The Reality of Life

    As we grow in age and wisdom, we realize that life is multi-faceted. There are different ways to understand it. But the question is not about listing the ways. What is important is the willingness to understand, which many people find it hard to do. 

    Sad to say that only few people give their best to understand the multi-faceted of life. If only people will make the effort, then there will be a genuine dialogue that leads to peaceful co-existence. Perhaps, it is not only about peaceful co-existence. It is about making our life meaningful. 

    This is Christmas season, which is a season of merry-making by children. Christmas is not anymore for old people because they have already surpassed the merry-making stage. This season must be a reminder for old people to get into the reality of life towards the essence of Christmas, that is, Jesus is born for us. 

    People may not be able to understand this essence of Christmas since they have different outlook on it. But only when people understand that the season is what made for us, then life as a whole becomes meaningful. 

    Have a very Merry Chrismas!

The Presence of the Dean and the Faculty Frolics 2017

I realize that the participation of the dean of college in the activity of the faculty cannot be underestimated. Last February 16, 2017, the college of arts and sciences won the 2^nd place (or First Runner Up. The champion of the contest was the College of Education) in the faculty frolic under the big college category. All I can is that the participation of our dean is a big factor to the success of the contest.

His presence from Day 1 up to the last day of the practice serves as a sort of intimidation. It is of natural instance that when the superior is present, the subordinates would attend the practice without any second thought. He was there from the beginning until the end of every practice observing and assisting in whatever way he could in the finale part of the presentation. In short, all I can say is that his presence is intimidating, yet inspiring at the same time.

Second, his interest in the contest led him to participate by joining the dance during the finale. By the way, the concept of the presentation was about GOT TALENT where each department has to give a 2-minute presentation either dancing, or singing or short, funny drama. After each department did their part, together, the CAS faculty-participants, would gather in the middle of the stage and have the mass dance before doing the exit. And the dean was joyously dancing with all his heart out.

And lastly, his support is unwavering by providing us with arroz caldo during the practice. The practice was done from 6:00 to 7:30PM. Undeniably it was a time for dinner, but yet he took the initiative to be the provider to our hungry stomachs. Thus everyone was energetic and cooperative throughout the practice.

So, every time there is an event like the faculty frolic, expect that teachers would do their best to bring out their natural talent only when the head of the unit is actively present, participating and supporting the group with the end in mind of achieving the goal, that is, of winning the contest.

The Fuss of Apologizing

It was during the month of October that the old conflict between the Aquinos and Marcoses surfaced boldly. President Pinoy answers the media that the Marcoses should apologize the Filipino people for the atrocities they committed during the dictator's regime. And the young Senator Bongbong also answers the media that being elected in various positions like his mother into congress and his sister as governor of their province is an indication of vindication. That means that people have already moved on as what the young senator claim. First, I am puzzled why this thing has to be an issue again as we approach the 2016 election. Let me give some simple analysis to their claims, and then conclude with my opinion.

The president is suggesting the Marcoses should issue an apology to the victims of human rights under the latter's watch. Does he mean that all the Marcoses belong to the first family should do so? Senator Miriam Santiago has already said that she did not see the young Marcos killing or raping or violating the penal code. She also recalled that that time of former president's reign, the young Marcos was still very young. She should mean that he did not have any hand in political ruling and decision making. Bongbong emphatically says that what wrong did he make to make him pay for the things he did not do so. What i see here is that the father's wrongdoing is not his. The wrongdoings of other people cannot be passed on to his children.

In morality by Glenn, the imputability lies on the doer of a thing. If the doer did something wrong, he is imputed by his act and he is to be blame. And the young Marcos and Senator Miriam have the same point. But why Pinoy is insisting that they, the Marcoses, should issue an apology? If we follow the point of the president, I think, even the children of the children of the dictator should do so who had stayed in Malacañan.  It is for eternity that they would carry the burden to apologize the people, as if they all inherit the original sin of the doer.

How about treating the election to power as vindication? Again the statement of the young Marcos is ambiguous. Some would deal the statement as the three Marcoses - the senator, congresswoman and the governor. Vindication is applied only to the senator because those who voted him are Filipinos coming from the whole country while the other two are from their own populace. This can be compared to arroyo's ascendancy to power as congresswoman after being labeled as the unpopular president mired by accusations of graft, corruption, plunder, etc.

To sum up with my opinion, the young senator has nothing to do with his father's wrongdoings. If the president says that the people would not allow another Marcos to sit in the palace, it would be the decision of the Filipino people to decide. If he is elected, then that would be another vindication.

Being Someone

Why I am writing this piece of opinion? It is to show to others that being employed with particular job prescription (or identity) like being a professor or government employee is better than being a businessman.

A good friend of mine was sharing this simple but profound thought about the importance of identity. This happens in the midst of our petty business talk. Both of us are regular employees, earning minimum wage. But our situation is compensated with passive income offered to us by a very good friend of ours who is into business. Our friend is very successful in his career as businessman.

But what transpired in our conversation is his realization. My friend said that being employed is totally different from someone who engaged in business alone. His thought became clear when he made a distinction between a businessman and being employed as worker. He used me as an example - wherever I go, I will be easily identified by anybody else as an instructor of a certain university without identifying me with money. In short even though i am without money, I still am called an instructor. It is because money is not the defining factor of my being a teacher. But a businessman is not the case. He is identified as such with money. If a businessman has no more money, he cannot be called anymore as such.

Thanks for the thought, my friend.

Corporate World has no more rooms for Married Individuals

Married individuals are human beings with needs in life like food, clothing and shelter. Being married comes from various ages of any person according to their plan as lovers and the plan of God. When one enters into this life, his status changes too. This is an opportunity given to all for free. It is considered the greatest moment in one’s life where life is now settled with the sense of direction. But this opportunity is not at all a happy thing in the corporate world. Being married is treated without the sense of direction for commodity-type mentality.

Corporate world has set the standard for its people in manning and operating its business machinery. This standard is making the institution as center of excellence with maximum profit in the guise of service in catering the needs of the consumers. And so the qualified people could be part of the machinery are the single and young people. These are the two criteria, aside from the “whom-you-know and what-you-know scheme,” that they see deem fit within the definition of excellence.

They need single people because, first and foremost, they can extend their working time according to their discretion within and beyond the bounds of their role. Single people are free from family obligation and could give their service 24/7. And secondly they hire young people because they are energetic, smart and strong. Usually people are considered young are from 21 to 25 years old. (Just look at the ads of many establishments!) Maybe the criteria of idealism and enthusiasm are part of “excellence.” With these perceptions, we may infer the opposite that being married has none of the above to be part of excellence.

Excellence is a cruel term in my opinion. Excellence discriminates married people from having the opportunity to be part of the corporate world despite of one’s merit. These two things – being married and having the merit – could not make you qualified to be their working forces. And this is how the corporate world upholds and defines their standard. Is this something similar to contraceptive-mentality where the message is this: while you are still young, energetic, and idealistic, “stay single yet coz we need you!” and to those who are married and old, “sorry, we don’t need you anymore!”

Why only in the Philippines, known as the only Christian nation, do these things happening? Many Filipinos who are married and old (26 years old and above) find themselves difficult of getting employed and the only option left is to go abroad. Employers from the foreign lands seems to know the meaning of “being human” than Filipinos. These foreigners understand well that even married and old people could be part of defining excellence because they believe in them that they have the energy, they are smart and strong to be part of the corporate world.

This is the saddest part in Philippine history. We are known to be champions of democracy before the world, but in reality, we never understand the essence of democracy of freeing people from discrimination. Instead of becoming icons of being human and Christian, we become the icons of inhumanity and paganism, for we prioritize profit or money at the expense of young and single people. I hope that young and single people may see this ugly reality defined by the corporate people.  No wonder we are the only persons to be blamed of indignity and cruelty.

Bridge and Peace

In reading the full text of Pope Francis on his remark during the audience with the representatives of the diplomatic corps, two things catch my attention. First is about being the bridge. He said that it is difficult to build bridge among people while forgetting god, and to build links with god while ignoring other people. The second point is about the definition of peace. He said that there is no peace without truth, and when there are many truths!

The first point defines the term bridge in a divine way. Being the bridge means building a unique community of people and of god. It is not an ordinary community. It is a sacred and divine community, a presence of the holy. Thus being the bridge must be a lover of people and of god. He does not divide people and separate them from god. It is impossible to think of a community without god, and it is unimaginable to conceive a community with god while excluding other people.

The second point defines peace in the presence of truth. Truth becomes as the compass or guide towards the path of peace. But this truth is not any truths. It is a truth believed by all. Thus peace means unity in mind and heart by all people. It is a unity in mind where all people are one in believing and understanding of truth. It is the opposite of relativism.

Pope Francis brings to the surface the real meaning of community - a community that is divine, composed of people and god, and by having god as the originator of that community.

Is RH law pro-abortion?

Last semester of the academic year, I kept on following the progress and stages of the controversial issue on the reproductive health, which is now a law, and its continuous opposition by the Catholic Church. The church is the staunchest protester against the issue. I even downloaded the whole text of the then Reproductive Health Bill 4244 and shared it to my students.

I read the whole text of the bill, and it says nothing about promoting abortion. In fact the bill is really against abortion. But what I suspect about in the allegation of promoting abortion is that one of the contraceptives under the artificial family planning has the abortifacient effect which the church is referring to. But again, in the final text, which I now a law, pro-lawmakers have made clear that the contraceptives with abortifacient effect should not be make available. Instead on contraceptives with non-abortifacient effect be made available. It also gives directives to the Department of Health to see to it that there are no contraceptives be given, made available or distribute which has the said effect.

The second point is this, that those women who ask for post-abortion help will be assisted by health institutions. It is their obligation to ensure their physical health because the bill is for the good health of the citizens. It shows that the law is really humane on these people who even underwent the illegal process of aborting their own child, and who are on the verge of dying or when there is danger to their health.

Now, let us tackle the question. Is the RH Law pro-abortion or not? The answer is a big NO. Where does my answer come from? It comes from the reading of the whole text of RH Bill 4244 or RH Law 10534.