Trapo: Ibasura Na, Pt.1

Tinuturo ni Cristo na kung ano ang nasasa puso iyon ang lalabas sa bibig. Kaya kung nais nating makilala ang isang tao, kinakailangan na pakinggan nating mabuti ang kanyang mga sinasabi. Ang isa pang katuruan ni Cristo ay ito: Sa pamamagitan ng bunga makikilala ang puno.

Ang mga katotohanang ito ay napakahalaga sa pagpili kung sino ang ating bibigyan ng kapangyarihan bilang national leader sapagkat ang ating buhay ay maaapektuhan ng kanyang mga magiging desisyon.

Election season na naman dito sa ating bayan. Sana naman ay natuto na ang sambayanang Pilipino. Otherwise, masasabi na naman na wala na tayong kasawa-sawa. Pahihirapan na naman natin ang ating sarili.

Character matters. Ang dapat nating iboto ay ang mga taong may character. Ibig sabihin, mayroon silang mga mabuting katangian: Karunungan, discernment, integrity, faith in God, katapangan, pagpapakumbaba, pagmamahal at katapatan sa bayan.

Mayroon ding mga natatanging abilidad ang isang chief executive. Tanong: May vision ba siya para sa ating bayan? Meron ba siyang in-sight sa kalagayan ng ating economiya at lipunan? Mahusay ba siyang magsalita at magpaunawa? Marunong ba siyang mag-motivate? Ibig sabihin, sumusunod ang mga nasa ilalim ng kanyang awtoridad dahil sa kanyang galing at hindi dahil sa takot.

Ang tanong sa ating mga botante ngayon ay ito: Kung base sa character ang pagboto mo, sino ang iyong binoto at sino sana dapat ang iyong binoto ng mga nakaraang election?

Sa next presidential election, sino sa mga tumatakbo ang mayroong character?

Itutuloy . . . . .

Whiter Skin is Beautiful

UPDATE: I went on Youtube to view the latest skin whitening products in the Philippines and I was appalled how blunt many skin whitening commercials has become in giving Filipino women the wrong message about their skin. Here's an example from Ponds:


(the article below was originally posted on The Point blog)

Chris Rock’s new documentary, Good Hair, tackles an issue I was clueless about until I saw the film's preview, below. (Note: It contains occasional profanity and sexual references.) The movie is the comedian’s perspective on black hair and shows what black women go through just to have relaxed and flowing straight hair.

The preview clips were hilarious in a way that only Chris Rock can pull off, especially on a subject that may be sensitive to many African-American women. I could not speak for the black community, but Good Hair reminded me of the appearance issues we have in my own culture. Growing up Filipino, we viewed people with white or light skin as more beautiful and attractive than those with a darker skin tone. In fact, skin-whitening is a big industry in the Philippines and I once fell into that idea. Centuries of Western colonization brought about this mentality in the Philippines; a certain “caste system” was introduced, labeling the dark or brown-skinned natives as Indios who belonged to the bottom of the social hierarchy. To this day, we look up to Hollywood as the perfect standard for what is beautiful and admirable.

Whether reinforced by historical events, traditions or media, every culture has its own issues of inferiority. It’s human brokenness that manifests itself in a culture’s quest to change its appearance because of a notion that a certain skin color or physical feature is unattractive. The good news is that only God holds the true standard of what is attractive and acceptable. Until we know whose eyes we first need to please, our efforts to look new and different will be short-lived and insufficient.

Real Solution to Organ Trafficking in the Philippines

A friend posted my article on organ trafficking in the Philippines on Facebook and it generated some good comments from people. What came out was a discussion on poverty which was pointed as the main reason for some Filipinos to sell body parts to strangers.

But is alleviating poverty the solution to this problem? Would it guarantee a stop to organ trafficking? Poverty is just one component of this issue and I believe the real solution to this problem is not found through livelihood or any legislative reform alone. Its through spiritual renewal that we can see real and long-lasting solution to this problem. Ultimately, if all Filipinos know how to make strong moral choices and believe their bodies are sacred and made by God, then no amount of money should ever be enough to buy or sell a part of the image of God.

A Christian Responsibility

If you are a Christian and interested in growing in knowledge of the Christian Wordview, I suggest you visit http://www.colsoncenter.org.

In his viewpoint on August 31, 2009, Colson stated that, "An informed public is essential to the notion of self-government. We need to be able to make educated political decisions. That means - at a minimum - knowing who our representatives are and what they stand for. The whole process of representative democracy collapses without our participation."

This is one of the issues that you and I need to get others thinking - What do our representatives and senators stand for? We already know that massive cheating happens during elections so that our votes are not reflective of the final tally issued by the Comelec. So we ask ourselves, Does it really matter who wins? Particularly in the local elections? Or, will elected legislators end up in the pocket of the executive through the power of pork barrel, anyway? And will enough of these elected legislators effectively reduce the Congress to a mere extention of the executive department?

We stand at a crossroads. There is a small window of opportunity. I believe that Senator Aquino and the Liberal Party have the right stuff to force this coming elections issue-based and get our electoral process back on the right track.

I also believe this: Without the college and tech students and young-adult-earners' participation in engaging Philippine political and electoral issues of the day, we may completely lose our right to self-government.

The Philippines, a "Hotspot" for Organ Trafficking

Our friends at the Online Nursing Programs blog sent me some interesting and shocking facts about organ trafficking. On my previous post on the subject, I mentioned that the Philippines rank 5th in the world for organ "hotspots" - a recognition no country should be known for.

Here are the facts that may also be truth to our Filipino brothers and sister. Please click on the link for more information. You can read the entire article here.

1. People seized against their will
2. Organs harvested from children
3. Outrageous price of kidneys
4. Sellers denied money and care
5. Go in for an exam, leave without a kidney
6. Detained and executed for organs
7. Only legal in one country
8. American rabbis selling organs
9. Babies auctioned for organs
10. Transplant tourism

"How Do You Earn Millions Congressman?"

A friend posted this on Facebook and thought Ill post it here. I must admit, I found some pleasure watching Winnie Monson and Igan grill and lecture Rep. Mikey Arroyo on his personal wealth.

As I said before, our government leaders are instituted by God and should be above reproach and set to a higher ethical standard. Be the judge if the clip busted Rep. Arroyo for not meeting those standards.

Part 1


Part 2

Reviving the Two-Party System

Philippine Daily Inquirer | 09/03/09: Former Sen. Ernesto Herrera expected Sen. Manuel Villar, the Nacionalista Party standard-bearer, to slug it out with Aquino.

He described Villar as a "credible opponent" whose "track record as an entrepreneur and able leader speaks for itself."

"Owing to his integrity, Noynoy offers real hope for change, especially in ensuring honest and upright governance, just like his mother," said Herrera.

"What we are witnessing now is the up-and-coming revival of the great rivalry between the LP and the NP, and the renewal of the system of two parties dominating our political affairs," Herrera said.

Truth be told, this is exactly what I am hoping for - - the two-party system making a comeback. Let party coalitions formed for the sake of political expediency fall by the wayside. Let it be the Nacionalista Party versus the Liberal Party.

What needs to be done is to get both the NP and the LP spell out their reason-for-being. Who is for big government or for limited government? Who is pro-Management or pro-Labor? Who is for Federalism or not? Who is for abolishing the Senate or preserving our bicameral Congress? Who is for tax reform or tax increase? Who leans toward more socialism or toward more free enterprise? Who is for a balanced budget amendment or not? These are issues aspiring national leaders ought to be discussing in public.

If this happens, those who do not have the necessary qualification will be weeded out early on giving way to meaningful presidential and vice-presidential debates for the benefit of the voting public.

If this happens, we will see a significant increase in public interest as to who gets elected resulting in greater citizens' involvement in ballot box protection and poll watch, effectively making it harder for incumbents to cheat.

If this happens, it will be less difficult for educators to raise more intelligent voters.

If this happens, and the likes of Aquino, Roxas, Pangilinan, the Cayetanos, Escudero, Santiago and Gordon in the Senate along side Party list representatives in the Lower House apologetically debating such issues, there will be reason for national optimism.

Seeking Divine Guidance

Balita ng abs-cbnNews.com on 09/02/09: Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Wednesday announced that he will be going on a retreat this coming weekend for "divine guidance" for his plans on the 2010 presidential elections.

Tanong ko lang, "Bakit nakapaloob sa quotation marks ang phrase na divine guidance?" Para bang hindi naniniwala ang reporter na ito na naglalaan ang Diyos ng gabay para sa mga naghahanap sa Kanyang kalooban.

Nang ma-assasinate si Ninoy noong August 21, 1983 nasa America ako noon at namamasukan sa Prison Fellowship, ang ministry na itinatag ni Charles Colson na siyang Special Councel ni President Nixon nang pumutok ang Watergate scandal. The day after that turning point in the history of the Philippines, Colson, before we began our director's meeting, shared with us how he met Ninoy. They shared the same flight once and Ninoy introduced himself and shared with Colson how his book, Born Again, helped him during the days of his confinement. Then I was asked to lead in a word of prayer. I remember praying for Ninoy's family and the freedom fighters of the Filipino nation. Chuck understood why I had to leave my job and join the Movement for Free Philippines in Washington, DC.

I must have viewed the tape of Ninoy's final hours a hundred times. I read every newspaper and magazine article about Ninoy that I could lay my hands on. And I began to greatly admire the man.

Those were the days when I learned how to seek for divine guidance, the days when I learned how to pray. Rather, when Jesus taught me how to pray. And I know now that it was also Jesus who taught me how to seek God's guidance.

Some people might interpret seeking divine guidance as a sign of weakness. That waiting on the Lord is pussyfooting. Well, some people might never had an encounter with Jesus. I wanted so much to return to the Philippines at that time. But the Lord had another plan for me. I had to wait 20 more years before God's word, godly counsel, preparation, peace of heart and open door lined up and guided me back to the land of my birth that I may serve God's Filipino people.

Noynoy is doing the right thing. One can never go wrong seeking for divine guidance. It's all good. Seeking divine guidance requires humility, faith and courage; qualities a president must have if he is to govern wisely.

Predictions

On August 27, 2009, I predicted that Mar Roxas will give way to Noynoy Aquino's candidacy. On September 1, 2009, Roxas did so. I believe that he did indeed make a sacrifice. But may I say that it was also the best and wisest decision he could make. The Filipino people will remember what he did today come 2016. Kiko Pangilinan will likewise be rewarded for his part. A Roxas-Pangilinan ticket in 2016 will be unbeatable (if they do not drop the ball, that is). I suppose, the Liberal Party has been reborn.

I also predicted that Bro. Mike Velarde will withdraw. He did.

Okay two down. The following to go:

• FDR and Erap will endorse Noynoy.
• Escudero and Legarda will aspire for VP.
• Villanueva will withdraw and endorse Noynoy.
• Fernando will quietly withdraw.
• De Castro will go back to newscasting.
• Madrigal will not go away and contribute to Villar's defeat.

How Pinoys Vote: The Hard Truth

If professional survey groups are right that 55% of the Philippine electorate belongs to the low-income but non-poor group and 32% of the population is living below the poverty line, then I can understand how FPJ could have actually won the last presidential election; why Erap in spite of having been convicted of plunder is still popular among the Filipino people; and why Filipinos are still singing David Pomeranz' Got to Believe in Magic.

This means that a great majority of our people are either uneducated or undereducated. They are those who live in multi-family dwellings. The rest are either educated enough to have landed good paying jobs that enabled them to afford a home mortgage or rent a decent house for their family. Those who belong to the critical thinking educated group are, politically speaking, insignificant in number. Hence, should they wish to influence the way people vote, they need to work very hard in educating them.

When the late Senator Roco was a presidential candidate, he said that what Filipinos need most is kaalaman. He was right on the money. It behooves moral movements and non-government corporations concerned with crime and corruption to seriously focus on values formation first, then teach our people basic politics, sociology and economics.

To expect today's Filipino electorate to understand different socio-politico-economic philosophies and how decisions based on them affect public policy is unrealistic. Lets observe: Survey says that if elections were made today, 28% of the vote will be for Villar. This is because Pinoys are fast becoming familiar with his face and name that depict Wealth and they would want to be identified with his success and argue that the man knows how to get things done. 19% will vote for Erap - because they still believe that he can feel their pain. 16% will vote for De Castro - due to party loyalty. 12% will vote for Escudero - because they are attracted to him. 11% will vote for Roxas - on account of his prestigious name and/or their affiliation with the Liberal Party. While Fernando, Gordon and Panlilio, who appear to have the most to show for their long standing and fruitful public service will garner less than 3% of the vote.

I am not a prophet but I am willing to predict that as soon as Noynoy Aquino announces his candidacy, all bets are off and his initial rating would be close to 50% because of a certain Filipino trait - utang na loob. Ninoy and Cory made Filipinos feel good about themselves albeit for just a little while. Nothing will be lost in translation here: A vote for Noynoy is a vote for Ninoy and Cory. Regardless of how sophisticated or naive Pinoy voters are, majority of them will vote for Noynoy because of utang na loob. And in this case, it is not bad at all. The absence of scandal or controversy associated with his track record is making it less difficult for the undecided to finally make the choice to support him. Case is closed. Noynoy will be the next President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Again, I am not a prophet. This is not an endorsement. This is merely a humble prediction made by a political observer.