Annabelle Rama to Run for a Congressional Seat in Cebu

Annabelle Rama to join politics.

I have to pause to give myself a moment to wipe the coffee off my keyboard. No, she is not running as president of your local Palengke, she is running for a congressional seat in Cebu next year. I have to check my computer again to make sure the liquid I spit out did not damage it. It has been reported that she consulted her family to discuss her interest to run in Cebu City.

Hey, it is a free country! If actors, athletes, comedians, crooks and dethroned ex-presidents can run for office, why not Rama too? Based on the videos that circulated online about her tirade against former actress Nadia Montenegro, “loudspeaker of the house” might be a fitting title in case she gets elected. I’m just kidding. Because of Rama’s very public persona and what she has said and done in the past, she may have a tough time to convince people specially her constituents that she is running a serious campaign. She may want to consider Susan Ople’s excellent advise to Alma Moreno who is also running in 2013 but as a Senator. Ople, a columnist and former Senatorial candidate, advised Moreno to make sense when speaking your mind, have enough campaign money, enjoy the journey and dream big, all are applicable to Rama. Who knows, Rama could be the “element of surprise” in 2013 and wilt all the Cebuanos with her cause and intentions for office. That is what democracy is all about and should not be taken for granted. We have the liberty to run for public office and the responsibility to choose leaders. 

Whether you take this news serious or not, it is a good teaser preview of what will take place in 2013. My hope, as a Christian nation, Filipinos will contemplate early and will pick the best of their ability a candidate of competence and sound character who will help maintain justice, restrain evil, and preserve order – these are what Christianity calls for in government.

Chief Justice Renato Corona is Guilty, But Where Do We Go From Here?

After 43 trial days of hearing, the Senate sitting as impeachment court have declared Chief Justice Renato Corona guilty. Prosecutors said they have strongly proved that Corona is “morally unfit” to remain as chief justice since he lied about his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) to conceal his wealth. This makes Corona the first government official to be convicted by an impeachment court. (Read more) 

Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin... But Who's the Sinner?

In the past few weeks, states have made decisions on same-sex marriage and the president of our country has come clean on where he stands on the issue. I’ve seen reactions from both sides of the deep canyon, and I’ve seen so much hate from either side. I have to admit I am most bothered by the hate that comes from the side that claims to be Jesus’ followers. (Read more: Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin. Yes, But Who's the Sinner? by Abet Victoria)

An excellent article. I will not deny that some prominent Christians did not do a decent job in pointing sin to others. That is why evangelical Christians are stereotyped as judgmental and bigoted. I think the issue is deeper than just poor communication skills from these Christians. I think our “secular” neighbors just do not get it when Christians bring up the idea of sin. The world believe that people are intrinsically good and there’s no such thing as sin. Often, bad choices are viewed as products of something else other than the condition of the human heart – such as poverty, lack or education, poor upbringing, genetics, etc. Christians don’t hate people, we just draw the distinction between the sin and the sinner. Christians want to help them understand that what they are doing is sinful. We’re just communicating what God said in the Bible. It is not bigotry, just genuine concern. Remember, Christians are also the first people to go to prisons and hospitals and embrace those who are sick with AIDS.

How we speak about it, is also very important. It is also wrong to demonize sinners. Remember, Jesus also prayed and wept over the people who will crucify him. We can love the sinner while hating the sin. We do not love them only after they come out of the closet or when terrible things are already said about them. Love should be a daily act and specially before we reproach others.

(Posted originally on on Facebook)

The Only Thing Lady Gaga Offended in Manila

Do you agree with the protesters that the Lady Gaga concert should have been banned in Manila to protect the moral values of the Filipino youth?... Should Lady Gaga be given artistic freedom, or must she be censored based on religious and moral beliefs of the predominantly Christian people of the Philippines? (Read more, Lady Gaga in Manila: Artistic Freedom or Censorship Based on Religious Beliefs?, by Gel Santos-Relos)

If many Filipino's think Lady Gaga is sincere in advocating respect and equality for all, then many are out of touch with her reality. If Gaga is serious about love and acceptance, then she should stop offending Catholics in her songs and videos or at least explain why defaming people of faith is acceptable while an attack on LBGT community is not. Or better, she should make songs and videos of other religious figures like Mohammed - I bet she doesn’t have the courage to do it.

The Sliming of Filipino & Christian Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao

Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is guilty — of being true to his Catholic faith. The gay-marriage mob is guilty — of the very ugly bigotry it claims to abhor. And left-wing media outlets are guilty — of stoking false narratives that shamelessly demonize religion in the name of compassion. (Read more, How the Gay-Marriage Mob Slimed Manny Pacquiao by Michelle Malkin).

I hope the strength and courage Manny Pacquiao possess inside the boxing ring is the same to withstand the smear campaign and bigotry hurled against him. More importantly, I hope he won't compromise and remain loyal to his faith and the authority of the scriptures he openly proclaims. Same goes to his wife Jinkee and the pastors or church who mentors him.

Some Nice Gesture

I always take my daughter to work after school at least once a week to "visit daddy's office" and to have some distraction-free time to do her home work. Yesterday, was just one of those days, so I thought. When I got to work this morning, I saw this on my desk:

She left a Nature Valley granola bar last night for the clean crew. It's her way of thanking them for their job and keeping "daddy's office" clean. Too bad no one picked it up, probably no one saw it, but it was still a nice gesture. Makes daddy proud.

Headline: How Cheating Can Save your Marriage

The front page of The Huffington Post featured an article with the headline "How Cheating Can Save your Marriage." It's on a research study on female infidelity that found the following conclusion:

Of the wives with whom I've spoken, close to half believe that the 'other man' can actually help them to stay in an unhappy or suboptimal marriage because they find their happiness with the lover. This group of wives who remain with their husbands feels more in touch with their desires in this extra curricular relationship than in their marriages and they no longer feel that life is passing them by.

What kind of adults are we raising?

Exhibit A:
Raymart Santiago, Claudine Barretto and friends vs. Ramon "Mon" Tulfo brawl at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Philippines.



Exhibit B:
Tulfo brothers, Erwin, Ben and Raffy airs grave threats on live TV.



(UPDATE, 5/9/2012) Erwin Tulfo issued an apology for threatening remarks on Raymart Santiago and TV5 suspended the Tulfo brothers Erwin, Raffy and Ben, for the threats they made on national television. As for Raymart, Claudine Barretto and Mon Tulfo, a legal brawl is now headed to court.

Birthday and Nutella Spread

Happy birthday to my son, Jordan. He's 3 years old today. Best way to celebrate is to serve him his favorite croissant topped with a thick layer of Nutella spread. Simple moments like this make fatherhood and family more sweeter.