Stop Being a Messiah

Some people ought to know what self-responsibility means. So stop being a Messiah because you are not. People will act irresponsibly when you are always there to catch them when they fall and shield them from the ill effects of their own decisions. If they want to live a comfortable life, teach them how to be industrious. If they want to indulge in their whims they should learn how to support it on their own. If they want big family, they should be ready to provide its need. If they want to have pets, they should learn how to care of its needs too. If they want to eat good food, they should pay for it. If their income is barely able to supply what they need then they should live within its limit. If they violated someone’s rights they should learn how to say “I’m sorry”. You should not do all of these for them because you are not directly responsible of their lives.

They are lazy because you are always there to work for them. They indulge in vices because you tolerated and supported them. They still cling on you and depended on you even they already have their own family because you felt good and needed when they ran to you even in minor needs that they can supply on their own. They abuse your goodness because you don’t want to offend them and hurt their feelings. They push their demands because you don’t know how to say “no” even if you want to. You give in to their cajoling even it violated other’s rights because you don’t want trouble.

But you know what? They did it because you allow them to. The real problem is not them but it’s “You”. So fix up yourself and let them go. Stop being a Messiah.

Sulking is an Act of Immaturity

Mature people don’t sulk. There….. I said it at last. Don’t you know that when your wishes are not followed and you sulk you are just showing how immature you are? Don’t you get it? You did not own the world and the people around you are not your servants that move according to what you want. People around have wishes like yours too but are not pushy. If they get what they want then that’s good but if not they just shrug their shoulders and go on with their own way. What you can do is to emulate them. Then get out from your comfort zone and learn how to sacrifice your sacred cows for others too. Be flexible also and just be cool when what you want is not followed. In this way you have liberated yourself from negative emotions. And don’t sulk.

My Patience at Breaking Point

While Davaoeños were so busy in the annual festivity of Kadayawan sa Dabaw I on the other hand was so engross with the construction of my bamboo house. Since I was supervising, no one dared to stop the construction unlike the first day when my father-in-law tried to command us where to put up the house in order to spare the bathroom of her favorite daughter and son-in-law who secretly aired his demand to him the day we started the construction. Their bath is sitting on the property my father-in-law allocated to my wife as heirloom. Though my wife already notified her elder sisters before the construction started we are caught unaware of my father-in-law’s act. Even though I know his demand was very unreasonable and we on the other hand don’t want complications in our inter-relationship with them I and my wife consented. So we position our house just beside the bathroom of my in-laws. But when we layout the kitchen it turned out that the space was so constraint, so I and my wife again talked with my father-in-law and her sisters (the other affected sister pose no objection). Right there and then I told sister-in-laws that we should swap bathrooms (ours was erected at the back of theirs) so we can extend our kitchen in the area their bathroom is presently occupying and just leaving a small portion as bathroom for us to use. (Just imagine their original bathroom is much bigger than our kitchen-to-be. Isn’t it reasonable to bath swap?) With discontent in her voice the favorite daughter of my father-in-law finally relented. So when our carpenter pulled down their bath’s wall no one poses objection. It is understood then that we will share the use of our old bath which was left intact. But when our carpenter started building a new smaller bathroom in their now non-existent one enclosing it totally, father-in-law commanded him to tear it down again because his favorite son-in-law cannot pass through.

When I learned about this I said to myself, “Too much is too much”. I was so pissed off that on that instant I lost my respect for them. I know they knew I am already angry since they can read it on my face. I am one person who never learned how to hide my emotions. But I don’t care. If they want respect they should learn how to respect first.

Now that my dark emotion ebbed (my respect still non-existent) I can now dissect from a distance why my wife and other siblings just tolerated their sister and brother-in-law’s leeching. Why they pose no objection when their parents shower this one family with favor among others. The reason of their tolerance is simply, they don’t want disharmony in the family.

But I am not one of them. Activist as I am, I hate injustices and I expect fair play from others too – my wife’s family included. So I cannot guarantee that I can still play it cool if they will pull down another stunt that would trample down my family’s welfare again. No guarantees what my reactions would be.

They should not try me again.

Morph1: Religious Training

It was customary in my grandmother’s house to be at home before the clock strikes six in the evening. Like all pious families, the children and females in this household would always gather around the altar to pray the rosary led by my grandmother Esperanza. There, with slightly bruised knees and together with my brother and cousin I knelt mumbling the rosary. And oftentimes, because of the rhythmic sounds of the rosary our young eyes would droop to sleep but would almost immediately open up wide when grandma suddenly stops then take a glance at us when our prayer responses began to falter.

Though my grandfather is the direct grandson of a Spanish priest who was assigned here in Mindanao during the Spanish occupation my grandma is more religiously inclined than him. Grandpa was more spectator than participator. He relinquishes religious participation to my grandma. Yes it was him who fashioned the altar but it was grandma who filled it with collection of big and small statues. Prominent in its centerpiece hangs the huge portrait of the Virgin mary. Underneath the portrait were the numerous statues such that of the Holy Family, Saint Peter, Christ the King, and of the Sto. Niño. With the exemption of the Bible there were also some reading guides that pertains to religious exercise on the altar. Of my grandma’s piousness grandpa has no say about it.

I, on the other hand was slowly trained by grandma to do some religious exercises particularly the leading of the 6 o’clock rosary habit. At first this delighted me but later on the responsibility becomes my personal Calvary. But I never dared show boredom infront grandma for fear I might offend her. So I showed fake enthusiasm. I even followed her footsteps by participating in various church activities such as that of the Flores de Mayo (May Flower Festival), the Patron Fiestas, and other religious activities.

This is how I become religiously inclined today albeit in different sphere.

I’m Back Again

I’ve been out of the circulation lately for three reasons: heavy workload, procrastination, and bad weather.  Due to my nature of work my time to do some writing has been neglected.  How can I think clearly and compose my thoughts when I’m already intellectually pressured by my work?  Come to think of it, after preparing legal documents I then endorse it to the court to start the process of each case. Then I have to go back again to the office to prepare summaries of bills for payment and some other stuffs.  Am I grumbling?  No, I’m not.  In fact, I like it when I’m busy.  The only downside of this is because of busyness I usually stop writing.

There has been so many things to write about.  May I mention those days when a national politician lambasted our office in the airwaves due to the complaints of those individuals affected by our operations.  I have the urge to really write something about it so to proclaim the legality of our operations to the public but I have stopped myself because my writing may turn out to be so emotionally subjective.  I have waited for a moment to calm down my activist spirit but my waiting eventually becomes procrastination because when I finally calm down the fire to write has already died down too.

We, Davaoeñoes enjoy sunny daytimes and some rainy nighttimes.  However, in the month of June and July we experienced heavy downpour of rains that flooded city streets. There was a time when I left the office at eleven o’clock in the evening to travel 16 more kilometers to home because of the floodings.  Now can I still think of going to an internet cafe to do some blogwriting?  Of course not.  My thoughts will be all about home – the image of hot “tinolang manok” and the comfort of my cosy bed.

I am still working and rainfall is still here.  The only thing I can change is to stop procrastinating.  So I’m writing again.

Baby Redeemed

Would you believe that a baby can be mortgaged too?  Hard to believe but yes it happened.

Several years ago, the mistress of the house where I conducted a Bible study told me of a baby mortgaged by her mother. I was so shock of the news that fury rises over me. But as she narrated the story further my fury turned to pity.  The mother due to poverty was forced to mortgage the baby just to save her. When the baby was so ill she went to her neighbor to borrow money needed for confinement and medicines.  However, the neighbor demanded a collateral for their loan.  Since they don’t have any valuables it was agreed that the child be endorsed to her after discharging from the hospital. Hard it may seem to the parents but they agreed just to save their baby trusting that the child will be well taken care of since their neighbor was childless.

Upon hearing this, I talked to the parents of the child to confirm the situation and later asked the church’s elders to help the family.  And I was not disappointed, the church redeemed the child and gave it back to them.

Yesterday, I learned that this baby is already a lady and is doing so well. I don’t know if she is aware of what happened to her but if not much better.  The church helped not to merit by such act but it helped because it was necessary.

Is There an End for the Soaring Rice prices?

When my wife and I went to the market last Sunday I was taken aback by the long queue of people who wanted to buy government supplied rice that only amounts 25 pesos a kilo compared with the commercial rice that is already priced 52 pesos a kilo.  Only people like me who suffer time shortage will not take advantage of such opportunity. I heard from one in line that when he arrived at around 10 o’clock in the evening there was already a line forming.  Can you imagine yourself doing that when the rice retailer will open his store at eight o’clock in the morning of the following day?  Such a waste of time to spend for a two-kilo rice supply (the most a retailer can ration to an individual as directed by the government).

If there is no shortage of rice in the Philippines as announced by President Gloria Arroyo why then the price keeps soaring?  Is it because there is really a rice shortage?  Or this is just the acts of some millers who are hoarding rice in anticipation for a higher market price?  If this is so what can the Arroyo Government do to stop such act?  Is the present government inutile in regulating the price of this commodity?  When will this price bloating ends?

One thing for sure though, the poor is getting poorer while the capitalists are getting richer.  Why?  The poor can’t make enough money since they are in the queue for a cheaper rice instead of doing some job to earn.  The capitalists who hoards rice supply on the other hand are enjoying the gain of their business. What a sad situation.

Winston Garcia’s Hysterical Outburst

Yesterday, national televisions telecast result of the election of MERALCO’s management where the ABS-CBN’s Lopezes got 5 votes, followed by 4 votes for GSIS, and 2 votes for Independent Parties.  What is comical here is the hysterical outburst of Mr. Winston Garcia, the present head of GSIS stating that the exercise was still controlled by the Lopezes.

Why did he react that way?  Perhaps this is the reason.  Mr. Garcia is desperate to grasp the control of MERALCO from the Lopezes.  He believed that the electric bill issued by MERALCO to its consumers under the management of the Lopezes is too high.  He is determined to takeover MERALCO promising that the bill will go 20% down under his management.

But the question is: Is it possible for him to manage this electric corporation effectively when we all know that GSIS, the insurance company for government employees which he heads is also serving its members in mediocrity – thus not able to produce members’ exact contribution statement and loan repayments?  Or is he that determine because GSIS has no longer enough funds?  Take note that just recently, national daily’s reported GSIS cannot make loan repayments to overpayment due to shortage of funds.  Then rumors must be true that during the past National Elections the funds of GSIS were “allegedly” being used by the administration candidates?  But one thing is sure though, this government agency extravagantly used up members’ money to purchase that “Parisian Life” by one of our national artists in the tune of more than 40 Million Pesos.

Whatever his motive is, we all know there’s money in electric business.

The Howl Praise of San-san

Have it crossed your mind that God can work miracles also for His other creation other than humans?  I never have until San-san came into my life.

 

 

He was the ugliest puppy I ever saw in my entire teen life – big droopy eyes, bald withered tail covered with ticks, curled ears eaten by leprosy, and a dull brown balding coat covered his emaciated body.  Revulsion and pity warred inside me.

 

 

“What will I do?” I asked myself while immobilized by indecision.

 

 

“Will I drive this mongrel away or adopt him.  Nah…. Better inform the others first.” 

 

 I ran inside our house and found my aunt preparing our supper.

 

 

“Auntie, I saw a puppy on our portico,” excitement course through my body.  “Come and see,” I took hold of her hand and dragged her outside.

 

 

“Hold on,” my aunt replied.  “Your grandmother brought that puppy this morning while you are still in school.  It’s from her cousin’s.  She took pity of him when she knew that pup will be abandoned to die alone.  She just asked to have that pup and here he is,” she squatted with me to inspect closely the pup who is now curling to feign sleeping.

 

 

“But, he’s so ugly….” I replied.

 

 

“I know, but grandma brought him here.  Perhaps that pup will recover from the disease.  What he need is regular feeding and care.  And I think that’s what you are going to do,” patting my shoulder in reassurance.  “Come on, let him rest.”

 

 

Early Saturday morning, I took a pail of water, mixed a detergent soap in it and took a sponge and washed the ugly mongrel we fondly named San-san.  With so much trembling he howled so loudly as if in pain trying to run away from me.  I persisted and occasionally patted his head in reassurance that all will be well.  And out of pity I prayed that God would heal this mutt even though I’m not sure if He will hear my prayer since San-san is just a dog.

 

 

After closely nursing him for a time God heard my prayer and I witnessed how he regained his health.  The once emaciated puppy became a healthy dog.  The only remaining evidence of what he has gone through is his curled ears.

 

 

I thought he will be well for a long time.  But I was wrong.  One day, I found him curled in his favorite place in the portico, motionless.  I thought he was only sleeping.  But when I called his name he never responded to my call which was strange to me. He usually wags his tail and lifts his head in response.  Only this time he was not so I nudged him by my heel and felt his coldness.  I was alarmed.  I bent down and inspected him.  But I was startled to what I discovered, his mouth is frothing.  He was poisoned.  I quickly ran inside the house and looked for a remedy.  I found nothing.  In resignation, I went back to him and patted his head.  I prayed, “God, no way can I bring my dog to the veterinarian for we are three miles away from the nearest town and you know that.  No one would give me a lift with a poisoned dog.  So please heal my dog again.  If You have done it before so why can’t you now?”

 

 

I don’t have that much faith to raise a dead much less a dog so with a heavy heart I left my dog to die.  To console me of his impending death, I pulled out one of my praise cassette tape and played it on.  The sound of the gospel singer filled the air.  His voice filled with praise as he sang “Glory, glory…. Hallelujah since I laid my burdens down….” boomed.

 

After I while I checked on my dog but he’s nowhere to be found.  Excitement arose in me again.  “Could it be God answered me again this time?”  And I was not wrong…… He did.  There was San-san in the grassy part of our lawn, weak but alive.  My heart filled with praise on this second miracle.

 

 

Looking back to these miracles, I now can say God’s power is not confined for humans alone.  It is available to every creation whose lives will give Him glory.  And He performs miracles and answers our prayer in His own timetable.  No matter if we see His answer gradually or instantaneously as in the case of my dog San-san, God works in His own time.

 

 

But wait a minute; do you know the response of my dog to his latest miracle?  Howl praise; that’s what he’ll always do every time I played the cassette tape back on.  And on that particular song he will always stop any activity he is doing, took a position in front of the cassette player and gave his loudest howl.  And he will never stop until the song ends.

Computer Games are Addictive

I have never understood why many people are hooked up with computer games or why my six years old son would shed tears just to join his cousins going to internet cafe.  But yesterday, I have a taste on how was it like to play a game by myself.  I started playing at around six o’clock in the evening and if not for my grumbling tummy I would have lasted until midnight.  But quitting the game is not that easy since I am on the advance level of the game.

If in my present age have struggled, how much more a child whose will power is neither that firm nor develop like mine.  I have therefore concluded that computer games are addictive and would steal so much of your precious moments which is suppose to be invested in more important endeavor.

My resolution is this: If I’m going to buy a personal computer I will not install games.  It will only be used for research, data processing and storage, and business purposes.