Every year we often hear people say that Christmas is for kids (Ang pasko ay para sa mga bata…), something I’d like to ponder upon this Christmas season.
Is Christmas really for the kids? If so, why? Let me share my views on this. I’ll answer the question primarily with a NO.
NO. From a capitalist perspective, Christmas is never about the kids. It’s about them, the bigwigs in business and the profit that they will gain out of luring the kids to buy their not-so-good goods and motivating them to have tantrums if their wants are not granted. Nowadays, there are so many things that you can find around the market that weren’t available in shops before, from the most unusual electronic gadget to the most out-of-this-world fashion accessories. Ever wondered why I-pod, I-phone, and I-pad lured you and the other kids to have them? Well, the Apple had a bite, and it’s waiting for you to take the bait.
(N.B. The Bible didn’t mention that the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is an apple. DISCLAIMER: I’m not saying that buying these is equal to being evil. But LONGING for these to the extent of obsession and depression is evil.)
NO. From a political perspective, Christmas is never about the kids. It’s about them, the gansters and mafias seated in leather swivel chairs inside the big House called the government. “‘Tis the season of giving” they say. But should their not-so-angelic faces be plastered all over the “gifts” that they distribute among their constituents (a.k.a. voters)? I wonder how these people stomach sashaying gifts that were bought out of taxpayers’ money.
NO. From an employee’s perspective, Christmas is never about the kids. It’s about the double-pay, the additional compensation that they will get from sacrificing joy in the name of duty. Of course, some employees would really work over time for the sake of their children. But is it worth it? Can money really cover what kids really need? (most especially during Christmas?)
If Christmas is for kids, how do we see kids? How do we understand their NEEDS more than their WANTS?
Wait.
Who are the KIDS in the first place? If we will define kids as naïve, dependent, and trivial, then I am a kid, you are a kid, we are kids!
If we are naïve (as in we don’t understand some of the things that happen in our lives), dependent (as in we can’t live on our own), and trivial (as in we find joy out of the not-so-important things, specially material things) then YES, Christmas is for kids, like us because the real spirit of Christmas is not about the gifts that you give and receive, it’s about the greatest gift, the greatest sacrifice that God has given to us.
Most of the time, we celebrate Christmas only on the basis of Jesus’s birth. We fail to celebrate a much bigger occasion, His death—the ultimate and incomparable example of love, of giving.
Yes. Christmas is for kids like us because it’s a constant reminder that we are kids: Naïve, Dependent, and Trivial; that we are kids who need Jesus in our lives because we cannot do things on our own. We can only be successful in this life if we realize and accept that we need Jesus beside us in all the things that we do.
Have a blessed Chrismas and New year, KIDS!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Daily Battles
For almost 10 years now, I have been living a life back and forth Cavite and Manila, and in all those years I have been blessed with the protection of God against the “evil elements” that lurk around us. However, with what happened to my loved ones this week, I paused for a while to reflect about God’s protection.
Was I really protected or was it just mere “luck”? Why did it happen to my family, aren’t they supposed to be protected too?
What battles do we encounter everyday? Does God really protect us from the enemies? If He does, then why do we still struggle to survive the daily battles that we face?
I cannot answer all these questions now, or I may not be able to answer them clearly, but let me try to share the reflections that God revealed to me through Bible studies and daily devotions.
First, there are different battles that we encounter everyday. Spiritual, emotional, and physical are probably the most general categories of battles that we face. I’ll start with the spiritual, since I think this is the main source of other battles. John Bevere, in his book “Under Cover” discusses that the root cause of all the curses and problems that we encounter is Sin. I won’t discuss them in detail here (1) because I can’t, (2) because it would be better if you will read it for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you through.
“So are you telling me that the reason for my problems is Sin?”
“Yes.”
“And why are you telling this? Aren’t you a sinner yourself?”
“I am. And that’s one of the biggest daily battle that I face: the battle against SIN. (And that’s why I’m sharing this to you, because most likely, you are in a battle yourself.)”
From spiritual comes emotional. Later, we would worry too much, we would get in love and would be hurt too much; we would get mad and would hate too much; we would lose and would curse, and so on and so forth.
From emotional comes physical. Because our emotions are affected, we tend to express it too much through words and actions. We curse the people we hate at times even hurting them (and ourselves) physically.
Second, God protects us. That’s for sure. But the problem is, we don’t allow Him to protect us. In Matthew 7:7-8, we learn that if we ask it will be given to us, if we seek we will find, and if we knock, the door will be opened for us. God offers an indestructible bunk that would protect us from the enemies, but the problem is we just don’t knock! How will we get in if we prefer to stay outside? How are we going to be protected if we prefer to be in danger?
Third (which is probably the most difficult question to answer), we continue to have struggles because God wants us to learn to depend on Him. The problem with human pride is our claim that we can do things on our own, that we are independent from God. This is exactly what the Devil told Eve when the snake persuaded her to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
“Ok Wait, I never boastfully told God that I can live my own life without him!”
“Yeah, you might have not said it, but in some little ways, we may not be aware that we’ve been doing it.”
Most would argue that since God gave us the intelligence, the ability to rationalize compared to other creatures that He made, we should use it to decide for our own lives. What we miss is the fact that in everything that we do, we should always ASK for God’s plan, SEEK for his answers, and KNOCK for our minds to be opened.
The incidents made me worry about the safety of my family. It made me ask the questions above. But God gave me the peace that I am looking for. Truly, “He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside quiet waters”. (Psalms 23:2)
Most people see these daily battles as curses, but Jesus’s disciples should see them as opportunities to depend to God. We should see these battles as blessings, after all “all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Was I really protected or was it just mere “luck”? Why did it happen to my family, aren’t they supposed to be protected too?
What battles do we encounter everyday? Does God really protect us from the enemies? If He does, then why do we still struggle to survive the daily battles that we face?
I cannot answer all these questions now, or I may not be able to answer them clearly, but let me try to share the reflections that God revealed to me through Bible studies and daily devotions.
First, there are different battles that we encounter everyday. Spiritual, emotional, and physical are probably the most general categories of battles that we face. I’ll start with the spiritual, since I think this is the main source of other battles. John Bevere, in his book “Under Cover” discusses that the root cause of all the curses and problems that we encounter is Sin. I won’t discuss them in detail here (1) because I can’t, (2) because it would be better if you will read it for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you through.
“So are you telling me that the reason for my problems is Sin?”
“Yes.”
“And why are you telling this? Aren’t you a sinner yourself?”
“I am. And that’s one of the biggest daily battle that I face: the battle against SIN. (And that’s why I’m sharing this to you, because most likely, you are in a battle yourself.)”
From spiritual comes emotional. Later, we would worry too much, we would get in love and would be hurt too much; we would get mad and would hate too much; we would lose and would curse, and so on and so forth.
From emotional comes physical. Because our emotions are affected, we tend to express it too much through words and actions. We curse the people we hate at times even hurting them (and ourselves) physically.
Second, God protects us. That’s for sure. But the problem is, we don’t allow Him to protect us. In Matthew 7:7-8, we learn that if we ask it will be given to us, if we seek we will find, and if we knock, the door will be opened for us. God offers an indestructible bunk that would protect us from the enemies, but the problem is we just don’t knock! How will we get in if we prefer to stay outside? How are we going to be protected if we prefer to be in danger?
Third (which is probably the most difficult question to answer), we continue to have struggles because God wants us to learn to depend on Him. The problem with human pride is our claim that we can do things on our own, that we are independent from God. This is exactly what the Devil told Eve when the snake persuaded her to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
“Ok Wait, I never boastfully told God that I can live my own life without him!”
“Yeah, you might have not said it, but in some little ways, we may not be aware that we’ve been doing it.”
Most would argue that since God gave us the intelligence, the ability to rationalize compared to other creatures that He made, we should use it to decide for our own lives. What we miss is the fact that in everything that we do, we should always ASK for God’s plan, SEEK for his answers, and KNOCK for our minds to be opened.
The incidents made me worry about the safety of my family. It made me ask the questions above. But God gave me the peace that I am looking for. Truly, “He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside quiet waters”. (Psalms 23:2)
Most people see these daily battles as curses, but Jesus’s disciples should see them as opportunities to depend to God. We should see these battles as blessings, after all “all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Friday, October 29, 2010
PRAYERS for JEROME
This afternoon, Kay and I went to Marikina to visit Jerome Barredo, an alumnus of the PNU English department and a former artist of The Torch. We have been wanting to see him since June (the time that we learned about his health condition). However, due to busy schedules, Kay and I didn’t have the time to check on him.
Last Saturday, while praying in church during the Encounter Retreat, Jesus, for some reason, reminded me of Jerome. Clearly, it was the work of the Holy Spirit; it’s kinda odd because we were praying about families and friends during that time and to be honest, we weren’t friends. I just had a connection with him because of Kay. (He was my student though, in Foundations during the 1st semester of SY 2008-2009. He was an irregular student who joined section II-10.)
Because of that reminder, we decided to visit him. My heart was crushed upon seeing him almost paralyzed. He was just lying down in a sofa (which he uses as his bed, I suppose) full of pillows. His upper body was so thin but his stomach is bloated, and he can barely lift his swollen feet. We asked what his disease was, and the family said that the doctors didn’t find anything. (There are really some things that happen to us which cannot be explained by Science.) When we asked if he’s taking any medicines, the sister said he doesn’t want them anymore.
After the little talk, we proceeded with our mission. Kay and I asked for the family’s permission for us to pray for Jerome. We bowed down our heads and laid down our hands on Jerome’s frail body, and we prayed to Jesus. While praying, Jerome fidgeted and tried to move—to no avail. Later on, he was mumbling “…kaya ko to…” because during the prayer, I constantly reminded him to have faith in God and to focus on Him.
After the prayer, I saw a slight glow in his face. He smiled thinly to us and said, “Salamat”.
We can’t really contribute so much regarding the expenses of Jerome’s family, but anyone who trusts Jesus’s healing power can do a lot. I have full faith that He will do something good to Jerome and his family.
I invite everyone to include Jerome Clark Barredo and his family in your prayers. Thank you very much and God bless.
Last Saturday, while praying in church during the Encounter Retreat, Jesus, for some reason, reminded me of Jerome. Clearly, it was the work of the Holy Spirit; it’s kinda odd because we were praying about families and friends during that time and to be honest, we weren’t friends. I just had a connection with him because of Kay. (He was my student though, in Foundations during the 1st semester of SY 2008-2009. He was an irregular student who joined section II-10.)
Because of that reminder, we decided to visit him. My heart was crushed upon seeing him almost paralyzed. He was just lying down in a sofa (which he uses as his bed, I suppose) full of pillows. His upper body was so thin but his stomach is bloated, and he can barely lift his swollen feet. We asked what his disease was, and the family said that the doctors didn’t find anything. (There are really some things that happen to us which cannot be explained by Science.) When we asked if he’s taking any medicines, the sister said he doesn’t want them anymore.
After the little talk, we proceeded with our mission. Kay and I asked for the family’s permission for us to pray for Jerome. We bowed down our heads and laid down our hands on Jerome’s frail body, and we prayed to Jesus. While praying, Jerome fidgeted and tried to move—to no avail. Later on, he was mumbling “…kaya ko to…” because during the prayer, I constantly reminded him to have faith in God and to focus on Him.
After the prayer, I saw a slight glow in his face. He smiled thinly to us and said, “Salamat”.
We can’t really contribute so much regarding the expenses of Jerome’s family, but anyone who trusts Jesus’s healing power can do a lot. I have full faith that He will do something good to Jerome and his family.
I invite everyone to include Jerome Clark Barredo and his family in your prayers. Thank you very much and God bless.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Mending the wounds
Whenever I get wounds, Mama would “spill” alcohol on it. It’s painful, but she tells me (in an angry but loving manner) that it’s the cure because it will prevent infections.
The hostage crisis and the picture of students who posed having the hostaged bus as their background have already wounded the China-Philippines relationship. However, just like the wounds we had, I believe that we will be able to patch things up again and strengthen the centuries-long relationship with the Chinese.
In this blog, I will particularly focus on some practical suggestions on mending the wounds.
1. Admit and Submit- The damage has been done, and we cannot “undone what has been done”. Filipinos should stop pointing fingers. Instead, what we should do is to admit that there were really lapses on the part of government, media, Mendoza’s relatives, and the “usiseros”. At the same time, we have to silently submit to public denouncements by the world—it’s part of the confession, to be condemned. We did something wrong, and even if we argue that this is an isolated case (which I strongly believe, because c’mon, don’t tell me that Philippines isn’t safe; USA wasn’t “safe” too, remember twin towers in 2001?; Spain wasn’t “safe” too, remember the Madrid train bombing in 2004?; India is not “safe” too, remember the Mumbai Attacks in 2008?) we cannot blame them for hating us. I’d like to believe (and I really hope and pray) that this will come to pass. Tolerance, I believe, is the key. It’s not synonymous to cowardice.
2. Recuperate and cooperate- The process of mending the wounds doesn’t stop on the confession level. We have to do proactive moves to “redeem the lost glory”. Specifically, instead of hating the students for the stupidity of their acts, I think it’s more important to move on and cooperate by finally putting a halt on cyber bullying and lambasting; it doesn’t help the situation anyway. Moreover, let me stress out that the majorship of these kids is IRRELEVANT. There are stupid students around us anyway; there are stupid students from both public and private schools anyway—so let’s STOP stressing out that they belong to such and such a department. This is one of the many ways to recuperate and cooperate.
3. Be careful and be tactful- Now that we know how powerfully dangerous the internet can be (just this afternoon, we received an information from PNU Chinese students that the pictures were already published in Chinese newspapers in China) we have to be extra careful on the pictures, videos, and blogs that we upload. At the same time, we should be extra tactful with all the comments, tweets, or statuses that we post. Remember that the world can view your posts, and your posts are subject to acceptance or rejection—or denouncement for that matter. Remember that beyond the computer screens are human beings that have different moral values and cultural traditions. For us, turning the bus into a tourist spot may not mean anything serious, editing the pictures and putting spiderman there may be a joke, but for our Chinese brothers and sisters, this is a direct insult to their fellows who died there.
This morning, I have started to “re-educate” my students with netiquette (network etiquette). I have reminded them to be extra careful with their internet-related activities. Hopefully, they will teach their future students too (who would most probably be in a more “dangerous” cyber world).
I challenge my students, friends, and colleagues to do the same (especially those who commented on the pictures). The condemning part is over. Now, what we have to do is to start teaching.
Instead of spreading the infection, let’s “spill” the alcohol that would cure the wound. Yes, wounds leave scars, but these should be taken positively as reminders: of the wrong that should be avoided, and of the good that should be practiced.
The hostage crisis and the picture of students who posed having the hostaged bus as their background have already wounded the China-Philippines relationship. However, just like the wounds we had, I believe that we will be able to patch things up again and strengthen the centuries-long relationship with the Chinese.
In this blog, I will particularly focus on some practical suggestions on mending the wounds.
1. Admit and Submit- The damage has been done, and we cannot “undone what has been done”. Filipinos should stop pointing fingers. Instead, what we should do is to admit that there were really lapses on the part of government, media, Mendoza’s relatives, and the “usiseros”. At the same time, we have to silently submit to public denouncements by the world—it’s part of the confession, to be condemned. We did something wrong, and even if we argue that this is an isolated case (which I strongly believe, because c’mon, don’t tell me that Philippines isn’t safe; USA wasn’t “safe” too, remember twin towers in 2001?; Spain wasn’t “safe” too, remember the Madrid train bombing in 2004?; India is not “safe” too, remember the Mumbai Attacks in 2008?) we cannot blame them for hating us. I’d like to believe (and I really hope and pray) that this will come to pass. Tolerance, I believe, is the key. It’s not synonymous to cowardice.
2. Recuperate and cooperate- The process of mending the wounds doesn’t stop on the confession level. We have to do proactive moves to “redeem the lost glory”. Specifically, instead of hating the students for the stupidity of their acts, I think it’s more important to move on and cooperate by finally putting a halt on cyber bullying and lambasting; it doesn’t help the situation anyway. Moreover, let me stress out that the majorship of these kids is IRRELEVANT. There are stupid students around us anyway; there are stupid students from both public and private schools anyway—so let’s STOP stressing out that they belong to such and such a department. This is one of the many ways to recuperate and cooperate.
3. Be careful and be tactful- Now that we know how powerfully dangerous the internet can be (just this afternoon, we received an information from PNU Chinese students that the pictures were already published in Chinese newspapers in China) we have to be extra careful on the pictures, videos, and blogs that we upload. At the same time, we should be extra tactful with all the comments, tweets, or statuses that we post. Remember that the world can view your posts, and your posts are subject to acceptance or rejection—or denouncement for that matter. Remember that beyond the computer screens are human beings that have different moral values and cultural traditions. For us, turning the bus into a tourist spot may not mean anything serious, editing the pictures and putting spiderman there may be a joke, but for our Chinese brothers and sisters, this is a direct insult to their fellows who died there.
This morning, I have started to “re-educate” my students with netiquette (network etiquette). I have reminded them to be extra careful with their internet-related activities. Hopefully, they will teach their future students too (who would most probably be in a more “dangerous” cyber world).
I challenge my students, friends, and colleagues to do the same (especially those who commented on the pictures). The condemning part is over. Now, what we have to do is to start teaching.
Instead of spreading the infection, let’s “spill” the alcohol that would cure the wound. Yes, wounds leave scars, but these should be taken positively as reminders: of the wrong that should be avoided, and of the good that should be practiced.
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Transporter
Every week, despite stressful tasks and tight schedule, I see to it that I find time to escape Manila (even just for a few hours) and go home to Cavite—sleep in my bed and hug my “sweet-scented” pillow. It’s also my way of “recharging” my spirit. Of course, I could just go to any church in Manila, but “church-going” isn’t the reason; it’s more of the ministry. Somehow, my service to God has been tested by adding “struggles” –the struggles of transportation.
Since summer, going home to Cavite has become a very tedious task. Instead of just going to Park n’ Ride to take the bus straight to Silang (and sleep throughout the travel), one would need to choose from a variety of not-so-good options.
Option A: Take the LRT or jeepney bound for Baclaran, and take the bus there (Yep, the bus terminal at the back of Chowking and McDonald’s)
Option B: Go to Buendia and take the Cavite-bound bus. But this has become more difficult these days because the buses are not allowed to enter Taft Avenue anymore (or at least during the times that I have tried going to Buendia). They are forced to drop passengers in Roxas Boulevard, which is very uncomfortable.
Option C: Take the Van parked in front of the Post Office (and be sandwiched inside) However, these vans don’t reach Silang, so I’ll have to take the jeepney to reach our place.
My friend Bong (who takes up Law at PCU) said the Cavite-bound bus companies are the ones to be blamed because they didn’t file (or something like that) their franchises on time. However, I can’t help but wonder other possible reasons for not allowing the Cavite buses inside Manila. If it was about traffic, then I suggest that the Manila Traffic Bureau castigate SM Fairview buses (particularly Universal Guiding Star buses, which transformed Pedro Gil corner Taft Avenue, specifically in front of PCU, into their terminal) and Alabang-bound buses, which similarly transformed the south-bound lane into their terminal.
Moreover, I am really curious why no one seems to take care of this problem that really affects passengers, particularly students and employees who travel everyday from Cavite to Manila and vice versa. Fortunately, the Philippine Daily Inquirer had a tinge of discussion of the matter in their Editorial last Sunday (August 7, 2010) and hopefully, this could be the start of something that would solve the problem. Here’s a portion of it.
How traffic control can run out of control can be seen in Manila, where Mayor Alfredo Lim has banned provincial buses from entering the city since April 1, in violation of the buses’ franchises. Gravely inconvenienced are the daily commuters from the provinces who work in offices or study in schools in Manila.
The ban is obviously politically motivated: Lim does not want the provincial buses to park at the Park and Ride on Lawton, which had been built by his predecessor and political foe. The complex has become a white elephant, a waste of taxpayer’s money, as a result. During the election last summer, to appease irate commuters, Lim promised to further waste taxpayer’s money by putting up a public bus terminal at the old Manila ice plant site at the foot of Quezon Bridge. The pledge indicated that it was wrong in the first place to ban provincial buses from the Park and Ride, but Mayor Lim would not admit that. In the meantime, he complains that Manila’s income has dipped. Why? Of course, because he has banned people from the provinces from entering his city and, in effect, from shopping and doing business there!
A country that aims for progress should not just look into the roads that would bridge places; it should also prioritize the modes of transportation that are available for the majority of commuters and traders.
Since summer, going home to Cavite has become a very tedious task. Instead of just going to Park n’ Ride to take the bus straight to Silang (and sleep throughout the travel), one would need to choose from a variety of not-so-good options.
Option A: Take the LRT or jeepney bound for Baclaran, and take the bus there (Yep, the bus terminal at the back of Chowking and McDonald’s)
Option B: Go to Buendia and take the Cavite-bound bus. But this has become more difficult these days because the buses are not allowed to enter Taft Avenue anymore (or at least during the times that I have tried going to Buendia). They are forced to drop passengers in Roxas Boulevard, which is very uncomfortable.
Option C: Take the Van parked in front of the Post Office (and be sandwiched inside) However, these vans don’t reach Silang, so I’ll have to take the jeepney to reach our place.
My friend Bong (who takes up Law at PCU) said the Cavite-bound bus companies are the ones to be blamed because they didn’t file (or something like that) their franchises on time. However, I can’t help but wonder other possible reasons for not allowing the Cavite buses inside Manila. If it was about traffic, then I suggest that the Manila Traffic Bureau castigate SM Fairview buses (particularly Universal Guiding Star buses, which transformed Pedro Gil corner Taft Avenue, specifically in front of PCU, into their terminal) and Alabang-bound buses, which similarly transformed the south-bound lane into their terminal.
Moreover, I am really curious why no one seems to take care of this problem that really affects passengers, particularly students and employees who travel everyday from Cavite to Manila and vice versa. Fortunately, the Philippine Daily Inquirer had a tinge of discussion of the matter in their Editorial last Sunday (August 7, 2010) and hopefully, this could be the start of something that would solve the problem. Here’s a portion of it.
How traffic control can run out of control can be seen in Manila, where Mayor Alfredo Lim has banned provincial buses from entering the city since April 1, in violation of the buses’ franchises. Gravely inconvenienced are the daily commuters from the provinces who work in offices or study in schools in Manila.
The ban is obviously politically motivated: Lim does not want the provincial buses to park at the Park and Ride on Lawton, which had been built by his predecessor and political foe. The complex has become a white elephant, a waste of taxpayer’s money, as a result. During the election last summer, to appease irate commuters, Lim promised to further waste taxpayer’s money by putting up a public bus terminal at the old Manila ice plant site at the foot of Quezon Bridge. The pledge indicated that it was wrong in the first place to ban provincial buses from the Park and Ride, but Mayor Lim would not admit that. In the meantime, he complains that Manila’s income has dipped. Why? Of course, because he has banned people from the provinces from entering his city and, in effect, from shopping and doing business there!
A country that aims for progress should not just look into the roads that would bridge places; it should also prioritize the modes of transportation that are available for the majority of commuters and traders.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Basyang’s Bashings
I love storms.
They make people realize (even for just a few days or hours) how puny we are compared to nature.
***
9:00 AM
Yesterday, because Basyang hit the metro so fiercely and so swiftly, the weather began to normalize—but not the rehabilitation of things she destroyed. Wanting to do something productive amidst brown-out, I went to PNU to get some papers to check. My plan was clear: 1. go to PNU; 2. get papers; 3. proceed to a coffee shop 4. buy their cheapest product; 5. check papers; and 6. re-charge phone. But not all plans turn into practice. It appears many people had the same idea, and when I went to SM Manila, it’s packed with people trying to escape reality.
I didn’t give up. SM’s kind of small, so I went to Robinson’s Manila, only to find out that the situation’s the same.
_____________________
REALIZATION #1: Technology has enslaved us; we have become too dependent on them.
_____________________
I had a moment of reminiscing. I suddenly missed home. When we were kids, we usually spend the day chatting, playing the guitar, and singing songs (not that we want the storm to return). At night, our family would usually play scrabble in candle lights (from which Papa would cheat, hiding the difficult tiles.
2:00 PM
Realizing the futility of my plans, I decided to just go to the hardware to buy a rechargeable lamp with AM-FM Radio. The scene shocked me. It looks like those Apocalyptic films that show paranoid people panic-buying.
_____________________
REALIZATION #2: People in the metro lack survival skills during brown-outs.
_____________________
I am guilty of this, I have succumbed to this pathetic nature of urban-dwellers. Back home, we usually just create makeshift lamps from old socks (or clothes) and gin bottles. Yeah, it emits black smoke, but we didn’t mind because we only use that as a substitute for candles, and we only use them for a short period of time—we sleep early.
6:00 PM
As darkness lurked metro, I noticed people scouring around, looking for an “activity” to do for the long dark night; some bought cases of beer, some looked for computer shops with generators, while some flooded coffee shops and fastfood chains.
_____________________
REALIZATION #3: We have turned the day into night and the night into day.
_____________________
I will never forget that line from Kurosawa’s “Dreams”. When a city guy went to a remote rural village, he asked an old man why there’s no light in village at night, from which the old man gently answered, “Why? Isn’t it supposed to be dark at night?” Indeed, modern technology has brainwashed us. It made us think that we can alter nature, that we can turn day into night and vice versa. But in reality, we can’t; we never can.
***
God created storms, and God loves His creations. Ergo, He loves storms.
They help Him make us realize (even just for a few days or hours) how powerless we are.
They make people realize (even for just a few days or hours) how puny we are compared to nature.
***
9:00 AM
Yesterday, because Basyang hit the metro so fiercely and so swiftly, the weather began to normalize—but not the rehabilitation of things she destroyed. Wanting to do something productive amidst brown-out, I went to PNU to get some papers to check. My plan was clear: 1. go to PNU; 2. get papers; 3. proceed to a coffee shop 4. buy their cheapest product; 5. check papers; and 6. re-charge phone. But not all plans turn into practice. It appears many people had the same idea, and when I went to SM Manila, it’s packed with people trying to escape reality.
I didn’t give up. SM’s kind of small, so I went to Robinson’s Manila, only to find out that the situation’s the same.
_____________________
REALIZATION #1: Technology has enslaved us; we have become too dependent on them.
_____________________
I had a moment of reminiscing. I suddenly missed home. When we were kids, we usually spend the day chatting, playing the guitar, and singing songs (not that we want the storm to return). At night, our family would usually play scrabble in candle lights (from which Papa would cheat, hiding the difficult tiles.
2:00 PM
Realizing the futility of my plans, I decided to just go to the hardware to buy a rechargeable lamp with AM-FM Radio. The scene shocked me. It looks like those Apocalyptic films that show paranoid people panic-buying.
_____________________
REALIZATION #2: People in the metro lack survival skills during brown-outs.
_____________________
I am guilty of this, I have succumbed to this pathetic nature of urban-dwellers. Back home, we usually just create makeshift lamps from old socks (or clothes) and gin bottles. Yeah, it emits black smoke, but we didn’t mind because we only use that as a substitute for candles, and we only use them for a short period of time—we sleep early.
6:00 PM
As darkness lurked metro, I noticed people scouring around, looking for an “activity” to do for the long dark night; some bought cases of beer, some looked for computer shops with generators, while some flooded coffee shops and fastfood chains.
_____________________
REALIZATION #3: We have turned the day into night and the night into day.
_____________________
I will never forget that line from Kurosawa’s “Dreams”. When a city guy went to a remote rural village, he asked an old man why there’s no light in village at night, from which the old man gently answered, “Why? Isn’t it supposed to be dark at night?” Indeed, modern technology has brainwashed us. It made us think that we can alter nature, that we can turn day into night and vice versa. But in reality, we can’t; we never can.
***
God created storms, and God loves His creations. Ergo, He loves storms.
They help Him make us realize (even just for a few days or hours) how powerless we are.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
After the Party
(NOTE: This blog was written a day after the inauguration.)
As the loud music turns into mute, as dancing and cheering turns into a halt, and as the partying turns into stillness, the real Day 1 of Pres. Aquino begins.
Yesterday, while everyone was ecstatically celebrating the triumph of Pres. Aquino, Kay and I quietly escaped to Mall of Asia and chose to unwind with vampires and werewolves—anyway, vampires and politicos are the same: they suck blood. We don’t intend to be passive or “anti-nationalist” (because in the first place, love for country is never measured by mere attendance to political events such as the inauguration). We just didn’t see the need to make so much “fuss” about it.
True. Yesterday was a celebration of democracy, of “the triumph of good over evil”, of the dawning of “change”. But how many “changes” have we witnessed? How many changes do we still need to finally realize that change will never take place if WE remain stagnant? If WE remain too dependent to politicians? To finally see that these people are mere instruments and we are the ingredients? [We can only change presidents every six years—or every time we wage people power revolutions—but we can change anytime we want; we just don’t]
After the movie, while doing our usual afternoon exercise, i.e. people watching, Kay blurted out a question:
“Anu’ng masasabi mo sa pagiging extra-agitated ng mga Pinoy ngayon? Kasi parang napaka-active ng lahat sa mga activities related sa gubyerno ngayon eh…”
I paused for a while and answered:
“Well, kahit sabihin nating “fanaticism” ang dating ng inauguration na ‘to, I would honestly concede to the fact that this day is a very important day.”
By “important” I mean the inauguration rejuvenated the Filipinos. It brought hope to the hopeless hearts; it brought light to the seemingly blind path.
However, the problem with most Filipinos is our post-colonial thinking of being “dependent” to someone. We have achieved “independence” over a century ago, but we haven’t learned how to become independent. We wait for someone to bring “hope” to us; we don’t seek it. We wait for someone to bring light to our dark lives, we don’t look for it.
It may be too early to criticize Noynoy and make conclusions about his ability to lead the country, but we should never be relaxed nor too confident because change is a long winding road. I am not Anti-Noynoy, but I am not a “fan” as well. He did not prove so much in both chambers, so I don’t see any reason why I should expect something “great” from him. If not for his hero-parents, I don’t think he would have a place in Malacañang. Everyone knows that his presidency is out of the picture until former Pres. Cory Aquino died in August last year. There is no question about Ninoy’s and Cory’s contributions to the country. But Noynoy is never Ninoy nor Cory.
After Filipino fanatics revered him as a demi-god gift from heaven, after the curse of presidency brought about by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo haunted him and his administration, and after the real problems of society stalk them in their sleep, the real Days of President Aquino begin.
As the loud music turns into mute, as dancing and cheering turns into a halt, and as the partying turns into stillness, the real Day 1 of Pres. Aquino begins.
Yesterday, while everyone was ecstatically celebrating the triumph of Pres. Aquino, Kay and I quietly escaped to Mall of Asia and chose to unwind with vampires and werewolves—anyway, vampires and politicos are the same: they suck blood. We don’t intend to be passive or “anti-nationalist” (because in the first place, love for country is never measured by mere attendance to political events such as the inauguration). We just didn’t see the need to make so much “fuss” about it.
True. Yesterday was a celebration of democracy, of “the triumph of good over evil”, of the dawning of “change”. But how many “changes” have we witnessed? How many changes do we still need to finally realize that change will never take place if WE remain stagnant? If WE remain too dependent to politicians? To finally see that these people are mere instruments and we are the ingredients? [We can only change presidents every six years—or every time we wage people power revolutions—but we can change anytime we want; we just don’t]
After the movie, while doing our usual afternoon exercise, i.e. people watching, Kay blurted out a question:
“Anu’ng masasabi mo sa pagiging extra-agitated ng mga Pinoy ngayon? Kasi parang napaka-active ng lahat sa mga activities related sa gubyerno ngayon eh…”
I paused for a while and answered:
“Well, kahit sabihin nating “fanaticism” ang dating ng inauguration na ‘to, I would honestly concede to the fact that this day is a very important day.”
By “important” I mean the inauguration rejuvenated the Filipinos. It brought hope to the hopeless hearts; it brought light to the seemingly blind path.
However, the problem with most Filipinos is our post-colonial thinking of being “dependent” to someone. We have achieved “independence” over a century ago, but we haven’t learned how to become independent. We wait for someone to bring “hope” to us; we don’t seek it. We wait for someone to bring light to our dark lives, we don’t look for it.
It may be too early to criticize Noynoy and make conclusions about his ability to lead the country, but we should never be relaxed nor too confident because change is a long winding road. I am not Anti-Noynoy, but I am not a “fan” as well. He did not prove so much in both chambers, so I don’t see any reason why I should expect something “great” from him. If not for his hero-parents, I don’t think he would have a place in Malacañang. Everyone knows that his presidency is out of the picture until former Pres. Cory Aquino died in August last year. There is no question about Ninoy’s and Cory’s contributions to the country. But Noynoy is never Ninoy nor Cory.
After Filipino fanatics revered him as a demi-god gift from heaven, after the curse of presidency brought about by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo haunted him and his administration, and after the real problems of society stalk them in their sleep, the real Days of President Aquino begin.
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