Army Parade For Pacquiao

The Philippine Army gives Manny Pacquiao the boxer a testimonial parade for his accomplishments in boxing.

Is this not stupid?

Does the government mean that the accomplishments of other Filipinos excelling in other fields are less important than boxing? Did the government give the same honor to Bata Reyes, Django Bustamante, Charice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda and Wesley So to name a few? What is so special with boxing?  How about our men and women in the medical, educational, religious, science and other interests?

The representative from Saranggani province could have refused the honor and  requested the amount the Army spends for the parade to be used in buying equipments in fighting insurgency and terrorist activities.

Next time Wesley So comes home after defeating strong chess grandmasters in an international tournament he wins elsewhere, do we expect our Army to give him the same honor given to Mr. Pacquiao?

Ryan Luis Singson: New Ilocos Sur Congressman

The First District of Ilocos Sur will have former Vigan Vice Mayor Ryan Luis Singson as its representative replacing his brother Ronald who is in a Hongkong jail serving for a drug related sentence.

The in-coming congressman, one of the children of Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson won the recently concluded special election in Ilocos Sur by a landslide over Atty. Bertrand Baterina of Sto. Domingo.

The following, related with the governor are also well-known politicians in the province:

Evaristo “Titong” Singson, former Vigan mayor – Brother

Jeremias “Jerry” Singson, former board member – Brother

Germy Goulart – Mayor, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur – Sister

Eva Marie Singson-Medina – Mayor, Vigan City – Niece

Ferdinand Medina – former Vigan mayor – Nephew in-law

Ronald Singson – former first district congressman – Son

We wish the new congressman good luck.

Proud to be a Filipino(?)

Whenever we are impressed with the achievement or talent of fellow Pinoy (Filipino), hyphenated or not; it is sometimes difficult not to express how proud we are to be a Filipino.

When Rep. Manny Pacquiao wins, Charice Pempengco or Arnel Pineda performs overseas, we are proud to be called a Filipino. The same is true when there are good columns written by the Jesuit-lawyer Fr. Bernas, Prof. Randy David or Rina Jimenez-David.

Famous non-Filipino citizens who look like us in the persons of Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, Canadian girl singer Maria Aragon who did a duet with Lady Gaga, former movie idol Phoebe Cates, singer/actress Vanessa Hudgens, Bruce Lee student Danny Inosanto and the like when depicted and admired by the press elicit some of us to say “I’m proud to be a Filipino” although everyone mentioned are American citizen except Aragon who is a Canadian.  Proud for what?

There is no difference when we say “I’m proud to be a Filipino” when there’s a Mexican citizen who looks like us and even has a name like ours winning something big.

Do we need other Filipinos or non-Filipinos who merely look like us to fire up our patriotism and love of country? What if there are none of them? Do we still say “I’m proud to be a Filipino”?

Patriotism comes from the heart and spirit of a citizen. S/he does not need a third party to manifest love and respect to the homeland. It comes from within. If we Filipinos are indeed proud, how proud are we when there is an endemic graft and corruption in the government? When there is grinding poverty because of greed, negligence or apathy? When criminal activities pepper the country? When some if not most of us cannot distinguish or refuse to know what is right and wrong?

If one is proud indeed to be a Filipino, there is no need for the sentiment to be advertised. Do something noble and good starting from within the family which is the foundation of the society and then move on into the community. Patriotism doesn’t only mean joining the armed services. It also means doing something no matter how big or small for the country and fellow citizens.

For me to be proud as a Filipino is to emulate what our heroes did in working hard to make this country bequeathable to next generations. Rizal, Mabini, Bonifacio and Ninoy Aquino to name a few taught us that to be a proud citizen, one is ready to make sacrifice for the country and work for the common good without expecting something in return even to the point of death.

"Catholic Church, Stop Meddling!" (Re-post)

(Due to persistent comments in the dailies claiming that the Catholic Church is imposing her will on the people and on the government, I am re-posting an old article from this blog.  The Catholic Church is not a dictator but simply a teacher. -COR INVICTUS)

The persisting rumble ignited by the artificial family planning issue gets uglier. In the process of an ecumenical Mass at the Manila Cathedral attended by the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Edward Adams, Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, high ranking Church officials and counterparts from different faiths, a Jose Rizal-looking guy named Carlos Celdran unfurled his “Damaso” protest placard suggesting the hypocrisy of the clergy. 

(Padre Damaso, a Spanish Franciscan who had a daughter named Maria Clara is one of the fictional characters of the national hero’s NOLI ME TANGERE. The anticlerical novel exposes the abuses of the Spanish clerics when the country was under Spain’s colonial rule.)

Albay Representative Edcel Lagman is more unkind in his words as he sides with Celdran when he reminded that “Damaso” was just an “apt reminder” to Church officials of the “abuses and inequities of the clergy during the Spanish colonial regime when the Church wantonly interfered in secular activities and dictated on civilian authorities.” He goes on further saying “The message of Celdran is that ‘Father Damasos’ have survived the Spanish era and continue to bedevil government up to today,”

The Philippines during Rizal’s time is different from the Philippines today although somewhere along the line, there are indeed similarities. Rizal’s depiction of the abusive friars during his time is based from what he saw. At some point, Rep. Lagman is correct in saying that “Damasos” are still around in the persons of arrogant, self-centered and abusive priests. In fact, “Damasos”, are always in our midst for priests are also human like us who are sinful and imperfect. 

The point where I don’t agree with Lagman and countless fellow citizens is the issue on “interference in secular activities and on civilian authorities”.

When did the Catholic Church interfere in our secular activities and when did it dictate civilian authorities on what to do or what to legislate and what not to legislate?

If what is in the mind of Mr. Lagman is the Church’s opposition to artificial contraception and the Reproductive Health bill, I have not yet read or heard the Church/clergy telling us directly that we must not use artificial contraceptives. I have not yet heard the Church/clergy telling or compelling our legislators to enact or not to enact a particular law. I have not yet heard members of the Church castigating a politician or an ordinary citizen as a womanizer, gambler, corrupt, murderer, thief, etc. The Church/clergy has no intention to make us robots by telling us what to do and what not to do. It merely says what is wrong in our dispositions and actions with the intention to correct.

Whenever issues on morality and social justice are at stake, the Catholic Church cannot and will not remain silent or cowed. Contraception and artificial family planning, jueteng, graft and corruption, inequality in the justice system and neglecting the poor to name a few are all moral issues. In a country like the Philippines, if the Church remains silent who will take the side of the poor and the oppressed?

It’s true that there are some members of the clergy who are worse sinner than some of our politicians. Some have bad examples and they are indeed a disgrace. However, let me stress clearly that the clergy is not the Church --- they are a part of the Church.

The Church as a teacher of faith and moral issues cannot be shut up nor be threatened when the message of the Gospel is twisted or taken for granted

.

We want to do a lot of things good and bad. It is easier to do bad than good for that is the human impulse. It is easier to go against the Decalogue than to forgive. Can we imagine if there are no laws governing the country? In that case, there would be chaos and anarchy. In the same manner, when the Church does not have laws, anybody can do anything like probably what was done in Sodom and Gomorrah.

We may not agree with the teachings of the Church but that does not mean that our perspective is right and that the Church is wrong. There are a lot that we cannot understand on what the Church is saying but it is not correct to say that because we don’t understand them, they are wrong. If we believe that there is an Almighty who calls Himself “the Way, the Truth and the Life”, anything that that Being says must all be true even if we don’t understand or like what He says.

Thus the Church is always around to meddle to show us what is morally right and wrong. The issue on artificial family planning falls on that.

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See the original at:
http://sapientiaaedificat.blogspot.com/2010/10/to-catholic-church-stop-meddling.html

Conscience and Pride

When some of the followers of Jesus left him and went back to their old ways, Jesus asked the “twelve”: (Apostles) “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered “Master, to whom shall we go?   You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn 6:68)

The Almighty knows that sometime in the life of man, he goes astray from the truth. His faith is shaken and confused. Man falls into sin. Lucifer, unlike man, was not weakened by the effects of original sin. He was created as an angel but because of pride, he fell down from heaven. Had he repented and asked for forgiveness, I am sure God forgave him.

In these difficult times when flood of confusion ravages the truth, I think it is necessary to sit down; shed off the pride in us and go to the basics in understanding the issues of our time.

While it is correct that conscience is the inner voice of God in us, it is wrong to say that any kind of conscience is the voice of God. The Lord does not have a wrong opinion (voice). Hence, when in doubt, it is wise to seek the counsel of the learned or the authority instead of relying on our instincts which may be erroneous if not fatal.

A good intention is not necessarily a good conscience. My conscience tells me that it is good to kill a corrupt government official to weed out a bad egg but in truth, never that it is correct to commit a murder even if the intended victim is an evil incarnate.

“To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

The voice speaking the words of eternal life is inundated these days with the noise of apathy, arrogance, and recklessness. Once these are toned down if not turned off, Simon Peter is correct that we have nowhere to go than to cling to the One whose words leads us to eternal life.

PH Catholic Church: Is It Still Relevant?

Instead of intellectually dissecting the merits and demerits of the RH Bill, it is disgusting to read readers’ comments in some dailies. Some of these are good while others are silly.

I don’t have any intention to impose my opinion but I find the following ideas of readers sifted from the dailies as unfair if not absurd:

If the Catholic Church meddles in government affairs, they should pay tax.

I don’t think that telling what is right or wrong is meddling. Why pick up the Catholic Church alone to pay tax when the INC that directly meddles with the government through block voting is not considered? The Church is helping the poor and the needy but do other faiths do?

Archbishop Oscar Cruz “talks a lot” and is now retired; why not be the president instead?

This country respects freedom of speech and of expression. Archbishop Cruz is retired but he is also a Filipino citizen. It is insane to assume that now that he is retired, his opinions are now false. In fact, his analyses on current issues are accurate.

”I’m a faithful Catholic and studied the teachings of the Church. I found out that some are wrong.”  

I agree when issues are not moral like the Copernicus issue. But how really faithful a “faithful Catholic” in saying that the Church is wrong when she teaches issues on the sanctity and respect of life? This mentality called “relativism” is heretic. It is not true that what one thinks as correct is indeed correct. Truth is objective and not subjective. And how can anyone claim to be better that the Magisterium, the teaching authority of the Church which is infallible?

”Some priests are using condoms.”

These priests have no business in the active ministry. It is the duty of the laity to report these priests to their bishops. The laity is also called to evangelize and doing that greatly helps the bishops.

”In Italy, where Vatican is, there is abortion, contraception, red district, and homosexuality.”

Evil is everywhere even inside the churches. No matter how pious and focused one is while praying, strong temptations occur. But knowing that the above mentioned are wrong, why do we want them to have in this country? If you know that stealing government money is wrong, why still do it?

Separation of Church and State must be respected.

Cardinal Sin helped topple dictatorship. The Church exposed the evil of jueteng. The Church abhors graft and corruption as the main cause of poverty. In these instances, why were we silent and did not say that the Church is meddling the affair of the State? Do we only see Church intervention when we do not like what the bishops say?

So, how relevant is the Catholic Church in the Philippines in these confusing times?

The Church is as relevant as ever. She may have some misgivings because its hierarchy is composed of human being --- sinners and imperfect but when it comes to moral issues, the Church should have a perfect score. After all, Philippine bishops do not invent or write their own teachings but follow the official teaching of the universal Church. We note that during the infancy of the Church till now, 21st century, its history is full of scandals and heresies but for 2,000 years, this Church remains unshaken in correctly interpreting and teaching what Christ, her founder taught. We hear cathedrals and shrines in Europe closing down or turned into museum or substantial decrease in Mass attendance but to assume that the cause of these is the Church’s wrong teachings is totally unacceptable.

I can only say that the Church in the Philippines is at a critical period when some of her members fall to the heresy of relativism. The Church survives till the end of time but there is no guarantee that the faith of the majority of Filipinos survive in this time of confusion, liberalism, nonchalance, arrogance and stupidity as well.

QUOD DIXIT DIXIT Not a Religious Blog

One of my readers asks me if I have plans to convert this blog into a religious blog.

My answer is NO.

When I started QUOD DIXIT DIXIT, what I had and still have in mind is just to express my opinions through writing as a hobby. Looking back on my previous articles, I note poor sentence constructions and even grammatical errors.

I don’t care at all. I’m not here to write a dissertation paper and I don’t strictly cater to the intellectuals but for all. As long as my message is understood, I’m fine.

I don’t consider myself a writer or journalist and I am not feigning to be one or the other. I just want to share my opinions and it is up to my readers to agree or disagree with what I express.

I appreciate your time in reading and visiting this blog despite its numerous shortcomings --- not by choice or intent but because of time constraint.

Church Citation for Pacquiao?

Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD, Manila Bulletin columnist seems to suggest that the Catholic Church should give Rep. Manny Paquiao a citation for being a good Catholic.

Fr. Bel argues that Pacquiao the boxer is seen worldwide in the ring during his fights making the sign of the cross, kneeling in prayer before and after a bout and with a rosary chained on his neck. The columnist-priest says that such show of Catholicism can evangelize. As the representative of Saranggani, Mr. Pacquiao strongly opposes the RH Bill.

The SVD (Society of Divine Word) missionary has a point but giving Manny a formal citation from the Catholic Church is too much as far as I am concerned. Why should one who harms if not sacrilege the temple of the Holy Spirit be awarded or praised?

The good Ilocano priest knows that the human body, whom Manny the boxer is trained to destroy or make unconscious is the temple of the Holy Spirit. How could one using sledgehammer to disfigure the altar of St. Jude Parish church in San Miguel, Manila be given a citation saying that s/he is a good Catholic?

Saanko a maala, Apo Bel. (I cannot get it, Fr. Bel.)

Dios Habla El 21 de Mayo, "Día del Juicio"

Yo temo a Dios porque Él tiene el poder para catigarme en el infierno. Temo el pérdido del cielo y las penas del infierno. No pongo palabras en su boca o hacemos a él mentiroso, pero es cierto que Dios le habló a la gente de Oakland, California (y al entero del mundo) el 21 de mayo en todas las iglesias católicas de la diócesis durante de la Misa vigilia por domingo. Era a las 5:00 o 6:00 de la noche.

El buen Dios dijo:

"No deje que se turbe vuestro corazón. Tú tienes fe en Dios, creed también en mí. . . Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida ". (ver Jn 1-12. 14: - Quinto Domingo de Pascua Evangelio)

Exactamente el momento que Oakland, en particular, estaban esperando terremoto y aniquilación apocalíptico, el Creador y Señor del Universo habló a la gente que les asegure su amor diciendo: "Ten fe en mí. . . Yo soy la verdad ".

Como la verdad, Él no mintió cuando dijo que ni siquiera el Hijo del Hombre sabe la hora, pero sólo el Padre. Esto implica que cualquiera que dice la fecha exacta del fin del mundo es un mentiroso.

Algunos agoreros se sigue diciendo a brotar la exactitud de su cálculo o el genio de su comprensión de los acontecimientos bíblicos o del mundo que les llevan a concluir que el fin del mundo será en un día determinado y otra vez.

Eso no es totalmente malo. Los que creían que el mundo iba a terminar ayer estaban en un gran temor. Espero que se acercarón a Dios a través de la conversión espiritual. A pesar de la promiscuidad, el materialismo, el hedonismo y la terquedad de regresar a Dios, cuando el fin del mundo se escucha, el miedo tiene la mente.

No temen a Dios sólo cuando hay un tsunami, terremoto de magnitud 9,0, tornado que se borra una ciudad, la epidemia o la guerra. Temed a Dios todos los días.

Si tengo razon a interpretar la palabra de Dios, Él nos invita a confiar y creer en Él, tengan fe en Él y no a los mentirosos que ponen palabras en la boca de Dios. Confiamos en él para todos nuestros temores porque Él dijo que Él es el camino, la verdad y la vida.

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Este artículo es el version Castellano del artículo  en Ingles abajo.

God Speaks On May 21 “Judgment Day”

I fear God for He has the power to dump me in hell. I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell. I don’t put words into His mouth or make Him a liar but it is true that God spoke to the people of Oakland, California (and to the rest of the world) on May 21 in all Catholic churches of the diocese during a Sunday vigil Mass. That was 5:00 or 6:00 in the evening.

The good Lord said:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me . . . I am the way and the truth and the life.” (See Jn. 14: 1-12 – Fifth Easter Sunday Gospel)

Exactly at a time when Oaklanders in particular were waiting for massive apocalyptic earthquake and annihilation, the Creator and Master of the Universe comforts the people assuring them of His love saying “Have faith in me . . . I am the truth.”

As the Truth, He did not lie when He said that not even the Son of Man knows the hour but the Father alone. That implies that any one who tells the exact date of the end of the world is a liar.

Some doomsayers are still to sprout telling the exactness of their calculation or genius in understanding the Bible or world events that lead them to conclude that the end of time will be on a particular day and time again.

That is not totally bad. Those who believed that the world was to end yesterday were in great fear. I hope that they went closer to God via spiritual conversion. Despite the promiscuity, materialism, hedonism and stubbornness in returning to God, when the end of the world is heard, fear possesses the mind.

Don’t fear God only when there is a tsunami, 9.0 magnitude earthquake, tornado that levels a city, epidemic or war. Fear God everyday.

If I’m permitted to interpret God’s word, He urges us to trust and believe in Him; have faith in Him and never the liars that put words into the mouth of God. We trust Him for all our fears for He said that He is the way, the truth and the life.

Farewell Dinner Before the World Ends

Friends from Oakland, California mention in their e-mail that believers of the end of the world on May 21 had an emotional family farewell dinner.

Per American custom on special occasions, dinner could be more or less as sumptuous as a Thanksgiving dinner. There should be a lot of hugging and tears between family members; pets included during their last supper.

Harold Camping, who predicted the Judgment Day is said to be watching TV to monitor how the world ends. It sounds crazy but who knows if he believes that he is exempted from being judged? Another twist that is beyond sanity to explain is why some members of Camping’s religious group still plan to go to work on Monday when the world ends on Saturday.

As I write this, it is 3:00 in the morning, May 21 in the US West Coast. So far, American press outlets do not send their crew and equipments to anywhere. The US press is correct in not covering the end of the world. What for still? Camping might be the only one interested to witness the end of time. If he is in a bunker, doesn’t he know that there is nothing impossible to God that no matter how sturdy where he is, it could be melted with a rain of fire?

Camping says that at 6:00 in the afternoon with no specific time zone, massive earthquake and catastrophe mark the second coming of Christ. Here in the Philippines, it is now 6:00 PM but everything is normal.

I am surprised that there is a heavy traffic from around the world visiting this blog about the end of the world. I hope their curiosity or fear about the end of time bring them closer to God and not to trivial things that distance them from salvation.

Couples With Two Kids: Reward, Benefits

That is the core of Sen. Lacson’s Bill No. 2768. Let us forget in the meantime the rewards due for lucky couples.

As a non-lawyer, what I know about any law is that it applies equally to all.

Upon reading the story, I was scratching my head not because it is itchy but a little bit unsettled thinking if millionaire or billionaire military and government officials who have two kids will be rewarded just like indigent couples.

If enacted into law, it will be another immoral law. Are couples here understood as married or any couple?

How could a young couple in their mid 20s say that their union can only produce two kids for the rest of their lives if they don’t use natural or artificial contraception? I have no problem with natural family planning but for some young Filipino couples for them to get the reward or benefits, they must use artificial contraception.

Assuming that a number of couples, say 5 million, are covered by the proposed law; their 10 million children if qualified, go to UP Diliman, Ateneo, San Beda, La Salle or UST. Do these schools get subsidy from the government to shoulder the free education of the qualified couples’ children?

We believe that the government can do afford that only if graft and corruption is totally eliminated from our system. For the last 10 years, news say, 400 billion was lost because of irregularities in just one single government agency, the National Food Authority (NFA). That is 40 billion pesos a year.

We don’t know how the bill is written but from the very start, it looks like it’s a nut.

The bottom line is; Sen. Lacson’s Bill when enacted into law is essentially the same with Communist China’s limiting couples to have only two kids or else they face imprisonment.

So, what other Bills are in the oven? Bills amending existing laws that marriage is no longer necessary or compulsory as an institution?

We are in dangerous times because of ignorance or out of stupidity.

¿El Fin del Mundo Hoy?

Pienso que en el proximo 24 horas, la prensa internacional sera inundada con noticias cerca del fin del mundo. Me he dicho en ingles que yo lo creo que nadie sabe el dia cuando ese dia o tiempo viene --- solo el Dios Padre.

Pueden Vds traducir en Castellano el articulo por seleccionar su idioma en la ventana a la derecha de este blog al "Google Translate".

Gracias.

Pray For Us Please!

It’s Saturday, Mary’s day in the month of May, Mary’s month.

May Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother who said that all generations will call her blessed intercede for all our material and spiritual needs. Mary, once a human like us knows our daily trials, struggles and fears.

At this time when many of us want to play God (not god); believing that we have the right to decide when a new life is to be conceived or not to be conceived, this nation entrusted into your maternal patronage under your Immaculate Conception needs your urgent guidance, love and constant intercession to your Son.

You have been helping us in our history. The last when we felt your hand was in EDSA-I. You are always there protecting us from danger.

If the unworthy and single voice of a sinner in me reaches you, the country devoted to you is again in danger; this time from the wrath of God. We need your intercession.

As we put our trust in you, let the Spirit enlighten our minds and open our hearts to know and follow the truth.

Please pray for the Philippines and us your confused children.

The World Won't End Today?

The Philippine Star says that the world won’t end today.

One of our readers mentions media unfairness (bias) in presenting the truth on boiling key issues today.  Equal time or space allotment given to opposing sides known as fair play is a fundamental element of good journalism sometimes taken for granted. Sad to say, some press people do not know what they are communicating to their audience once in a while too.

The headline from the daily says that there is no end of the world today contrary to the circulating Judgment Day warning to be otherwise if not unwise.

How does the news writer know that the end will not end today?

My standpoint is that NO one knows when time will end except God the Father. So, just like a thief, end of the world comes any time. If no one knows when that glorious time will be, it is improper to say something that implies when the world will end or will not end.   As if we know God’s time frame.

On the other hand, reminding the Filipino nation (and beyond) about the end of the world is needed  in these times when Satan is busy working in our midst sowing confusion, goading some of our officials to steal money from our national coffers; telling the unscrupulous and the weak to go against the Decalogue.

The end of the world reminds us that there is nothing permanent except heaven or hell as eternal dwelling.  Either one will be with the Creator in endless and unexplained bliss and joy or will be eternally tormented with the father of lies.  Eternal has no end.  To fellow sinners, now that we are once more reminded of the end of the world, it is time for conversion.  Conversion is not once but an everyday process.

If there is fruit that Judgment Day bears, may some of our greedy- kleptomaniac officials see the light –-- the same light Paul saw on his way to Damascus.  Lately, the papers say that PHP400 billion has been unaccounted for just in one government agency alone.  That money could have been used to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, and send children to school.

RH Bill cannot alleviate poverty, Mr. President.  Remember your campaign mantra: "Kung Walang Kurap, Walang Mahirap." (There is No Poverty if There's No Corruption)