa anu-anong mga bagay ang kanilang maidulot o naidulot.

For our country's sake, isn't it the best thing to do for the offsprings of our past leaders to bury the hatchet for good? Isa sa mga malaking dahilan na nakapagpagulo ng ating bansa ay itong higwaan personal at pampulitika na nagmula sa halo-halong galit at puot ng mga mamayan laban sa mga angkan ng mga dating lider ng ating bansa dahil sila mismong mga angkan ng dating mga lider ay may galit at puot sa isa't-isa.

At ngayon sa ating kasalukuyan, pumasok na rin itong panibagong dagdag na galit at puot ng taumbayan sa isat-isa dahil sa bagong kasalukoyang pamumuno na sa pakiwari ng marami ay masama at takaw-papuri, habang sa tingin naman ng mas nakakarami pang iba ay mabuti at karapatdapat purihin.

[Pilipinas,] hindi ka kakaiba sa iba... kasi wala ka ring ipinagkaiba sa iba. Subalit, pilit ko pa ring ibahin ang pagtingin ng iba sa iyo, dahil naniniwala pa rin ako na talagang meyron kang taglay na katangiang kakaiba kay sa lahat ng iba.

Pagpalain ka ng mahal na Panginoon [, bayan kong Pilipinas].