ONE STATEMENT, AUGUST 1-31, 2025
"Even our Savior did not flaunt the miracles He did--He healed, He delivered, He changed lives. These things are more than worthy of grand announcements, as they are testimonies of how He cares: for the sick and weary, for the hurting and abandoned, for the disadvantaged, and those with less. May we therefore emulate such and not flaunt what we think we own in this life (whether things or people). For there is nothing on earth we can bring beyond the grave, except how we performed our mission as citizens of our Heavenly Father's kingdom, and how we treated other people--whether we have excluded them from our little circles because we think we are better and higher, or how we have given time and chance to those whom we least understand, even the ones whom we feel intimidate us or threaten our carefully curated self-image of greatness."
Why did Indonesian people violently protest the corruption
in their country?
They've had enough.
Why can't Filipinos do that now?
We've had that for hundreds of years, but those who did were
red-tagged, tortured and killed, then brandished as rebels, seditionists,
terrorists, enemies of peace and democracy.
As a Christian nation, our role model was our Lord Jesus
Christ, who was unfairly tried and convicted, violently tortured and
mercilessly murdered, even when all He advocated was the ultimate best
utopia--a life of peace and holiness, humility and contentment, honesty,
fairness and justice.
The struggle is still alive though, for the issues remain
the same: corruption, nepotism, oppression, unfairness, abuse and fraud, evil
and greed.
But many choose to live another day, to still work and
provide for their loved ones and their dreams.
And for now, if we don't stop questioning and shaming,
exposing and investigating, speaking out in modern-life's most popular media,
then maybe someday, even beyond our own lives, something good will ultimately
happen.
For the best way to stop hating something is not to love
them or join them, but to IGNORE them.
In accounting parlance, this is what we call DERECOGNITION
(Removing from the books, declaring as "Others", immaterial
singularly, hence lumped collectively, and presented below all the others, as
last priority in the order of liquidity and liquidation).
If we all stop gawking at VIPs, or subscribing to glitz and
glamour in our feeds, then what is the sense of flaunting, when there is no
more audience to impress?
May we stop flexing what we have, but rather, sharing only
what we do to improve our country and countrymen living along life's margins.
And as Buwan ng Wika at Kultura comes to a close, may we ask
ourselves, 'what have we done to promote our national and regional languages,
and the culture and livelihood of our indigenous and grassroots fellow
Filipinos'?
(And who says we couldn't follow in the footsteps of our
Indonesian brothers and sisters? When in fact we share the same genes, they
being part of the waves of migrations of our pre-Spanish ancestors? Until
then...)
"When life feels difficult and challenging, exhausting
and overwhelming, may we remember that these promises go beyond ancient Israel,
but to the spiritual (not solely) physical Israel of today, 'Israel-- Ruling or
Striving with God'. As we entrust our lives to Him and let Him guide our
decisions and actions, we can claim the same promises of deliverance and
strength, provision and protection, wisdom and grace. May this give us
confidence and hope to do what's right and fair, what's just and good."
"Tales of corruption never get old. These are fraud,
which never lack victims. But they barely skim the surface of the depravity of
evil minds and greedy hearts. Yet the ones victimized, oppressed, deprived and
abused by such evildoers have been able to, and are still pushing on,
weathering life's challenges and adversities with less than they should have.
And this, most probably because of hope: that someday everything will change,
wrong will be made right, justice will come from the One Great Judge of all.
Meanwhile, may we not stop believing, not stop standing up, speaking out and
defending what's right and just and fair. For as God's children tasked to
proclaim His kingdom, we are to live its truth, its love and mercy, its justice
and goodness for all."
We always believe that rains are blessings,
And yes, too often they are.
Sometimes though, they are not.
Because rains, especially with floods and strong winds, also
slap our ego, bringing destruction, failure, sickness and death;
Showing us we did something wrong,
And that there are people we have wronged, oppressed, or
defrauded.
And just as our prehistoric and modern-day ancestors
believed that the monsoons bring both life and death,
Rains, winds, floods teach us to be careful with our words
and actions--
Because we might sow and reap either life or death too.
"That's why a true child of God is not into cliques,
exclusivity, social- or status-climbing. We know from whom and where we came,
we know the blood that runs through our veins, we know the spirit that rules
our hearts and minds, the force that drives and motivates us to go beyond. And
we can have confidence in the abilities given to us, in acknowledging the
things we lack, in recognizing our worth and properly positioning ourselves in
places and situations where we are valued, and in the calm that comes from
knowing that throughout the reversals of life's fortune, we are always amply
provided for--physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually. For what good
is it to gain and experience the whole world if there is no quietness in the
soul? What good is companionship and laughter with many people whom you believe
can push you up in the ladder of success, when you cannot even find time and
joy for and in the simplest things, nor truly understand the nature and
circumstances of the people closest to you? Yes, ancestry matters, because it
is the determinant of our behavior and preferences, our intellect, skills and
hobbies, our priorities and values. Friendships and connections matter too,
especially when we are still in the process of building our families and
careers, and establishing our identities. But choices matter more, for they
determine what we will become, and how we choose how to embrace life and
celebrate our journey."
"The truth hurts. And especially for the guilty, who
will figuratively thrash around, trying to defend that they are right,
righteous and clean. But if we recognize that our lives are borrowed, our whole
existence but a journey, and that we are simply stewards of life and creation,
we would have been more thankful, honest, respectful, humble, and less
oppressive, abusive, insecure and overbearing. And may we remember that in the
end, we are not valued by the awards, recognitions, wealth, statuses, and degrees
we have heaped upon ourselves, but by what we have done to the least of us, or
to those who look up to us for guidance and wisdom, and those who honestly and
sincerely seek our affirmation and support."
"Confucius was famously attributed with the saying,
'It's a shame to be rich in a poor country.' Probably the sentiment was that in
a country of good governance and less greed, those who are less capable are not
condoned for laziness and lack of vision, but empowered with the means and
resources to earn a respectable and dignified means of living; thereby reducing
crime, poverty, unfair and dishonest and unsustainable business practices, and
promoting humane living and working conditions. Unfortunately we are as yet in
the decades-long rollout of these principles in real life, in both secular and
non-secular environments. But that is not enough reason not to do our part or
be remiss in our duties, as children of God tasked to advance His kingdom.
Wherever we are, with whatever we have and what we can generate, we can start
with those closest to us--family, friends, neighbors; in terms of holistic
support and kindness, respect and understanding; so that everyone moves forward
in life with less despair and anger, but with more confidence and peace. This,
I believe is a better testimony of the faith we profess, and the hope we hold
on to."
"In our pursuit of trying to do our best, sometimes we
get accosted by other people who are overbearing, who throw their erroneously
perceived weight and clout around, who show no respect and regard for decency
and the general norms of society as long as they can show others that they feel
superior and entitled, not subject to judgment, and generally being anti-social
in not considering other people's situations. But these airheads don't matter.
For it is not degree, license, status, honors nor accolades that show
intelligence, but good, respectful, considerate and sensitive behavior. And we
need to focus on our goal of advancing our Heavenly Father's kingdom by the
work that we do, not the distraction brought about and thrown around by the
enemy of life and wisdom."
"Sometimes life is difficult to understand, accept, or
handle. Oftentimes, it is unfair. But creation shows us an incomparable beauty,
and nature shows us the kind of amazing power against which our best-laid plans
and intentions are futile. May we slow down sometimes, and remember how our God
set everything for our good, for our learning, for our humility and patient
endurance--not at the expense of what is due us, but with a heart of gratitude
and peace."
"His name is a testament to what God is doing in his
life--'Elijah', 'the Lord is my God'. And in this lesson and countless
real-life occurrences throughout history and time, even in our personal
experience, we learn of and have come to worship the same God, particularly in
His nature as 'Jehovah - Jireh', or 'the Lord will provide. May we always
remember that our God is merciful; He knows our concerns. And if we come to Him
in humility and prayer, in sincerity and truth, He will always pour out His
provision, His strength, His wisdom. And we don't need to have degrees in
religious or pastoral and ministry studies to understand this; because in our
lives, this truth and everyday miracle will be lived and made real, as a
testimony of His grace and goodness."
"In all our busy-ness and efforts of trying to prove
our best and our worthiness, may we not fail to recognize the work of our
Savior in our lives; and respond in kind--in thankfulness and appreciation, in
humility and patience, in wisdom and faith.
And may we not waste His words by unapologetically mincing
and mindlessly spreading them around, throwing pearls unto swine, sharing
beautiful verses without expounding, without showing in our lives and testimony
how true they have become, how closer we are getting to our goal in His
kingdom."
"Resting on the seventh day is worship... and I mean
truly resting, not spent in hobnobbing with others, for there are 6 days we can
insert those in, but sheltering in place, just sitting or standing or walking,
and meditating, pondering on our God's Word and His goodness throughout the
week, seeking and asking for His guidance for the coming week, freed from our
human and basic cares and concerns for a moment... Because faith is intangible,
our God is as-yet intangible, one great aspect of it is mental, emotional,
spiritual and physical retreat... But because He is manifested in creation,
even in time and space, we too must slow down and stop, give time and space,
and chance for our bodies to rest and heal, and for life and nature to speak to
us in our downtime."
"Fear is the root of hate and rage, that breeds cruel
words, rash actions and destruction, evil and trauma... May we not fear, and
trust that whatever happens in our future, our loving Heavenly Father always
has our best interests in His mighty hand..."
"Upholding what's right, the rights and
responsibilities not just for you but others too, is what determines who you
are."
"Many people's words are unreliable. But thankfully,
our God's promises are true and eternal. You may or may not believe so, but you
can't deny that His laws in nature are unchanging. Whatever you do will always
come back to you. May we therefore always weigh our words, because even if
uttered without much thought, they have a lasting impact. Even if nonsensical
things are said, they might cost our soul and eternal destiny."
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