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(0632) 912-4852 (0632) 912-5706ISSN–1655-3853 • ABRIL 10 - 16, 2009 • VOL. 30, NO. 15 • 8 PAHINA • P10.00

MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

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2 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 ABRIL 10 - 16, 2009

Kastigo BIENVENIDO A. RAMOS

Analohiya sa Semana SantaNAPAKALAPIT ng pagkaka-tulad ng panahon ng pagkabuhay,pangangaral at pagpapahirap atpagpapako sa krus kay Jesucristoat ang magsasampung taon nangpamamahala ni Gng. Gloria Ma-capagal-Arroyo — kaya naganyakakong gumawa ng analohiya.

Ang Palestina noon ay bi-nubuo ng tatlong probinsya —ang Judea (siyang pinakamalakiat kinaroroonan ng Lungsod ngJerusalem), ang Samaria at angGalilea, (kung nasan ang bayanng Nazareth na kinikilalangsinilangan ni Jesucristo).

Ang Pilipinas ay binubuo rinng tatlong malalaking pulo — angLuzon, pinakamalaki at kinaro-roonan ng Maynila, (na kina-roroonan naman ng Malakan-yang), Bisayas at Mindanao.

Ang Palestina ay nasasakopnoon ng Imperyong Roma, atinilagay ng Roma, bilang proku-rador at gobernador ng Palestina,si Poncio Pilato.

Ang Pilipinas, bagama’t naka-mit sa Estados Unidos ang pag-sasarili (1946) ay patuloy nanamamanginoon pa rin sa Ame-rika (kahit pinalayas na sa Pili-pinas ang mga base militar nitonoong 1991).

Sa panahon ni Jesucristo, anglungsod ng Jerusalem ang luk-lukan ng gobyerno, kinaroroonan

ng palasyo ni Herodes, na tetriar-ka o pinakahari sa Judea, peronasa ilalim siya ni Poncio Pilato.May kapulungan din o kongresona tinatawag na Sanhedrin angpamahalaan sa Jerusalem, binu-buo ng mga eskriba at pariseo atng matataas na saserdote.

Ang kongreso sa Pilipinas aybinubuo naman ng mababangkapulungan o camara de respre-sentantes at senado.

Camara at SanhedrinNAKABALISA sa mga eskriba atpariseo at matataas na saserdoteang nababalitaan nilang pagka-kalat ni Jesus ng bagong doktri-na at mga aral na sa palagaynila’y salungat sa pinaiiral nilangmga batas at kaugalian na anila’ymula pa kay Moises. Kaya nagpu-long ang Sanhedrin, at pinlanonila ang pagpapahuli at pagpataykay Jesucristo. Ang namuno sakanilang miting ay si Annas, angpunong saserdote at ang manu-gang nitong si Caiphas.

Nang mabunyag ang “Hello,Garci” tape nagsimula ring ma-balisa at matakot si Gng. Maca-pagal-Arroyo at karakang ipina-tawag niya ang nakararamingmiyembro ng camara de respre-sentantes. Kailangang patayinkaagad ang ano mang sumbong(impeachment complaint).

EDITORIALAlfredo M. Roxas, Jose Romulo Q. Pavia, JoseGerardo Q. Pavia, Joey N. Pavia , Jose VisitacionQ. Pavia, Carminia L. Pavia, Perfecto RaymundoJr., Dino Balabo

ADVERTISINGJennifer T. Raymundo

PRODUCTIONJose Antonio Q. Pavia, Jose Ricardo Q. Pavia,Mark F. Mata, Maricel P. Dayag, Charlett C.Añasco

PHOTOGRAPHY / ARTEden Uy, Allan Peñaredondo, Joseph Ryan S.Pavia

BUSINESS / ADMINISTRATIONLoreto Q. Pavia, Marilyn L. Ramirez,Peñaflor Crystal, J. Victorina P. Vergara,Cecile S. Pavia, Luis Francisco, Domingo Ungria,Harold T. Raymundo,

CIRCULATIONRobert T. Raymundo, Armando M. Arellano,Rhoderick T. Raymundo

The Mabuhay is published weekly by theMABUHAY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES —DTI Permit No. 00075266, March 6, 2006 toMarch 6, 2011, Malolos, Bulacan.

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MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

Jose L. PaviaPublisher/Editor

Perfecto V. RaymundoAssociate Editor

Anthony L. PaviaManaging Editor

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At upang mapalawig ang kani-lang panunungkulan at manatilipa sa kapangyarihan — na pagla-ganap ng katiwalian, pamamas-lang, pag-aabuso at pagpapabayasa tungkulin — patuloy na isinu-sulong sa kamara ang cha-cha opagbabago ng Konstitusyon.

Samantala’y naghahanap angmga eskriba at pariseo ng taongmababayaran, at magtuturo sakanila kung sino si Jesus. Si Ju-das Iscariote ang taksil na nasu-hulan nila ng 30 pirasong pilak.

Ang pagsuhol kay Judas ngmga eskriba at pariseo ay siyaring ginagawang pagsuhol ngMalakanyang sa nakararamingJudas sa camara de respresen-tantes. Ito ang mga eskriba atpariseo sa Sanhedrin (Kongreso)na nagpapataw ng buwis, nagpa-tibay ng Oil Deregulacion law,nagsisingit ng dagdag na porkbarrel sa pambansang badyet atiba pang pahirap sa mamamayan.

At nang ipasa ni Pilato samadla kung sino kina Jesus atBarrabas ang dapat palayain,nanguna sa pagsigaw ang mgaeskriba at pariseo: Palayain siBarrabas! Patayin si Jesus sakrus!”

Sa ating bayan ang Cristo napatuloy na pinahihirapan ngayonsa pagkabayubay sa krus ay angSambayanang Pilipino!

EDITORYAL

Earth Hour at Water WeekILANG oras lamang ang pagitan ng isinagawang paggunitasa Earth Hour at Philippine Water Week sa bayan ng Marilaonoong Sabado at Linggo, Marso 28 at 29.

Layunin ng pagsasagawa ng Earth Hour sa pangu-nguna ng SM City Marilao ang makatipid sa konsumo ngkuryente sa pamamagitan ng isang oras na di paggamitnito. Sa ganitong paraan, malaki ang mababawas saibinubugang greenhouse gas ng mga planta ng kuryenteat mga pabrika, na sinasabing malaki ang kontribusyon saglobal warming dahil napipigil nito ang init ng araw na dapatmagbalik sa kalawakan, kaya’t nagiging mabilis angpagtaas ng temperatura ng mundo at nalulusaw ang mganiyebe, bukod pa sa nababago ang ihip ng panahon.

Layunin naman ng paggunita sa Philippine Water Weekang pagpapayaman at pagpapanatili ng limitadong yamangtubig ng mundo sa pamamagitan ng tamang pagliligpit atpagsisinop ng basura.

Kapuri-puri ang dalawang gawain sapagkat sapagsasagawa ng mga ito mabubuksan ang isipan ngmarami sa lumalalang kalagayan ng mundo. Sa gayongparaan, sinumang mabuksan ang isipan ay mas magigingresponsable sa kanilang susunod na kilos. Ngunit angdalawang gawain ay mawawalan ng kabuluhan kung angmensahe nito ay hindi isasabuhay ng bawat isa.

Totoo. Mawawalan ng halaga ang Earth Hour kungminsan lamang isang taon isasagawa iyon at lalo pa kungtanging SM City Marilao lamang ang magtitipid sa kuryente.

Gayundin ang paggunita at pagdiriwang sa PhilippineWater Week. Mawawalan ng halaga ang paglilinis ng basurasa Prenza Dam ng mga residente ng Marilao kung ang mgananinirahan naman sa gawing kaitasan ng Ilog Marilao aypatuloy na magtatapon ng basura sa nasabing ilog.

Ito ang hamon hindi lamang sa bawat Bulakenyo, kundisa Sambayanang Pilipino, ng Earth Hour at Philippine WaterWeek. Upang makaahon ang ating lahi at lipunan sakumunoy ng kahirapan at makaahon sa pampang ngkaunlaran, disiplina ng bawat isa ang susi.

Magtipid tayo sa konsumo ng kuryente at tubig.Isabuhay natin ang regular na pagasasagawa ng Earth Hoursa mga tahanan at tanggapan. Tiyakin nating hinditumatagas ang ating mga gripo at ang ating basura aysinupin.

Tandaan natin: ang maliit na matitipid ng bawat isakapag pinagsama-sama ay malaki ang halaga. Ang basuranamang sininop natin ay isang hakbang patungo sa higitna maaliwalas na kinabukasan ng susunod na henerasyon.

Kaibigan, may oras pa para sa pagbabago. Magkaisatayo at disiplina ay ugaliin natin!

Promdi DINO BALABO

Pagbabanta sa buhay ni Gob Jon-jonTUMANGGAP daw ng sunod-sunod na mga death threat opagbabanta sa buhay si Gob.Joselito “Kuya Jon-jon” Mendozadahil sa utos niyang harangin saisang checkpoint sa San Miguel,Bulacan ang mga trak na huma-hakot ng marmol at ihulog angmga marmol mula sa trak gamitang isang backhoe noong Lunes,Marso 23.

Sino kaya ang nagbabanta sabuhay ni Kuya Jonjon? Nag-imbestiga kaya ang pulisya?

* * *Ayon kay Kuya Jon-jon hindi

niya alam kung sino ang nagpa-hatid ng mga pagbabanta sakanya sa pamamagitan ng mgatext message. Dati na rin daw si-

yang nakakatanggap ng mgadeath threat, ngunit mas duma-mi mula nang ipag-utos niya naihulog ang mga marmol sa trak.

Aba, hindi simpleng kaso ito.Buhay ng Punong Lalawigan angnakataya. Bakit hindi niya paim-bestigahan sa pulisya ng Bulacan.

* * *Kailangang matukoy ang pi-

nagmulan ng pagbabanta. Sasitwasyong iyan, tiyak na maaa-sahan ang pulisya ng Bulacandahil sila ang may kakayahan atmay sapat na kasanayan paramag-imbestiga.

Bukod diyan, hindi ba’t halosP70 milyon ang intelligence fundni Kuya Jon-jon bilang goberna-dor? Aba, sayang naman iyon

kung hindi magagamit paramatukoy ang nagbabanta sakanyang buhay.

* * *Itinaggi naman ng Rosemoor

Mining and Development Corpo-ration (Rosemoor) na sa kanilanagmula ang pagbabanta. AngRosemoor ay ang kumpanyangnagpapamina ng mamamahalingtea rose marble sa mineral reser-vation area ng Biak-na-Bato saBarangay Kalawakan, DonyaRemedios Trinidad, Bulacan.

Ayon kay Kenneth Radaza,abogado ng Rosemoor, imposi-bleng sa kanyang mga kliyentenagmula ang pagbabanta. Purodaw babae ang namamahalangayon sa Rosemoor.

Buntot Pagé PERFECTO V. RAYMUNDO

Ika-221 kaarawan ni BalagtasTAUN-TAON ay ipinagdiriwangng mga Bulakenyo ang araw ngpagsilang ng Dakilang Anak ngPanginay na si Francisco Balag-tas tuwing sasapit ang ika-2 ngAbril. Si Balagtas ay isinilang saBarangay Panginay, Bigaa (nga-yo’y Balagtas) noong Abril 2,1788. Ang kanyang mga magu-lang ay sina Juan Balagtas atJuana Dela Cruz.

Ang pagdiriwang ay sa pama-magitan ng isang parada mula samunisipyo hanggang sa bantayogni Balagtas sa Barangay Panginayna lalahukan ng iba’t ibang sama-hang sibiko at mga mag-aaral.

Si Balagtas ang itinuturing naPinakadakilang Makatang Taga-log na siyang sumulat ng walangkamatayang Florante at Laura.

Sa nasabing aklat naibulalasniya ang kanyang sinapit nakabiguan sa pag-ibig kay MariaAsuncion Rivera na siyang napa-ngasawa ng taong nagpakulongsa kanya na si Mariano Capuli.

Tama ang kanyang sinabi:“Pag ang isinalubong sa iyongpagdating ay masayang mukha’tmay pakitang giliw, lalong pa-kaingata’t kaaway na lihim, dara-ting ang araw na kakabakahin.”

Panahon ng pagtitikaBAWAT taon tuwing sasapit angtinatawag nating Semana Santa,ginugunita natin ang pagpapaka-sakit ng ating Panginoong Hesu-kristo alang-alang sa kasalananng sanlibutan.

Sa ating paggunita sa Pasyonni Hesukristo sana’y matanim saating mga puso at diwa na sakabila ng pagiging Diyos ng atingPanginoon ay tinanggap niya angkanyang kalbaryo, pasan-pasanang krus na pagpapakuan sakanya.

Sana ay magising ang atingmga pinuno at kahit ngayon manlamang Semana Santa ay tularannila ang mga dakilang Pilipino nanagpakasakit at nagsipagbuwisng buhay alang-alang sa atingbayan.

Ngayon man lamang SemanaSanta ay magsipagtika sila nabayan muna bago ang sarili angkanilang pairalin sa kanilangpanunungkulan.

Balitang pulitikaMARAMI ang nagpapalagay nahindi kayang awatin si Bise Gob.Willy Sy-Alvarado sa pagtakbo sa

pagka-gobernador sino man angmakakalaban.

Matatandaan na noon pa aynais na ni Alvardo na tumakbonggobernador, ngunit napakiusa-pan siya ni dating Gob. Obet Pag-danganan na mag-bise na lamangat hintayin ang 2010.

Nagwagi si Alvarado na bise-gobernador, ngunit di pinalad namanalo si Pagdanganan sa pagka-gobernador.

Sa ngayon, marahil ay walanang makapipigil kay Alvaradopara tumakbong gobernador.

Tiyak na makakalaban niya sikasalukuyang Gob. Jon-jon Men-doza na balitang naghahangad namanatili sa kanyang puwesto sakapitolyo.

Si Alvarado ay mula sa Ika-1Distrito, samantalang si Gob.Mendoza ay mula sa Ika-2 Dis-trito. Sa sarili kong palagay aywalang itulak kabigin sa kanilangdalawa. Patas ang laban.

Ayon sa ilang mapanuri satakbo ng pulitika sa lalawigan,malaking bagay daw kung hindina tatakbong kinatawan angasawa ni Alvarado na si Kina-tawan Marivic Alvarado ng Ika-1 Distrito.

ABRIL 10 - 16, 2009 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 3

Depthnews JUAN L. MERCADO

‘Home-made monster’

Regarding Henry

HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Cebu Calling FR. ROY CIMAGALA

The inner man

IF there’s one person who trulyhad faith in himself, it was Tho-mas Alva Edison. This Americaninventor had only three monthsof formal schooling. And historyrecords show that he knew morefailures than successes. For 13months, Edison kept on search-ing for a filament that wouldstand the stress of electric cur-rent. As he pondered whether hewould be able to discover the elu-sive thing, he got a note frompeople backing his experimentthat they would no longer be giv-ing additional funds for what hewas then doing.

News like that may bring aperson to quit, but not Edison. Infact, it did not deter him fromcontinuing his work. He refusedto admit defeat and worked with-out sleep for two more days andnights. Eventually, he managedto insert one of the crude carbon-ized threads into a vacuum-sealed bulb. “When we turned onthe current,” he recalled, “thesight we had so long desired fi-nally met our eyes!”

Before that, however, Edisonhad to endure a string of failures.“What a waste! We have tried noless than 700 experiments andnothing has worked. We are nota bit better off than when westarted,” a couple of men whowere working alongside him said.He just shrugged this comment,telling them, “Oh yes, we are! Wenow know 700 things that won’twork. We’re closer than we’veever been before.”

However, the story did not endthere. When Edison finishedmaking the first electric bulbever, he handed a finished bulbto a young helper. The lad carriedit nervously up the stairs step bystep. At the very last moment, hedropped it.

The whole team had to workanother 24 hours to make an-other bulb. When it was done,

Edison looked around and thenhanded it to the same boy. Thebulb changed history but the con-fidence the inventor had given tothat boy definitely changed hislife forever. Edison knew thatmore than the bulb was at stake.He had given the boy a secondchance. That faith in him prob-ably changed the boy’s life.

“We live by faith or we do notlive at all,” said Harold Walker.“Either we venture — or we veg-etate. If we venture, we do so byfaith simply because we cannotknow the end of anything at itsbeginning. We risk marriage onfaith or we stay single. We pre-pare for a profession by faith orwe give up before we start. Byfaith we move mountains of op-position or we are stopped bymolehills.”

The New American WebsterHandy College Dictionary definesfaith as “belief without proof.” Italso means “confidence” and “re-liance”. To William Wordsworth,“Faith is a passionate intuition.”

Having a hard time under-standing what faith really is?Martin Luther King, Jr. de-scribes: “Faith is taking the firststep even when you don’t see thewhole staircase.” PoetRabindranath Tagore has thisview: “Faith is the bird that singswhen the dawn is still dark.”

“To me,” said John Dewey,“faith means not worrying.” Thelate Bishop William A. Quayleused to tell of an experience dur-ing a sleepless night. After roll-ing and tossing far into the night,he said that he seemed to hearGod’s voice telling him to go onto sleep and let God run the worldthe rest of the night.

Faith can move mountains,but don’t be surprised if Godhands you a shovel. In his book,The Edge of Adventure, BruceLarson tells a story about a let-

continued on page 7

SENATOR Panfilo Lacson, and“Bigote” — whoever he is — twistin the wind over the murder ofPR man Salvador “Bubby” Dacerand his driver. There’s now buck-passing. But isn’t the gutting ofaccountability the root issuehere?

A democratic society is builton free men and women accept-ing personal accountability. Manmust account for even his idlewords, we’re told. “The blood ofyour brother Abel calls out toMe,” Cain heard.

Law and custom, since then,have been anchored on personalaccountability. They’ve never ac-cepted the dodge: “Am I mybrother’s keeper”?

In a snatch that involved 22Presidential Anti-OrganizedCrime Task Force (PAOCTF) op-eratives, Dacer and driver werehustled to Cavite, interrogatedand strangled. Lacson says hewas “not the most senior official”then. Was President JosephEstrada most senior?, Inquirerasked. Former PAOCTF com-mander Lacson ducked.

“I had nothing to do with theDacer-Corbito case,” he insists.

This denial underscores how theinternational community built,over the centuries, today’s prin-ciple of command responsibility.

A commander must ensuresubordinates conduct themselvesin a civilized manner in conflicts,Sun Tzu wrote in 6th century BC.The “Lieber Code”, in the Ameri-can Civil War, assigned criminalresponsibility to commanderswho directed wounding or killingof those disabled. In 1907, theHague Convention, codified com-mand responsibility on interna-tional levels.

At Gen. Tomoyuki Yamashita’trial, in Los Baños, the tribunalexpanded responsibility to in-clude acts of omission. Units ofJapan’s 14th Area Army massa-cred thousands of civilians, nota-bly in the Battle of Manila.Yamashita was hanged for failing“to control acts of members of hiscommand.”

In the parallel trial of Naziwar criminals, at Nuremberg,justices unanimously ruled: “alesser level of knowledge thanactual knowledge may be suffi-cient to impose criminal respon-sibility.”

The My Lai massacre in Viet-nam, amplified the “Yamashitastandard”. A commanding officer,“aware of a human rights viola-tion or a war crime, will be heldcriminally liable when he doesnot take action” ruled the courtmartial of U.S. Army CaptainErnest Medina.

This checkered history is, ofcourse, taught at Philippine Mili-tary Academy. This principle’srole, in saving lives, is docu-mented in genocides fromRwanda, Darfur to Zimbabwe.Thus, the international commu-nity set up the InternationalCriminal Court.

Article 28 of the Rome Stat-utes clamps, on military com-manders, individual responsibil-ity for crimes committed by forcesunder their effective command.When? If they “either knew or,owing to the circumstances at thetime, should have known that theforces were committing or aboutto commit such crimes.”

The Philippines didn’t signupwith the ICC. Hounded by theArroyo regime’s tolerance —some say: support — of extra-

continued on page 7

WE need to be more aware of ourinner man, and more so of ourduties and responsibilities to-ward that core of our being. I getthe intuition that with all therush of developments we’re hav-ing, with their pressures and con-cerns, we are neglecting this fun-damental aspect of our life.

The other day while readingthe papers and going throughcybernews, I noticed that whileit’s understandable to package allthese info outlets with picturesand stories of stars, celebrities,new products, etc., there’s prac-tically nothing about how allthese items relate to our innerbeing.

They appear to cater only toour external and material needs.Nothing wrong there as long asthey don’t stop there either. Thisis the problem we are facing thesedays.

We are constantly massaged,tickled, stimulated in our outerlayer, but somehow starved andleft to atrophy in our inner self.This is a dangerous situation.

Our inner man refers to ourspiritual life. To be aware of our

inner man is to be a spiritualman, as opposed to an unspiritualor carnal man. St. Paul practi-cally interchanges these twoterms.

In his Letter to the Ephesians,he says: “According to the richesof his glory, may he grant you tobe strengthened with mightthrough his Spirit in the innerman, and that Christ may dwellin your hearts through faith.”(3,16-17)

The immediate corollary ofthis passage is that our inner manought to be fed by the Spirit ofChrist. It should not be fed by anyother pabulum. We are what thespirit in us is. We behave accord-ing to how the spirit in us movesus.

This truth is reiterated in St.Paul’s First Letter to the Corin-thians. “The unspiritual man,”he said, “does not receive the giftsof the Spirit of God, for they arefolly to him, and he is not able tounderstand them because theyare spiritually discerned.

“The spiritual man judges allthings, but is himself to be judgedby no one.” (2,14-15)

Many practical conclusionscan be derived from these words,all pointing to the importance ofcaring for our inner man or ourspiritual self. We have to be waryof the strong and pervading ten-dency to treat ourselves simply ina physical or material sense,without going deep enough to ourvery core, our soul.

We cannot underestimate thisdanger. Nowadays, many people’sidea of beauty, strength, success,triumph, for example, is stuck inthe physical or economic level,measuring things in inches andin pesos and in popularity.

In late Pope John Paul II’swords, we tend to assess our-selves in terms of “having” ratherthan in “being.” That is to say, ifwe have more, then we are ok. Wedon’t bother about being more,or being better as a person andultimately as a child of God.

When our inner man is weak,we would be at the mercy of ourbiological hormones and wouldstart acting like any animal, orwe would become easy prey topassing fads, commercial or ideo-

continued on page 7

Fair & Square

IKE SEÑERES

Global poverty

Forward to Basics FR. FRANCIS B. ONGKINGCO

‘Momtivating’ our childrenA GROUP of mothers sat arounda table chatting over tea andpastry. One remarked, “Tomor-row, I will have my son inoculatedagainst polio, tetanus, smallpox,flu and heaven knows what else.”

“That’s awful! The poor boywill suffer so many injections,” aconcerned mother lamented.

“Oh, didn’t you hear that youcan get all that in less than threeshots?” the mom replied confi-dently.

“Really?” the other mothersexclaimed.

“If that’s so, then I’ll have allmy kids vaccinated too! Wheredid you say this clinic was?” an-other one said.

“How I wish,” one of themsuddenly interrupted the group,“that someone could devise a vac-cine against failure and unhap-piness when my children growup?”

When the other mothersheard this, they became veryquiet and pensive. Most of themnodded in agreement: this wasindeed something to want fortheir children, more than justtheir health.

* * *This demonstrates how par-

ents naturally want only the bestfor their children now and in thefuture! But for our children to betruly happy, that is, a happinessthat transcends mere materialand biological security, we mustbe ready to give them a daily doseof the effective medicine of ourgood example and timely advice.

Here are some ideas that mayguide us to help our children be-come personally and academi-cally motivated, responsible andcheerful.

• Be Pro-parent: I am a par-ent before being a businessman/

woman, cook, saleslady, etc. Havea clear awareness of your iden-tity and your marvelous respon-sibilities. Be confident about yourauthority as a parent, and explainserenely why your children mustrespect it. This responsibility isenormous, and must be exercisedlovingly, understandingly andcoherently. Your children’s con-fidence in your firm and affec-tionate guidance will help themsee your parental vocation beforeGod.

• Have a Clear End inMind: Remember you are rais-ing children to become matureand responsible adults. Think ofwhat they will be, not just whatthey will do or what they musthave. Think about their future,not only their careers, but theircharacter as well. Your job is notto only keep them amused and

continued on page 7

Have faith

INTERNATIONAL agencies arealready warning that globalwarming will increase global pov-erty and this should also be takenas a warning to our nationalagencies to move double time onpoverty reduction here in thePhilippines. Add to that the ef-fects of the global meltdown onlocal poverty, and that should beenough to push them to movetriple time.

Despite the fact that OverseasFilipino Workers (OFWs) are alsovictims of the global meltdownbecause many of them have losttheir jobs abroad, they are stillconsidered to be the saviors of oureconomy. It is a sad reality thatwe have to rely on the labor tradeto sustain our economy, but thatis the way it is now.

Since the trend of job lossesabroad is already established, thegovernment should now look foranother sector that could con-tinue to “save” our economy, ifthat is at all possible. There couldbe other sectors that could dothis, but I personally see the po-tential of the Small and MediumEnterprises (SME) sector, as it isnow responsible for about 90% ofthe business being generated inthis country.

In gratitude to the service thatthe OFW sector has done for oureconomy, why not help them tobecome SME owners as they re-

turn? I understand that the Over-seas Workers Welfare Authority(OWWA) is already giving loansto OFWs who are taking this di-rection, but it takes more thatjust one government agency tomake this happen.

Do you know that farmers stillrepresent about 15% of our laborforce? As a matter of fact, noother group comes close to farm-ers as a labor block in our na-tional statistics. While the statis-tics may be right, it still countsfarmers as “farm laborers” and Ithink this is where we have tomake a fundamental move, tostart treating farmers not as la-borers but as entrepreneurs.

If only we could “upgrade” ourfarmers so that they could be-come new entrepreneurs insteadof laborers, their numbers nowrepresenting 15% of the laborforce could drastically swell thenumbers of SME productivityway beyond the present 90%more or less.

I think that it is for the wrongreasons that we practically aban-doned our agricultural economyto supposedly jump into the more“classy” and more “dignified”industrial economy. And now, itseems that we also want to setaside what remains of our indus-trial economy in order to jumpinto the more “glitzy” and more

continued on page 7

4 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 ABRIL 10 - 16, 2009

Buhay Pinoy

MANDY CENTENO

Biyahe ng taga-SantorMga magsasaka sa Barangay SantorLungsod ng Malolos, sumasakop doonMarso disisyete nagkaro’n ng “Field Tour”Sa PhilRice CES, Science City iyon.Ganap ikaapat sa madaling arawMga magsasaka ay natipon na dawSa Baliuag Transit sila’y nagsisakayHandog ni Al Tengco aircon na sasakyan.Tatlumpo’t dalawa naging sakay nitoKomportableng lahat maluwag pa itoMay “Pulis Probinsya” nagtaguyod ditoSikat na FPJ sa nasabing video.Ganap ikapito’t kalahati namanPhilRice Maligaya, nasabing barangaySa Lungsod ng Muñoz, Nueva Ecija lugarMarami nang tao doo’y naghihintay.Alas otso singko ay sinimulan naItong paglilibot nang upang makitaAng “Palayamanan” ito’y unang-una“Diversified farming,” palay, gulay at iba.“Wind pump irrigation” isinunod ditoTapos ay “pest control”, ito ay pangatloAng pagpapatubig mahalaga ito“Bio fertilizer,” ang panglima nito.Dami pang istasyon ang pinag-aralanKaya nang magutom balik sa sasakyanAgang nananghali doon sa damuhanMakapamahinga balik sa tanghalan.“Farmers’ Field Day Forum” sinimulan dito“Welcome remarks” ito, Atty. Ronilo BeronioExecutive Director ng PhilRice itoSenador Dick Gordon inintrodus nito.Sabi ni senador, di siya pandangalMga magsasaka dapat parangalanSila’y matalino masisipag namanAng nagpapakain sa ’ting sambayanan.Hindi pa daw tapos malaking problemaTungkol kay Bolante fertilizer scam pa“Di ako titigil paghabol sa kanyaHanggang sa makulong at siya’y magdusa.”Ganap alas dose diyes tanghalianInabot ang “lunch pack” sagatok ang ulamLahat ay nagbalik doon sa sasakyanHinintay ang iba tapos ay lumisan.Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic ResourcesIto ay tinungo kahit walang permitMabuti na lamang kami ay inadmitIba’t ibang isda doon ay nasilip.Dito na sa BFAR tanghali/meriendaSa natirang ulam, kanin marami paPook ay nilisan alas tres y medyaPagbalik sasakyan tuloy ay uwi na.Ganap ikawalo ng gabi’y dumatingSa pinanggalingan na barangay naminSalamat sa Diyos, ang aming dalangin,Pagsubaybay Niya ang “Field Trip” ay okey.Ang mga technician, kasamahan ditoCarmencita Capule mula sa P.A.O.Felomina Manlapig, Bureau of Soil itoRebecca Hernandez, Malolos L.G.U.Mga kasamahang kagawad barangayKonsi Larry, Danny at Konsi Rody manSi Konsehal Francis, Konsi Glo CatajanPalagi pa sila sa pagseseminar.Mga magsasaka kanilang panguloPinakamasipag si Ka Mel DomingoPinasalamatan Ginoong Al TengcoNaging matagumpay, ang “Field Tour” na ito.

Kid’s Corner

MARVIC KAIZZ SOBREVIÑAS

How to enjoy lifeBY looking at the standard of your life today, canyou say that you are enjoying life? Well, I could saythat I am enjoying my life today even if we are amiddle-class family. If you want to enjoy life, youmust have the capacity for its enjoyment. To fullyunderstand this concept, I will tell you a short story.

There was once a businessman who went to thebeach for his vacation. While riding on his yacht, hewas disgusted to see a fisherman who was restingon his boat.

“Why aren’t you fishing?” said the business man.“Because I have caught enough fish for this day,”

said the fisherman.“Why won’t you catch some more?”“What would I do with it?” replied the fisherman.“So that you can earn more money and have a

big business. Then, you will be a very rich person,just like me.”

“What would I do then?” asked the fisherman.“Then you would really enjoy life, just like what

I’m doing.”“What do you think I’m doing now?” said the fish-

erman.As the story states, even if the fisherman was a

poor fellow, he really enjoys life more than the busi-nessman. He doesn’t need material things to enjoy.Now, will you be the businessman or the fisherman?

Napapanahon LINDA PACIS

Ospital ng Guiguinto: MapagkawanggawaISANG kapuri-puri at mapagka-wanggawang proyekto ng isangkahangahangang Punongbayan angospital ng Guiginto.

Kaisa-isang ospital pampubliko itosa lalawigan ng Bulacan na angmunisipyo ang tumutustos sa ta-unang gastusin. Itong ospital na may25-bed capacity ay kayang umubos nghumigit kumulang P14 milyong taon-taon. Ngunit ito ay di alintana ngpunongbayan dahil para sa kanya,“Ang kaban ng bayan ay nakalaanpara matugunan ang panganga-ilangan ng kanyang nasasakupan.”

Ayon kay Flor Cruz, municipalinformation at tourism officer ng Gui-ginto, ganyan katapat sa tungkulinat mapagkawanggawa si MayorIsagani Pascual ng Guiginto.

Binuksan ang ospital noong Enero19, 2009 bilang Level 2 General Hos-pital pagkatapos pasinayaan nipangulong Gloria Macapagal Arroyonoong Disyembre 8, 2008. Unangaraw pa lang ay dinagsa na ito ngmahigit 100 pasyente na nagmulahindi lamang sa bayan ng Guigintokung di sa iba’t ibang panig din nglalawigan. Tinatayang hindi bumaba-ba sa 50-70 ang dami ng mga pas-yente na nagpapacheck-up sa ospitalaraw-araw mula ng ito’y buksan.

Ayon kay Gina Trinidad, hospitaladministrator, kung walang pera angpasyente ang bibili ng gamot ay siMayor.

“Bawat pasyente ay may blue card(charged to indigency fund) na nag-kakahalaga ng P2,000 para sa librenggamot.”

Kakampi mo ang Batas ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

Maternity benefits ng SSSTANONG: Dear Atty. Batas Mau-ricio, Good day! Isa po ako sa libo-libong humihingi ng tulong sa inyo.Ang problema ko po ay tungkol saSSS maternity ko. Noong buntis poako, nag file ako ng maternity sa Ten-ement branch ng SSS pero hindi poito tinanggap gayong member namanpo ako, self-employed at 104 monthsna ang contributions ko. Dahil sanapanood ko po ang programa mo saUNTV naglakas-loob po akong pu-munta sa iyo upang humingi ng tu-long at itanong ang problema kungito.Tinanong ko po sa iyo kung may-roon akong makukuhang maternitybenefits ang sagot niyo po sa akin aymayroon akong makukuha. Kaya ponabuhayan ako ng loob at nagkaroonng pag-asa.

Pinapunta niyo po ako sa inyongopisina sa Teachers Village at pumun-ta naman po ako. Si Atty. Batas Lenyang aking nakausap sa opisina ninyo.Ang sabi po sa akin ay mag file dawulit ako sa SSS branch (Tenement)kung saan malapit po sa aming lugarat ginawa ko po iyon. Hindi po ulittinanggap yong maternity (MAT-2)file ko. Ang tanong sa akin kung ac-tive daw po ang hulog ko sa SSS kasipo isa akong self-employed. Dapatdaw may hulog ako ng July-Decem-ber 2003 at January-June 2004. Angproblema ko po ay wala akong hulogsa mga buwan na nabanggit. Anghulog ko po ay mula June to Septem-ber 2004. Atty. Batas, ano po angdapat kung gawin para naman pomakakuha ako ng maternity? Tulu-ngan niyo po ako. Kasi ang pagka-kaalam ko po basta member ng SSSentitled na po at qualified sa mga SSSbenefits. Nais ko pong malaman kungmay makukuha ba talaga akong ma-ternity o wala? Pakisagot lang po nitothrough e-mail para hindi naman poako pabalik-balik sa inyo at hindimasayang ang pagod ko. Maramingsalamat po. Lubos akong umaasa namatutugunan ang problema kung ito.GOD BLESS and MORE POWER!Lubos na gumagalang, Lydia Romero.

– jazlyst_2000@yahoo.com.phSagot: Lydia Romero, maraming

salamat sa e-mail na ito, at maramingsalamat sa patuloy mong pagtitiwalasa aming kakayahan upang tugunanang iyong suliranin. Sa amin pongpakikipag-ugnayan sa Social Security

System, amin pong napag-alaman naang pagkuha ng maternity benefitmula sa nasabing ahensiya ay naka-batay sa mga alituntuning ipinaiiralnito.

Ang isa sa mga alituntuning ito ayang pag-aadvance muna ng bayad sabenepisyo ng kompanya, at pagka-tapos ang kompanya na lamang angmaniningil sa SSS na anumangnaibayad nito sa empleyado.

Pumapangalawa sa mga alituntu-ning ito ang pagkakaroon ng hulogng isang babaeng kasapi ng SSS ngmga tatlong buwan sa loob ng animna buwan bago ang eksaktong arawng kapanganakan. Hindi natin alamkung ano ang batayan ng SSS saganitong alituntunin, pero dahil itoang alituntuning ipinaiiral nito,kailangan itong sundin hangganghindi ito nababalewala.

Magkaganunman, hihingin ponamin sa inyo na ipadala ninyo saamin ang mga papeles na ibinibigayng SSS sa inyo na nagsasabing deniedo tinanggihan ang maternity benefits.Kailangan po namin ang mga papelesna iyan upang maging batayan naminsa pagsasampa ng motion for recon-sideration, at, kung hindi pa rinmaaayos ang problema, pagsasampanaman ng kaso sa Social SecurityCommission, isang ahensiyang naka-kasakop sa ganitong mga problemang paghahabol sa mga hindi naba-bayarang benepisyo.

Mga tanong na walang kasagutansa pagpapatupad ng R.A. 9255

TANONG: Itatanong ko lang po sanakung paano ko mapapagamit ’yungsurname ko sa magiging anak kokung ayaw naman pumayag ng par-ents ng babae na nabuntis ko, minorage po ‘yung babae, ako naman po aynasa legal age na. Salamat po!

– llednew_adriano@yahoo.comSagot: Maraming salamat po sa

e-mail na ito. Sa ilalim po ng Repub-lic Act 9255, pinapayagan na po angbatang anak sa labas o anak ng mgamagulang na hindi kasal sa isa’t isana gamitin ang apelyido ng kanyangama, sa ilalim ng ilang mga kon-disyon. Ang pinakamahalaga sa mgakondisyones na ito ay ang pagkilalang ama sa bata bilang kanyangsariling anak. Ayon sa batas, angpagkilalang ito ay maaaring isagawa

ng ama sa pamamagitan ng pagpirmasa birth certificate ng bata, o sa isangsinumpaang salaysay, o sa isangpribadong sulat.

Ang mahalaga sa pagpirmang itosa anumang dokumento ay ang pagki-lala ng ama sa bata bilang sarilinganak. Kaya lamang, hindi maliwanagsa R.A. 9255 kung ano ang magigingbunga ng hindi pagpayag ng ina ngbata sa paggamit nito ng apelyido ngama.

Hindi rin maliwanag ang magi-ging epekto ng pagkilala ng ama sabata sa paggamit ng kanyang apel-yido — ang ibig kong sabihin, angtanong ay ito: Magiging sapilitan naba ang paggamit ng apelyido ng amasa bata kung pumirma na ang amana kinikilala niya ang bata bilangkanyang anak? In other words, auto-matiko ba ang magiging paggamit ngbata ng apelyido ng kanyang ama?Ang mga tanong na ito ay hindi sina-sagot ng batas, at wala pang desisyonang Korte Suprema ukol dito.

Epekto ng nakakatatak sa titulong lupa na may problema

TANONG: Dear Atty. Batas, tanongko lang po ’yung sa lupa na nabili pong mother kong namatay. Kasi en-cumbered po ’yun tapos yung lupadaw may kaso. Ano po ba ang puwedenamin gawin kasi gusto na lang pong father ko na ibalik ’yun dun sarealty na binilhan pero ang sabi ponila ay kung magkano lang daw poang halaga ng pinagbayaran ay ’yunlang daw po ang makukuha namin.Tama po ba yun?

Tapos ang isa pang problemanamin ay nasunog ’yung original natitulo noong 1997 at di pa po naasika-so yung titulo pero binabayaran dawng kapatid ko ’yung amilyar. Ano poba ang dapat namin gawin. Mgamagkano po kaya ang magagastos ngtatay ko para maayos namin ’yun.Pwede po ba kaming lumapit sa inyo?Maraming salamat po. Let Dela Vega.

Sagot: Let Dela Vega, maramingsalamat po sa e-mail na ito. Sa tanongninyo kung puwede ba kayong lu-mapit sa amin o hindi, ang sagot ponamin ay oo, pupuwede po. Lahat pong may problemang legal ay welcomesa aming tanggapan sa BATAS, o angBuklod ng mga Abogadong Tagapag-taguyod ng Adhikaing Sambayanan,

Siya at si Julita Gatchalian, chiefnurse, ang nagsama sa akin sa ospitalna nasa Barangay Tiaong, pagka-tapos nilang mag-attend ng flag cer-emony sa munisipyo.

Malaki ang ospital, presko atmalinis ang lahat ng sulok pati mgasilid, opisina, laboratory at pasilyo.May charity ward din para sa babaeat bukod sa lalaki. Karaniwan sacharity ward ang mga nanganganak,pedia (mga batang maysakit) at gen-eral medicine.

Ininterbyu ko si Dr. Carlito C. San-tos, ang namumuno sa ospital. DatingHealth Officer siya ng Bulacan Pro-vincial Hospital. Nagsimula siyanoong 1992 sa Gregorio Del Pilar Dis-trict Hospital sa Bulacan, Bulacan,nalipat sa Emilio Perez District saHagonoy at sa Rogaciano MercadoDistrict Hospital sa Sta. Maria,Bulacan. Noong 1998-2000 siya ayManagement Consultant of Hospitalni Gob. Josie Dela Cruz.

Ayon kay Dr. Santos, ang pagli-lingkod ng ospital ay sa larangan ngPediatrics, General Medicine, Sur-gery at X-ray. Kumpleto din ito salaboratory at pharmacy.

Katulong niya sa ospital ang apatna doktor na sina: Dr. Resty DelaMerced (General), Dr. Jun Baguiran(General), Dr. Grace Bumanglad(Pedia) at Dr. Rica Marie Bernaiz(General Practitioner).

Sa administration na pinamu-munuan ni Gina Trinidad ay mayRecord Officer, si Pura Sumalabe, nanag-aasikaso din sa correspondenceat pumapapel bilang secretary at si

Elvira Reyes na nag-aasikaso sa bill-ing. Si Gina ay supply officer at cash-ier din.

Pinamumunuan naman ni JulitaGatchalian, chief nurse, ang walongnars , apat na nursing aide at walonghealth worker at utility worker.

Sabi daw noon ni Dr. Santos kayGob. Josie: “Pagkabinuksan ang Gui-ginto Hospital, pangako ko tutulu-ngan ko kayo.”

Ang 2,000 metro kuwadrado naospital ay itinayo noong panahon niGob. Nacing Santiago, ginamit ngmga madre hanggang panahon niGob. Obet Pagdanganan. Ang doktornoon ay walang ginagawang evalua-tion at nalulugi lang. Pagkatapos,parang napabayaan na.

Sa pakikipagtulungan nina Pa-ngulong Gloria M. Arroyo, Kint.Pedro Pancho, Gob. Jon-jon Mendozaat Mayor Isagani C. Pascual, na-buksan muli ang ospital.

Ayon kay Flor Cruz, kahit hindisila magkakapartido, isinantabi angpulitika upang unahin ang kapa-kanan ng mga nangangailangan.Kilala ang mga Pilipino sa bayanihan,pagkakaisa ng komunidad upang ma-pagtagumpayan ang isang mithiin.

Ayon kay Dr. Santos, maganda angfeedback nila sa mga pasyente gayang mga isinulat nila sa checklist.Magalang ang pakikitungo at maa-sikaso ang mga nurse, midwife atnursing attendant; dumadating ka-agad ang mga doctor kung kailangansila; madaling lapitan ang mga nasaadministration office; masarap angpagkain at malinis ang toilet.

ABRIL 10 - 16, 2009 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 5

NI FR. ANTONIO T. LEETAI, S.J.

PASKO NG PAGKABUHAY

‘Ako ang Alphaat ang Omega’

NI ZENY CRUZ BURGOS

ANG kasaysayan ng tao ay nagsimula sa paraisongnilikha ng panginoong Diyos para kina Adan at Eba. Sasimula ay naging maganda ang takbo ng mga pangyayarisapagkat umayon sa kalooban ng Dakilang Lumikhahanggang sa dumating ang pagsubok na naging batayanng pananatili o pag-alis ng tao sa paraiso.

Nakilala ng tao ang kahulugan ng kasalanan kaugnayng mga bagay at pangyayari sa kanyang pang-araw-arawna buhay. Napatunayan ng tao na may mga sangkapnga ng kabutihan at kasalanan sa kanyang paligid atang paglalaban ng dalawang ito ay patuloy sa paglipasng mga araw na walang iwanan sa pagsikat at paglubogng araw.

Matagal nang naglalakbay ang tao sa tinatahakniyang landasin ng buhay. Mula nang siya ay mapaalissa paraiso ay sinimulan na niyang harapin ang isangmasalimuot na uri ng buhay na puno ng paghihirap atpagtitiis.

Sa gitna ng kanyang paglalakbay ay natutunan narin niyang tanggapin ang katotohanan hindi gawangbiro ang mabuhay sa daigdig sapagkat napatunayanniyang ito ay daigdig ng mga pagsubok na nagsisilbinghamon sa kanyang kakayahan magtiis.

Napaalis man ang tao sa paraiso ay hindi naman siyapinabayaan ng Dakilang Lumikha. Ang DakilangLumikha ay pag-ibig — pag-ibig na walang katulad sakabanalan at kadakilaan. Siya ang simula at wakas nglahat sa daigdig na ito kaugnay ng pag-ibig. Pag-ibig nawalang katulad para sa tao ang dahilan bakit nilikhaNiya ang tao bilang kalarawan Niya. Makukuha ba Ni-yang pabayaan ang taong kalarawan Niya? Makukuhaba Niyang talikuran ang tao na siyang dahilan ng pag-kakalikha Niya sa daigdig?

Biyaya ng Kanyang kaharianAng Panginoong Diyos na rin ang gumawa ng paraan

upang muling maging karapat-dapat ang tao sa biyayang Kanyang kaharian. Hindi Niya pinayagang magingpanghabambuhay ang pagkakasara ng pintuan ng ka-langitan sa mga taong kalarawan Niya. Ipinasiya Niyangiligtas ang tao sa makasalanang buhay na umaalipindito maski mangahulugan ito ng kamatayan ng Kanyangpinakamamahal na Anak sa krus.

Naganap ang banal na kalooban ng Dakilang Amasa langit. Nagkatawang tao ang Kanyang kaisa-isanganak sa pamamagitan ng misteryo ng Encarnation.Isinilang, lumaki at namatay ang Panginoong Hesu-kristo sa daigdig ng mga taong labis ang pagigingmakasarili na siyang kabaligtaran ng tunay nakahulugan ng pag-ibig na itinuro ng Panginoon sa bawathenerasyong biniyayaan ng buhay sa daigdig na ito.

Matagal nang naganap ang pagkamatay sa krus ngDakilang Mananakop ngunit ang kahulugan at kaha-lagahan nito sa buhay ng bawat isa sa atin ay walanginiwan sa isang salamin na kakikitaan ng naging tiyakna bunga nito sa landasin ng buhay na tinatahak ngbawat isa sa atin sa kasalukuyan.

Kahulugan ng pag-ibigAng kamatayan sa krus sa kamay ng mga taong

malulupit at walang pakundangan sa tunay na ka-hulugan ng pag-ibig ay hindi isang kabiguan kundi isangtunay na tagumpay sa panig ng panginoong Diyos. Angpagkabuhay ng Panginoong Hesukristo mataposmamatay sa krus ay tagumpay ng buhay sa kamatayan.

Isang katotohanang hindi mapapasubalian ninumanna ang pagkamatay Niya sa krus ay kinailangan talagaupang bigyang daan ang buhay na walang hanggan —isang uri ng biyaya na walang katulad mula sa Daki-lang Lumikha na ang taglay na pag-ibig para sa tao aywala ring katulad kung kadakilaan ang pag-uusapan.

Ang makahulugang pangyayaring ito sa kasaysayanng Kristiyanismo ay nangangailangan ng matibay napananalig sa panig ng bawat nilikhang naniniwala sasalita ng Diyos. Ang pagkakatawang tao Niya sa sina-pupunan ni Maria, ang pagsilang Niya sa katauhan ngDiyos at tao, ang paggawa Niya ng mga milagro noongkapanahunan Niya na hindi natin nasaksihan kundinabasa lamang, ang paghihirap at pagkamatay Niya sakrus at ang muling pagkabuhay niya ay mahalagangpangyayaring mapapahalagahan lamang sa ngayonkung taglay ng tao ang walang katulad na pananalig sakapangyarihan at kabutihan ng Diyos.

Bagay na may katapusanAng muling pagkabuhay ng Panginoong Hesukristo

ay nagpawalang halaga sa mga bagay na materyal sadaigdig na ito, sapagkat ang mga bagay na may kata-pusan ay walang bahagi sa ikalawa o kabilang buhayna patutunguhan ng tao. Sa pagdating ng tiyak na san-dali, ang mga bagay na pahahalagahan lamang ay angparaan ng pagpapatulo ng pawis na iyong ginawa upangmabuhay ng marangal; ang paraan pakikipaglaban naiyong ginawa bilang pagtatangol sa katarungan.

Dahil sa muling pagkabuhay ng Panginoong Hesu-kristo kung kaya’t tayo ay malaya na sa kapangyarihanng kamatayan kaugnay ng buhay na walang hanggan.Ang nalalabi na lamang sa ngayon ay ang paghihintaysa ating panig kaugnay ng kaganapan ng Kanyangpangako sa mga naniniwala sa Kanyang salita.

“Ako ang Alpha at Omega, ang Simula at angKatapusan. Ang sinumang nauuhaw ay bibigyan ngtubig mula sa balon ng buhay; ito ang karapatdapat napamana sa sinumang nagkamit ng tagumpay sa buhayna walang hanggan; at Ako ang kanyang Diyos at siyaang Aking anak.” (Rv 21: 1-7).

— Ang pagsariwang ito sa Mahal na Araw ay unanginilimbag ng Mabuhay noong Abril 11, 1982.

tong isigaw ang kanyang kasiyahanat sindihan ang kandilang Paschalna siyang simbolo ng kanyang pani-niwala, pag-asa at pag-ibig. At kahitna saan, dapat nitong hingin sa kan-yang mga disipulo na magsaya dahilang Panginoon ay muling nabuhaytulad ng Kanyang pangako — at tag-sibol na sa espirituwal na buhay ngSimbahan.

Magsaya! Bakit? Unang-una aypara sa kapakanan ni Kristo. Dahilmahal natin Siya, dapat tayong mag-saya para sa Kanyang kapakanan.Hindi na siya ang nilalait na kar-pintero ng Nazareth kundi ang Diyosng bagong buhay na nakaupo sakanang kamay ng Kanyang Ama.Hindi na Siya maaari pang saktan ngKanyang mga kaaway, maaari la-mang nilang saktan ang kanilangsarili. Hindi na kayang abutin si Kris-to ng kalungkutan, pait at paghihi-rap. “Ako ay muling nabuhay,” angsabi Niya, “at Ako ay makakasamaninyo hanggang sa katapusan ngmundo.”

Magsaya? Bakit? Dahil ang mulingpagkabuhay ni Kristo ang siyangmodelo at garantiya ng ating sarilingmuling pagkabuhay. Dahil sa Kan-yang pagkamatay sa krus, inihingi niKristo sa Diyos ng kapatawaran angkasalanan ng tao at dahil dito aynaisaayos Niya ang kasiraan ngkaluluwa sa pamamagitan ng pagka-kamit ng kapangyarihan laban saating mga kasalanan. Dahil sa Kan-yang muling pagkabuhay, pinatay niKristo ang kamatayan at ibinalikNiya ang kasiraan ng ating mga kata-wan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigaysa atin ng kapangyarihan na mag-bangon sa libingan sa ikatlong araw.

Tinukso si KamatayanUkol sa araw na ito, tinukso pa ni

San Pablo ang kamatayan tulad ngisang tao: “O Kamatayan, nasaan ang

‘Ito ang araw na ginawang Panginoon ... magsaya!’

iyong tagumpay? O Kamatayan,nasaan ang iyong lakas? Ah, angkamatayan ay kinain ng ating ta-gumpay!” Kinain nga ang kamatayanng tagumpay ni Kristo dahil saKanyang muling pagkabuhay. Angmuling pagkabuhay na ito ni Kristoang siyang garantiya na hindi kata-pusan ng lahat ang kamatayan kundisimula pa lamang ng isang matagum-pay na buhay. At pagkatapos ng hu-ling araw, ang lahat ng nitso ng mganamatay ay sinarhan ng marka ngkrus at mababasa sa ganitong katagana siya ring nakasulat sa libingan niKristo: “Siya ay wala dito, Siya aymuling nabuhay.”

Buksan at itaas ninyo ang inyongmga puso. Ang pag-asa ng daratingna muling pagkabuhay ay narito athindi mawawala. Ang ating mga kata-wang lupa ay matutulad sa katawanni Kristo. Ang pag-asang ito ang si-yang ilaw na magbibigay liwanag sakadiliman at kaguluhan ng atingmundo, ito ang lakas sa ating paki-kibaka laban sa kasalanan at in-spirasyon sa ating hangaring magingbanal.

Ngunit, hindi pa ngayon ang atingpag-akyat sa kalangitan; kailanganpa tayong magdusa sa Kalbaryo,magsuot ng koronang tinik at ma-natili sa krus ng ating buhay. ngunitkailangang buksan natin ang atingmga puso. Sa ibabaw ng Kalbaryo aynagluluningning ang ating Pasko ngPagkabuhay.

Ang Kristo na nabubuhay na kasa-ma ninyo ay ang Kristong mulingnabuhay. Siya ang nangako ng inyongkaligayahan at katubusan. At angkaligayahang ito ay hindi maaaringagawin sa inyo ninuman.

Madalas ninyong tanggapin angkatawan ng Kristong muling na-buhay at itatanim Niya sa inyo angdarating na pag-akyat sa langit.

‘Ako ang daan’“Ako ang daan,” ang minsang si-

nabi ni Kristo nang kanyang buhayinsi Lazaro. “Ang sinumang kumain ngAking katawan at uminom ng Akingdugo ay magkakaroon ng walanghanggang buhay at siya ay Akingitataas sa huling araw.” Bibigyan niKristo ng bahagi ang tao sa Kanyangpaghihirap, nguni’t bibigyan din Niyaang mga ito ng bahagi sa Kanyangkaluwalhatian.

At sa wakas, huwag nating kali-mutang dalhin ang ating pagsasayasa Pasko ng Pagkabuhay kay Maria.Sa panahong ito ng kaligayahan ayhindi natin maaring kalimutan angnakagawian na nating tawaging “AngDahilan ng ating Kaligayahan.”

Tiniyak sa atin na si Maria ay mulinang nabuhay at kasalukuyan nangnasa langit. Minamahal niya tayo,ipinagdarasal niya tayo at siya’yumaasa na darating ang araw ayyayakapin niya ang katawan ng lahatng kanyang mga anak na mulingnangabuhay.

Ito nga ang araw na ginawa ngPanginoon; kaya maging maligaya atmagsaya tayo.

(Bilang paggunita sa Mahal na Araw,inilalathala muli ang artikulong ito naunang inilimbag ng Mabuhay noongAbril 19, 1981.)

“PASKO ng Pagkabuhay — ito angaraw na ginawa ng Panginoon; dapattayong magsaya dahil dito.”

Katulad ng Pasko, ang Pasko ngPagkabuhay ay isang panahon ngpagsasaya. Ipinagsasaya ang Paskopara sa Banal na Sanggol na natu-tulog sa braso ni Maria; ipinagsasayanaman ang Pasko ng Pagkabuhaybunga ng pagkakahulagpos ng mana-nakop sa yakap ng libingan.

Alam natin na ang Sanggol ngBethlehem ay hindi palaging yakapng Kanyang ina. Lumaki Siya bilangisang trabahador sa Nazareth at ipi-nangaral ang katotohanan ng Diyossa isang daigdig na nagmamahal sakasinungalingan, at tinangka Niyangisabog ang liwanag sa isang daigdigna nagmamahal sa kadiliman.

Kaya isang gabi, hinuli Siya ngKanyang mga kaaway habang nagda-rasal sa isang halamanan, ipinako Si-ya sa krus, at matapos Siyang mama-tay ay mabilis Siyang inilibing sanitso ng isang di nakikilalang tao. Itona, sa kanilang palagay, ang Kanyangwakas. Nguni’t sila ay nagkamali.Dahil si Kristo ay Diyos — sa ikatlongaraw, Siya ay tumayo buhat sa nitsohabang takot na takot at nagugulu-mihanan ang Kanyang mga kaawaysa Kanyang muling pagkabuhay.

Pinili ang tagsibolNararapat lamang, hindi ba, na pi-

liin ng Diyos ang tagsibol upang para-ngalan ang Kanyang Anak. Dahil angtagsibol ay ang panahon ng mulingpagkabuhay ng ating kapaligiran, angoras para sa bagong buhay, bagongawitin at bagong kagandahan.

Kung paano ang isang muntingbinhi ay siniklot-siklot ng hangin ngtaglagas, binulok ng ulan at yelo atinilibing sa lupa sa buong panahonng taglamig upang muling mabuhayat tumubo sa panahon ng tagsibol —ganito rin ang katawan ng atingPanginoon. Bilang binhi ng Diyos,Siya ay pinarusahan at pinahirapanat pagkatapos ay ibinaon sa lupanguni’t sa ikatlong araw, isang ma-gandang araw sa tagsibol sa kabun-dukan ng Judea, ang Kanyang kata-wan ay humiwalay sa pagkakabi-langgo sa kamatayan at dumaanitong tulad ng isang espiritu sa maka-pal na bato, bumangong matagumpaysa gitna ng pag-awit ng aleluya ngmga anghel at sa gitna ng malakasna lindol na siyang parangal ngkapaligiran sa Diyos.

Simbahan ang pinakasalanAt dahil sa ang simbahan ang pi-

nakasalan ni Kristo, dapat itong mag-saya sa tagumpay ng muling nabuhayna ang Panginoon. Dapat itong mag-bihis ng saya tulad ng isang marang-yang trahe sa kanyang kasal. Dapatnitong isaisang tabi ang pag-aayuno,ang penitensiya at ang paghingi ngkapatawaran. Kapalit nito, dapat ni-

rai pavia

BY MSGR. DEOGRACIAS IÑIGUEZ D.D.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following was first published by theMabuhay in its issue of April 4-10, 1999. Msgr. Iñiguez wasthen the bishop of Iba, Zambales. He is now the bishop ofCaloocan City.

APRIL 4, 1999 — Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resur-rection: This is the peak not only of Holy Week but ofthe whole Liturgical Year. This celebration varies ev-ery year; at the earliest it is celebrated on March 12, atthe latest on April 25.

To be more exact, the celebration of the greatestChristian event and reality is the Easter Triduum.Triduum is a period of three days. Technically the Sa-cred Triduum covers the evening of Holy Thursday andends with Easter Day. This three-day celebration maybe compared to a drama with three acts: Jesus, obedi-ent to the Father, accepts his destiny; he empties him-self up to his crucifixion and burial; he is glorified.

This is the pash of the Lord; hence we have the pas-chal mystery, the pascua or pasko. Easter is our cel-

ebration during the liturgical year of the Paschal mys-tery. It seems that “Easter” derives from the goddessEostre; the celebration of the Pash falls on the monthdedicated to this goddess (Easturmonth). The word“east” may have come from Eostre.

Easter is our annual solemn celebration of the pass-ing over of Jesus Christ from sinfulness (which he ex-perienced in his passion, death and burial) to the newexistence (which was inaugurated in his resurrection).

What is the significance of this event or reality tous now? Why is Easter a relevant celebration and eventfor us Christians today.

In the present celebration of the Paschal or EasterMystery we find an emphatic connection between whathappened in Jesus then and what it should mean forus today.

The celebration of Eater is a celebration of baptism.The period of Lent is a period of preparation for bap-tism; many prayers in the Eucharistic celebration dur

continued on page 6

EASTER: MOTHER OF ALL

6 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 ABRIL 10 - 16, 2009

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Kakampi mo ... mula sa pahina 2

sa 18 D Mahiyain corner Mapagkawanggawa, TeachersVillage, Diliman, Quezon City. Dalhin lamang po ninyoang mga papeles na may kinalaman sa inyong kaso.

Sa inyong problemang legal, maliwanag naman po angbatas ukol dito. Kung alam ng mother ninyong encum-bered ang property bago pa man niya binili ito, sakopsiya ng encumbrance, at hindi niya pupuwedeng sabihinna hindi siya dapat maapektuhan ng encumbrance. Kunghindi naman niya ito alam bago niya binili, hindi ngasiya masasakop ng encumbrance, at maaari niyangdemandahin ang nagbenta sa kanya ng panlilinlang, sailalim ng Art. 315 ng Revised Penal Code. Maaari dinsiyang magdemanda ng kasong sibil upang pilitin angnagbenta sa kanya na ayusin na ang encumbrance paramatapos na ito. Kung hindi niya maaayos, maaari dinghilingin sa kasong sibil ang pagbabalik ng lahat ngkanyang ibinayad, pati na ang danyos perhuwisiyos.

* * *BATAS NG DIYOS: “… Magalak kayo at tumalon sa

tuwa kung gayon ang mangyayari sa inyo, sapagkatmalaki ang inyong gantimpala sa langit. Gayundin angginawa ng kanilang mga ninuno sa mga propeta…” (Lucas6:23)

* * *PAALALA: Panoorin po si Atty. Batas Mauricio sa world-wide TV sa Internet, sa YouTube, metacafe at iGoogle, atpakinggan siya sa kanyang mga programa sa radyo: DZRBRADYO NG BAYAN 738 khz. Sa Luzon, Lunes hanggangBiyernes, ika-5:30 ng umaga (at sa www.pbs.gov.ph);DZRM RADYO MAGASIN, 1278 Khz. sa Luzon, Luneshanggang Biyernes, ika-6:45 ng umaga (at sawww.pbs.gov.ph); DYKA 801 khz. sa San Jose, Antique(at sa www.wowantique.com, o www.kiniray-a.com), Luneshanggang Biyenes, ika-10:00 ng umaga; at DYMS AksiyonRadyo sa Catbalogan City, Samar (at sawww.samarnews.com), Lunes hanggang Biyernes, ika-11:00 ng umaga.

Abangan din ang kanyang pagbabalik sa telebisyon.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following wasfirst published by the Mabuhay in its is-sue of April 13-19, 2003. Fr. Arevaloteaches at the Loyola House of Studies atthe Ateneo de Manila University, Diliman,Quezon City. The full text of this reflec-tion is published by Claretians in the book:“They Shall Call Him Emmanuel”.

HOLY Week is a time when the mys-tery of God confronts us at a depthwhich we usually do not enter, maybeat a depth we do not want to moveinto.

“It brings up things I’ve pushedinto the backroom of my conscious-ness,” a retreatant told me. “HolyWeek is an intrusion into my life, intobusiness as usual.”

It was like that with Jesus too,about Good Friday that is. Read whatthe Gospels say about his coming faceto face with imminent death. Theytell us of Jesus’ dread. “Sadness cameupon him … sudden fear and greatdistress.”

But he went on, nonetheless. Hisbottom line was being faithful to theOne who sent him.; trusting him.Now, he clung — there under thedark trees — to the hand that wasAbba’s, his Father’s, with a grip thatwas trusting still, even in terror, faceto face with death.

We have a man here, flesh andblood like us, weak like us, even un-steady — for moments at least —tempted in all ways like us, yet with-out sin. (Heb. 4:14)

There is no heresy we’re more athome with than that Jesus wasn’treally and truly human, like us. Al-ready, the 5th century Cyril of Alex-andria thought unthinkable thatGod’s Son should have to go to thebathroom.

We don’t believe in the Incarna-tion, not really. It’s so hard to believethat God’s Son was made, in Jesus,in wholly human likeness: that hishuman life was truly like ours, reallyfree with all that true freedom im-plies; with no way out but pain anddeath at the end.

The Incarnation meant (Phil 2:6ff)that God had emptied himself into us

… It would be the second fall: the fallof God into our human estate.”

It was the French thinker, LeonBloy, who wrote: the secret every oneof us above 40 knows is : there isn’tmuch happiness on earth.

Every human being knows thepassion, if not Christ’s, at least ourown. It’s as much of us as anythingwe can think of.

If we would never know sorrow orfear or pain, no woman would everbring a child to birth, or walk himthrough adolescence. No one wouldever become a physician or a poet.

We would be a race withoutMother Teresa or Nelson Mandela orBishop Ben De Jesus. We would neveraccomplish anything worthwhile. Forsure, we would never truly love. (Re-member Leslie Caron’s song in Lili:“The song of love is a sad song…”?)

For Jesus dying on the cross wasbecause of our sins. St. Paul tells usthis, as does the Creed.

But there is a deeper “because”,as the theologians tell us: becauseGod so loved us from the beginningthat He wanted his Son to share ourlot, our life, our human circumstance.(John 3, 16-17)

Even the issue of our sin, he wouldtake unto himself, take even our painand passion, take them into his ownpain and his own Passion, his owndying, so that he might, in the end,bring them all in his glory, at the righthand of the Father.

Deus nostra sumpsit ut sua nobisdaret. “God made his own what isours, so that he might make ourswhat is his.”

“Astonishing exchange,” the lit-urgy cries out, following in this theFathers of the Church.

Theologians tell us that this aston-ishing exchange, this sharing in lovecome what may — come Gethsemane,come Pilate, come Calvary — wasprior in the intent of God, prior inthe overall design that is called thehistory of God’s love for us.

That is why he came, and why,even coming to face with death, did

not retreat, did not try to make a wayout for himself. The via dolorosa andthe nakedness of Calvary — all wereconsequences of that loving, carriedto its final inevitable outcome.

Peter spoke rightly at the foot-washing (John 13, 6-11): If beingwashed meant being part of him, then“not just our feet Lord” — but all ofthe rest of us: our body and our spirit,all of the bittersweet story we call ourlives; our laughter and heartbreak;our shortsightedness, our asthmaand cancer; our aging; our failing; ourfading; our Alzheimer’s; the rattle inour throats and final spasms at thehour of our death.

All of it Lord, since you wanted itall, because you loved us. Because youlove us still.

This is the dread we meet whenHoly Week comes around. But thebreakthrough we know is love. Thereis no way out but the Cross, no wayout but love, love that can not bekilled, there on the Cross.

It is the Cross that brings our sin-fulness and its ruin into full clarity;that shows up our shabbiness, ourcheap compromise, the rot in oursouls.

And we will not get past our dreadand come to peace unless we own ourguilt and receive forgiveness, mercyas gift, given without our merit, con-ferred prodigally without condition.

The kiss of Judas can only bewiped out by our kiss on the wood ofthe Cross. The kiss of Easter morn-ing is possible because we havetouched with our lips the wounds ofthe Crucified.

This is what Holy Week is about.The “astonishing exchange”: God’shumanization for man’s divinization.Holy Week tells us why we needed,and need, his Cross.

Love is its meaning. That is whyHoly Week matters, why we must liveit in our souls.

“O King of the Friday / Whoselimbs were stretched on the cross … /Beneath the shield of thy might /Some fruit from the tree of thy pas-sion / Fall on us this night.” (An Irishprayer)

Astonishing exchangeBY CATALINO G. AREVALO, S.J.,

from page 5ing this preparatory period allude tobaptism; during the Sundays of Lent,there are portions of the baptismalprocess that may be celebrated; theoriginal baptismal time is the EasterVigil.

In the Easter Vigil celebration thereis the blessing of the baptismal waterand renewal of baptismal promises.The Paschal Candle, a symbol of therisen Christ, is part of the baptistry;during the baptismal ceremony thecandle of the baptizand is lighted fromthe Paschal Candle to symbolize thatby virtue of baptism a person entersinto a relationship with the RisenLord. The water blessed for baptismon the Easter Vigil is used for baptismsduring the Easter Season. All of theseshould lead us to appreciate to connec-

tion between our baptism and the Pas-chal Mystery.

The Paschal Mystery was inaugu-rated by Jesus for all of us; the Pas-chal Mystery includes us. The RisenJesus is the first fruit of the new cre-ation of the Resurrection; we are thenext fruits.

In the Paschal Mystery, Jesus asthe Second Adam (that is our repre-sentative) passed over from the stateof flesh or sinfulness to the state ofthe spirit or grace. The person whobelieves in Jesus is empowered tobecome the person that God createshim to be and become. In Jesus webecome persons truly created to thelikeness and image of God Who isLove.

In the Risen lord we become per-sons who recognize God as Father

and listen to His Word and live by HisWord and who live not for self but forothers.

Easter is our celebration of therealization of God’s plan of creation,a world reflecting His life, hence aworld of unity and communion, peaceand fullness of life.

Easter is a celebration of God’sdream come true and of the kind ofdream that exists in the heart of ev-ery person that is unfolding in real-ization.

Easter should be a true celebra-tion, not just external pomp but anexperience of a reality that is alreadypresent but which we must collabo-rate with God and with one anothertowards its full realization, the newheavens and new earth new I andnew we, new humanity.

Maraming SalamatMabuhay ang malayang pamamahayag!

30 sa 2010

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Depthnews from page 3

judicial killing, the military lobbied against Philippinemembership.

There’s been a dip in the number of salvaging anddisappearances since. Yet, Malacañang and the Senatearen’t interested in joining,

“No snowflake, in an avalanche, ever feels respon-sible.” Parallel shredding of accountability, in the civil-ian sector, is seen in an Ombudsman, subservient toMalacañang, now facing impeachment.

The Supreme Court and Senate (Report No. 44) foundsleaze tainted the Commission on Elections’ purchaseof P1.3 billion of flawed computers from Mega-Pacific,says the impeachment charge sheet. The court scrubbedthe deal. Recover payment, it directed the Ombudsman.

Her Honor Merceditas Gutierrez did nothing of thesort. Massive graft studded the deal, she ruled. But no-body was liable. This one is for Ripley: Crime withoutcriminals or felony without felons.

The lady has been skewered for this ruling “down toit’s last crooked syllable”, as an Inquirer editorial aptlyput it. But what is now becomng clear is this rulingspawned monstrous clones.

Remember those 2,062 street lamps bought for Cebu,Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities? They were to light upthe 12th Asean Summit. Government shelled outP83,300 to P224,000 for each unit. Actual market costswere a tenth of that. Those lamps are now lightless. Scav-engers have ripped up some of them.

State Prosecutor Danilo Lopez, out of the blue, de-clares the Visayas Ombudsman had no case against 19city and government officials and employees accused.Lopez would jettison the graft case against Fabmik Con-struction and Equipment Supply Co. Explain a furiousVisayas Ombudsman said.

Nothing for the State Prosecutor to explain. It’s sim-ply massive graft without grafters. This clones the MegaPacific monster created by the Ombusdman. It recyclescrime without criminals and felony without felons. “Menare forever finding themselves the victim of their home-made monsters,” Aldous Huxley once wrote.

“Joc-Joc” Bolante squandered over P723 million inthe fertilizer scam. That was another crime withoutcriminals, not even the 193 officials who got the loot.It’s been over five years now since Girl Scout funds endedin the personal account of then Rep. Clavel AsasMartinez. Was this a felony without felons? And whatabout overpriced computers bought by Lapu-Lapu city.Graft without grafters?

No one is accountable. “Vice is a monster, of so fright-ful mein,” Alexander Pope wrote. “Yet, seen too oft, fa-miliar with her face, we first endure, then pity, then em-brace.”

— juanlmercado@gmail.com

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENTOF ESTATE OF MICHAEL ROBERT CLARE

NOTICE is hereby given that the estate of the deceased MICHAEL ROBERTCLARE who died intestate on November 23, 2007 in Angeles City left per-sonal property consisting of his one-half (1/2) conjugal share before ex-penses and taxes of 1) Account with the Yorkshire Guernsey, P.O. Box 304Yorkshire House Le Truchot, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, United Kingdomwith an account balance of Pounds 270,576.45 and 2) proceeds of his lifeinsurance in the amount of Pounds 13,534.15 from Scottish Provident,301 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5HN, Scotland, executed by his heirsbefore Notary Public Nepomuceno Z. Caylao; Doc. No. 84; Page No. 18;Book No. III; Series of 2009.Mabuhay: March 27, April 3 & 10, 2009

For orders call:

(02) 477-0238

(02) 438-6201

EASTER: MOTHER OF ALL

MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980

ABRIL 10 - 16, 2009 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 7

Ang tubig ay buhay,huwag aksayahin!

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Foward to Basics from page 3

materially comfortable, but to leadthem to become competent, respon-sible, considerate, generous, andready to commit themselves to liveby principles of integrity.

• Parents First: Learn to priori-tize by teaching them great charac-ter strengths (the virtues of pru-dence, justice, fortitude, temperance,and charity). This is done in threeways: by your personal example, di-recting their behavior, and your ver-bal explanation of right and wrong.But we have to teach mostly by ex-ample — parents first! This includesthe four great pillars of civilized deal-ings with others: “please,” “thankyou,” “I’m sorry,” and “I give myword …” Making use of these habitu-ally in speech becomes the bases forrecognizing the respecting the rightsof others.

• Win-Lose-Win: Realize that“no” is also a loving word, and theymust hear it from time to time in or-der to acquire self-control. Childrenwho never experience loving paren-tal control cannot form the conceptof self-control — and this can later

spell disaster. Teach them to waitand earn something they want. Raisethem to be producers and not con-sumers, born to serve, not to shop.Practice “affectionate assertiveness”by correcting the fault and not theperson. Teach them the meaning ofthe word “integrity” (both internallyand externally) means the unity ofintention, word, and action — thatwe mean what we say, we say whatwe mean and we keep our word.

• Seek First to Understand,then to be Understood: Listen andcommunicate with your children sin-cerely without the interruption ofany third-party individuals or gad-gets (i.e., T.V., cell-phone, Internet,sport, and sometimes homework).When you keep the media under yourcontrol, you will have much moretime to dialogue with them. Learnwhat is going on in their developingminds, and guide them with yourown responsible judgment. Live as aresponsible adult who’s on top of life,and let them learn what this means.

• Synergize – Be Family: Dothings as often as you can as a fam-

ily. Always involve everyone in thematerial concerns and maintenanceof the house. Explain to them howtheir respective chores are of a greatimportance in keeping the bright,cheerful and warm ambiance neces-sary to harbor the proper ambiancefor work, prayer and service. Fosterin them a spirit of “togetherness” byacquainting them with the family’straditions, customs, ancestry andfriends. Show them too that youcount on their prayers and efforts.

• Reheating the Soup: Do notbe afraid to make mistakes. Neverbe discouraged. Be ready to rectifyimmediately and to take advantageof this situation to show them thatyou also count on their help and un-derstanding. Thus, “negative” fieldscan easily be positive occasions totalk things over with them, distin-guishing between the objective andthe subjective. Be ready to have theinitiative to awaken in them new les-sons from family experiences and so-cial events. Never take things forgranted (i.e., that it’s the school’srole, the tutor, the teacher, etc.)

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Regarding Henry from page 3

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Cebu Calling from page 3

logical propaganda, etc.We would fail to get hold of the

objective essences of things thatwould determine our moral judg-ments and behavior.

We would miss the proper valuesthat are supposed to govern us. In-stead of loving, we’d simply be usingpeople and things.

We actually would become dehu-manized. The possibility of degrad-ing ourselves is unique to us sincewe are thinking and free creatures.

ter found in a baking powder tin,which was wired to the handle of apump. It offered the only hope ofdrinking water on the seldom-usedtrail across a desert. The letter in thetin read as follows:

“This pump is all right as of June1955. I put a new leather suckerwasher into it, and it ought to lastseveral years. But this leather washerdries out and the pump has got to beprimed. Under the white rock, I bur-ied a bottle of water. There’s enoughwater in it to prime the pump, butnot if you drink some first. Pour inabout one-quarter, and let her soakto wet the leather. Then pour in therest medium fast and pump like crazy.You’ll get water. The well has neverrun dry. Have faith.”

If you were the person who foundthe letter, what would you do? You arevery thirsty and there’s immediatewater. Will you do what you had beeninstructed to do?

A postscript of the letter reads:“Don’t go drinking up the water (in

the bottle) first. Prime the pump withit first, and you’ll get all you canhold.”

Hebrews 11:1 states: “Faith is be-ing sure of what we hope for and cer-tain of what we do not see.” Joshuawas a hard-headed person, so tospeak. When a flood hit his area, heclimbed to his roof. A rescue boatcame by but Joshua called back totheir offer of help; “No, thanks. I havefaith in the Lord. He will save me.”

The waves came higher andJoshua scrambled to the highest partof his roof. Another boat came by tosave him, but Joshua waved them off,professing his faith that the Lordwould save him. When the waves be-gan lapping his feet, he pulled him-self to the tip of the roof. A helicop-ter swooped down to save him, butJoshua was still depending on theLord.

Of course you know what hap-pened next. Joshua drowned. Whenhe stood before the Lord, he com-plained, “Lord, I had such faith in

you. Why didn’t you save me?” Towhich the Lord replied, “What moredo you want from me? I sent you twoboats and a helicopter?”

A famous heiress keeps her price-less collection of jewels in the vaultof a large bank. One of her prize pos-sessions is a very valuable string ofpearls. It is a scientific fact that pearlslose their original luster if not wornonce in a while in contact with thehuman body.

So once a week, a bank secretary,guarded by two plainclothesmen,wears these priceless pearls to lunch.This brief contact with the humanbody keeps them beautiful and ingood condition.

Our faith is a lot like the pearl. Itmust be used in order to be useful. Itmust be worn out among the massesof mankind where faith and hope areneeded. As someone puts it: “Everytomorrow has two handles. We cantake hold of it by the handle of anxi-ety, or by the handle of faith.”

— henrytacio@gmail.com

Huwag magkalat sa lansangan. Bayan mo’y hindi basurahan!

Other creatures do not have to worryabout this possibility.

Of course, by the same reason, weare also capable of elevating and up-grading ourselves. In this, the sky isthe limit, since with the help of gracewe can never exhaust the possibili-ties of being God’s children, createdin his image and likeness.

We have to help one another inthis business of taking care of one’sinner man or spiritual self. We haveto know the relevant doctrine, ac-

quire the skills and the virtues. Inshort, we have to avail of the neces-sary formation, which actually is acontinuing affair.

We need to help everyone keepone’s true humanity, and to checkthe trend to empty ourselves of ourinner man, leaving us with a plasticsubstitute, a façade, a mask, anempty suit, a scarecrow, and othermanifestations of the unspiritual orcarnal man.

— roycimagala@hotmail.com

* * *Pero sagot ni Kuya Jonjon, “Wala akong tinutukoy na

tao o kung sino nagbabanta sa akin.”Sagot naman ng Rosemoor, “Kami lang naman ang

nagpapamina sa mineral reservation area ng Biak-na-Bato.”

* * *Para sa Rosemoor, hindi patas ang pahayag ni Mendoza

na may nagbabanta sa kanya na may kaugnayan sapagpapaharang nito ng trak ng marmol na dumadaan sabayan ng San Miguel, dahil sila daw ang napuputukan.

Iginiit pa ni Zenaida Pascual, isa sa mga opisyal ngRosemoor, sila ang agrabyado dahil hanggang ngayon ayhindi pa nabibigyan ng katarungan ang pamamaslang sakanyang esposo na si Inhinyero Constantino Pascual napinaslang noong Hunyo 8, 2008.

* * *Kaugnay nito, sinabi naman ng mga residente ng

Barangay Marungko sa bayan ng Angat na wala pa ringtigil ang pagku-quarry sa kanilang barangay ng graba atbuhangin.

Halos 40 taon na raw ang operasyon ng nasabingquarry at noong pang Oktubre nila inirereklamo kay KuyaJon-jon.

* * *Ani ng isang residente ng Barangay Marungko, kung

ipinaharang ni Kuya Jon-jon at ipinahulog mula sa trakang mga bloke ng marmol para mapigil ang operasyonnoon, wala kayang magagawa si Kuya Jon-jon sa kanilangreklamo.

Payo ni Father Pedring ng Leighbytes Computer Cen-ter sa Malolos, baka puwedeng ipaharang na rin lang niKuya Jon-jon ang mga dump truck na humahakot nggraba at buhangin sa Angat at butasin ang mga gulongniyon para matigil.

* * *May punto si Father Pedring, ani ng isang dating

kapitan ng barangay sa bayan ng Baliuag.Ayon sa kupitan, este, kapitan, kung seryoso si Kuya

Jon-jon na pangalagaan ang kalikasan ng Bulacan, dapatdin niyang patigilin ang operasyon ng quarry sa bayanng Angat.

* * *Gayundin ang hinaing ng mga residente ng dumptruck

San Sebastian sa bayan ng Hagonoy kung saan isang dat-ing palaisdaan ang kasalukuyang hinuhukay o kinu-quarry.

Ayon sa mga residente, hindi sapat ang pahayag ngopisyal ng Kapitolyo na may permiso ang nasabing quarrysa Hagonoy. Dapat itong inspeksyunin upang malamankung sumusunod sa patakarang nakatakda sa permisoang nagsasagawa ng operasyon.

* * *Hinggil naman sa daloy ng pulitika sa bayan ng San

Miguel, usap-usapan sa mga umpukan sa mga barangayng nasabing bayan ang posibilidad na pagkandidato niKuya Jon-jon doon bilang alkalde sa 2010 elections.

Ito ay dahil sa nagpagawa na raw ng bahay sa nasabingbayan ng Kuya Jon-jon na kinumpirma naman niya.

* * *Itinanggi naman ng kampo ni Kuya Jon-jon ang

balitang tatakbo siyang alkalde ng San Miguel.Ngunit may lumulutang ding balita na baka tumak-

bong kongresista sa Ika-3 Distrito si Kuya Jon-jon.Siyempre ang kanyang makakatunggali ay si MayorRicardo Silverio ng San Rafael, na siyam na taongnagsilbing kongresista ng nasabing distrito, bago siyanakipagpalit ng posisyon sa kanyang maybahay na niKint. Lorna Silverio na dating alkalde ng San Rafael.

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Promdi mula sa pahina 2

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Fair & Square from page 3

“fashionable” knowledge economy.All reasons told, I think that what is more practical

for our country is a healthy mix of the agricultural, in-dustrial and knowledge economies, powered by an armyof SMEs, each one with a globally competitive line of busi-ness, each one contributing aggressively to national pro-ductivity.

To be more specific, I think that we should build anagriculture based industrial economy that is also strength-ened by the newer information and communications tech-nologies. I understand the national fascination now forautomating the elections but, more than that, we shouldreally focus more on automating our farms and indus-tries.

I also understand our fascination for the BusinessProcess Outsourcing (BPO) industry that is part of theknowledge economy, but we should now temper our fas-cination that BPO industries are really dependent or Ishould say over dependent on the success or failure offoreign clients that are now being battered by the globalmeltdown.

I am advocating an agriculture-based industrialeconomy, because that way we do not have to rely on im-ported raw materials to produce goods that may not beglobally competitive in price, because of the high cost ofthese materials.

The bottom line in all of this is our capability to pro-duce our own materials and the truth of the matter isagriculture and forestry or should I say agro-forestry isthe only way that we could produce these materials. WhenI say agro-forestry, I do not just mean the rural areas,because urban agro-forestry is now a practical option.

I am now organizing the SME Business Club for thepurpose of helping everyone, including OFWs, and farm-ers among others, to become SMEs.

TherTherTherTherThere is but one re is but one re is but one re is but one re is but one road whicoad whicoad whicoad whicoad which rh rh rh rh reaceaceaceaceaches Godhes Godhes Godhes Godhes Godand tand tand tand tand that is Prhat is Prhat is Prhat is Prhat is Praaaaayyyyyererererer. If an. If an. If an. If an. If anyyyyyone shoone shoone shoone shoone showwwwws ys ys ys ys yououououou

anoanoanoanoanotttttherherherherher, y, y, y, y, you arou arou arou arou are being deceive being deceive being deceive being deceive being deceived.ed.ed.ed.ed.— S— S— S— S— St. Thert. Thert. Thert. Thert. Theresaesaesaesaesa

8 MabuhayLINGGUHANG PILIPINO MULA PA NOONG 1980 ABRIL 10 - 16, 2009