Respect (or the Lack of It)

Saying yes to God is not only an act of faith. It is also an act of respect to Him. You see, our God is such an awesome God because He willed to be with us in the person of His only Son, Jesus Christ. Being one like us, except sin, proves that God is not "watching us, from a distance", as a 90s song goes, but someone who is up, close, and personal. Being personal means being in a relationship with Him.

One of the important ingredients that keeps a relationship healthy is respect. Imagine parents not respecting each other, would their family thrive? Imagine community members not respecting each other, wouldn't that spell its demise? Imagine the government not respecting the rule of law and the rights of citizens, wouldn't that breed social unrest? Imagine the Church, especially those in the hierarchy, not respecting dignity of the poor and abused, wouldn't that cause scandal? Imagine if we don't respect God, wouldn't our souls be in peril? 

Why do we respect God and men? Isn't it because they are important in our lives? And because they are important, we make it a point not to offend them, yes? Sadly, since the time of Adam and Eve, our sins reveal how insignificant God and others are in our lives. If we respect God, we would make it a point, for example, to attend Sunday Mass. Devoting an hour in a week for the Lord is all He's asking! If we respect others, we would, for example, refrain from backstabbing them, attacking them in social media, or slandering them.

While on earth, Jesus was the perfect Son because He respected and fulfilled His Father's will. He was also the perfect gentleman because He respected people regardless if they were rich or poor, saint or sinner, Jew or Gentile.

Let's think of the relationship we have with God and those around us. How we value it determines how respectful we are.

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President Duterte appoints Associate Justice Teresita De Castro as Chief Justice. While I respect the President's prerogative, I am disappointed with his lack of respect to people's plight in the hands of corruption and injustice (which he has been so vocal of) by appointing someone whose integrity is questionable (not to mention that she will only be in the position until her retirement in October - a windfall for her at the expense of the public).  Apart from deciding in favor of controversial cases such as allowing Marcos' remains to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, this Ampalaya Queen has not only complained, but also testified, and voted for the unconstitutional ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno as Chief Justice.  De Castro's ambition is diabolical! Yes, change has come, for the worse!

The Real Power Wielders

I dropped by a friend's house one evening and I saw them watching TFC. The show at that time was a news item on the forthcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Noynoy Aquino. Or should I say the imminent fashion show during the SONA, thanks to some of its attendees. Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz aired his dismay at the insensitivity of these people who would flaunt in their costly attires and jewelry amidst the poverty in the country.

Appeals such as those of Msgr. Cruz's should be commended.  However, such appeals would fall on deaf ears for as long as people celebrate such inappropriate behavior of our government officials and their families.

Take for example ABS-CBN News' SONA 2014 Fashion People's Choice wherein people are invited to vote for who is the best dressed during the occasion (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152268795930168.1073741988.27254475167&type=1).  As confirmed in the news item I saw on TV, there will be a 2015 edition of this.  Such activities just feed in to the politicians' proclivity to show off.  If people boycott such a page and the like, the less approval the politicians would get.

Why do some slimy, rubbish, rejected politicians experience a redux? It's because people continue to idolize them. They are invited to public gatherings, act as hermano/a mayor in town fiestas, featured in TV shows or magazines, etc. 

Why do some good, sensible leaders have little or no success in their platform of action? It's because there are people who obstruct them. It's because there are people who (mis)influence them. When Fr Nestor Gungon became Parish Priest of Gagalangin in 2002, we at Tanghalang Anluwage Inc had high hopes on him. Unfortunately, he has been won over by the (power-hungry) officers of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC). This triggered us to pull out of the parish - both Tanghalan and Pahayagan. Now, he's gone and replaced by a new pastor.  I just hope and pray that Gagalangin's new pastor would be able to whip the parish into shape.  If I were an officer of the PPC, I would offer my courtesy resignation to give the cura a freehand in effecting change.

I have come to realize, whether it be in politics or religion, that those who wield power are not the politicians, bishops, or parish priests.  It's the people! And by people I just don't mean the common tao, but more so the underlings, the minions, the taga-loob.  Unless people are properly educated, unless there is a change of heart, any sound reforms introduced by our leaders would be useless.