Manuel "MANNYBOY" Rodriguez II

Whether an Ecclesiastical Dispute May be Brought to a Civil Court

2011-12-22T00:54:00.000-08:00

(opinion of Manuel Rodriguez)

A Civil Court interfering with and interrupting the procedure of the church has adjudicated a purely ecclesiastical dispute that should have been settled by the church’s denominational process.

As our courts have long recognized, a valid line separates the jurisdictional spheres of state and church, and this line may not be crossed without violating the integrity of the governments of each of those spheres. In our Constitution, we have referred to this principle as the “separation of church and state.” Said principle was patterned from the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States, a fellow Nation that upholds democracy as a form of governance.

The church as an institution is want of authority over the affairs of civil government, and the state as an institution lacks authority over the affairs of church government because the state has concern for the things of this world while the church has concern for the soul of man in the next. Although civil government has the authority to enforce state laws with physical punishment and/or monetary fine, a church cannot enforce criminal sanctions. Acknowledgement of this separation comes from a recognition that God is the source of all power.

Jurisdictional separation of the two institutions of church and state find its origin in the history of the nation of Israel as found in the Old Testament. Throughout history, a high regard for that separation has been manifest in numerous Supreme Court decisions.

This does not mean that churches are immune from suit. Churches may be sued if the issue does not involve doctrines, matters of the faith and interpretations of the Holy Gospels.

A civil court taking cognizance over a case of an ecclesiastical issue is highly erroneous.

Aggrieved parties have no recourse in the machinery of the Government; their recourse is within the system of their denomination.

Hope That Does Not Disappoint

2011-06-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

By Manuel Rodriguez II

God’s hope does not disappoint.

When we hear the word “hope,” it stresses two things. First, it stresses futurity, event or events that which is about to happen. The second one, it stresses about the invisible things, or the things that are not present yet, things we want to come on our lives.

Biblically speaking, the word hope means strong and confident expectation. It is never static or passive, in fact it is dynamic, and it is active, directive and life-sustaining.

The question now is how can we be sure in the midst of suffering to take hold of this (biblical) hope?

In the midst of pain and suffering Jesus Christ tells us to be uncompromising, unwavering and unshakable.

UNCOMPROMISING

Be determined to have that hope.

Romans 5:1-2 says: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into his grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. The point on the verse is God’s grace will grant you peace. A parallel verse made the message clearer, Hebrews 4:15 - 16 states: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

If we are determined, the mercy and grace of God will come to us. Then we can hope.

The story of the apostle Thomas in the Bible will teach us this kind of determination. Whether we see Thomas as the doubter or the believer, in any case we will see the grace of God in his story.

The account says that Thomas doubted, but we can be sure that he was determined to see the piercing on the hands of Jesus. Jesus could have ascended to Heaven right away without proving himself to Thomas, but he came to his disciple to satisfy the doubt. He came back for Thomas, the doubting disciple.

God will show up and will prove his grace to you.

Like Thomas, we also have doubts and questions. And the faithfulness of God tells us He has answers. Just like what Jesus did to Thomas, he too will come back to us just to satisfy our doubt even to the point of showing up again. So that you will be continued to be strengthen on your faith. Like Thomas, we too should be determined.

UNWAVERING

Be focused to have that hope.

God’s grace will allow you to possess the future.

Romans 5 tells us how the “hope” were talking about is produced. To summarize the entire chapter it points out that we should rejoice in tribulations for it produces patience, and patience produces experience, and experience produces “hope.”

The Bible tells us that we should be focused despite pain and sufferings because it leads to hope. If we remain focused, hope will be secured in our lives.

In the resurrection account in John 20, we’ll see the story of Mary Magdalene. There she was very sorrowful facing the empty tomb of Jesus Christ.

We know the story; she stayed at the empty tomb, meaning she persevered despite her sorrow. She could have left the tomb, but she remained.

If Mary left, she will not see the risen Jesus. The lesson for us here is to persevere even on the moments of facing our empty tombs. We should remain and trust that Jesus will reveal himself.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God is always in control. It says: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It is okay if we are struggling with reality, but we should hold on to Christ. If we do not turn our backs even in the midst of sufferings…we will see the glory of God. So we welcome pain with rejoicing, for we know that our God will deliver us victorious.

Suffering may be a word about today, but hope is a word about tomorrow.

UNSHAKABLE

Be in love with God.

Probably, out of the three this is the most difficult thing to do.

Despite the hardships and trials, he is asking us to love Him still. Why? Because the grace and love of God is more powerful than all our sufferings combined. So be in love with God even in suffering.

In this life, it is easier to lift the name of Jesus if things are going on our way, but it is harder if things are falling on places we do not expect.

The biblical account in John 21 is very popular. It is the story of the conversation of Jesus and Peter. In the said account Jesus asked Peter “do you love me?” thrice. The third time Jesus asked, Peter became a bit mad to Jesus for asking the same question over and over again. Of course we know what happened to Peter on the latter part of the story, he denied the Son of Man thrice. But let us not dwell on the story of Peter’s denial; instead we focus on the conversation between Peter and the Son of Man whom he called the Christ.

In our Bible translations probably we failed to see a message on the word “love” Jesus mentioned on his question “do you love me?” to Peter due to the rich grammar of its original Greek scriptures counterpart.

In the Greek Bible, the first and second “do you love me?” question to Peter, Jesus is talking about the unconditional love translated to greek as agape. Peter replied to Jesus, “Yes Lord, I love you.” The “love” Peter mentioned on his answer to the query of his master refers to brotherly love or phileis in Greek.

The third time the Christ asked Peter “Do you love me?” he stoop down to the level of Love Peter can give. There, Jesus was referred to the brotherly kind of love (phileis).

To give a wide-ranging view of the scenario of the account between Jesus and Peter here’s a better translation/version of the conversation:

JESUS: Do you love me unconditionally (agape)?

PETER: Yes Lord, I love you with a brotherly love (phileis).

JESUS: Do you love me unconditionally (agape)?

PETER: Yes Lord, I love you with a brotherly love (phileis).

JESUS: Peter, do you love me with a brotherly kind of love (phileis)?

PETER: Yes Lord, I love you with a brotherly kind of love (phileis), how many times do I need to tell you that Lord?!

The above conversation, tells us what really transpired between Peter and the man he called the Son of the Living God. But what does the story tell us now.

He is willing to step down for us so we could hope simply because he loves us unconditionally (agape). Like what happened to the story of the doubting Thomas, Jesus went back for his disciple because he loves him. God’s love can reach us.

Brothers and sisters do not stop loving our Lord. He is willing to receive your love no matter how small. No love given to Jesus is insignificant.

We can always hope because we know God loves us. He will always step down; he will always go back for the Thomases and the Mary Magdalenes.

That is the kind of hope that we have, a hope that does not disappoint.

Therefore, the things we should remember in despair to gain hope are the following.

Be determined. Be focused. Be in love with God.

There is always a reason to hope.

Having Same Passion with the Christ

2011-05-30T04:41:00.000-07:00

by Manuel Rodriguez II

John 21: 15-19
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Jesus asked Peter: “Do you truly love me more than these?” As Jesus asked that question, he went straight to the matter of the heart.

That question put a shame on Peter and unto us as well. The question to Peter is still being asked by the Lord to us now, “Do you truly love me more than these?” To rephrase the question Jesus asked it says: “Am I of second importance to you?”

Who is God to us anyway? In the question to Peter let me emphasize on the adverb truly.
Peter was asked by the Christ three times. Biblical scholars say that if a phrase, word or sentence in the Scriptures is mentioned three times it means that it is emphasizing itself.
In asking that question to Peter (and to us) it should be clear that God wants us to know what’s inside of us. Most of the time people are being blinded, we thought we love someone but the truth is we don’t. We should be honest to ourselves.

God is all knowing, He knows the answer to His question. He is asking the question not for Him to know the answer but for us to know what is inside of our hearts.

As always, His grace allows us to see his presence. But more than His presence, the conversation between Jesus and Peter allowed us to see beyond His presence. It allowed us to see the passion of Jesus.

God want also His heart to be revealed to you. His passions. His ideas.
God is not just concerned whether you love Him. He is also concerned in sharing to you His heart.

What is the passion of Jesus? It’s the people!

The Bible says that the heart of Jesus cries out for the people. Let us remember the lepers, the tax collectors, the prostitute, the poor people and etc. His heart cries out for all.

That passion is what he wants to share with us.
“Feed my lambs.”
“Take care of my sheep.”
“Feed my sheep.”

If we have truly seen the Lord, then we have seen His heart. If we have truly seen the Lord, then we have also his passion.

For Jesus…people matters. Not programs. Not ministries.

Jesus came to this world not to put up a program, not to put up a religion, not to establish an activity and etc. but to show His passion.

Do we care for the things that Jesus is caring about? Are we willing to exchange our personal interest for the One we love?

And if we look at the heart of Jesus, we’ll see ourselves inside because He cares for us. You were once lost but now you’re found. He is passionate about you.

This is the message He wants to share to Peter, and to all of us.

Our love to God is always translated to our love to the ones around us because the passion of Jesus is for the people. That should be the obvious lesson of the passage.

His heart cries out for you and me. He cares for the eternally significant.

My prayer is that we will be passionate to the people around us and care for what Jesus care, the eternally significant things.

Respond to love because that is the passion of the Lord. Is it easy for me to say? Yes I know, but not impossible because of Jesus Christ.

Think about the fishermen, the prostitute, the tax collectors, the unschooled, the criminals and etc. Jesus loved them all. We too should.

May we have the same passion with our Lord.

Righteousness of God

2011-05-21T06:38:00.000-07:00

(Sermon delivered by Aniceto B. Fontanilla on Reformation Sunday at UCCP-Ellinwood Malate Church, October 31, 2004.)
by Nick B. Fontanilla, Ph.D.

The Mayonnaise Jar and the Wine

A professor in his philosophy class picked up a very large and empty jar and filled it with golf balls. He asked the students if the jar was full. The students agreed that it was.

The professor picked up a box of pebbles and poured the pebbles into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced a glass of wine and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, Church, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your other important things -- that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he said, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important.

What this story tells us is that we should pay attention to the things that are critical to our life and that we should set our priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a glass of wine with a friend."

Symbols of Protestant Reformation

In a way, this story captures what reformation of the 16th century has done to Christianity. Reformation opened our eyes so we can recognize what is big stuff and what is small stuff. It rejected rituals, practices, symbols, corruption, doctrines and all those things that represent the small stuff such as the elaborate altar that was common in the old church.

In place, it reformed the church so that Christians are able to focus on things that represent the big stuff. Thus, we see the sanctuary of the reformed church as a picture of simplicity with the Bible at the center, symbolizing the Christ-centeredness of the reformed faith.

Other reforms include Christian principles and doctrines, some of which are shown below:

A Catholic scholar priest acknowledged the importance of the reformation in his book A Biblical Defense of Catholicism that was written in 1991. In this book, he quoted Karl Adam who lamented the loss of Luther whom Adam described to have marvelous gifts of mind and heart, warm penetration of the essence of Christianity, passionate defiance of all unholiness and ungodliness, and the elemental fury of his religious experience.

He says, “Had Martin Luther brought all these magnificent qualities to the removal of the abuses of the time . . . had he remained a faithful member of his Church, humble and simple, sincere and pure, then indeed we should today be his grateful debtors. He would be forever our great Reformer . . . comparable to Thomas Aquinas and Francis of Assisi. He would have been the greatest saint of the German people.

It was, however, not meant to be. The Catholic hierarchy never gave Martin Luther the chance to reform the church. Instead, it pushed him out of the church and gave him the mandate to reform the church outside of the hierarchy.

The Protestant Reformation

The Reformation of the Roman Catholic Church was a major 16th-century religious revolution that ended the ecclesiastical supremacy of the pope and resulted in the establishment of the Protestant churches. The map below shows how the reformation spread from Germany to various parts of Europe:

With the Renaissance and the French Revolution that followed, the Reformation completely altered the medieval way of life in Western Europe and initiated the era of modern history. The UCCP-EMC traces its roots from this reformation, as shown in the history chart below:

Reformation Sunday

Today is Reformation Sunday. It is on this occasion when we recognize the faith, courage, and perseverance of those who risked and lost their lives in their effort to reform the faith and life of the church.

There have been many great Reformers in the history of the church:

1 John Wycliffe and John Huss who initiated reforms even before Martin Luther;

2 Ulrich Zwingli who began the Swiss Reformation;

3 John Calvin, who reformed the church in Geneva and had a profound impact on what we believe as Presbyterians; and

4 John Knox who reformed the church in Scotland and is considered the father of Presbyterianism.

But if was Martin Luther who ignited the Reformation of the church. Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk serving at the University of Wittenberg. Through the years, he became miserable because of what he had been taught to believe.

One night, he reflected on Paul’s letter to the Romans, the very same words we read as our scripture reading. Verse 17 says: For the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, the one who is righteous will live by faith.

When Luther reflected on Paul’s words that the righteousness of God is revealed through faith and that the righteous live by faith, he realized the omissions of the church. For Luther, this was a life changing revelation, a spiritual rebirth.

He learned that God’s righteousness is the means by which God judges sinners. In his reflection, Luther discovered that God’s righteousness was more than just an attribute of God; it was a quality of God, a grace of God that is given to sinners that makes sinners acceptable before God.

It was this radical new perspective that changed everything for Martin Luther. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the words written by Paul, he had been set free.

With this new understanding of God’s righteousness and a hope of salvation, Martin Luther composed his 95 Thesis against the practices and beliefs of the Catholic Church. And on the night of Halloween, the eve of All Saint’s Day, October 31, 1517, exactly 487 years ago, Martin Luther walked out of the front doors of the University of Wittenberg, to the front door of the Catholic Church, and there he nailed to the door his 95 Thesis. With that move, the history of the church changed forever.

For Luther, The one who makes us right before God is not ourselves; it is God, the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. That understanding remains central to our faith and should be one of the big stuffs that should fill up our lives.

The reformation started a new culture, a new form of humanity. It touched every aspect of life: work, economics, art, literature, music, science, etc. The doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone based on scripture alone released energy into a society that had previously been preoccupied with an 'other-world' piety.[2]

Reformation was so pervasive that some historians have blamed the Reformation for the rise of capitalism. The 'Weber' thesis equated Protestantism with material success. Weber claimed that Calvinism so stressed predestination that anxious believers began to seek signs of God's election in earthy prosperity, which is not true because Both Luther and Calvin attacked capitalism as unrestrained greed and called for government control of capitalism. Moreover, Zwingli and Calvin contributed to the development of modern social welfare programs, urban renewal and urban and state welfare programs. They forced governments to accept responsibility for the prevention and alleviation of poverty.

The reformation enlightened our understanding of our mission to proclaim the word. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, tells us that we have been set apart for the gospel in this generation.

In Romans 1: 8-17, Paul summarizes the reasons why we have been set apart for the gospel in this generation, that is, we should live from faith to faith. This means that as God’s righteousness is revealed to us, we become his instruments to reveal God’s righteousness to others. Paul says that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who BELIEVES.

God’s righteousness is not revealed to us on the basis of our own merits. We discern that righteousness "from faith to faith." Faith is the beginning of our relationship with Christ. But it does not stop there. It goes from faith to faith. And throughout this whole cycle of faith, the righteousness of God is continually revealed – to believers and non-believers.

This is why Martin Luther wrote his famous statement Ecclesia semper reformanda, the Church is always to be reformed. Christianity always needs to be reshaped – that is to be cleansed and sharpened in terms of its theology, reformulated in terms of its culture and reorganised in terms of its practise, and to reveal God’s righteousness from faith to faith.

After all, the classic definition of theology is “faith seeking understanding. Understanding involves grasping clearly what our experience of God tells us about who God is and what God has done for us. It involves engaging in a quest to see our world in a special way from the perspective of God who has created that world and sustains it including all the stuff of theological reflection as we try to understand those experiences from God’s perspective as well as our own. Finally, it involves transformative action, calling us to be prophets proclaiming the gospel.”[3]

Radiant Faith

In our Old Testament text, Moses came down from Mount Sinai with a radiant face. Every time he came down from the mountain, his face was radiant. God’s righteousness was revealed to Moses which he discerned from faith to faith. Every time he came down, he experienced the transformative action of the righteousness of God. And every time, he shared God’s message to his people, proclaiming God’s word, and revealing God’s righteousness faith for faith. [4]

Like Luther, Moses’ encounter with God was a life changing revelation that was nothing short of a spiritual rebirth. Like Luther, he was set free.

Continuing Conversion

Today, on Reformation Sunday, let us reflect on Paul’s message to the Romans -- “For the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith’” and Moses’ encounter with God that made his face so radiant.

As we do that, let us contemplate on what it is that we have to become as faithful followers of Christ and as a congregation to be faithful to the mission and purpose of Reformation.

Many theologians believe that the critical challenge facing the church today is not how to make Christianity credible to the modern world. Rather, the crucial challenge is ecclesiological: the creation of a new and more faithful church, the transformation of the church, not through accommodation, but through conversion.

The key challenge involves thinking through the question, What kind of community are we called to be in order to be faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ? and to be consistent with the purpose that the reformers fought for and died for, that is to proclaim the gospel.[5]

I would like to paraphrase the recommendations of Darell L. Guder of Princeton Theological Seminary. He says,

“The church can effectively carry out its missionary calling by building a new theology of evangelism that has its focus on the church itself.”[6]

Guder says that we must not succumb to gospel reductionism, and defines Gospel reductionism as an action that reduces the gospel in all its fullness and mission to a controllable, manageable, and comfortable level. He says: "We are constantly tempted to assert that our way of understanding the Christian faith is a final version of Christian truth."

Reductionism as he defines it severely restricts church involvement as it diminishes what for him is vital to become an "incarnational witness." Here he refers to God's grace reaching out in a Christian's call and vocation.

Many mainstream churches are guilty of gospel reductionism. Our local congregations, including the big churches in LCSMC, face this dilemma, one way or the other. Cosmopolitan Church, the bright star in the UCCP LCSMC, took all of 70 years before they embarked on a program called 7x7, meaning seven daughter churches in seven years.

In UCCP-EMC, we are proud of our mission work, having produced many daughter churches in 97 years. But this accomplishment pales in comparison with many young evangelical churches. We now have a mission center that is energized by the many volunteer workers. But it took all of 10 years before it became a reality. We struggled with the thought that it possibly could not be done.

Consistent with the message of the Reformation, Guder recommends continual conversion. By continual conversion, he refers to a rather liquid, dynamic movement in Christianity without boundaries, yet constantly refining what institution is already there.

When Christians become concerned about maintenance, he says, mission is lost. Continual conversion refers to this movement back to mission.

As Martin Luther wrote, Ecclesia semper reformanda -- the Church is always to be reformed. Christianity always needs to be reshaped – that is to be cleansed and sharpened in terms of its theology, reformulated in terms of its culture and reorganised in terms of its practise. That is one important message of reformation.

[1] Spiritual Rebirth (http://www.finleypres.org/worship/sermons/20021027.htm)

[2] Mr. Bill Meischke. Building an Economy of Care. WWW.

[3] Nancy Ammerman, et at. Studying Congregations: A New Handbook. Abingdon Press. Nashville. 1998.

[4] Barbara D. Fillette, North & Southampton Reformed Church, Date: 1/28/01, Title: "Living the Highs and Lows", Occasion: Transfiguration Sunday

[5] Raymond O. Bystrom. On the Church and Our Culture. WWW.

[6] Based on an essay regarding the book Continuing Conversion of the Church written by Professor Darrell L. Guder of the Princeton Theological Seminary.

My Perspective on Liberalism

2011-05-08T22:20:00.000-07:00

By Manuel Rodriguez II

The liberal person is stereotype as a militant, not often esteemed and often misunderstood. In the present Filipino culture we have lost track between political liberalism and moral liberalism, to be “liberated” now is to be an immoral person.

As I see it, the term “liberalism” is almost certainly one of the most misapprehended words in the society of Juan dela Cruz.

Perhaps the supreme fallacy of the term is that one cannot be a liberal and a God believing individual at once.

As a Christian-liberal, let me state my political view and assertion on the subject matter. It is a delusion that only politicians should have a political view, every citizen must get involved in the affairs of his State.

My liberal perspective is probably a “hybrid” of my first being a believer and a practitioner of the Christian Faith and second as an advocate of democracy and liberalism as a political system. Back in senior college I was the Chairperson of the Students’ Democratic Party which is the first political party to be organized after the lifting of martial law and a promoter of liberalism and democracy in governance.

I do not expect all fellow liberals to agree on my perspective; many liberally-educated individuals and political scientists (and maybe the religious) may differ or oppose my personal view.

It’s OK, I have learned to accept the fact that it is uncommon to meet two liberals who would agree on a common definition of the term unless in all probability if they are a part of a same political party which has a liberal brand.

It is only normal that the liberals from different walks of life will argue among themselves regarding the definition of the term “liberal” and the principles and ideals that are anchored on it. As liberals tend to price their personal opinions, you should anticipate a flood of ideas, opinions, positions and even formulas in putting up the “ideal society.”

In my opinion, to be liberal does not mean to be a part of a political group. Liberalism is a belief. It is similar to Christianity, Islam, or any other religion however the focus in liberalism is not the belief in a supreme being but in the belief on the attainment of the ideal society.

As a philosophy, the focus of liberalism is on the freedom of the individual. Liberals believe that in order to attain the ideal society, the individuals must be free to do the things that they want as long as it does not affect the rights of other individuals. Liberals give higher importance to the lives of the individuals rather than the life of the State; they believe that the State must be the protector of the people and not its oppressor.

Unlike the traditionalists who stick to lenience and understanding, the liberal always demand change when change is being called for, they are open to new ideas and values. He always calls for genuine reforms, but is not easy to call for arms unlike the radicals and leftists. In fact, he shuns violence as a solution.

The liberal always respect the rule of law and works within the system and not against it. He boldly presents the cancers of the society, asks the hard queries, and offer solutions.

The liberalism political thought asserts that every individual is rational and is responsible and are at the best position to choose his or her interests. Liberals believe that to go after personal interests freely and rationally would lead to the finest of all social systems.

It is in contrast to the view of the fascists and the conservatives that individuals in the social order are linked collectively in an organic whole and affix on social order. Liberals also disagree with the socialist argument that individual interest should bow down to the interest of the society as a whole.

Liberals are firm to their ideal that no principle can ever authorize the restriction of freedom in the political and economic spheres. Liberals give emphasis to equal opportunities to all, they dream of a society where the hard-working and the talented are rewarded the amount of their work. They shun the idea of equality of ends wherein people will simply receive equal shares of the economic benefits.

In my opinion, it is not wrong for liberals to profess a faith and advocate to Christian values of humility, honesty, justice, love and prayerfulness. Religious freedom is one fruit of many libertarian efforts. Liberals believe that each man must be free on his worship to a supreme being, if he chooses to worship at all.

To end, let me state the six core liberal principles that I have learned being a seeker of political knowledge. These six principles sum up everything about liberalism. First is Individualism, or the belief that the individual is more important than the group or society where he/she belongs. Second is Rationalism or the belief that the world is rational and it can be disclosed in the eyes of the human person through the exercise of critical inquiry. Third is Freedom or the ability to act as one desire in agreement to self-determination. Fourth is Responsibility or being responsible for one’s social and economic circumstance. Fifth is Justice or the giving of every person what is due them. And the sixth is Tolerance or the willingness to accept the views or actions that one disagrees or of which one disapproves.

This is my perspective of the liberalism political credo. As I mentioned earlier I do not expect everyone to agree and that will be fine for I respect the differing views regarding the topic and I uphold the sixth core value abovementioned.

There are many professed supporters of liberalism are at times unconfident as to what precisely their political philosophy is all about. I genuinely hope that my perspective helped those people.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

Retreat and Surrender

2011-05-08T22:13:00.000-07:00

By Manuel Rodriguez II

(Based on the sermon by Rev. Jeffrey Gatdula delivered on April 9, 2011 at Forest Life Resort, Silang Cavite on the occasion of the retreat for the young adults of UCCP-Cosmopolitan Church with the theme “I Retreat, I Surrender.”)

What is “retreat”? The dictionary gives us clear meanings of the term. The word retreat means –to move back or to withdraw. Another definition is to withdraw to a quiet or secluded place or to change one’s decision, plans or attitude.

What is “surrender”? We know that in this life “surrender” is something difficult to live at. It is defined as -- to cease resistance or to abandon oneself entirely to a powerful emotion or influence.

The word “surrender” traces its root from Anglo-Norman. It is a combination of two words namely “sur” and “render.”
“Sur” means superior or excellent, it is where we get the English term “super” which means the same thing. “Render” simply means to give. Ergo “sur-render” literally means super-giving or excellently submitting.

The question now is…are we really “super-giving” as far as the Lord is concerned?

The central to the word “surrender” is our “will.”

Our “will” is a deliberate or fixed desire or intention. It is fixed. It is etched in stone and indelibly written. By analogy in the legal parlance “the last will” of the deceased as a rule cannot be modified.

As we recall in the life of Jesus, he mentioned the phrase “thy Kingdom come, thy WILL be done…” Hence, we can conclude that the Kingdom is the “will” of the Father. Where the “will” of the Father is happening, the Kingdom is present thereat.

God wants us to live “His will” for us instead of “our will” for ourselves. God wants us to experience “His Kingdom.”
In John 18:36 Jesus mentioned that the Kingdom is not of this world. When “God’s will” come upon us…everything changes…even the fixed ones.

Because his Kingdom…A.K.A. “His will” is more supreme. There is always fear when we are not submitting to the will of the father.

Hebrews 9:16-17 says “in the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.”

The verse talks of “the last will.” Nowadays, we need not be legal experts to know that such document has no effect when the testator is still alive, thanks to telenovelas of primetime TV.

“The last will” is similar to the will of the Father; it cannot materialize unless we die.

What kind of death does it talk about? Definitely, not on its literal sense. In Galatians 2:20 the Apostle Paul said “I no longer live but Christ lives in me.” It means dying to self…and letting God take over.

“Surrender” means death. And I must admit that it is not easy. This is the struggle that we face every single day. But we Christians should fret not, for we do not struggle in vain for the Holy Spirit will surely help us.

“Teach me to die to myself every day of my life” must be a part of our daily prayer because unless we die, “God’s will” shall not live.

Losing our lives for him is gaining everything.

Are we ready to lose our lives and give up our desires?

Today is a Perfect Day to Die (my new year message)

2011-01-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

Bago ang lahat, ako at ang aking pamilya ay bumabati sa lahat ng Manigong Bagong Taon at isang Masaganang 2011 sa lahat.

The statement “to die oneself” must of course not be taken literally but figuratively.

In the Christian perspective it means to put behind all the sinful things and to start life anew. It means to be dead to sin and be alive in Christ.

As a new century unfolds, let us continue our pursuit in fulfilling our God-given mission, to spread love and be a channel of peace. May our new "New Year's Resolution" is to remain our old selves "dead."

The year 2010 was a year full of storms and tragedies in our lives individually and collectively as a nation. Yet with our fortitude and faith we managed to endure.

And here we are once again, welcoming a new challenge 2011 will dish up on us. May the God that carried us through in 2010 may once again show off his power and prove his might on 2011.

Happy New Year and may all our old selves pass away

5 Ways of Men to know if They Are Really In Love With A Woman

2010-12-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

1. When you see in her your dream family. When you can picture what kind of mother she will be like to your kids.

Loving the invisible is probably the best kind of love on the planet. Invisible here is your "future family."

2. When you are willing to let go some of your wants and dreams in exchange of having her for a lifetime.

Think of a precious item in your life right now. It could be your education or your work or it could be your money or your dream car or dream motorbike or a dream life in the future. Now imagine that you are in a situation where you need to choose only one. If you choose her then you may now put a check on this item and proceed to number 3.

3. When you pray that God will grant you to her.

God, being the author of love must always be included because if not...its no love at all but a mere passion of likeness. If the author of love is not included in a relationship...there is no love.

4. When despite knowing the negative attributes youre still willing to spend a lifetime with her.

Acceptance is probably the ultimate indicator of love. When knowing the evils on her, you still long to be with the person and dream to be with her for the rest of your life just as she is.

5. When after knowing her dark past you looked at her just as the same.

Similar to number 5 acceptance also comes into play on this item.

Dark pasts may once in a while haunt an individual (especially women) and may be a hazard to a present relationship. However you must view this not as a mere hazard but also an opportunity to prove if youre really in love with the person.

Loving a person includes loving her entirety. Entirety includes the past, present and the future of the individual.

Studying for the People

2010-11-02T03:09:00.000-07:00

by Manuel A. Rodriguez II

Why was I studying? For who or what was I sacrificing? Partly, it was that blind belief that my parents have instilled on my mind since I was a kid. Now that I am a grown-up I realized that what was instilled on me by my parents is a blind belief in learning upon which they both had placed such reliance. Please do not get me wrong on it, blind belief as it may be but it did helped me anyway in earning a Bachelor of Arts degree back in 2009 and I thank them for that and their support.

Studying, besides being a vague struggle to escape my inheritance (poverty), which is also the inheritance of many Filipinos, it was a manifestation of a fact that exists among our fellowmen, in which accomplishment becomes a fetish.

We Filipinos have been for so long under the control of foreign powers, who look down on us from what they deem to be their pretentious standards, that our own barely audible aspirations have been strained to search for any outlet no matter what. It did not matter that our knowledge, once acquired, would be exhausted in a cramped, repressed, unproductive society.

The degree was the thing; the honor was the objective; it lifted the Filipino of the past above the sweaty mass.

And yet, THAT WAS NOT MY PURPOSE. From the beginning I wanted to be a doctor. When I was in kindergarten I was inspired by then Secretary of the Department of Health who visited our school and promoted a government health program for the children like me. I and my classmates made him a thank you card because we enjoyed his visit on our school. I will never forget that man; his name is Doctor Juan Flavier.

Dr. Flavier became a senator years later after serving in DOH. Senator Flavier is now retired on public service and yet his visit on my kindergarten more than a decade ago is still very vivid in my memory. I once said to myself that I wanted to be a doctor like Doctor Juan is.

My grandmother whom we are fondly of calling “Nanay” told me stories from the barrios during wartime. There she said, the people died without tasting a medicine, died gradually, and with suffering. The “albularyos” were the tenet, muttering magic words over cancers, tuberculosis and beri-beri. Primarily, I was interested in pediatric medicine, to save the young.

There were many things to be enjoyed in one’s short life. Even while working hard at a field, a tired farmer would look up and notice the way a line of trees lifted at the horizon and he would think that life was good. At its most miserable there was still much in it that was enjoyable.

In the barrios according to my Nanay if a child died the people bowed and said: “It is the will of God,” as they had been taught by their parish. Even as a child listening to my Nanay, It was never my will to accept it that way.

Then afterwards, I thought of studying law. I would be a lawyer for the people particularly for the rural poor (those similarly situated with the wartime barrio people my Nanay told me), not one who prosecuted them in the courts and even used the statutes which sounded good to the advantage of the landlord and the consumerist. I would defend the people with all my honesty.
During election time I listened to the candidates. Every election whether national or barangay level it was the same. “The people this, the people that.” After campaign, the word “people” was stricken from the vocabularies of the winners, who sat on their polished chairs and collected both graft and salary, equally, with both hands, form the people.

The men I admired as I grew older were all simple men who had a genuine sympathy for the people. Senator Flavier is one, for his being a doctor to the barrios, Senator Jovy Salonga for his eloquence on his faith in the public sphere, Congressman Crispin Beltran for his fortitude in advancing the interest of the working class, the militancy of Bonifacio, Rizal and his dedication. I was impressed by Joan of Arc, Rizal, and Jesus Christ because they went to their deaths for what they believed, and their beliefs were common and of the people.

I had begun to arrive, in a small way, at a philosophy, “If you do it, make sure you’ll finish it and do it with all your heart. If what you will do will benefit many people, though it threatens your happiness and safety, sacrifice your happiness and safety for your noble purpose.”

Such philosophy is my answer to the question my faith had posed on me; “What Would Jesus Do?”

Initially due to the blind belief my parents have instilled, I was studying to escape the constricted confines of poor Filipinos, but my efforts only led me to the conviction that the poor Filipinos was all important, and that I was inferior to it.

GOD BLESS THE FILIPINO.

Senador Trillanes, Ang Makabagong Bonifacio

2010-10-25T01:15:00.000-07:00

Ni Manuel A. Rodriguez II

Giniba ni Antonio Trillanes IV ang kulturang pang eleksyon ng Pilipino noong sya ay kumandidato bilang isang Senador noong 2007. Hindi pinanganak sa isang mayaman o maiplwensyang pulitikal na pamilya, ang kanya lamang nagsilbing alas noong panahon ng kampanya ay ang kanyang pagiging kilala bilang pinuno ng “Oakwood mutiny.”

Suot ang pulang “armbands” na may tatak ng Magdalo, si Sonny Trillanes ay nag mistulang makabagong Bonifacio at rebeldeng may prinsipyong pinaglalaban – ang isabulat ang kanser ng kurapsyon na nagbibigay panganib sa buhay ng mga kapwa niya sundalo. Alam niya ang malaking kaibahan ng Batas sa Hustisya, sinuway man nya ang batas sa pagiging isang rebelde, ito ay para mabigyang daan ang Hustisya na siyang may mas mabigat na importansya.

Taon 2007, hindi man makasabay sa mga makukulay na kampanya ng mga kapwa nya kandidato, si Trillanes ay nagwagi dahil sa mga boto ng mga ordinaryong tao at hindi ng mga elitista at mayayaman. Si “Senador Trillanes” ay likha hindi ng maimpluwensya kundi ng masang Pilipino.

Nakakalunkot isipin ngunit simula ng kanyang pagkapanalo sa halalan ng 2007, ang kanyang opisina sa Senado ay nananatiling bakante dahil sa kanyang pagiging “detainee” sa Camp Crame.

Gayunpaman, hindi napipigilan ng rehas at kunkretong pader ng Camp Crame ang kagustuhan mg mabuting Senador na gampanan ang kanyang tungkulin at huwag biguin ang milyong Pilipino na nagbigay ng suporta.

Kailan lamang ay naglabas si Senador Trillanes ng resolusyon na magsagawa ng hearing ukol sa Memorandum na inilabas ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) at ng Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) na nagpapabawal sa mga graduates ng mga State Universities and Colleges na makakuha ng licensure examinations kung ang kanilang paaralan ay hindi naka kuha ng permit mula sa Commission. Maraming public na Unibersidad at Kolehiyo ang nag kwestiyon sa memorandum na ito sapagkat hindi iyon produkto ng konsultasyon sa kanilang pagitan.

Ipit sa kalagitnaan ng debateng ukol sa nasabing Memorandum ay ang libo-libong graduate ng Nursing, Accountancy at Engineering, na syang nangangailangan makakuha ng licensure examination.
Inilabas ng Senador ang resolusyon na magsagawa ng hearing ukol dito sa kanyang kakayahan bilang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Civil Service and Government Reorganization.
Pitong taon at tatlong buwan na ang minalagi ng Senador sa kulungan. Sa kabila ng “Oakwood Mutiny,” labing-isang milyon ang bumoto sa kanya para sa Senado.
Kamakailan lamang pinirmahan ni Pangulong Aquino ang “amnesty” ni Senador Trillanes at ng ibang rebeldeng kasangkot sa “Oakwood mutiny.” Oras na lamang ang inaantay ayon kay Senador Sotto para sa kalayaan ng rebeldeng senador.

Magiging maganda sa paningin ng mga tagasuporta na makita nila ang Senador na lumakad palayo sa kanyang kulungan at tumungo sa kanyang opisina sa Senado. Marami na ang oras na nasayang at marami pa ang kanyang dapat gawin.

Mayroon pa siyang kinabukasang dapat bigyang katuparan, pamilyang dapat ipagbuklod muli, at Republikang dapat ipaglaban bilang Senador ng masang Pilipino.
Senador Antonio Trillanes, ang makabagong Gat Andres Bonifacio.

A DEMOCRATIC CREED

2010-09-08T00:54:00.000-07:00

University of Sto. Tomas
Faculty of Arts and Letters

(Standard creed of UST Students' Democratic Party, political party founded on June 12,1981)

We believe in the dignity of man and the worth and value of every living soul, no matter in what body housed, no matter whether born in comfort or born in poverty, no matter to what stock he belongs, what creed he professes, what job he holds.

We believe that every man should have a free and equal chance to develop his best abilities under a free system of government, where the people themselves choose those who are to rule them and no one can set himself up as a tyrant or oppress the many for the benefit of the few.

We believe that free speech, free assembly, free election, free practice of religion are cornerstones of such a government.

We believe in justice and law. We do not believe in curing an evil by substituting it with another evil. We are unalterably opposed to class hatred, race hatred, however manifested by whosoever instilled.

We believe that political freedom implies and acknowledges personal and economic responsibilities. We do not believe that any state is an admirable state that lets its people go hungry when they might be fed, ragged when they might be clothed, sick when they might be well, workless when they might have work. We believe that it is the duty of all of us, to see to it that such conditions are remedied wherever and whenever they existed in our country.

We know that our democratic system is not perfect. We know that it permits injustices and wrong. But with our whole hearts we believe in its continuous power of self-remedy. The power is not a theory—it has been proven. Through the years, democracy had given more people freedom, less persecution, and a higher standard of living than any system we know. Under it, evils have been abolished, justice remedied, old wounds healed, not by terror and violent revolution but by peaceful revolution of consent in the minds of the people. While we maintain democracy, we maintain the greatest power people can possess—the power of gradual, efficient, and lawful change.

Most of all, we believe in democracy itself—in its past, its present and its future—in democracy as a political system to live by—in democracy as the great hope in the minds of the free. We believe it is deeply rooted in the earth of this country that neither assault from without nor dissension from within can ever wipe it entirely from the earth. But, because it was established for us by the free-minded and the daring, it is our now, in danger as in security, to uphold and sustain it with all that we have and are. We believe that its future shall and must be even greater than its past. And to the future—as to the past of our forebears and the present of our hard won freedom—we pledge all we have to give without any material reservation or purpose of evasion.

AKBAY NG KARAMAY

2010-08-21T21:59:00.000-07:00

"Akbay ng Karamay"
Paint on canvass, August 20, 2010

Ang mga tauhan sa larawan ay magkaakbay, ito ay nagpapakita ng matibay na samahan sa kabila ng sari-saring pagsubok ng panahon, mundo at ng Maykapal.

Luntian ang piniling kulay ng kapaligiran ng mga tauhan sa larawan, ito ang kulay na sumisimbolo sa temporal na mundo na kapwa nating kinabibilangan. Ang tubig na kulay asul sa ilalim ng mga tauhan ay tanda ng hirap sa bawat paghakbang ng ating bawat paglalakbay sa ibat-ibang kabanata ng buhay ng bawat isa.

Ang araw at mga asul na patak ng ulan ay sumisimbolo sa bawat panahon na susubok sa pagsasama ng dalawang tao, ang mukha ng haring araw ay ginawang may luha tanda ng mga panahon ng poot at kalungkutan.

Ang lumiliyab na puno sa kanang bahagi ay simbolo ng prisensya ng may kapal, ito ay hango sa lumang testamento ng Bibliya kung saan nagpakita ang Panginoon kay Moises sa anyo ng lumiliyab na puno.

Ang kabuuan ng larawan nawa ay maging tanda sa bawat isa na walang tao ang ligtas sa poot, kalungkutan at pagkakadapa. Upang makabangon at makalaban muli, tayo ay magbalikatan upang maitaguyod ang isa at kailangan nating maalala muli ang pag tanglaw sa Diyos at pag tawag sa kanyang pangalan.

Democracy on Altar Pulpit:The role of Christian Churches on democracy issues

2010-08-18T22:29:00.000-07:00

by MANUEL A. RODRIGUEZ

I am a strong believer of democracy, particularly in the Philippines. The democracy here in our country can be traced not only to the Malolos Congress of 1899 wherein our forefathers drafted the first Filipino Constitution but to the pre-hispanic settlers on these islands who sailed to freedom from tyrannical monarchs to organize themselves into barangays, named after their boats that conveyed them to their new homeland where the nurtured democracy by governing themselves through compromise and consultations led by their datu or sultan.

The Philippines after undergoing a tyranny in the hands of foreigners, the barangays continue to build the legacy of people’s burning passion for freedom and liberty. Lapu-lapu of Mactan, Raja Sulayman, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, General del Pilar, Jose Abad Santos, Ninoy Aquino, the GOMBURZA, Dagohoy, Emilio Jacinto, Diego and Gabriela Silang, the martyrs and heroes of Bataan, Cavite and EDSA and the countless heroes of the FIilipino Race including the modern day heroes and statesmen that are on struggle to keep the flame of liberalism alive are testimonies that Filipino people by nature are free men and not born to bondage.

Hence I believe that the teaching of democracy must be included in the educational system of the youth. The perpetuation of the flame of democracy must be done in this land of liberty in Asia, the Philippines.

The Philippines is known throughout the world as a Christian nation. But are we Christian enough in adhering to the mandate of our faith as a Nation? The emphasis of early Christianity was an element of the primary assumptions on which democracy developed its faith in the indispensable impartiality of all men. Catholic theologians St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas upheld liberty as rights of the members of a community. The Christian idea of equality which can be traced form the Jewish tradition and the diction of the Christ himself and elaborated by his apostle Paul, was that all men are equal before God, being descended from the same first parents, who were created by God, and being redeemed by the death of Jesus Christ, and hence are all brothers and can boast no distinction one over the other because of fortune, race or other accidental inequalities. This makes me remember the much-quoted dictum from one of the most celebrated Pope of the Catholic faith Pope Gregory the Great; “All men are by nature equal.”

In these times, bearing in mind the history and culture of the Filipinos and the teachings of the Christian faith in general (both Catholics and Protestants), democracy is the political scheme that is most in consonance with the Christian faith of most Filipinos, among others, for the reason that mutually democracy and Christianity struggle for the preponderance of truth, human rights and the moral and socio-economic expansion and well-being of the individual.

How can democracy get its kick-off in a nation which has never known it? There comes the role of education in democracy. The education of the Filipino youth must, as a vital primary step, locate itself and the purpose of its instruction in the proper cultural setting. By this I mean that education must take into realization the fact that ours is a Christian society which must be instilled by democracy rooted on Christian values.

While I discuss the role of education, let this not be a limit on the term “education” as referring to the role of the degree conferring Schools, Colleges and Universities of the Philippines. What is contemplated on the term “education” is the role that we ought to perform in rearing the youth of today, this may happen not only in the school set up but also in the comforts of the family home, in an intimate discussion with the youngsters and as a preaching or sermon in Church. Yes, in Church. The Filipino Christian Churches (Catholics and Protestants) never failed to adhere to its mandate in making disciples of every nation and propagating the faith probably because it is one of the obvious purposes of being a Church, however most Churches seemed to overlook a mandate…the mandate to teach democracy and instill nationalism on their respective congregations.

On the palace of the Viceroy of India there inscribed a motto: “Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.” Democracy cannot succeed until a people agree to it and inscribe its precepts in their minds and hearts. It must become a part of their nature, their culture, their everyday living and that takes generations and there is no time to start than now.

To start the education on Christian democracy, let us start by accepting that democracy is a process and not a set form. It is in a way a continuous revolution. It never lays claim as a perfect system for it is not a fixed system but a procedure. You, bearing these in things in mind as regards to democracy are my hope that you will continue to nurture the education on democracy. The influence of religious congregations that believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ must be taken advantage in advancing this political system.

Christians, let us be vigilant in protecting and perpetuating this wonderful gift we received from the fountain of justice and wisdom himself, Democracy. God bless the Philippines.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS of the 15th RP President

2010-06-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

INAUGURAL ADDRESS AS DELIVERED BY PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III

Ang pagtayo ko dito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako'y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan.

Ang layunin ko sa buhay ay simple lang: maging tapat sa aking mga magulang at sa bayan bilang isang marangal na anak, mabait na kuya, at mabuting mamamayan.

Nilabanan ng aking ama ang diktadurya at ibinuwis niya ang kanyang buhay para tubusin ang ating demokrasya. Inalay ng aking ina ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang demokrasyang ito. Ilalaan ko ang aking buhay para siguraduhin na ang ating demokrasya ay kapaki-pakinabang sa bawat isa. Namuhunan na po kami ng dugo at handa kong gawin ito kung muling kinakailangan.

Tanyag man ang aking mga magulang at ang kanilang mga nagawa, alam ko rin ang problema ng ordinaryong mamamayan. Alam nating lahat ang pakiramdam na magkaroon ng pamahalaang bulag at bingi. Alam natin ang pakiramdam na mapagkaitan ng hustisya, na mabalewala ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan at inatasan nating maging ating tagapagtanggol.

Kayo ba ay minsan ring nalimutan ng pamahalaang inyong iniluklok sa puwesto? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay nagtiis na sa trapiko para lamang masingitan ng isang naghahari-hariang de-wangwang sa kalsada? Ako rin. Kayo ba ay sawang-sawa na sa pamahalaang sa halip na magsilbi sa taumbayan ay kailangan pa nila itong pagpasensiyahan at tiisin? Ako rin.

Katulad ninyo ako. Marami na sa atin ang bumoto gamit ang kanilang paa - nilisan na nila ang ating bansa sa kanilang paghahanap ng pagbabago at katahimikan. Tiniis nila ang hirap, sinugod ang panganib sa ibang bansa dahil doon may pag-asa kahit kaunti na dito sa atin ay hindi nila nakikita. Sa iilang sandali na sarili ko lang ang aking inaalala, pati ako ay napag-isip din - talaga bang hindi na mababago ang pamamahala natin dito? Hindi kaya nasa ibang bansa ang katahimikang hinahanap ko? Saan ba nakasulat na kailangang puro pagtitiis ang tadhana ng Pilipino?

Ngayon, sa araw na ito - dito magwawakas ang pamumunong manhid sa mga daing ng taumbayan. Hindi si Noynoy ang gumawa ng paraan, kayo ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon, magtatapos na ang pagtitiis ng sambayanan. Ito naman po ang umpisa ng kalbaryo ko, ngunit kung marami tayong magpapasan ng krus ay kakayanin natin ito, gaano man kabigat.

Sa tulong ng wastong pamamahala sa mga darating na taon, maiibsan din ang marami nating problema. Ang tadhana ng Pilipino ay babalik sa tamang kalagayan, na sa bawat taon pabawas ng pabawas ang problema ng Pinoy na nagsusumikap at may kasiguruhan sila na magiging tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbuti ng kanilang sitwasyon.

Kami ay narito para magsilbi at hindi para maghari. Ang mandato ninyo sa amin ay pagbabago - isang malinaw na utos para ayusin ang gobyerno at lipunan mula sa pamahalaang iilan lamang ang nakikinabang tungo sa isang pamahalaang kabutihan ng mamamayan ang pinangangalagaan.

Ang mandatong ito ay isa kung saan kayo at ang inyong pangulo ay nagkasundo para sa pagbabago - isang paninindigan na ipinangako ko noong kampanya at tinanggap ninyo noong araw ng halalan.

Sigaw natin noong kampanya: "Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap." Hindi lamang ito pang slogan o pang poster - ito ang mga prinsipyong tinatayuan at nagsisilbing batayan ng ating administrasyon.

Ang ating pangunahing tungkulin ay ang magsikap na maiangat ang bansa mula sa kahirapan, sa pamamagitan ng pagpapairal ng katapatan at mabuting pamamalakad sa pamahalaan.

Ang unang hakbang ay ang pagkakaroon ng tuwid at tapat na hanay ng mga pinuno. Magsisimula ito sa akin. Sisikapin kong maging isang mabuting ehemplo. Hinding hindi ko sasayangin ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin. Sisiguraduhin ko na ganito rin ang adhikain ng aking Gabinete at ng mga magiging kasama sa ating pamahalaan.

Naniniwala akong hindi lahat ng nagsisilbi sa gobyerno ay corrupt. Sa katunayan, mas marami sa kanila ay tapat. Pinili nilang maglingkod sa gobyerno upang gumawa ng kabutihan. Ngayon, magkakaroon na sila ng pagkakataong magpakitang-gilas. Inaasahan natin sila sa pagsupil ng korapsyon sa loob mismo ng burukrasya.

Sa mga itinalaga sa paraang labag sa batas, ito ang aking babala: sisimulan natin ang pagbabalik ng tiwala sa pamamagitan ng pag-usisa sa mga "midnight appointments." Sana ay magsilbi itong babala sa mga nag-iisip na ipagpatuloy ang baluktot na kalakarang nakasanayan na ng marami.

Sa mga kapuspalad nating mga kababayan, ngayon, ang pamahalaan ang inyong kampeon.

Hindi natin ipagpapaliban ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga estudyante, kaya't sisikapin nating punan ang kakulangan sa ating mga silid-aralan.

Unti-unti din nating babawasan ang mga kakulangan sa imprastraktura para sa transportasyon, turismo at pangangalakal. Mula ngayon, hindi na puwede ang "puwede na" pagdating sa mga kalye, tulay at gusali dahil magiging responsibilidad ng mga kontratista ang panatilihing nasa mabuting kalagayan ang mga proyekto nila.

Bubuhayin natin ang programang "emergency employment" ng dating pangulong Corazon Aquino sa pagtatayo ng mga bagong imprastraktura na ito. Ito ay magbibigay ng trabaho sa mga local na komunidad at makakatulong sa pagpapalago ng kanila at ng ating ekonomiya.

Hindi kami magiging sanhi ng inyong pasakit at perwisyo. Palalakasin natin ang koleksyon at pupuksain natin ang korapsyon sa Kawanihan ng Rentas Internas at Bureau of Customs para mapondohan natin ang ating mga hinahangad para sa lahat, tulad ng:

· dekalidad na edukasyon, kabilang ang edukasyong bokasyonal para makapaghanap ng marangal na trabaho ang hindi makapag-kolehiyo;
· serbisyong pangkalusugan, tulad ng Philhealth para sa lahat sa loob ng tatlong taon;
· tirahan sa loob ng mga ligtas na komunidad.

Palalakasin at palalaguin natin ang bilang ng ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan, hindi para tugunan ang interes ng mga naghahari-harian, ngunit para proteksyunan ang mamamayan. Itinataya nila ang kanilang buhay para mayroong pagkakataon sa katahimikan at kapayapaan sa sambayanan. Dumoble na ang populasyong kanilang binabantayan, nanatili naman sila sa bilang. Hindi tama na ang nagmamalasakit ay kinakawawa.

Kung dati ay may fertilizer scam, ngayon ay may kalinga ng tunay para sa mga magsasaka. Tutulungan natin sila sa irigasyon, extension services, at sa pagbenta ng kanilang produkto sa pinakamataas na presyong maaari.

Inaatasan natin na ang papasok na Secretary Alcala ay magtayo ng mga trading centers kung saan diretso na ang magsasaka sa mamimili - lalaktawan natin ang gitna, kasama na ang kotong cop. Sa ganitong paraan, ang dating napupunta sa gitna ay maari nang paghatian ng magsasaka at mamimili.

Gagawin nating kaaya-aya sa negosyante ang ating bansa. We will cut red tape dramatically and implement stable economic policies. We will level the playing field for investors and make government an enabler, not a hindrance, to business. Sa ganitong paraan lamang natin mapupunan ang kakulangan ng trabaho para sa ating mga mamamayan.

Layunin nating paramihin ang trabaho dito sa ating bansa upang hindi na kailanganin ang mangibang-bansa para makahanap lamang ng trabaho. Ngunit habang ito ay hindi pa natin naaabot, inaatasan ko ang mga kawani ng DFA, POEA at ng OWWA at iba pang mga kinauukulang ahensiya na mas lalo pang paigtingin ang pagtugon sa mga hinaing at pangangailangan ng ating mga overseas Filipino workers.

Papaigtingin namin ang proceso ng konsultasyon at pag-uulat sa taumbayan. Sisikapin naming isakatuparan ang nakasaad sa ating Konstitusiyon na kinikilala ang karapatan ng mamamayaan na magkaroon ng kaalaman ukol sa mga pampublikong alintana.

Binuhay natin ang diwa ng people power noong kampanya. Ipagpatuloy natin ito tungo sa tuwid at tapat na pamamahala. Ang naniniwala sa people power ay nakatuon sa kapwa at hindi sa sarili.

Sa mga nang-api sa akin, kaya ko kayong patawarin at pinapatawad ko na kayo. Sa mga nang-api sa sambayanan, wala akong karapatan na limutin ang inyong mga kasalanan.

To those who are talking about reconciliation, if they mean that they would like us to simply forget about the wrongs that they have committed in the past, we have this to say: there can be no reconciliation without justice. Sa paglimot ng pagkakasala, sinisigurado mong maulit muli ang mga pagkakasalang ito. Secretary de Lima, you have your marching orders. Begin the process of providing true and complete justice for all.

Ikinagagalak din naming ibahagi sa inyo ang pagtanggap ni dating Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. sa hamon ng pagtatatag at pamumuno sa isang Truth Commission na magbibigay linaw sa maraming kahinahinalang isyu na hanggang ngayon ay walang kasagutan at resolusyon.

Ang sinumang nagkamali ay kailangang humarap sa hustisya. Hindi maaaring patuloy ang kalakaran ng walang pananagutan at tuloy na pang-aapi.

My government will be sincere in dealing with all the peoples of Mindanao. We are committed to a peaceful and just settlement of conflicts, inclusive of the interests of all - may they be Lumads, Bangsamoro or Christian.

We shall defeat the enemy by wielding the tools of justice, social reform, and equitable governance leading to a better life. Sa tamang pamamahala gaganda ang buhay ng lahat, at sa buhay na maganda, sino pa ang gugustuhing bumalik sa panahon ng pang-aapi?

Kung kasama ko kayo, maitataguyod natin ang isang bayan kung saan pantay-pantay ang pagkakataon, dahil pantay-pantay nating ginagampanan ang ating mga pananagutan.

Kamakailan lamang, ang bawat isa sa atin ay nanindigan sa presinto. Bumoto tayo ayon sa ating karapatan at konsensiya. Hindi tayo umatras sa tungkulin nating ipaglaban ang karapatan na ito.

Pagkatapos ng bilangan, pinatunayan ninyo na ang tao ang tunay na lakas ng bayan.

Ito ang kahalagahan ng ating demokrasya. Ito ang pundasyon ng ating pagkakaisa. Nangampanya tayo para sa pagbabago. Dahil dito taas-noo muli ang Pilipino. Tayong lahat ay kabilang sa isang bansa kung saan maaari nang mangarap muli.

To our friends and neighbors around the world, we are ready to take our place as a reliable member of the community of nations, a nation serious about its commitments and which harmonizes its national interests with its international responsibilities.

We will be a predictable and consistent place for investment, a nation where everyone will say, "it all works."

Inaanyayahan ko kayo ngayon na manumpa sa ating mga sarili, sa sambayanan, WALANG MAIIWAN.

Walang pangingibang-bayan at gastusan na walang wastong dahilan. Walang pagtalikod sa mga salitang binitawan noong kampanya, ngayon at hanggang sa mga susunod pang pagsubok na pagdadaanan sa loob ng anim na taon.

Walang lamangan, walang padrino at walang pagnanakaw. Walang wang-wang, walang counterflow, walang tong. Panahon na upang tayo ay muling magkawanggawa.

Nandito tayo ngayon dahil sama-sama tayong nanindigan at nagtiwala na may pag-asa.

The people who are behind us dared to dream. Today, the dream starts to become a reality. Sa inyong mga nag-iisip pa kung tutulong kayo sa pagpasan ng ating krus, isa lang ang aking tanong - kung kailan tayo nanalo, saka pa ba kayo susuko?

Kayo ang boss ko, kaya't hindi maaaring hindi ako makinig sa mga utos ninyo. We will design and implement an interaction and feedback mechanism that can effectively respond to the people's needs and aspirations.

Kayo ang nagdala sa akin sa puntong ito - ang ating mga volunteers - matanda, bata, celebrity, ordinaryong tao, na umikot sa Pilipinas para ikampanya ang pagbabago; ang aking mga kasambahay, na nag-asikaso ng lahat ng aking mga personal na pangangailangan; ang aking pamilya, kaibigan at katrabaho, na dumamay, nag-alaga at nagbigay ng suporta sa akin; ang ating mga abogado, na nagpuyat para bantayan ang ating mga boto at siguraduhing mabilang ang bawat isa; ang aking mga kapartido at kaalyado na kasama kong nangahas mangarap; at ang milyun-milyong Pilipinong nagkaisa, nagtiwala at hindi nawalan ng pag-asa - nasa inyo ang aking taos-pusong pasasalamat.

Hindi ko makakayang harapin ang aking mga magulang, at kayong mga nagdala sa akin sa yugto ng buhay kong ito, kung hindi ko maisasakatuparan ang aking mga binitawang salita sa araw na ito.

My parents sought nothing less and died for nothing less than democracy, peace and prosperity. I am blessed by this legacy. I shall carry the torch forward.

Layunin ko na sa pagbaba ko sa katungkulan, masasabi ng lahat na malayo na ang narating natin sa pagtahak ng tuwid na landas at mas maganda na ang kinabukasang ipapamana natin sa susunod na henerasyon. Samahan ninyo ako sa pagtatapos ng laban na ito. Tayo na sa tuwid na landas.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!
(June 30, 2010)

MANUEL ABUYO RODRIGUEZ II

2010-06-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

MANUEL RODRIGUEZ II

MANUEL ABUYO RODRIGUEZ II is currently a law student at the Institute of Law of the Far Eastern University (FEU). He is also a faculty member at the Lyceum of the Philippines University, College of Arts and Sciences (LPU).

Born and raised as an only child in the City of Manila. His father is the late Manuel P. Rodriguez, a movie writer, actor, and director and was a part of the electoral college of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) and his mother is Helionida Abuyo-Rodriguez who was an accountant and is currently working fulltime in Christian ministry as a Bible discipler and a Church Elder at the UCCP-Cosmopolitan Church in Manila.

Rodriguez obtained his Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Legal Management in 2009 at the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas (UST), Faculty of Arts and Letters.

As a college student, Rodriguez served the University as a servant leader; he was the Internal Vice President of the Community Achievers Association, Faculty of Arts and Letters (2006-2007), UST Arts and Letters Student Council Public Relations Officer (2007-2008), Internal Vice President of UST UNESCO (2008-2009), and the Chairperson of the Students' Democratic Party (2008-2009). While being a student leader, he also became part of the football varsity team of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters.

Outside the University, he also held the position of Treasurer (2004-2005), and Secretary (2005-2006) of the Youth Coordinating Council (YCC) and Vice President (2005-2006) of the English Congregation of the Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) of the UCCP-Cosmopolitan Church.

Upon entry as law school neophyte at UST Law, he was appointed as the Internal Vice President of the Batas Tomasino and the Auditor of the UST Chapter of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) where he also served as its President (1st Sem, 10-11) in a semester prior to his transfer to FEU. At age 21, he was admitted to be a faculty member of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) of the Lyceum of the Philippines University.

He is currently living with family relatives at Pandacan, Manila.

The NOYBI Administration and the Unity that We Deserve

2010-05-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

By Manuel Rodriguez II

It’s Time to Stand as One Nation

The Ballots and the PCOS have spoken, we already know who are our new representatives in the Congress and the “Magic 12” Senators (most of them are old faces in politics), and most of all we are now looking forward to what is in store for our nation for the next six years under the leadership of the “NoyBi” administration.

Many of our fellowmen are upset because their bet candidate did not make it. However, all of us Filipinos must face the fact that we have no choice but to accept the new administration because they were the ones voted by the majority. We should respect the democratic institution that we have, we must all be reminded that the democracy that we currently have is a gift.

It is a gift from our heroic forefathers, to the men and women of the past that gallantly responded to crisis, to those who have stood to what they have believed in, to the Filipinos of the past who fought for what they felt was right even in the face of grave danger.

It is also a gift from the revered morally upright statesmen who stood against tyranny under the dark ages of martial rule. To the men, women and children who fought in behalf of the generations to come at EDSA even with fears and reservations in their hearts.

Ultimately, it is a gift from the Omnipotent Being. He who gave us the piece of earth where we could nurture our children and our children’s children. The piece of earth that we must nurture and love. The piece of earth that we must defend from conquerors, insurgents and from the evil in us. The piece of earth where we could practice our faith. The piece of earth we call our Motherland. The piece of earth we named Philippines.

With the new administration, I hope our people will start believing in the rule of law, in the inviolability of their human rights, in the forecast of a better living not just for themselves but for the generation that is to come and in the great chance of lasting peace based on equity and justice.

Majority of the newly elected leaders were not in my ballot, but I acknowledge the fact that I must submit myself to them because I believe that an administration needed a support from a citizen that is open for change when change is being called for.

Our immediate task should start with ourselves. I call my fellow Filipinos to directly participate in and contribute to the betterment of the society. All citizens have a responsibility regardless of economic status, gender, religion, age or even political belief.

We must inculcate to the minds of our fellow Filipinos especially the next generation that this time their Government will do right by them and will serve them with competence, dedication and integrity.

Our democratic society is a market place of ideas. The growth in knowledge happens when two ideas collide and produce a new key idea. We should and must respect the diverse political beliefs we have. Conflicting ideas may be a catalyst of a headache-starter debate, but it is a factor that makes our nation moves forward, it is the essence of democracy where every person is entitled to believe what he wants and vote who he wants.

While some of us did not vote for Senator Aquino and Mayor Binay (that includes me), we must not fret for our vote as an individual was never in vain.
We debated with our friends and supported our respective candidates; on that act alone we contributed something to the advancement of this nation. We contributed to the so-called marketplace of ideas, a proof that we care for the elections and its effect to our future as a Nation.

Now is a fresh start for our Nation. This is not a time to criticize the capacity of our newly elected leaders instead it is a time to hope for a better tomorrow under their watch. This does not mean that we must no longer be watchful on their way of handling our State in fact more than ever this is the time that we should.

The Nation can no longer afford anymore betrayal of public trust, corruption, dishonesty and immorality. These things we should shun and never let happen again.
We must offer and venture a sense of purpose and direction, not only to the “NoyBi” administration, but ultimately to the majority of our fellowmen who have less in this earthly life. Their overwhelming number tells us that poverty is a disease that must be cured. It is a disease of our own doing and the cure is also in our hands.
May the new administration headed by Benigno Aquino III and Jejomar Binay remedy the injustices and right the wrongs the past governments have committed.

God bless the Filipino people. May this new morning mark the start of Philippine renaissance.

MANILA, 2010

Mayo 10: Nasaksihan Kung Babuyin ang Batas at Gahasain si Inang Hustisya

2010-05-15T22:38:00.000-07:00

Sabi sa Media, ang eleksyon na naganap nuong nakaraang Mayo 10 ay ang pinaka-matagumpay na halalan sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas. Sa mata ng mga camera ng media nakita ng buong Pilipinas ang mga pangyayari sa ibang presinto ng pagboto at ang paraan ng pagsasagawa ng eleksyon. Marahil marami sa ating mga kababayan ay sang-ayon sa pahayag na iyon nga ang pinaka-matagumpay na naging halalan sa bansa sapagkat iyon ang pinakita sa kanila ng kani-kanilang mga telebisyon at pinarinig ng kani-kanilang mga radyo noong araw ng Mayo 10.

Maaring totoo nga ang mga iyon sa kabuuang perspektibo o kung ang iyong basehan ay ang eleksyon sa kabuuang bansa. Pero ang tagumpay na kanilang nakita nung araw ng Mayo 10 ay hindi ko nasaksihan sa aking kinalalagyan nuong araw na iyon.

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon naranasan ko ang maging isang tagabantay ng boto, hindi para sa isang kandidato kundi para sa isang malinis na halalan. Sumapi ako sa isang grupo ng mga abogado at kapwa ko estudyante ng abogasya para maging “paralegal” sa araw ng halalan at magbantay kung tama ang pag-gamit sa sistema ng eleksyon. Marami ang nagtaka bakit ako at ang aking mga kaibigan ay sumapi sa grupo na iyon sapagkat napakaraming malalaking partido ang lumiligaw sa mga kapwa namin “paralegals” para sumapi sa kanila kapalit ng masasabi nating mgandang bayad.

Oo, tumanggi kami na magtrabaho sa isang partido sapagkat alam namin na hindi lahat ng kanilang kandidato ay aming pinaniniwalaan at siyang magiging laman ng aming balota. Masaya ako at ang aking mga kaibigan kahit nagtrabaho kami bilang mga “paralegal” ng walang bayad kundi salamat nuong araw ng Mayo 10 dahil napatunayan namin sa aming mga sarili na mahal nga namin ang Pilipinas at hindi pala kaya mabili ang pagmamahal na iyon at ang aming prinsipyo.

Mayo 10, nadestino ako at isa sa aking kaibigan sa isang “public school” na ‘di kalayuan sa aking tirahan. Marami sa mga botante sa eskwela na iyon ay personal ko na ka-kilala, doon din ang presinto ng aming barangay kaya ako din na isang “election watchdog volunteer” ay nagawa parin na makaboto.

At doon ay aking nasaksihan na garapalang binababoy ang sistema ng halalan. Ayon sa batas, bawal ang ano mang paraan ng kampanya sa loob ng “30 meters radius” mula sa presinto ng halalan. Pero sa araw na iyon, tila nagmistulang basurang dokyumento ang batas. Mismong mga opisyal ng barangay ang siyang nangunguna sa pagsuway at pagbalewala sa batas pang-eleksyon. Isang Punongbarangay ang nasaksihan ng aking kasama na bumubulong sa isang botante kung sino ang dapat iboto sa loob mismo ng presinto habang hawak ng botante ang kanyang mismong balota. Mga kagawad ng barangay ang siyang nabansagan na “bulong gang” dahil sa kanilang pag bulong ng pangalan ng pinapaborang kandidato sa mismong “gate” ng eskwelahan.

Isa muling Punongbarangay ang siya mismong nag “set-up” ng tolda na may pangalan at kulay ng mga kandidato sa mismong tabi ng eskwelahan, isang malinaw na pag gawa ng krimen ng “unlawful electioneering” na siyang may kaukulang kaparusahan sa ilalim ng batas na pang-eleksyon. Balibalitaang bentahan ng kanilang mga boto, pagtanggap ng regalo mula sa kandidato at garapalang pag alok ng libreng sakay sa jeep ng isang tumatakbo sa pagka-mayor. Isa ring kandidato sa pagka-konsehal ay namataang umaaligid sa tapat ng eskwelahan at suot ang kanyang “trademark” na “campaign get-up.” Ang mga guro na nagtatrabaho sa eleksyon ay siya mismong may hawak ng “parphernalia” ni congressman. Mga armadong pulis na nakapaligid sa presinto ng pagboto na di lalayo ng “50 meters radius” na siyang pinagbabawal ng batas.

Lahat ng aming nasaksihan ay aming sinita sa ngalan ng aming pagiging “paralegal” na kinikilala ng mismong COMELEC. Ngunit kami ay nagmistula lamang propeta na walang nakikinig. Insulto ang aming naramdaman ng sa aming mismong harapan ay ginagahasa si inang hustisya at ang batas ng eleskyon.

Sa aming paaralang pang-abogasya itinuro sa amin an walang sinuman ang mas nakatataas sa batas at dapat itong sundin ng lahat ng mamamayan sa bansa. Sa presintong aming kinalagyan, itinuro ng tadhana sa amin na ang natutunan naming mga batas sa eskwela ay maaaring maging basahang papel sa araw na ang nais ng mga pulitiko ay makamtan ang ninanais na pwesto.

Nakakalungkot isipin para sa isang “paralegal” na siyang may pagmamahal sa konstitusyon at mga batas ay walang magawa sa nangyayari dahil sa dami ng gumagawa ng pambababoy na iyon sa kanyang paligid. Hindi namin makuha humingi ng tulong sa mga opisyal sa aming paligid sapagkat sila mismo ay marumi ang kamay at may pabor sa isang pulitiko na maaring nagbigay palaman sa kanilang bulsa.

Paano natin masasabi na ang isang halalan ay bagong simula para sa ating bansa kung ang paraan ng halalan ay madumi? Paano tayo magtitiwala sa isang naluklok na mambabatas kung ang kanyang pagkapanalo ay bunga ng pandaraya sa batas? Paano tayo uunlad kung tayo mismo ay hindi makasunod ang simpleng patakaran inilatag sa atin?
Nakakalungkot isipin pero ang tagumpay ng Mayo 10 ay hindi nasaksihan ng aking mata.

Mapayapa nga ba ang eleksyon? Sabi nila oo, dahil hindi ganoon karami ang nasawi at nasaktan gaya ng dati. Sa presinto na aking pinagtrabahuhan, wala din namang taong nasaktan. Ang tanging nasaktan lamang ay si Inang Hustisya na sa harapan ko mismo ay ginahasa ng taongbayan para lamang sa panandaliang pang-laman ng tiyan.

Mayo 10, namatay ang batas sa aking mga mata. Nawa ay sa bukas o makalawa makita ko siyang bumangon muli at husgahan ang tiwali.

The Death of the Laws and Our State: A Call for a Moral Revolution

2010-03-16T04:57:00.000-07:00

by Manuel Rodriguez II

We have become a lawless and a society full of danger.

On the streets, in public places, one may spit, dump his garbage or, urinate anywhere he pleases. Nobody takes offense anymore, whether for himself or for the society. On the road, no courtesies are given and received: the man behind the wheel is an emperor; the traffic police could be bribed, the pedestrian run over, no big deal.

An innocent harmless old lady could be robbed and gunned down in broad daylight, and the witnesses of the crime would simply walk away and watch the evening newscast in the comforts of their homes, sleep soundly, and in the morning read the newspapers.

Within the metro, anyone can construct anything anywhere – on somebody else’s property, in the park, sidewalk or, under a flyover or a bridge – without reference to a zoning law, a building code, or property rights of other persons. The growth of squatter colonies is unstoppable.

Poverty is now equated with filth, and the rich think they have a right to pollute. We now see the air that we breathe and we lack law on noise, we now have equal chances of getting deaf. Piped waters remains drinkable, but the pipelines are all dead. While political environmentalists protests, all environmental proposals sleep in Congress.

If the physical environment is polluted, the moral environment is worse.

Unable to teach the citizens work ethic, the Government operates gambling through casinos instead, to teach the poor Filipinos to trust their luck. And even as we exert efforts in defending the women and children against sexual abuses, pornography is open to everyone.

And while violation of the sixth commandment remains a felonious act, its most notorious public offenders seem to regard themselves as a special gift to public office. They have a luxurious visualization of themselves so they do not commit petty graft.

Truly, the law is dead, and the State is dead.

Of course, the State has died many times before. But it has not stopped dying since.
We must realize that the rise of corruption and petty crime rates are simply other words for the collapse of the rule of law. And that, in turn, is just another word for the collapse of morality.

The crisis that we are facing is first of all a moral crisis, a crisis of our soul as one Nation. We forgot that the most important battle is not the battle against poverty, sicknesses, or even terrorism, no matter how critical they may be, but against evil. We have turned the truth upside down and worshipped man in his own image instead of God. We have lost distinction of good and evil.

Solemn pronouncements or congressional inquiries cannot address or solve this morality crisis. Not even, with all due respect, by a political movement for moral recovery.

Only a return to morality – to a sense of good or evil – will do the work. Once the rule of law is collapsed, the social order can restore it only by appealing, no longer plainly to the law, but rather to the basis of the law which is morality.

The essential query in political affairs is how to arrange our lives as one. That is the role of law, which Saint Thomas Aquinas defines as an ordinance of reason promulgated by authority for the common good. To the law then, society entrust the arrangement of our lives as one.

Saints for public office? Why not, if we can find them in this world. If not, let’s look for the next best, not the least worst. The Government can be an avenue for morality to spring once again; we need morally upright law-makers, judges and president. Change happens gradually. The change that we seek may not come in our lifetime, but there is no time to start the work for change than now.

In the search for these people in the mean time, we can start the revolution by changing our communities, homes, and ourselves in the light of morality.

To the 2009-2010 SDP Core and Members

2010-03-14T05:54:00.000-07:00

To My Dear SDP Family,

The academic year that will come will not be an easy time… It will not be an easy time for the Quadricentennial AB Student Council. And it is certainly not an easy time for the Students’ Democratic Party. Great things are expected of us by the student body, sometimes far beyond our modest capabilities.

Our fellow Artlets, although great believers of democracy, are not great believers in its tedious process. Students are impatient for quick results, quick progress and quick change. I know these things very well because I had the chance of serving in the council as the Public Relations Officer. Many times they expect the Council to do decision which only the administration or the Dean himself can do. They look to the Council for miracles that only the good Lord in his infinite wisdom can arrange.

The SDP campaign days (which include the campaign of affiliates in the different societies) we have been training our thoughts on accountability. What really comes before accountability is authenticity. Authenticity, according to the dictionary, is genuineness, being true to character, being constant with our inner nature.

There is so much falsehood, so much deception, fakery, and phoniness in our common life that we Thomasian leaders must remain true to the best we know – both in public and private leadership. This is the one thing that makes me so proud being an SDP, we are genuine.

When I first came to the halls of AB, I have been pleased to be an active member of the Students’ Democratic Party. In the 2008 elections I was chosen by the party and ran as the President, under the Blue & Red banner (as what other students call the SDP). SDP, it will be remembered, was the party that fielded a ticket to oppose the seven independent candidates, with disastrous results. March 2008 came, and I was elected as the Chairperson of the party.

During the brief time I served the party, I have tried to prove myself worthy of our member’s mandate and the expectations of my fellow party officers. The job in the SDP core is more often than not a job for gods rather than for college students, but we try to give it our best, and our all. That is why I understand the situation of our Chairperson Sheena de Guzman and the rest of the current core officers. Many times the core officers’ best is not good enough, but I hope they shall be judged by righteous men on the basis of their sincere efforts to do the best that they can.

The victory of our bets in the positions VP-Internal and Secretary in the ABSC and the successful campaigns of our affiliates (Ka-CASA, Journ Soc, Asian Studies, etc.) made me really happy not only as your former Party Chairperson but also as your “Kuya” - and I hope the entire SDP family too including my fellow alumni members – and I thank all our party colleagues and supporters especially the freshmen for their warmth and generosity to this party.

I thank the party and its officers for the opportunity it gave me to be a “Kuya,” as I continue to remain in my place in the party now as one of the alumni prepared to work and sacrifice and contribute whatever I can to continue the advancement of our ideals.

We live in the best and worst of times. The challenges are formidable, we have already lost so much time, and so we must create and multiply opportunity as best as we can.

Much is expected from each one of us. And there is much that each of us can do. But a party ought to be bigger than the sum of all its parts.

Working together in pursuit of a common vision and a common objective, we can provide the authentic leadership and the impulse that will lift the student body from the current state and move them fast forward to better times enjoying quality liberal education. Let us help each other to boost morale instead of bickering and passing the buck. We fight as one, “wag tayo mag sisihan sa mga maling naganap,” isang partido lang tayo.

This political party is destined to exist beyond our lifetime as long as there are members who believes on its true cause, and fights for it passionately. For the lower batch I sincerely hope that we have taught you well of our principles. Let us not lose track on the right road that we are travelling now, but instead let us focus more and improve ourselves. Running the party is not just about planning how to win the upcoming elections, but instead practicing the ideals we have, and serving the student body genuinely.

May you guys find us the alumni and the outgoing core officers faithful in keeping the flame of liberalism and democracy alive.

SDP leadership is authentic. This is authenticity; this is to be a genuine Christian, Nationalist, and Democrat in one’s position of great responsibility in the common life as what our Democratic Creed has thought us. These things I have learned on our blue paper, ideals I will bear for the rest of my life, principles which my future children will learn.

To all the SDP members, Mabuhay kayo!

May God keep the SDP for the next 29 years and for all time.

Long Live the Students’ Democratic Party.

In SDP leadesrhip I strongly remain,

Your Kuya Manuel "MANNY" Rodriguez II
Chairperson (08-09)
Standard Bearer(2008)
ABSC PRO (07-08)

To the Nationalist Christian Filipino

2010-02-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

by: Manuel "Manny" Rodriguez II

No administration can thrive without you full support and cooperation. No matter how courageously our next President exercise political will, he will never make a meaningful change and reform without the active participation of the people, especially people like you; a nationalist and God-fearing citizen of the Republic.
A prolific Filipino writer in the field of Public Administration Dr. Jose Leveriza puts it this way:

“The reality of the situation shows that the authority of a public administrator can no longer be exercised purely by the strength of the law vested upon himself, but it requires the acceptance and support of those being governed. A government official cannot fulfill his responsibilities without winning the loyalty and support not only of his own organization, but also of his external environment.”

This nation seeks the cooperation of its citizens, the likes of you is the least expected to just abandon the call of our motherland.

We, who hold this passion for love of our Nation, must accept the challenge. We must embrace the opportunities available here on our motherland, to be at the head of new enterprises. We must lead the generation as we enter the new dawn our Nation will soon face.

I pray that morally upright men and women will get elected in the coming election. I also have faith that you with the grace of our God will be the most enlightened and trustworthy in practicing the duties of a Filipino citizen, considering the training in the Christian perspective that you possess.

The age of computer science has arrived; it is already an established fact of our daily life. The ability to operate a computer will soon be the measure of literacy. No field in the physical science is further than the reach of today’s high technology. These developments we have will radically change and alter the lifestyle of the Filipino people which includes their social values.

The concepts of ethnic loyalties, religion, nationalism and the solidarity of the family will be challenged and perhaps modified. These are the issues and concerned citizens like us must address. These are the issues that will test not just our convictions but more of our faith. We will soon find ourselves making very difficult choices and decisions.

If you despair hearing these realities, then I have faith on your spiritual moorings. I am counting on you to provide the leadership for the generation that is to come. To Christian educational institutions whether Protestant or Catholic, I call upon you to build up your value-immersion subject even as they revise and modernize the assorted curricula in the physical sciences.

Our fellow Filipinos, although great believers of democracy, are not great believers in its tedious process. They are impatient for quick results, quick progress and quick change. Our democratic institution often fails us, sometimes we tend to think to change the entire institution but the real problem is the anchor of our institution not the institution itself.

We must keep in mind that the enduring and lasting institutions of the human race are those that have been anchored on moral values and on an unshakable faith.

To the Christian Filipino, let us take with us the challenge. Let us serve something greater than ourselves, let us think of our beloved Philippines, let us think of this world and exert every effort to change it for the better and spell the differences in our short lifetime.
SO HELP US GOD.

Youth’s Stand Against Destructive Mining

2010-02-17T07:03:00.000-08:00

The Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (Republic Act No. 7942) was enacted particularly to encourage large-scale Mining by local and foreign corporations, However, the law went beyond encouraging the revitalization of the mining industry in the Philippines; it has disregarded the integrity of our National Patrimony for the sake of attracting foreign investment. The law allows the widespread plunder and exploitation of our natural resources. It allows foreign mining operations by foreign mining corporations, it allows 100% of their profits, and it grants tax holidays and exemptions to mining firms.

Mining is Inherently Unsustainable

We do not believe in the myth of “sustainable mining.” Mining is inherently unsustainable since it requires the depletion of non-renewable natural resources. Instead of requiring ever-growing amounts of mineral and fuels, a sustainable economy will use materials much more efficiently, reducing waste to a bare minimum, and rely more on recycling, reuse and renewable energy technology. Sustainability means less mining, not more.

Mining should not be considered as the only industry that will propel our country towards development. Unrestricted mining activities will destroy other industries, like agriculture and fishing.

“Aanhin pa ang kayamanan kung sira na ang kalikasan.”

The serious environmental destruction caused by large-scale mining outweighs any economic benefit that may be derived from it. Mining is among the greatest threats to biological diversity worldwide. Mining creates extraordinary amounts of waste; much of it contaminated. And often creates environmental problems, such as water pollution, that can endure for centuries. Mining often yield little, if any, long-term net benefits for host communities and countries, as is becoming increasingly evident, the long-term cleanup costs of many mines may well exceed what the host countries gain while the mines are open.

Mining encroaches on Indigenous Peoples’ Lands

Mining has disproportionately great impacts on indigenous peoples and poor, rural communities, whose lands are often forcibly seized for mining with little or no competition, and enjoy few of the benefits of mineral extraction. Indigenous people and their communities have a historical relationship with their lands and are generally descendants of the original inhabitants of such lands. They have developed over many generations a holistic traditional scientific knowledge of their lands, natural resources and environment. Any development initiative should be implemented recognizing their values, traditional knowledge and resource management practices with a view to promote environmentally sound and sustainable development, and recognizing their traditional and direct dependence on renewable resources and ecosystems.

To Our Fellow Youth

It is important that we, the youth, actively participate in all relevant levels of decision-making processes of our nation, particularly with regard to the environment, because it affects our lives today and has implication for our futures.

It is our solemn duty to preserve and safeguard our environment and natural resources if we want to ensure that our generations to come shall enjoy the blessings of a healthy, balance, and diverse ecology. Nature needs our help; it does not stand a chance against man’s rapacity and insatiable greed.

To Our Elders

To our elders: “Treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents, it is lent to you by your children.” In turn, we pledge to ensure that our future children and generations to come will enjoy the blessings of a healthy environment.

To the Government

We demand that the Government stop its liberal policy on mining. We challenge the Government to instead revitalize the agriculture and fishing industries, two industries that are full of potentials but greatly neglected.

We call on Congress to immediately repeal the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, the law responsible for all these destructions. We will not allow the further destruction of our environment.

________________________________________________________________________________

A statement of the proponents of Kontra Mina

Kontra Mina is an advocacy of Batas Tomasino: the UST law society in cooperation with Thomasian Writer’s Guild, College of Commerce Economics Society, Earth-UST and Alyansa Tigil Mina.

(http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=batas+tomasino&init=quick#!/note.php?note_id=291845199471)

A Broken Spirit's Letter to His Creator

2009-12-24T06:01:00.000-08:00

Dear God,

There was a day when i can say that I will be alright, but im not alright today. There was a time when i could find myself very near to you, but now You seem so far from me. I walked out the door of your prescence and entered a stone cold harsh world that promised me that ill be ok. I remembered that I left you waiting for me to come home.

Back then i can find a million excuses, but now I cant speak of any. I know that I have been away, away from the voice that has been calling me and i know that its time to come back.

Now there is no solid ground where my soul can rest, I can't find any truth in all that is happening. It seems that my life is only goin' around and around. My spirit is drowing in lies and phoniness, like waters that closing in and washing on me. Drifting me down and sinking my thoughts on a stormy wheathered sea with a vision of a light up there which I am having a hard time to see and hearing Your voice that calls my name. That is maybe the perfect way to describe the situation of my emotions and spirit.

I want you to put your arms around this life of mine even for a while because I am trying to find a way to deal with this, and i dont know how. I cannot stop the pain and i do not understand the things that i should do. Nothing really seems the same and my world is falling down, oh Lord how can i get through.

Now, I can see myself on thousands of people I encounter either personally or on electronic media. People like me who are alone, lost and left behind. Now I am somehow ashamed that my life is torn apart, but I know in Your name I can once again be complete. Although "holy" men may condemn me I know forgiveness can mend this broken heart of mine.

When I was nowhere, you knew where that was. I never lost my way, and I knew you were the cause. When I was no one, and felt that I will end it right there, you stood behind me. I really never knew that you've cared despite my imperfection.

I come to your arms from where I was in, this time in the spirit of brokeness. You were crucified and was committed to die, Your'e my pride.

You. A being who is specialized if "comebacks," over time made me see that even though I may not be perfect You will never give up on me. Your Love is for my everyday, and I know that your Love is here to stay with me.

Your Love now covers as your river flows all over me again.

Love,

Your Son

Alone

2009-12-20T22:11:00.000-08:00

by The Lads, Parachute Records (New Zealand)

I am alone in the darkness
Can you hear me now
Are you the same
Or are you different somehow
Can you reach me

Can I be sure that you won’t hurt me
If I let you in
Are you the same
Or are you different somehow
Can I trust you

If I gave you my heart
If I gave you my soul
Would you take me apart
Would you make me whole
(x2)

Do you know my name
When the tears fall
Are you there to feel the pain
Can you reach me here
Can you give me what I’m looking for
Can you take away the fear
Can I trust you

They say that you could come and meet me
Are you really there
Are you the same
Or are you different somehow
Can you love me

If I gave you my heart
If I gave you my soul
Would you take me apart
Would you make me whole
(x2)

Do you know my name
When the tears fall
Are you there to feel the pain
Can you reach me here
Can you give me what I’m looking for
Can you take away the fear
(x2)

Lamenting Nation for the Loss of Lives and Justice

2009-12-11T04:55:00.000-08:00

(OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF BATAS TOMASINO: THE UST LAW SOCIETY ON THE NOVEMBER 23, 2009 TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED IN MAGUINDANAO)

November 23, 2009 is one of the most disturbing days of our life as a nation. Never in our existence as a nation has something barbaric as the Maguindanao Massacre happened. Although an organized and bureaucratic system of government had been established nowadays, we are forced to accept that there is an inevitable evil within our political society.

With respect to this happening, has our society really matured over the decisive years, decades, and centuries of aiming for the maintenance of pursuit of justice and a humane society? This question is apparently answerable by the recent consternation our country had faced.

A strong insolence to the rule of God, of Man, and of Society was indubitably shown to us by the Maguindanao Massacre. Indeed, the political system, the law, and the justice in our country have been disdained by the pillars of the government. There were innocent lives dragged to death because of political ambitions by politically-oriented families. As we share with the agony of the families of the victims, we also languish from a system of government we have today. These carnages and other malicious tactics are triggered by the evil political intentions of greedy politicking individuals. Undeniably, in our country, money has always taken a very significant role in times of elections. We hope that this would not hinder our people from choosing and electing the right person to serve us at the end of the day.

Veritably, the 2010 elections is fast approaching and this time, we were taught by the malfeasances in the government, extra judicial killings, and unlawful judgments of the state to be critical with our choice of leaders. Furthermore, we are not just after the safeguarding of the 2010 elections, but also what we could do to eradicate the system of iniquities that deviates the people from exercising their right of suffrage governed by truthful intendments.

Momentarily, we may continue to bewail but together with this, we should motivate ourselves to do something for the lives of the victims and give them honors. We should learn and accept, as citizens of our beloved and devastated government, that ELECTIONS change everything. As critical thinkers, we should lay down our requirements of how a leader should be, so that we would be able to deselect the unworthy ones.

We are one with the families of the victims in praying for the eternal repose of their souls. We believe in the prevalence of justice in our society. We hope that the government would not take long in deciding the verdict for this case because the longer it takes for justice to be redeemed, the harder it is for the families to accept their loss. Justice delayed is justice denied. We believe that with this recent alarming circumstance in our nation, justice will be served and all of us would live under a new Society where no one is above the law whether he be powerful in terms of wealth or political influence. We bring changes and we could improve these changes through our absolute and moral intentions.

"The law applies to all or none at all."

An Open Birthday Message for Marisol Santos

2009-12-03T13:11:00.000-08:00

Sol,

Birthdays are days we set aside to tell someone how special they are, or how they touched our lives even in small ways.

We say things like:

I feel comfortable when I am with you and you always make me smile. You listen to me every time I crack a silly joke and I love listening to your silly stories as well….etc….

And more stuff like that.

But most of all from the clichés mentioned, I want you to know that we appreciate you being around. I appreciate you. You have a gift, a unique quality that makes a person comfortable sharing wonderful thoughts with you.

Even though these things are not said often enough maybe because of the fact that we often talk about the “silly” stuff or too busy with our studies, they are meant the whole year through! You are a wonderful person, a woman of God. And my prayer is that your days in this world will be filled with the joy that comes from He who is the source of genuine happiness.

As you get older, never forget God. He is always there for you no matter what is happening in your life. Let Him love you and teach you how to be a real woman after His own heart. God can be everything in your life that your life is missing. Continue to live a life that is worth living.

Jesus Christ himself said, “Work while it is day; the night comes when no one can work.” One day, we will say to ourselves “one thing we need is to outwit our years.” Of course we just don’t keep being busy just for the sake of being such. Otherwise, we become busy bodies. Abraham Lincoln once said “It is not in the years in your life that counts, but the life in your years.”

Live your life purpose, Happy Birthday.

In Christ,

Yboy

On Taking Care of the Environment

2009-11-23T16:27:00.000-08:00

(Opening remarks delivered by Manuel Rodriguez on Sept. 8 at an environmental forum held at the Thomas Aquinas Research Complex (TARC) Auditorium entitled USAPANG TOMASINO: Kabataan Anong Alam Mo Sa Kalikasan?, a forum sponsored by Batas Tomasino, the UST Law Society.)

To our guests and fellow Thomasians…Good afternoon.

First and foremost, in behalf of Batas Tomasino I would like to thank the people responsible for this Environmental forum series.

Our guest speakers,
our partner organizations;
the Civil Law Student Council
the UST UNESCO Club
Mother Earth Philippines Movement
& Sustainable Development Solutions for Asia and the Pacific (SDSAP)

and of course the officer in charge from Batas Tomasino, our lovely Secretary
Ms. Hera Uy from the Faculty of Civil Law
and of course her executive assistant
Ms. Krizia Reamico of the Faculty of Arts and Letters.

Forums like this, is meant not only to inform or educate us of what is happening on our environment…but also to eliminate in our hearts the apathy, and awaken our sense of responsibility not only as a citizen of this Nation, but also as a part of the human race.

Section 16, Article 2 of our Constitution mandates the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology.

One may ask…Is it less important than any of the civil or political rights guaranteed under the Article 3-Bill of Rights considering that it is found in Article 2-Declaration of Principles and State Policies?

Such query was already been answered by our very own Supreme Court in the landmark case of Oposa versus Factoran. No…it does not follow that it is less important than any of the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights.

Such Right (the right to a balanced ecology) belongs to a different category of rights altogether for it concerns nothing less than self-preservation and self-perpetuation. What is found in Art. 3 –Bill of Rights are civil and political rights.
In fact, the Constitution does not need to possess the said provision in order for us to obey it. It is a part of our Natural Law on "Inter-generational Responsibility," and such law transcends all Governments and all Constitutions….
Even the Honorable Supreme Court of the Philippines acknowledges the authority of the Natural Law.

The crisis of the Philippine environment is a crisis of our passage as stewards of this planet. We have not only subdued Mother Earth, as we have been commanded, in the book of Genesis. We have destroyed it and continue to destroy it, without remorse. It is time for penance; it is time for change.

It is my prayer that this USAPANG TOMASINO forum, change our point of view with regards to the topic of environment preservation.

I ask everyone on this auditorium to join us to make sure that we pass on to the next generation a country that has managed to preserve at least a part of the natural bounty that God has put in its care; a country where the air is clean, the water is pure, the soil is rich and fertile, where the children of tomorrow may still listen to the whisper of rivers and brooks and the songs of birds in lush and verdant forests.

As what former US President Clinton has said; “We borrowed our planet, and to whom we bear sacred responsibility.”

Thank you very much. May the Lord bless us and Mother Earth.
Isang mapagpalayang hapon sa bawat isa!

Love Should Not Stay at Home

2009-11-21T02:30:00.000-08:00

by Manuel A. Rodriguez II

As early as my childhood years I can say that I already earned my PhD in Television Watching. I really don’t know until now why during those days I was so fond of facing that magic box even after the cartoons. As a kid I already watch the news, I can say I already had an interest on current events as early as then.

Every election season I see creative political advertisements some of those ads is saw still plays on my memory until now. I hear how “politicos” say their promises via media, after their term I’ll hear grown-ups say “’di naman nya nagawa pangako nya, sayang boto ko.” As a kid I told myself, “isn’t it wrong to break promises? How come these influential individuals can do it as easy as that, why are they not being punished for breaking their promises?”

As I grow up I learned eventually in the school called life the sad fact that promises are meant to be broken.

Today, the society faces so many problems. We are all in a war now, not against nations but against the evils that surrounds us. I have an opinion that the source of this entire problem is simple, the absence of “love” for the Nation in the hearts of the Filipino people.

Saying the term “love” in the context of politics happens very rarely. There is a sociological stigma in the Philippines nowadays that the term “love” is so limited, we have boxed the term probably only in the realm of family, relationships and religion, it is very seldom that the term is used with regards to society, politics and government. That is a sad reality.

If we Filipinos acknowledge that love must and should be a part of the family, how come we neglect to apply it on our society? While we know the fact that the family is the basic unit of the nation, why then are we failing to apply the love as we know it on our society.

If there is one public health problem this nation is facing, it is not any disease or any sickness but it is the absence of love. It was already been proven by scientific studies that a pregnant woman giving birth at the delivery room will need less anesthesia when a love one is beside her, children lessen their probability of becoming drunkards or drug addicts when they regularly share dinner with their parents. We must accept the fact that love is a part of the human physiology, something that is innate in our being; a thing we cannot live without experiencing.

If only our government officers and employees will love the Nation, the Government and the people whom they are serving then the biggest public health I mentioned will be gone.

I believe one factor why love for the Nation is not rampant is because schools don’t teach it and religions rarely mention it on Sunday sermons. We only hear the topic of “loving the Nation” on campaign periods, but as we listen we are all aware that most of the words spoken by “trapos” are lies.

What must be done is to start it in our homes (oh yes, from the grassroots level). As families love each other at their respective homes, they must educate themselves that the love their sharing should not be exclusive. The Nation deserves love as well.

Our society needs love. Love for nation, for the people and for the Divine author of love. No other political platform can surpass love.

This is not a perfect Nation, but it is our only God given piece of land on this planet. We ought to love this Nation Pilipinas.

God bless the Filipino.

MANILA, 21st of NOVEMBER 2009

Challenge to Today's Filipino Youth

2009-11-10T07:30:00.000-08:00

by Manuel A. Rodriguez

Throughout history of our beloved Nation Philippines, it is the youth that has led our people in our struggle for freedom.Dr.Jose Protacio Rizal,future national hero, at 26, wrote his first novel "Noli me Tangere" that awakened the nationalistic spirit of the Filipino people of his time.Marcelo del Pilar helped lead the Propaganda Movement at 32; Gat Andres Bonifacio led the Katipunan at 26, he was later on named as the "Father of Katipunan";Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was 29 when he was inaugurated First President of the Philippine Republic;Apolinario Mabini, the brains of the Revolution, was 34;Antonio Luna was General at 29; Gregorio del Pilar gave his life for his country at 24.Under American regime in the Philippines, the youth led the nation in our parliamentary struggle for true independence. Future Philippine President Sergio Osmena was Speaker of the House at 29; Future Philippines President Manuel Luis Quezon was Resident Commissioner in Washington, D.C. at 32;Future Philippine President Jose P. Laurel was Secretary of Interior at 32;Future Philippine President Manuel A. Roxas was Speaker of the House at 29.During the chaotic years of the Japanese occupation, many young men and women in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao joined Mr. Luis Taruc's "Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (HUKBALAHAP)," a resistance force against the invader.

When Marcos declared Presidential Proclamation 1017, placing the entire country under Martial Law; the cream of the country's youth went underground and gave their all for the sake of freedom and democracy. Many died without seeing the dawn of freedom.

In the Holy Scriptures Jesus Christ and his twelve disciples, mostly obscure, unlettered fishermen, were all young men probably in their early 30s, who left their fishing nets to become fishers of men.Those who succeeded them were also in the prime of youth when they heard the call of the Divine.History records that in the course ot time, they shook the Roman Empire and turned the world upside down.

Today, the challenge is for the youth of this nation, beset by the worsening problems of poverty, corruption and criminality, to consecrate their lives to a cause bigger than themselves. To live the life their father's dream and share it with their future children.

This challenge was already been laid down to us, it is already present even before our birth. The young men and women who came before we do already did their part. We enjoy the fruits of their labor and as a form of respect to their past efforts we must and should exert the same effort so that our children and children's children will enjoy the fruits of freedom, democracy and peace.

Doctor Rizal our national hero already made the query to our generation, long before our mothers gave birth to us. “Where are the youth who will dedicate their innocence, their idealism, their enthusiasm to the good of the country? Where are they who will give generously of their blood to wash away so much shame crime and abomination? Pure and immaculate must the victim be for the sacrifice to be acceptable. Where are you, young men and young women, who are to embody in yourselves the life -force that has been drained from our veins, the pure ideals that have grown stained in our minds, the fiery enthusiasm that has been quenched in our hearts? We await you, come, for we await you. "(From Rizal's El Filibusterismo English Translation by Leon Ma. Guerrero)

I sincerely hope you will join me in answering the query of Dr. Rizal saying "Here I am."

The youth of the past had their flaws, we must must learn from it instead of blaming it to them.

We must and should challenge ourselves to build a better world.In my opinion the main problem of our Nation is moral crisis, not just in the Government but also in private lives. Massive criminality and rampant corruption and poverty, they are all connected with each other and these problems emanates from a single issue...moral crisis.

We can start changing the Nation by changing ourselves. If we want an honest government, we must be honest as well. We can start by paying taxes right, not cheating in our schools or at work.

There are flaws in our cultural traits, such as utang na loob, pakikisama, the kanya-kanya syndrome and a lack of sense of community that tend to worsen the twin problems of corruption and criminality.Culture of immorality must change.

We can change it if we will start as early as now. If the youth of today will build a world as such, tommorrow will be a better place.

Now is not the time to hold guns and swords and fight, the youth of the past already did it for us. Now is not the time to fight the physical war, but instead the time to fight the spiritual war we are all into.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph. 6:12). The war has begun. We need youngbloods in the army of morality.

No Privacy: The Cost of the Passion to Public Service

2009-11-09T06:08:00.000-08:00

By Manuel Rodriguez
(paper submitted to Edwin S. Martin,PhD, in partial fulfillment to the course of Public Adminstration at the University of Santo Tomas )

A public office is a public trust (Art.XI Sec. 1, 1987 Phil. Const.); it is bound by law, standards, and expectations of impartial, fair, and competent action. To live such a role requires personal integrity, which means that persons can live up to promises they make and can balance commitments to different roles in their lives that often create tensions within the self (Dobel, 1998).

This article is a reflection to the arguments raised by J. Patrick Dobel of The University of Washington on his article entitled Judging the Private Lives of Public Officials [1] He concluded that citizens need to redefine the boundaries of private and public life and suggested standards by which citizens can judge the private lives of public officials.

Dobel mentioned in his article what Vincent Foster, Clinton's White House Lawyer said on his despairing suicide note wherein he is complaining that in American Politics "ruining people is considered sport". Three stories on the article of Dobel demonstrated how true it is. First is the story of US Senator Robert Packwood who was accused of sexually importuning female lobbyists and members of his own staff. Packwood had served for 20 years as a senator with a very strong public record which includes being a supporter to the advancement of the rights of American women. After 1 year of hearings that proved the allegations against him, he was forced to resign on his office to avoid the expulsion decision by the state. Another is the story of Democrat future president Grover Cleveland who in his 1884 presidential campaign was accused by the Republicans that he had fathered a child out of wedlock. The uproar over the revelation hurt the Democrat. Ultimately, however, voters correctly concluded that his long and impeccable record as a good governor of New York City, coupled with the fact that the affair had occurred in the far past and that he acknowledged the child and continuously supporting her, overrode misgivings about the private scandal. In 1987, Senator Gary Hart was accused of infidelity. Despite the accusations and the reporters following his every move, he continued his affair with Donna Rice. When the affair was exposed to the public eye, he denied the charges and acted erratic and petulant. The revelations ended his campaign and support. Private scandal, as opposed to abuse of office, can signify great import with someone like Hart and mean little about suitability for office with the likes of Cleveland.

In conclusion of Dobel’s point of view, all officials have a strong right to privacy and at the same time a right to be judged on the basis of their competence and performance. Each private action may or may not illuminate public integrity. He added that when people confront the moral flaws of public persons, they should beware their own self-righteousness. Some people may be saints or prophets, but they too make notoriously bad rulers. We should judge as mortals judging other mortals, one must judge with mercy.
Civium in moribus rei publicae salus
The welfare of the state (depends upon) the morals of its citizens
-An ancient maxim
It is said that the citizens are the ones who are responsible for their nation, however by theory public officials are the ones who perform tasks in behalf of the citizens. Public officials are also citizens of the nation and their responsibility is a lot heavier than private individuals.
The extent to which the media are legally free to investigate and publish details of public figures’ (including public servants) private lives varies from country to country. For example, France is much stricter on protecting personal privacy than Britain is. The debate has recently been given additional importance by the development of Human Rights law within Europe, as privacy is classed as a right under the European Convention of Human Rights, as well as by political scandals in France, Italy, Belgium, etc., which have highlighted the need to scrutinize public figures’ behavior closely[2]. The right to privacy of public officials must not be used to cover their faults as a private individual. Citizens voted them with the thought that they are morally upright aside from the fact that they can perform the job well. That is why politicians make an explicit or implicit campaign point out of their family values and other aspects of their “private” life, for example by being photographed with their loyal family, and through policy stands on such issues as divorce, sex education, drugs, etc. If the public image such people seek to create is at variance with their practice, such hypocrisy deserves to be exposed. The people voted them because they are morally upright; they must remain that way because theoretically the public owns them. Here in the Philippines, we have a not so wise electoral body. Most candidates who are winning in our local elections are those who are famous or good looking, most of the time they are from the show business industry vying their chance in politics. Again, this must not be the setting. People must be wise and vigilant in the search for the truth behind the candidates’ façade of good looking faces and promising promises. Setting morality aside, it is still necessary to uncover the private lives of public officials, for the same reason that the public owns them.
President Mitterand of France hid his cancer from the French electorate for years was this a public or a private matter? He also had a mistress and illegitimate daughter, who were secretly taken on some of his foreign visits at state expense[3]; again, is this private or a public matter? The people own the public officials, not just his office but his entire personality. In the case of President Cleveland of the United States, he should not be judged based on what he did wrong in the past. Yet, he must be admired for his courage to admit the wrongness of what he did and moved on with his life taking this time the road of righteousness. A leader must not be someone who is continuously doing the wrong things.
Public officials must realize the cost of their fame. Ideally a person chooses to serve the public because he has the passion for service, a calling, or devotion. Having a strong passion for something means one is willing to pay its cost. In the case of public officials it is their privacy that they must surrender to fulfill the passion, privacy is the cost, the one thing that must be let go to adhere to his calling… serving his fellowmen.
If a public official is not willing to surrender his right to privacy, he does not have enough passion to serve. Most public officials locally and abroad demand for privacy, and we all know that most officials are hypocrites, corrupt, and immoral. If our public officials are morally upright, will they still demand for privacy? If what they do with their private lives is acceptable to the eyes of the people, will they still hide their true selves?

The extent of privacy a public official can demand is only their privacy inside their homes while doing private stuff like taking a bath, sleeping, making love with their spouses and the like for these are irrelevant for the public to know. Aside from these kinds of privacy, the public has the right to see, and the right to know. Their lifestyle, manner they perform their job or any aspect of their life that may affect their public service whether it is directly or indirectly.

Again, a public office is a public trust (Art.XI Sec. 1, 1987 Phil. Const.), we cannot trust someone who we don’t know.
In my opinion people have a right to know things about those in power over them. Their salaries are paid for by the people. The decisions of public political figures affect many aspects of people’s lives; in exchange the people have the right to make informed judgments about the kind of leaders they have. Any attempt to restrict what may be reported about public figures in the press could easily become a conspiracy to keep voters in the dark and to manipulate them. All elections are to a greater or lesser extent about the character of the leading politicians involved. Unless the voters are allowed insights into their private lives they will lack the information needed to make a fair decision at the polling booth. For example, many would think that a statesman who betrayed his wife in an affair was equally capable of breaking his promises and lying to his country. The way a person live their life privately is an important factor that must be considered in order for us to know if he or she could lead a nation.
In the Bible, mistakes made by great leaders were not hidden to us despite its being an ancient manuscript. This makes it an extremely valuable text for teaching moral character. In fact, the lessons learned from mistakes often provide a more lasting and powerful impact than those learned from doing things right. Biblical personalities like Jacob[4], Joseph[5], Samson[6], Saul[7], David[8], and Solomon[9]. Their lives indicate that the purpose of leadership is not fame, power, or fortune but to lead people with truth and righteousness. Leaders must be ethical and should not cover up injustices, even on the part of love ones (private lives). The Christian Bible supports the old saying: "sometimes we may learn more from a man's errors, than from his virtues." Leaders, as well as ordinary people, must be ethical and should not cover up injustices, even on the part of loved ones. They must also realize that no good comes from being interested in vengeance and settling old scores. This means that a nation must have morally upright leaders. Immoral leaders does not have the right to lead a nation, even their immorality does not affect their performance. We must put in mind that aside from doing their task they are role models to their subordinates, their fellowmen and the youth of the nation. Should a public servant be a perfect being then? We know for a fact that such kind of individual does not exist.
If people are the better of angels, no standard is necessary to judge their behavior.
-Yong S. Lee on A Reasonable Public Servant

That being not the case, the courts of justice have been in search for a reasonable person from time immemorial. Nowhere could the reasonable person be found, so the United States Supreme Court constructed a hypothetical reasonable person with a thousand faces. What is this reasonable person?[10]
A reasonable person is a person of ordinary prudence, physical attributes (includes health), mental faculty, knowledge, and skills identical with a reasonable person in his or her place. The reasonable person exercises those qualities of attention, knowledge, intelligence, and judgment which society expects of a reasonable person under the like circumstance[11]. We must know then if the persons who are working on our behalf, our public officials are the reasonable person.
Using the template of a reasonable person the court of justice made must be our standard in judging them. Not just judging with mercy and beware our own self-righteousness.

[1] Administration & Society, Vol.30 No.2, May 1998 115-142
[2] http://wiki.idebate.org/index.php?title=Debate:Private_Lives_of_Public_Figures
[3] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Mitterrand
[4] Book of Genesis
[5] Book of Genesis
[6] Book of Judges
[7] Book 1 Samuel
[8] Book of 2 Samuel
[9] Book of 1 Kings
[10] Also accepted by courts of justice of many countries (including The Philippines)
[11] Lee & Rosenbloom (2005), A Reasonable Public Servant. M.E Sharpe, Inc.

Filipino Christian Education

2009-11-09T04:37:00.001-08:00

By Manuel A. Rodriguez II
Chairperson, Students' Democratic Party

Education, even for the veteran members of the academe, has never been an easy area under discussion. With the rise of technology in communications, education has become more complex than ever. It has become so closely interconnected with the individual’s and the nation’s progress. Truly, it has become the vital battle arena of the national economies trying to outdo each other in the global market.

Many scholars say that in the near future the economic battles between countries will be won or lost according to the educational attainment of their workforce. This is because the cutting edges entering the different production processes of many industries requires high learning and level of competence in science and mathematics not previously required by earlier processes.

This tells us the silent competition that happens among nations – or the struggle for the so called economic dominance. The competition which does not only happen in the workplace but also in the classroom where us Filipinos together with the other races are in conscious competition with one another. Nations helping nations is only an avenue to gain popularity in the international arena; the truth is that it is Nation against nation…a race to the top. Nations are trying to give their youth the toughest training possible in science and mathematics. The last time I read on our school newspaper, four of the top 500 Universities in the world are from the Philippines.

In our country, the present constituiton mandates the state to alocate a huge chunk of the national budget to education. The last time i checked on the internet it is the UP System that gets the highest amount of budget among other public schools controlled by the national government followed by the PUP system.

But to describe the future ahead of us simply as the age of the cutting edge or the technological age, and to produce an army of manpower known solely for its technical skills, is to say only a portion of what must we say to fulfill only a part of the many requirements of human progress. Marked by the incomparable forecast is proper – assuming that the scholar’s forecast is correct – the next century is going to peopled as well by ever more value-free persons, structures and groups. This is what we must greater be prepared for, this is what we must guard against.

The attempt to reinvent the human way of life and the most strong of all natural institutions such as marriage and family will prolong beyond what has so far attempted anywhere by any school of thought. Human civilization will be on trial, and the meaning of being a man will be a major question for every individual who would be alive by then.

For this, we must not only educate our youth with science and mathematics, we need above all to prepare them to challenge the rise of the values in this world in which moral (and religious) truths have lost their supremacy.
The signs are there.

Here in our country many youngsters are engaged in the use of drugs. Most parents no longer know who they children really are. High level of teenage pregnancy. Corruption in the government. Cheating at campuses. Pornographic DVDs being sold right in front of parishes. Lawyers using the rule of law to cover up an injustice. Professionals who do not have integrity on the manner they do their jobs in spite of being educated in a religious institution. Despite our being a Christian nation, most youth are not involved and does not believe in the Church.

I strongly believe that these things are seen as a standard outcome of reinventing almost everything, from the natural to the man-made, in the industrial Western culture. The obsession of reinventing almost everything has replaced all moral and religious values with secular ones, thereby banning the concept of God in the public square and revising the tradition of seeing religion as “sacred.”

What appears to be the cancer of the society in the western world seems to be just beginning here in our nation. But it is the same virus, and we must do every effort to check it before its spreading and become a common moral disease here in our nation. Educating the youth correctly is the best way to check it.

The term “educating” which I used does not only include a classroom technique but also and above all a correct view of man in relation to everything else. We must make our young Filipinos see that the right answers to the questions asked to them are given not by some political thinker or a philosopher but by Christ himself.

The education of the Filipino youth must, as a vital primary step, locate itself and the purpose of its instruction in the proper cultural setting. By this I mean that education must take into realization the fact that ours is a Christian society which must be instilled by Christian values. (Those from Mindanao must read this to mean Islamic society with Islamic values.)

Let us give our young men the Christian education that they deserve, the government has the duty to give it to them. Indeed such duty is to prepare them for the complex unseen battles of a highly technological age, but not by depriving them of the rich Christian heritage that they inherently possess and their right to perfect their Christian lives.

There is no reason why their education must try to teach them about the technological world while doing everything to rule out the belief of perfecting their lives as the key to their eternal happiness with our creator. If indeed the main purpose of education is to bring out the best in a student, why then here in our nation it tend to become silent on the most important thing, namely, salvation?

I propose that the revival of our Christian moral and religious principles is the more critical task of education here in the Philippines. Such task is not only vested on educational institutions such as the Philippine Christian University or of the Catholic University of Santo Tomas or other religious schools but instead by it is vested on all educators (including parents, the first teachers) who believe that Jesus Christ is the Way, Truth and Life.

For while the knowledge of technical skills should help an individual respond to the demands of the futuristic age, only genuine Christian education of consciences will make us confident that the human being himself is making progress. This and this alone could make us confident that re-Christianization is happening in our Filipino culture. Our culture, our civilization, our Nation.

The young people of this generation are searching for the true meaning of life although they may be unaware of it. They are searching for definitive answers; they are searching for a God. Unfortunately many of them never found it yet, but instead found other things such as drugs, sex, crimes and etc.

In their continuous search they cannot help but to encounter the Church and the Church cannot help but to encounter the young. The only requirement is that the Church has an insightful understanding of what it means to be young, of the importance of the youth has for every person. It is also necessary that the young know the Church, which they acknowledge Christ in the Church, Christ who walks through years alongside each age band, alongside every individual. He walks alongside each person as a friend not a tyrant powerful being.

The most important day of the young is for him to become convinced that Christ is the only friend who will not disappoint him, on whom he can always put his trust and confidence.

I can end by saying that if we want an excellent education for our beloved nation, the Philippines. We should give the young people who seek to be good the education that gives them the opportunity to know himself more and the society where he belong as well by listening to God while looking at his fellow men. For a Christian, only a good Christian education makes it possible. This nation is thirsty for Christians in the academe.

A Heroic Church

2009-11-08T05:34:00.000-08:00

By: President Fidel V. Ramos, April 11, 2009

(published at the Manila Bullettin)

"The stone that builders rejected became the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes..." — (Psalm 118:22)

Tucked inconspicuously between high-rise buildings on Taft Avenue, and overshadowed by the LRT and the PGH-U.P. Compound, is a modest place of worship called the Cosmopolitan Church-United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). It is not so well-known, neither impressive-looking as the nearby Iglesia Independiente (Aglipayan) Cathedral and the larger Catholic or INC churches in the neighborhood.
The Cosmopolitan Church-UCCP, however, is a heroic institution whose history deserves to be better appreciated, particularly by young Filipinos.
A 2005 National Historical Institute marker briefly records Cosmopolitan's saga of nationalism, faith and patriotism: "Itinatag bilang Cosmopolitan Student Church sa ilalim ng Philippine Methodist Church, Marso 1933; itinalaga sa pook na ito, 1936. Kanlungan at Sentro ng Gawain ng mga kasapi ng simbahang lihim na kabilang sa kilusang gerilya, 1942-1944. Muling ipinatayo matapos masunog noong Labanan sa Maynila, 1945. Isa sa mga simbahang nagtatag ng UCCP, 1948. Inialay ang bagong Santuaryo, 14 Disyembre 1956. Pinagdausan ng 'Wednesday Forum' para sa Talakayang Pangdemokrasya, 1973 at ng 'Executive Session' ng 22 Senador ng Filipinas, 28 Agosto 1987. (Founded as Cosmopolitan Student Church under the Philippine Methodist Church, March 1933; established here, 1936. Refuge of church members who secretly joined the guerrilla movement, 1942-1944. Rebuilt after being burned during the Liberation of Manila, 1945. One of the churches that founded the UCCP, 1948. New Sanctuary dedicated, 14 December 1956. Venue for the 'Wednesday Forum' for democratic dialogue, 1973; and for the 'Executive Session' of 22 Philippine Senators, 28 August 1987)."
Declaration of independence
On 23 March 1933, at the Methodist Episcopal Annual Conference in San Nicolas, Pangasinan, Rev. Cipriano Navarro led 40 delegates to secede from the General Conference of the Methodist Church of America (GCMCA), with their declaration:
“Whereas, GCMCA no longer provides adequate and inspiring leadership, we here and now declare ourselves the General Conference of the Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands (GCMCPI).”
The cause celebré was the decision by the American presiding officer, Methodist Bishop Herbert Welch, to reinstate a Filipino pastor accused by his colleagues of immorality towards a teenage girl, a church member.
Led by Rev. Navarro, Dr. Melquiades Gamboa, a U.P. professor, and Rev. Samuel Stagg, pastor of the Central Church on San Luis (now T.M. Kalaw) Avenue, the walkouts quickly assembled under a tree, voted for the formation of an independent GCMCPI, and elected Navarro acting General Superintendent.
Birth of the Cosmopolitan Student Church
Immediately afterwards, Gamboa rushed to Manila to inform the Central Church congregation of developments. Attempts at reconciliation proved fruitless, and the following Sunday the Central Church itself split. Those who broke away organized a new group called the "Cosmopolitan Student Church (CSC)." Rev. Stagg became Chairman of CSC's Official Board, with Gamboa as Vice-Chairman.
It was a momentous decision. Cut off from missionary funds, without their own building, equipped with nothing but faith in God and a righteous cause, they separated from the country's largest Protestant congregation.
For lack of a regular place of worship, the "breakaways" moved from one place to another -- to the Masonic Temple, the U.P. Little Theater, the Gaiety Theater in Malate, then to private homes until, finally, in 1936, CSC acquired a 1,700 sqm lot on Taft Avenue where the Albert Allen Boys' Dormitory stood. The building was partitioned to provide spaces for church services, dormitory for girls, and kindergarten/primary school. The "Founders' Plaque," placed in 1983, on CSC's Golden Anniversary, lists its founders, which includes names that later became prominent in our national life such as Andres Adolfo, Tiburcio Baja, Juan Collas, Macario Cuerpocruz, Tito Dans, Consuelo Fonacier, Felix Franco, Emilio Javier, Leonardo Padilla, Eusebio Quebral, Narciso Ramos, Leopoldo Ruiz, Francisco Ventura -- many of whom were student leaders at the U.P. Padre Faura campus.
Advent of war
Before the war's outbreak, U.S. Naval Intelligence recruited Rev. Stagg to gather information about Japan's movements in the area. In his absence, his wife Mary Boyd Stagg took the helm of CSC. She was soon ordained as pastor, the first such lady minister in the history of Philippine Protestantism. A woman of deep compassion and courage, she was lovingly called "Mother Stagg."
Japanese authorities allowed American missionaries to pursue their religious activities -- provided they wore an identifying red band. Part of the Church building remained a ladies' dormitory, but also became a refugee center. The Emmanuel Cooperative Hospital in Tondo, founded by American Methodists and CSC members, was administered by Ms. Helen Wilk with Dr. Pedro Arcilla as medical director and assisted by Dr. Hawthorne Darby.
Underground activities of church members
Many Cosmopolitan members helped Mother Stagg in humanitarian work, but some were secretly involved in her underground activities -- among them Dr. Darby, Ms. Wilk, Tito Dans and Serafin Aquino. The latter two took great risks by sheltering Go Puan Seng (Betty Go-Belmonte's father) and other Filipino-Chinese families.
According to Mother Stagg's son, Samboyd: "There were 29 stranded female students from Thailand, Indonesia and China, and remote provinces. The immediate problem was feeding them plus the families of three officers fighting in Bataan, and those of two Filipino-Chinese leaders wanted by the Kempeitai. We also gave sanctuary to escapees from the Death March, following Bataan's fall. Mother solicited funds for medicines for those in the Capas and Cabanatuan prison camps, and their families. Our Emmanuel Hospital was one source of care and treatment."
Arrest, torture and execution
CSC youth leader Jovito Salonga, was arrested in Pasig, tortured and sentenced in 1942 to 15 years of hard labor for his anti-Japanese activities, and then released from Muntinlupa in 1943 on the occasion of Japan's National Day. Salonga was then preparing of the bar exams (which he later topped).
In early 1944, Mother Stagg, with several others from Cosmopolitan, was imprisoned in Fort Santiago by the Kempeitai. In April 1944, Agustin Ortega, a former CSC janitor turned USAFFE soldier and guerrilla, recalls a certain Captain Vicente Gepte (West Point, Class 1941) was brought to the same cell he shared with Tito Dans. On 13 May 1944, Ortega and Dans were taken out of their cell, leaving Gepte behind, and were brought to the Old Bilibid Prison on Azcarraga. Emilio Javier and Andres Adolfo were released that same day. On 24 August 1944, Ortega and Dans were sentenced to 7 years imprisonment, together with other CSC members like Serafin Aquino, Col. Jose Moran, and Severino Araos.
Unknown to CSC members, the three Americans -- Mother Stagg, Hawthorne Darby, and Helen Wilk -- who had cast their lot with Filipinos since the 1933 "walkout" -- had been severely tortured, and then executed on 28 August 1944, along with Gepte. They were buried in the North Cemetery with many other martyrs of the resistance movement.
Liberation of Manila
On 3 February 1945, 1st Cavalry elements with Filipino guerrilla-guides, including Lieutenant Severino Luna (a CSC member), crashed through the gates of the University of Santo Tomas and among those liberated was young Samboyd Stagg.
Of the original CSC building, nothing remained but its bare skeleton. Practically whole neighborhood along Taft Avenue and Oregon Street had been razed to the ground. Soon, however, CSC members built a temporary church, using the old framework. However meager, the improvised structure became a regular worship place every Sunday. The CSC was renamed "Cosmopolitan Church" when the U.P. moved to Diliman.
On 25 May 1948, the UCCP was born. The uniting denominations included the Philippine Methodist Church, the United Evangelical Church of the Philippines, the Evangelical Church in the Philippines, the Disciples, and the Congregational Church.
What Cosmopolitan Church stands for
Former Senate President and longtime Chairman of the Cosmopolitan Church Council Jovito Salonga eloquently defined what it stood for on its 67th Anniversary in March 2000: "Cosmopolitan Church is destined to exist beyond our lifetime.... and for as long as it goes through the never-ending process of spiritual rebirth and renewal, Cosmopolitan will go on and on, long after we are gone. In light of our history, how do we define what we stand for, that which marks our identity and essential character?.... Cosmopolitan Church was born out of the fight for truth, justice and moral righteousness.... Throughout its history, whether in war or peace, Cosmopolitan Church has led in the crusade for truth and justice."
During the Marcos era, Cosmopolitan Church remained consistently faithful to its heroic tradition, and became the bold platform of the anti-martial law advocates called the "Wednesday Forum." But, that deserves another story.
On this Easter Sunday, we the "young once" of the wartime Cosmopolitan Church remember with great reverence those who sacrificed for others on the altar of freedom.

95 Theses by Dr. Luther

2009-11-08T05:16:00.000-08:00

Disputation of Doctor Martin Lutheron the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences

Dr. Martin Luther (1517)

Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.
In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.
2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.
3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.
4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.
11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown while the bishops slept.
12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.
13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be released from them.
14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity, great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.
15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.
17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase.
18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of increasing love.
19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness, though we may be quite certain of it.
20. Therefore by "full remission of all penalties" the pope means not actually "of all," but only of those imposed by himself.
21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope's indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;
22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this life.
23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.
24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release from penalty.
25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.
26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not possess), but by way of intercession.
27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].
28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and Paschal.
30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much less that he has attained full remission.
31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most rare.
32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of pardon.
33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to Him;
34. For these "graces of pardon" concern only the penalties of sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.
35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.
36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.
37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.
38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the declaration of divine remission.
39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.
40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].
41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest the people may falsely think them preferable to other good works of love.
42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of mercy.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;
44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more free from penalty.
45. 45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.
46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families, and by no means to squander it on pardons.
47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of free will, and not of commandment.
48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for him more than the money they bring.
49. Christians are to be taught that the pope's pardons are useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.
50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St. Peter's church should go to ashes, than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.
51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope's wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money, even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.
52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain, even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself, were to stake his soul upon it.
53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order that pardons may be preached in others.
54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this Word.
55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons, which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell, with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The "treasures of the Church," out of which the pope. grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among the people of Christ.
57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident, for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so easily, but only gather them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.
59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were the Church's poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.
60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given by Christ's merit, are that treasure;
61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last.
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.
66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.
67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the "greatest graces" are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote gain.
68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.
69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of apostolic pardons, with all reverence.
70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own dreams instead of the commission of the pope.
71. He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed!
72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!
73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art, contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.
74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love and truth.
75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God -- this is madness.
76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.
77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the pope.
78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.
79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms, which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.
80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.
81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of the laity.
82. To wit: -- "Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial."
83. Again: -- "Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?"
84. Again: -- "What is this new piety of God and the pope, that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul's own need, free it for pure love's sake?"
85. Again: -- "Why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were still alive and in force?"
86. Again: -- "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?"
87. Again: -- "What is it that the pope remits, and what participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition, have a right to full remission and participation?"
88. Again: -- "What greater blessing could come to the Church than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions and participations?"
89. "Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?"
90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians unhappy.
91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved; nay, they would not exist.
92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace!
93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Cross, cross," and there is no cross!
94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.

Prayer for the Current Financial Situation

2009-11-04T01:04:00.000-08:00

Lord God,

we live in disturbing days, across the world, prices rise, debts increase, banks collapse, jobs are taken away, and fragile security is under threat. Loving God, meet us in our fear and hear our prayer: be a tower of strength amidst the shifting sands, and a light in the darkness; help us receive your gift of peace, and fix our hearts where true joys are to be found, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

- Church of England, Sept. 2008

My Dad. Manuel P. Rodriguez (1936-2009), 73

2009-11-01T07:36:00.000-08:00

Manuel Purugganan Rodriguez

(October 24, 1936-October 30, 2009)

"Great lives do not go out; they go on" - St. Paul

To many of his friends he is known simply as "Manny;" and as his son i will always be proud to carry his name with me; Manuel the Second.

He may be not that known in the movie industry; but all his colleagues in showbusiness will agree that his contribution in the colorful worlds of television and movies deserves acknowledgement. In the industry they call him "Direk Manny," isang batikang direktor at manunulat, board member ng Screenwriters' Guild of the Philippines (SGP) at electoral college ng Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) na mas kilala ngayon na "Luna Awads."

Isang makabayang Pilipino, miyembro ng Knights of Rizal, grupo ng nag adbokasiya ng mga prinsipyo ng ating pambansang bayani. Minsang nagtrabaho bilang isang brodkaster sa radyo at isang panatiko ng Pinoy sining. Sya'y naging isang detainee noong panahon ng pagdeklara ng Martial Law.

A boxing fan, there is no "Pacman" fight he missed, he has a dvd copy of each and every fight. Sayang, di nya naabutan ang Pacquiao vs. Cotto.

As a man of faith, he is known as an active participant in the Church ministry. He sings every Sunday in the Church choir at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) - Cosmopolitan Church. He used to be the President of the Greater Manila Conference (GMC), United Church Men (UCM). A lay preacher and a devotion leader, young people call him "tito," his church collegues call him "Manny" the always smiling Church fellow.

As a father, he has so many flaws and yet i love him. As a father, he always treats his son as a man. If not for him, i will never learn how to live the way a real man should. To be a good husband, a good father and a humble servant of his God.

In the hearts of his loved ones, "Direk Manny" will never die. Till we meet again dad, I love you.

Think - Feel - Act (TFA)

2009-10-29T00:13:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 4:23 "Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts."

The above biblical passage indirectly tells us that everything starts in the mind. That the mind is a very powerful tool of changing the way we feel about something and eventually making us do the things we never thought we could. Famous evangelist Pastor Rick Warren put it this way: "You aren't what you think you are. But what you think, you are."

Our thoughts, ideologies or way of thinking do not just guide the direction of our personal lives...our thoughts are our life. Whatever change we want to achieve in our lives, start with our mind.

We must remember the ideal chain of events we must take, its TFA. TFA is an accronym I invented, it stands for Think - Feel - Act. Our thinking will change the way we feel, and such feeling will move us to do the act. For example in anger, its difficult for men to control anger towards someone. Why? because they are focusing on the feeling right away. If they will just change the way they think regarding that hated someone, for sure theyre feelings will change as well and they will act kindness instead of its opposite. Romans 12:2 says "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

I always hated the statement "I fell in love" or "I have fallen in love," it is as if loving someone is just an accident. The truth is people love not because they fell to the feeling of it, its a choice of the individual to love another person. It is not as if you are tripped while walking on rocky road. The same is true in "I have fallen out of love." For couples who have "fallen" out of love with zero reason, change the way you think, remember the good times of being together. Love is a choice. Now, will you choose to love the same person or not and love someone else? Its for you to decide.
If you think of love then you will feel love and eventually youll act love. The method is as simple as that.

In this world where nobody is perfect, we must learn to get along with our fellow unperfect beings. You will never like everything on a person, you must bear with his or her flaws. This is only a temporary world, our God is not yet finished molding us that is why we are not yet perfect.

Love people not because you like loving them. If you ask God to teach you to love, don't expect God to send you a lovable being. You'll never learn the true meaning of love if loving is easy. Instead, He will send you an unperfect one. Its like a gym training for perfection. Still everything starts with the mind. TFL, Think, Feel and the Act.

Let us not all be slaves of our feelings. Our minds have the power to control it.

“Top 20 law schools in the Philippines in terms of their percentile passing rate.”(as of 2008)

2009-10-03T04:01:00.000-07:00

1st -Ateneo de Manila University School of Law
2nd -San Beda College of Law
3rd -University of the Philippines College of Law
4th -Far Eastern University-DLSU grad. school (Juris Doctor-MBA program)
5th -Ateneo de Davao University
6th -University of San Carlos
7th -University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law
8th -University of Cebu,
9th -University of Perpetual Help-Rizal
10th -Arellano University School of Law

11th - Xavier University
12th - Far Eastern University Institute of Law
13th - Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila
14th - University of San Agustin
15th - University of Batangas
16th - Palawan State University
17th - Polytechnic University of the Philippines
18th - Saint Louis University
19th - Lyceum of the Philippines
20th - San Sebastian College-Recolectos de Manila College of Law

source: PDI

Odette Alcantara, 68

2009-10-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

A CIVIC LEADER.

CHESS OLYMPIAN.

ENVIRONMENTALIST.

A "TITA" TO ALL

Odette Alcantara died last September 22 a day after collapsing from an aneurysm. She was 68.

"LAHAT (Lupa, Ako, Hangin, Araw at Tubig), magkaugnay" - Tita Odette

author's photo with Alcantara

Together with other environmental advocates, i mourn the loss of an institution in the earth preservation movement.

Dakila ka Tita Odette, mananatili kang buhay sa amin dahil sa iyong kaalamang naipasa. Ang mga kabataang tulad ko ay mananatili na ipaglalaban ang iyong nasimulan. Tulad ng iyong sinabi...ang tunay na makabayan, ay may pakialam sa kalikasan.

Salamat sa mga panahong natuto ako sa iyo, sa mga tawanan, at sa inspirasyon. Mananatili kang buhay. Tulad ng iyong madalas sabihin..."LAHAT...magkaugnay." Kaugnay ka na din ng aming mga puso. Mahal ka namin Tita Odette.

Church-State Separation: A Perspective

2009-07-06T04:55:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION

On May 2010 the whole nation will vote for the new President. Automated election will be used as a method, for the first time in our history. New method of election as it may be, still, many old faces in the political arena will try to join the race to Malacanang Palace. The ousted President Estrada will try to make a comeback and the ousted Senate President Villar will join the race as well. Incumbent Vice President deCastro is making a little bit of noise now that the election is near (why only now?). The leader of the Judicial department Honorable Puno is testing the waters if he can make a giant leap from the Judiciary to the Executive department. Many more are aspiring…in this country almost all “politicos” wants to be the President. Some of those “politicos” who are not so popular yet for the presidential race will vie for a senate seat. The unpopular incumbent President Gloria Arroyo made a statement that she may run for a congressional seat. Many more happenings may still uncover as the nation waits for the coming of May 14, 2010.
As I see these moments unfold from my very eyes through my television set, all I can do from the comfort of my sofa is to sigh. “Magulo ang pulitika ng Pinas.” Even foreign Nations will agree.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH ON NATIONAL PROBLEMS?

The Election Code prohibits heads or superiors of religions from coercing or intimidating their followers in the choice of candidates. Experts say this is so because of the Constitutional mandate of the “separation” of Church and the State. A mandate that is impliedly saying that Priests, Pastors, Imams and other religious leaders has nothing to do with the election so we should not take their opinion on who to vote. I may not yet be an expert in the law now but I believe that such thought is a gross misunderstanding of the principle of the separation of Church and State.
The “separation” came into being to protect the Church from the undue intrusion by the State, not vice versa. The principle doesn’t mean that the Church will just let everything happen in the political realm and practice a “hands off” attitude for it is outside of its jurisdiction. It doesn’t mean that the Church will have nothing to say on the conduct of the government or the quality of our public servants. Or that a spiritually matured Pastor or Priest may not influence another’s vote like anybody else.
It simply means that the State shall not try to run the Church’s business and vice versa. Elections must be conducted by the State and not by Church of course, and no religion may require members to show him his filled ballot before dropping it in the ballot box. Coercion violates the freewill of a human being, and must be forbidden anywhere.
In my personal opinion, although the Church and the State are independent from each other, they are joined together by a same subject: man. The people whom the State wants to be employed, educated and be protected from the A(H1N1) are the same people whose souls the Church wants to save.
The State sees me as a citizen but to the Church I am a man and we don’t need a PhD in Philosophy to know that a man is more than a citizen. The citizen pays the BIR or tax evades it, votes “politicos” or be the “politico” to be voted upon, but he is a man who worships his God and goes to Heaven or hell afterward. Church and State serve the same person, they cannot be truly separated.

SHOULD THE CHURCH TELL THE FAITHFUL WHO TO VOTE OR WHO MUST NOT BE VOTED ON 2010?

The answer is usually no, but this becomes a yes whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls require it. At a time when many politicians are propagating platforms which are anti-life, anti-morality and anti-Church? The Church does not only have the right but also an obligation to propose the certain types of men should be rejected from one’s ballot.
But as a rule, Christians, the most numerous in the nation, does not involve itself into partisan politics. The religion “Iglesia ni Cristo” (INC) however believes that members must exercise unity in the choice of candidates. Those who oppose the belief will certainly will not be a part of the INC, they should be free to leave the fold, if they are members already; they would probably violate it, if they stayed. Such belief is already a part of the INC doctrine. That is what freedom of religion is all about.
I believe religious organizations have a right to be involved in partisan politics whether they practice it or not. The Church has a right and a duty to perform in this chaotic nation, form the Christian conscience of all, and lead them in defending Christian values, even after the most unlikely people have been cooped, degraded or silenced.
Churches must deal with national problems if they are to be faithful with their task. If the sovereign God is concerned not only with spiritual matters but also even from the physical realm of man – food, clothing, shelter even the government. God is Sovereign above the State and all, things therefore He cannot be confined purely to spiritual things for He made the same world for which his Son Jesus gave his life. Churches cannot pretend to be blind and dumb in the face of poverty, exploitation and injustice. By their silence they are involving themselves to the injustice.
We, men in the eyes of the Church and citizens in the eyes of the state shall and must respect the laws and the Constitution, but in the event of conflict, our bias must be on the Lord’s side rather that man’s law. Let us all desire order but only to when it is balanced with the human aspiration for freedom, equality and the human dignity.

Why is Philippine Democracy Not Solving Anything?

2009-06-05T04:43:00.000-07:00

For years the Philippines has been enjoying a status of being a democratic nation. After the Marcos regime, people believed that democracy has come. People became more jubilant and hopeful to the promises of democracy. Flash forward to the present time, where are the results of those promises?
Our people until now, although they are great believers of democracy are not great believers of its tedious process. They only enjoy its fruits without joining the few that is fighting for it. They thought that after that successful People Power Revolution (which was repeated – yr. 2000) democracy has come and will work on its own, and of course with them as the beneficiaries.
Our professor in Public Administration during college told us that sometime in the 90s Mr. Lee Kuan Yew mentioned that we Filipinos should minimize our democracy. Intrigued by the story, I immediately “googled” it after our class, and found out the entire story and concluded in my mind a personal opinion on the matter.
Singapore then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew spoke to a mass of Filipino audience on a dinner mentioning that as a third world country, we Filipinos cannot afford to be a democratic nation. He added further that what our nation needs is more discipline and less democracy. And ironically his listeners applaud. The same people who were at EDSA during 1986 are the same people who are cheering on the idea that we must forget our democracy. Truly our government even back then is full of hypocrite individuals.
Mr. Lee probably forgot that Singapore is not the Philippines. Our cultures are different, what works on their system may not work on us. Mr. Lee probably forgot that we already experienced authoritarian ruling under the Marcoses, and we all know it was not as successful as his authoritarian government in fact, it’s a chaos. Applying it on our present time, imagine an unpopular PGMA ruling a Philippines under an authoritarian government, can you bear it?
In my personal opinion, the great leader Mr. Lee Kuan Yew is WRONG. His prescription belongs to another time and place, which goes not in accordance with the winds of change all-encompassing the face of the globe. It might work, as it appears to have worked until now, in a small country in size and population. But not in my beloved Pilipinas.
Democracy, not authoritarianism is the key to progress here in our nation. We also have a duty to assure our fellow citizens that we have not erred in choosing a democratic Constitution.
Why then our democracy is not working?
Our only error, which is prevailing in the government, the media, businesses, in the academe and in the marketplace, is that we tend to believe we already have the entirety of the democracy we believe in when all we have is its distorted version. We tend to run the Philippine government through the newspapers and decide what is good to the population on the basis of shocking news headlines and less than informed media, commentaries and educated predicaments.
We Filipinos value entertainment more than education. Our most popular role models are not the ones who are productive workers but those who are only a product of pinoy playful imagination.
Our error is that we elect men and women to high office expecting them to change the status quo when in fact they cannot even change themselves. We often hear them talk about their priority project for progress or their new movement to recover the moral tradition without them first accepting the teachings of morality and getting rid of their immoral attachments.
We Filipinos from every walk of life must realize that the system will not work by itself. We must make the system work. We already have the tool to progress, what we must now do is to learn how to use the tool. As of now, what we can do is to practice our democratic ideals, teach our democratic ideals to our Children and tell them not to commit the mistake our elders did in the past (and continuously doing). And pray to the Almighty to grant our people the wisdom. Yes, it is still a long way to go, but it is the only way.
Even as I speak out my mind here, some individuals may already lose their hope on democracy since they idolize the revered foreigner Mr. Lee and drawing up plans on how to impose the Mr. Lee system here in our nation. Some may even disagree with my opinion regarding the Marcos regime and the PGMA presidency. They may never understand me, yet in the spirit of democracy I respect differing opinions.
Mabuhay tayong lahat!

APRIL 5, 2009, MANILA

To The Filipino Christian Graduate of Today

2009-06-05T04:34:00.000-07:00

To The Christian Filipino Graduate of Today
By Manuel A. Rodriguez, UST Batch 2009

There is probably no other time of the year as most awaited by students, parents and teachers than the graduation day. For the students who will not yet graduate, it is the start of their summer vacation where they can enjoy or rest and have a break to re-energize themselves for the next academic year. The same may be true for the teachers, who, after a very stressful year, may now enjoy a deserved rest.
For the parents of the graduates, it is a time of great relief and thanksgiving, for it marks the beginning of the fulfillment of their children’s dreams. To a graduate like me, the graduation day is certainly the most awaited day. Now, I can say that I have partly fulfilled my dreams and realize my vision. I sincerely hope that all of us, batch mates, are setting on the high road of achievement, success, and service to others. I urge my fellow Christian graduates to recognize the deep pride that our parents and our loved ones feel for us. Let us thank them for their support, prayers, encouragement, time and their touch of comfort during our hard times as students.
Reservations and Fears
However, together with our feelings of happiness and excitements are the fears, of what will we become years from now. People, who are older than us, usually say that it is but normal for us to be apprehensive. But I am sure that even if our country is confronted with, and struggling from, social problems, economic crisis and political chaotic scenario, there are still countless opportunities outside for graduates who are Christians. In St.Paul’s letter to the Romans, there is a verse that may be appropriate: “All things work together for good to them who love God.” (Romans 8:28).
We all just have to believe in our capabilities, do the will of our Father in heaven, toil hard with patience, live our values and virtues, give more than we take, and of course, storm heaven with our prayers.
The day we attend our respective commencement exercises, we have already partly achieved our dreams. That moment will mark the end of a journey and a start of a new one. That is why probably we are calling it commencement exercises, to remind us that graduation is not the end, nor it is the ultimate achievement or the realization of our goals. It is more of a start or an opening of new doors leading to a realm of vast possibilities. This is true for the hundreds of thousands of people who have graduated before and for us Batch 2009. Each graduate, with a good academic training and experiences, has been prepared to take the next step on whatever path he or she has chosen to take.

The wars we are all in
With the uncertainty this country is facing, the opportunity before us has never been greater and the challenge has never been more intimidating.
As we are all aware, our nation today is fighting several wars, and our enemies in every battle in these wars are seemingly unconquerable. We are waging war against all forms of criminality, drugs, corruption, poverty and injustice. We are waging war against terrorism. We are waging war against forces that seek to destroy our democracy, and against evils that seek to divide and destroy the institutions of family.
While we now know who are enemies are and already waged war, we need to religiously assess, and firm up our tactics. As our country is trying to heal its wounds, solve social problems and exerts effort to transform us into a better country for our generation and those who will follow, it calls for us Christians.
The challenges that our nation is facing now is to heavy and complex to be left on the hands of the few. Our country is pleading for men and women like us to come to its rescue. The nation demands from us, citizens, full participation, support and dedication. The virtue of loving our nation is often being neglected even by Christians like us; we are too busy praying for our own concerns or of those people who are near to us…forgive us o God for forgetting our beloved Philippines.
The Challenge for us
I encourage my fellow Filipino graduates who are in Christ, to serve this nation of ours in every possible way, in every way we can. Graduates like us have so much to give for the Philippines.
While the generation that came before us, have their experience to rely on, we have the intelligence keenness, knowledge, energy, hope, dreams and idealism to trust on. Our country may already have much brains working for the government, but they without a doubt lack the sustained idealism that can live and bloom in the middle of harsh, selfish, complacent, mediocre, and unprincipled society and work environment. This nation need young blood with bold yet noble, principles and with high and sustained idealism and courage, who can act without fear and correct or rectify the wrong without compromise with Christianity as his template principle.
Government service…why not?
While we hate to admit it, it is common perception that the government is filled with mediocre, undriven and unmotivated people, with the notion that government is for lazy and sleazy people. Most officials in the government are corrupt, and abusive in the exercise of their power. May we see these negative notions of people to the government as a calling for us to do something that will make it the otherwise. If we value our nation that much, we will immerse ourselves in it and we will make a difference.
I am not saying of course that only the government needs good, honest, and dedicated worker. In fact all of us, in whatever field or endeavor we may find ourselves in the future, must continuously preserve and cultivate our ideals, values and virtues that we hold now. The realities outside the halls of our respected campuses are more complex as we think, and as we can imagine. We must guard ourselves against the luring temptation of money, power and influence just to get our wants, at the expense of our values, principles, and faith.
The idealism we should have
When I speak of idealism, I am referring to idealism in action –the nationalist idealism possessed and practiced by the likes of our national hero Rizal, and Bonifacio, and Ninoy and many of our revered statesmen in the past. With regards to the Christian idealism, I am referring to the idealism that Christ himself practiced while he was on this world.
Idealism should not only remain in the head. It should be practiced and tested. Idealism in action cannot be possible without the corresponding courage because it is courage that will actualize it. Winston Churchill once said: “Moral courage is one virtue, that make all other virtues possible.” Indeed, of what is the use of our honesty if we do not have the courage to uphold it? Justice, if we do not have courage to defend it? Democracy, if we do not have the courage to fight for it?
As Christians our idealism should also be grounded on proper values and virtues and should have a special leaning to the disadvantaged and less privileged in life. Its bias should be for the achievement of social equality and justice, as what the ancient maxim says: “Salus populi est suprema lex – The welfare of the people is the supreme law.”
Our role in the 2010 elections
May of next year, we will be electing the next set of people who will lead this nation. We will elect the next president who will lead us for the next 6 years. For many of us, this is maybe the first time that we will practice our right to suffrage. With the realities of the practice of election on our country, and as enlightened graduates, we know that this is, indeed, a not so easy time. This is maybe the first time that our idealism, principles, intellectual maturity and good judgment may be used or tested. But above all, it is still a test of faith for us Christians.
We have been watching the possible candidates closely, even there is still no campaign on going we have been listening to the promises that they implicitly say (some explicitly), seeing how they perform or act, and weighing the virtues of each. Ideally we would like to see how closely they come to fulfilling our own vision of the future and of the future of our nation. Yet, we may be tempted to ask: “How do we choose if none is close enough?” Verily, it may not surprise is if some choices are made out of disillusionment or resignation rather than out of hope.
This confusion, some may tell us is the “reality of the world.” Others may say that this has nothing to do with the books we have been studying all these years. True enough no matter how excellently our books are written, or how esteemed our lecturers are, there will be so much more to any event that inevitably, or even necessarily remains unsaid. All the intrigues that the media is feeding our minds, whether here or abroad, all the backdoor negotiations, or seemingly shady deals merely scratched the surface of everything that is really happening.
This is the sad reality. But do not get me wrong because I will be the first one to say that it does not have to be dire. Evolving social structures are what we must live and work with, and it does no good to do nothing but shake fists at the storm. However this real world will be presented to you, your comfort and hope are in your intelligence and your education. Maybe at first it does not seem enough to stop floodgates. But, if only my words alone can assure you for your lifetime, I say that this is more than enough.
A life for others, a life of purpose
Years from now, we may already be enjoying the fruits of our labor. Yet we may still be living in the poor old Philippines where leaders remain selfish and corrupt, crime is everywhere and poverty and injustice still abound. And we may ask ourselves where were our values, our idealism, our ideals and dreams for our nation and our fellow Filipinos? Indeed despite our success, we may have missed something still. Perhaps we have forgotten to enrich the values, dreams, and ideals because we have focused our minds and our work only to our own future. Please, let us not do the wrong thing our old ones did.
Have you forgotten that we ought to live for others? In a world full of hostility and greed there is no feeling more refreshing and fulfilling than that of having served and helped a disadvantaged brother or sister. The most accomplished life I that one fully dedicated for the benefit for others.
Thus as we all go now to the real world, I would like to urge you to continually assess our virtues, values, ideals, and principles, which we are holding now. And ask where are we in the practice or in our mission in fulfilling or realizing them.

MARCH 22, 2009, MANILA

With This We Call For Change

2009-06-05T04:26:00.000-07:00

“With This We Call For Change”
By Manuel Rodriguez II, UST - Students' Democratic Party(SDP)

“…DEMOCRACY… IT IS OUR DUTY NOW, IN DANGER AS IN SECURITY, TO UPHOLD AND SUSTAIN IT WITH ALL THAT WE HAVE AND ARE.”
-excerpt from the Democratic Creed by Stephen Bennet
(Standard creed of the SDP 1st party convention)

The case of Mr. Jocjoc Bolante on the 728 million pesos fund for fertilizers, the disappearance of the 3.1 billion budget for irrigation, Arroyo’s fraudulent acts on the 2004 national elections that made her an illegitimate president, left and right cases of extra-judicial killings and the most recent and controversial NBN-ZTE deal scandal.

For 7 years the Arroyo regime failed to uphold the trust of the Filipino nation, our country is left tortured and wounded. The continuous issues and scandals in the country’s political arena have effectively placed into the spotlight the crisis in the administration of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo – the crisis which has transformed the people’s search for truth and justice into an advocacy to oust an immoral leader of the land.

The whole truth about the anomalous NBN-ZTE contract is slowly being revealed by the statements of a very credible individual in the persona of our fellow Thomasian, Eng’r Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, former President of PhilForest, a corporation owned by the government. According to Lozada, Mr. Jose Miguel “Mike”Arroyo the husband of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, and the former ComElec Chairperson Benjamin Abalos are one of the people who are very willing to close the deal between the Philippines and China, because of their self interests to earn a 65 million to 130 million US dollars commission.

While majority of our people live their everyday life with only 65 pesos or lower on their pockets, people like Mr. Arroyo and Mr. Abalos are earning millions without sweat.

Under this kind of administration our search for truth will not and never be easy and will face many crossroads and obstacles. We can expect the government to discredit witness like Eng’r Lozada and block possible bearer of truth like Sec. Romulo Neri of CHEd.

If the University of Santo Tomas (UST) demands from its students which are their main stakeholders commitment, compassion and competence, then the nation as the same expect from the Thomasians to make use of their education in defining and knowing the difference between justice and injustice with very strong fervor.

In a three page paper titled “Why I Cannot and Will Not Support Calls for the Presidents’ Resignation,” pro- administration priest Fr. Ranhillio Calangan- Aquino pointed out that “when one protests his earnestness in search for truth, and at the same time presses for the resignation of the President (PGMA), one is guilty ofperformative contradiction.”

“If you search for truth, you do not know yet the whether she is guilty or not. But if you do know this yet, what reason is there to ask her to resign?” Fr. Aquino retorted.

My response to his statement? It is not that the current President has lost her capacity to govern the country, however due to many controversial events, I believe that the President should step down or be ousted from her position because of her inability to gain the trust of the Filipino people. Leadership requires influence; clearly the President has lost that.
With this we call for change.

MARCH 15, 2008, MANILA