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From the Blogs
Hungry Republic The once vainly proclaimed “Strong Republic” has degenerated into a Gambling Republic. It has in fact even now deteriorated to a Hungry Republic. What is very strange is that while the peso has become strong, it has less buying power. There are lesser meals taken in the country. Hence, there is hunger among many people of this once happy and peaceful republic. There are more taxes yet there are less public services rendered in the land. The composite national debt is much bigger but national development is meager if any. Those in power sing promising songs but the common tao hear distressing cries. As the Administration makes more and more elating promises and glowing predictions, people experience bigger despair and discontent. Whatever happened to the glorious Ten-Point Agenda trumpeted in 2004 before the elections? Where became of all the glowing post-election SONA highlights? How come all the glory thereforth kept going and is now all gone? Seen a rich country, yet the government is bankrupt and the people are now poorer. Considered as a paradise, both the professionals and simple workers however are leaving it behind. Called the “Pearl of the Orient”, there are nevertheless continuous travel warnings to foreigners to avoid seeing it. Time and again the Administration claims a fast growing economy, still it is but the OFW composite remittance that keeps the country afloat. Something must be radically wrong neither with the country nor its people—but with their governance. There should be wrong persons holding key public offices in the land. The liability cannot be on the followers but their leaders. The ultimate victims of this pitiful phenomenon are the same—the people in general, the women and children in particular. History teaches the empirical lesson that empty stomachs have no ears. A hungry republic cannot continue to stand. A hungry people will not suffer long and much. Promises do not remedy hunger. Simply big words do not fill even but a small stomach. The mere rhetoric of the Administration and the loud complimenting chorus of the its well clothed and much fed minions would not satisfy national hunger. Something somehow shall give in sometime.
Evangelization Evangelization is the fundamental mission of the Church. The mis sion mandates and commits the Church to proclaim the Gospel truths. The proclamation is focused on the good news of human salvation brought about by the life and teaching of Christ. The teaching is focused on the love of God and the love of neighbor. Love of neighbor means to guide the wealthy and to help the poor, to advise the powerful and to assist the weak, to correct what is wrong and promote what is right, to counter vice and inculcate virtue. Love of neighbor covers working not only for charity but also for justice, preaching not only for the forgiveness of sinners but also asking their repentance, looking not only for the eternal good of people but also for their temporal welfare here and now. Love of neighbor includes not only praising the Lord but also caring for people, not only teaching piety and devotion but also engaging in social action and reform, not merely arranging novenas and processions but also censuring lies and deceit, searching for truth and working for peace. Evangelization is not exactly a sacristy work, neither does it imply a comfortable and serene lifestyle, nor a simply pleasant and pleasing activity. Otherwise the first Evangelizer, Christ, would not have been denounced and tortured, crucified and killed even. If the Church plays blind, deaf and dumb to fraud, graft and corruption, to violation of human rights and injustice, to socio-political immorality and demagoguery, such would be a mockery of evangelization, and insult to love of neighbor, a betrayal of her mission. The Church should be the constant worry and big headache to those who play god and exploit people, who act as the owner of the country and the Lord of the citizens. They cannot do it for long, much less, for keeps. Reason: they are not and will never be! Evangelization is not for those who love themselves but not their neighbors, who only see the beauty of heaven but overlook the dirt on earth. Among others, let the present administration know, understand and remember what evangelization really is.
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