Stop the Howling

I don't completely believe in violent protests and mass actions. But I totally believe in the power of fervent prayer.

God is a just God. He has solutions to problems of injustice and evil. At His feet we must lay down our grievances and indignations.

Protests turn violent when protesters themselves are propelled by their own volatile tempers. Disgust and discontent go through a slow burn until rage explodes. Eventually both the protester and his cause get hurt. And other people as well are not spared from the wounding.

Peaceful channels like prayer and diplomacy are never dispensable. I would strongly tell protesters to stop their howling and be quiet, instead. This is not to curtail their freedom of expression, but to allow God to direct their steps.

To all protesters and rallyists given to anger, pray and wait on the Lord. Before you take to the streets, make sure you have God on your side.

BORACAY

My recent three-day Boracay trip was splendid! How could it not be? All expenses for air, water and land fares, room accommodations, use of swimming pool and other facilities, breakfast, lunch and dinner were fully paid. That alone made the whole Boracay experience memorable. There’s nothing like traveling without the burden of recalling and recounting huge travel expenditures. A free trip is the best trip for an unenthusiastic traveler like me.

So much have been said of Boracay’s beaches. But I would have to bemoan the presence of green algae in some beachfronts in Station 1. Not only green the algae but the marketplace atmosphere. To me it was like you’re in a mall semi-naked window-shopping with the sea just several feet away from you. And the crowd of people invading the island was both exhilarating and vulgar.

But there were still glorious spots and beaches and places that made me stop and appreciate. The Puka Beach at the northern tip looked like a white and blue paradise to me. The Mount Luho, a refreshing incline that afforded some panoramic views of the island, was also a habitation for caged exotic animals and birds. The Bulabog Beach Boracay had us leaving our van for some time just to excitedly check out people kiteboarding and windsurfing. And the awarded Mandala Spa and Villas proved to me that wellness and peace are twins.

I encourage those who have never been to Boracay to go there. And make it soon. Enjoy what’s left of its diminishing beauty. And to me the only spectacular constant in this much-praised island are the sunsets.

The Singing of the Anthem

The law is the law. And there's a law on the proper way of singing the Philippine National Anthem. "The rendition of the National Anthem, whether played or sung, shall be in accordance with the musical arrangement and composition of Julian Felipe." Whether sung in the country or abroad, the Lupang Hinirang has to be given due respect. It is the song and not the singer. It is the law and artistic freedom
cannot cancel such law.

I personally want the anthem sung the way it should be sung. According to Ambeth Ocampo, 2002 chair of the National Historical Institute (NHI), the anthem, when played, “must carry a brisk martial tone and tempo.” Celebrity singers may defend their stylized singing by invoking their "artistic freedom". (I just hate it when the last lines are shrieked with almost a vein-popping passion.) But their personal renditions only brought attention to themselves and not to the flag and country as a whole.

The many vocal versions of our National Anthem may have somehow revealed that we don't yet have a true national identity as a people. We're not united and therefore, divided, or worse, broken.

My Advice to Kris Aquino

Who am I to advise Kris Aquino, who yet again cried on The Buzz on March 14, 2010? She does not know me. I am sure she has already received a lot of advice from her own family and loved ones. What she does with all that counsel and advice I really don’t know.

If she would allow me to tell her what I want her to hear without her interrupting me, I would say the following: “It’s not wrong to defend yourself and your loved ones especially if there’s much criticism hurled at you. But your tearful confession on TV still revealed pride. Never broadcast your goodness and virtues in the name of defense. You confess that you’re not a liar. That’s good. But only God sees completely your heart. You may have revealed many truths but what about those things you have not revealed? You are a big star in show business and showbiz is ‘show’. You admitted in one TV interview that you are a tattler. And a ‘tattler’ is one given to tattling or idle talking. Your tongue has cost you and even other people so much pain. It’s about time you need to offer your tongue to the Lord. Praise Him instead with your lips. But that would be hard. You cannot serve both God and the showbiz mammon.”

CORRUPT POLITICS

Corrupt politicians make politics corrupt. Now, if I were asked to try politics, I would right away say No! As a born-again Christian, I must seek first the approval of God and not that of men. A born-again Christian will never be popular and will never succeed in politics in a nation like the Philippines in these current corrupt times. This nation is suffering from a spiritual gangrene which only God can heal. No man and no well-meaning politician can heal this land.

So I would just leave politics to those who can afford to lie, to conceal, to deceive, to flatter, to hoard or even to steal. Others may claim that they are not into dirty politics. Well, I congratulate them. But unfortunately, they are a minority. And speaking of corruption, the Church is not spared from the contagion. And here lies the challenge for all truly God-fearing and God-honoring Christians-- the preaching of the Gospel of Christ and walking the talk.

On Showbiz Gossip

Everything has to be loud. News headlines have to explode. Hosts should be consistently emphatic. There is no point anymore of being subtle. Everything should grab everyone's attention. Even the most trivial info attains a certain degree of relevance by the way it is aired.

But I must not complain. This is what today's showbiz gossip is all about. It must boom. It must create excitement. Gossip has ceased to be hushed. Idle talk, hearsays and rumors do entertain but hardly spirit-lifting. Some showbiz talk show hosts suffer from a diarrhea of the mouth.

On Talent Competitions

If I would have my way, I would like to put an end to online voting especially for talent competitions. I want qualified judges to make the final decisions and not the people. This was the case when cellular phones were not yet ubiquitous. The verdict should be left to the judges and not the texters. Talent contests are not popularity contests. The majority is not always right. (Consider the public officials we have elected.)

Also, talent contests should not be made platforms for one’s sad history and circumstance. I want a talent competition to be drama-free. I’m sure I have just expressed here a very unpopular sentiment. But I must stress that ‘popular’ sounds like ‘mediocre’.