Two. Thousand. Nine.

Two. Thousand. Nine.

As the year ends, we have many ligering questions as to where the new year will be headed. New year's resolution. We, sometimes view this as a time of renewal but do we really feel renewed or even strive to become better persons in other people's lives and deviate from our selfish ways?

Our world, our system is flawed. Most people do not see this mainly because of many illusions and distractions that we refuse to see through. Why do we do so? Because we are afraid we will become outcasts who deviate from the "norm" or "what is accpeted". Many of us will obviously deny this fact but deny as you wish, reality bites. Mass media, insatiable hunger for power, money, all these lead to ignorant management of one's life and a superficial overview of life itself. I need not explain the particulars in which i'm stressing. I think it's time for all of us to start seeing the world for what it really is and start making REAL CHANGE.

Short and sweet. Happy New Year everyone.

WHERE ARE WE IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS?

Economic meltdown, terrorism, frequency of natural disasters, development of nuclear capabilities - do any of these mean anything to you? Why are these more common and frequent today than they were a decade before? Do you think there is a significance as to why at this particular century all these key events are happening? Why do people like Bin Laden have such long beards? Why am I even talking to you?

Hmmm, probably because my apocalypse senses are tingling.

Now don't get me wrong. Don't take me as some prophet whom you think is insanely not sane just because i'm ranting about something that WE ALL SHOULD PAY ATTENTION to. For "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take heart what is written in it, because the time is near" (Revelation 1:3). Let's face it, people, most people have little regard for people (Yes, i know) who talk about things, NECESSARY and IMPORTANT things. Especially stuff about God, Biblical prophecies, the Apocalypse, the Anti-Christ and so much more that are too many to mention. You're probably wondering "This guy is a complete idiot, has he even heard of Oprah? I mean, Oprah's nice. She talks to people, she helps people" and blah, blah, blah. I am going to be completely honest with you, I am a Christian, but being a Christian and a Catholic are two VERY DIFFERENT things. I despise anything that is Catholic or anything that self-righteously carries the name of Christianity and twists it's true teachings into something more self-satisfying to one's "preferred interpretation" of faith. With that being said, I think you will have a clear view on where I stand on these issues.

Headlines that stir our world today are are unlike anything we have ever seen before. It can put you in a state of thought, leave you desperate for an answer - WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

It seems that mankind's streak of development and evolution has finally reached its zenith, but are we really sure about that? Everywhere you look, chaos, squalor and corruption roam. We are all victims of the problems we make, but not everybody seems to have a keen understanding of this fact. Why is it so easy to talk about something that is vulgar or offensive and find it hard to talk about God lest be consumed by humility? All of us are guilty of this, one way or another and I admit to being a victim of this foolhardy habit, but I simply cannot stand idly as I dwell in denial of something that I stand for. Have you even started to think that the reason for our such drastic decline as a civilization is because of the fact that we are gradually turning away from God? Think about it, we are starting to become more open-minded about homosexuality (I personally do not think that homosexuals should be looked down upon, rather we should give equal HUMAN RIGHTS to EVERYONE but saying that homosexuality is acceptable in front of God is something I absolutely cannot tolerate), we approve of violence that we see on the media and involuntarily or voluntarily adapt its twisted values and we start to question the existence of God on the grounds of insufficient, solid proof and a need of a rational explanation of such a being. In short, we "call evil good, and good evil" (Isiah 5:20)

Our human mind is limited. We can only go so far, know so much, explain too much but we can never even begin to understand God. We are finite beings who build finite, material things around us to satisfy our capacity of understanding ourselves and as a result: We limit the existence of God through our own insufficient knowledge.

All these dreadful happenings in our world today are a direct result of our insolent actions toward God, but at the same time, these key events serve as a sign that the day of reckoning is at hand. You can either choose to ignore these facts or repent and see the truth.

I implore you to resort to the latter and to see for yourself the truth that I speak of.

TEACHERS CONVERT HOME TO SCHOOLS

With classrooms crowded and with evacuees and the school grounds still flooded, where could the students go?

One could only imagine the devastation caused by typhoon "Ondoy", but cannot comprehend the damaged lives that were affected, physically, socially and psychologically as well.

Teachers of the Malaban elementary school in Binan, Laguna have converted their homes into schools to accommodate the pupils who were displaced when their school was used as an evacuation center. According to DepEd, there are still 51 schools that are used as evacuation centers due to lack of important infrastructures that are in dire need at this very moment.

This catastrophe is nothing more than one of the many manifestations of corruption, poverty, and poor management of resources in our country. Correct me if I am wrong, but all of us, and i do mean all of us Filipinos are aware of this fact and yet we stand here idly and watch as our country slowly succumbs to the fruits of corruption and injustice. I for one will not stand for such ignorance and foolishness. We must all do our part as citizens of this country. We instill in our minds that our country is nothing but a shame, a disgrace on the international stage and in part of its economic competitors. We say that the Philippines is the lowest of the low, and yet all these maybe true, but not without a reason. We must bear in mind that our country would not have been like this if it weren't for our infamous officials who foolhardily run our country and pocket billions of pesos just to satisfy their distasteful greed. On the other hand, let us not forget the people who brought them to that position; us. We all must take a portion of blame and cease this habitual ignorance that we resort to everyday.

To even just start getting back on our feet, we should all accept at some time, in our ignorance that in the end, it all comes down to us; we are the ones responsible for this, no one is exempted. Not that senator, not that mayor, not that president but us. It's time to stop finger-pointing, face the cutting edge of reality and start making solutions to the problem instead of adding a few more to stir up our already messed up country. If you want change, a change for the better, then start now.

(Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer 10/19/09, from an article by Maricar Cinco)