WHAT IS THE REAL ESSENCE OF THE FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

I was commuting in a mini bus yesterday for a field assignment in Naic when a bucket of water showered into our face. The windows were not airtight so most of the water thrown came in. We were caught by surprise because it was not expected to befall us. Most of the passengers got wet from that baptism. I never realized what the hell is happening until I remembered it was the feast of Saint John the Baptist. I'm not a believer of fiestas but I'm not against it. I am a respecter of religious and social freedom excercise within the bound of law, morals, and the Scriptures. As expected, most passengers expressed disappoinment and disapproval for that uncivilized excercise. I condemn such act of uncultured indecency.

1. If it happens in the City of San Juan and the like, I must understand the risk of getting wet without holding any grudge to anyone who could harm me. San Juan and other areas whose patron is Saint John the Baptist is ecclessiastically and legally recognized to practice such manner of celebration. Yesterday's incident happened elsewhere.
2. We were attacked not once but more than seven.
3. I have to cancell our appointment as I appeared not very presentable to do my assignment.
4. It's an act of aggression as no one could protest against their malevolent and ignoble display of authority over our very own rights even if we are not religiously affiliated with their persuasions.
5. It threathens our freedom to protect our own interest and our share of our own rights as they failed to recognized and respect it.

I'm not against the celebration of the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, for everyone is entitled to exercise his right and religious freedom according to his conviction without injuring the right, freedom and interests of others. The Feast must be celebrated in a christian and civilized manner not in an arrogant, disastrous and destructive manner. It must be celebrated to see it's significance not for the sake of self-entertainment and amusements while seeing others suffer from getting wet because of their boorish and crude game plan.

We are not living in the time of Dark Ages anymore. Everyone must be morally aware with his actions. He must be conscious and sensitive to the rights and interests of others, respect and protect each other's liberty and independence.

AN EARTHQUAKE?

I was traveling back home to Cavite when I heard over an FM radio that a possible earthquake with a deadly blow of intensity 7 magnitude is impending to happen in Metro Manila according to a report of a certain UN official. This disaster will be happening through Marikina fault. But PHIVOLCS denied any possibility of this report. What about if it is true.? Are we ready for take off? I hope PHILVOLCS is more reliable this time than the UN study.

A GLIMPSE TO 2010

I was browsing my Friendster account when it came into my mind to search the people who captures our attention today and the coming days. They are our future leaders eyeing the highest office of the land (Phillipines). It's glad to know that by these social networks (plus Facebbok and Multiply), we can meet them at personal level and know their history, accomplishments, credentials for presidency, significant contributions to society, plataformas de govierno and their position for the very important issues confronting our country today. I just don't know if they personally manage their account or if they assigned an assistant. Their pre-occupation may obligued them to do so I guess. I just don't know how reliable the information that were presented as search queries displays at least three accounts on their name. And usually they differ in some aspects like age and other infos. Yet they are not that important for me as of now. What I'm looking for are the ones that will guide us to do the right choice. It maybe too early to do the scrutiny but it's still better to know them beforehand. Those that accepts my invitation were added to my featured friends so that I can easily update their profile each time I visit my own account. Mabuhay!

ARE WE REALLY FREE?

We are celebrating our Independence every 12the day of the month of June. This year, it falls on Friday which gives us a long weekend. I still recall how this independence has been written in the pages of our history. On July 1897, Emilio Aguinaldo made a proclamation calling upon the people to join him in a national revolution against the Spanish colonial regime. Below is the summary of the proclamation.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In this proclamation issued in July 1897, Pres. Emilio Aguinaldo urges all people who possess honor and personal dignity to join the national revolution against the Spanish colonial regime. The colonial government and religious orders, he claims, continuously tyrannize and torture the Filipino people. Aguinaldo strongly condemns the monastic supremacy, abuses of the friars, corruption in the bureaucracy, discrimination, immorality, and social injustices prevalent during the Spanish colonial rule. The colonial government ignored the legitimate demands of the Filipinos and persecuted those who only wanted reforms, he says. Aguinaldo declares that the Filipino people aspire to have a government which will govern based on the rule of law and justice, to be an independent nation, and to defend the nation's honor.

We have struggled for freedom from many abuses of the Spanish government such as:

1. monastic supremacy
2. abuses of the friars
   
3. corruption of the bureaucracy
4. discrimanation,
   
5. immorality
6. social injustice

In general, our forefathers rejects the system of leadership and governance and the very personality that were attached to it. However, if we carefully evaluate our present generation and government, it appears that those abuses we have once fought against are still very real today. In every corner of our country there seems to be a series of stories of abuses and corruption. We become independent from the abuse of foreigners but the same abuses are being experienced from our very own people themselves.

Yes, we have something to celebrate. But are we really free?

Says, John F. Kennedy: "Liberty without learning is always in peril and learning without liberty is always in vain".