L.E.N.T.

I knew it was coming! I mean this recent change of speakership in the Philippine House of Representatives. It was an infamous day for ex-Speaker Jose De Venecia who has been a staunch supporter of President Gloria Arroyo through thick and thin. Many have branded him as the President's tuta (lapdog)for very obvious reasons. Both Presidents Ramos and Arroyo, I'm pretty much sure, didn't have a hard time with the lower House under De Venecia's watch. It seems now that the powers-that-be have weighed De Venecia and found him wanting. And no matter how Malacanang denies it, it has a hand in the man's ouster.

The moral of the De Venecia downfall is: Nothing good comes out of being a lapdog.

De Venecia should remember how then President Corazon Aquino's ungratefulness to the late Ramon Mitra (who was her loyal Speaker of the House then) by throwing her all-out support to Fidel Ramos' presidential candidacy.

Lapdogs, those people we Filipinos also call as sipsip, contribute more harm than anything else to others and to the community as a whole. I have been a victim of such people in the past. Sometimes I have to put up with them yet there were instances when I have to sort them out. Eventually, they all end up like De Venecia (not in my hands though!)

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Lent has finally turned up. As I write my piece, I thought of what this season means for me.

L - Loyalty. Let's check where our loyalty is. Is it in our material wealth? Is is in worldly power? Or is it in God? Remember when Jesus was tempted by the devil and how He chose God over what the world and Satan can offer? Instead of being a lapdog to the world, why not be 'lapdog' to the Lord? Unlike any lords out there, God is faithful! He may not assure us of earthly power, but what more could we ask for when He promises us eternal life?

E - Enthusiasm. Lent shouldn't make us frown and moan of the activities that make up Lent. We should be full of energy as we immerse ourselves in prayer, in doing sacrifices, and in helping others.

N - Nothingness. Lent is an opportunity for us to empty ourselves through self-denial so that others could benefit. Our fasting and abstinence, for instance, shouldn't be focused on our personal health gains, but on what the poor could gain through the money we saved from our sacrifices.

T - Time. Yes, Lent is the time to have time. Time to have a hard look at ourselves. To observe what is happening in our midst and recognize what we have done and what we could do to make improvements. To rediscover that God is part of the equation.

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Advanced happy Valentine's Day to you, dear readers! Love has always been part of our lives as humans, and more especially as Christians. This Lent, let us be motivated by love more than anything else as we fervently prepare for Easter.