Rafael L. Oriel, Jr.
5 August 2006

Last July 28, I was mystified when somebody in this forum said to Mr. Jun Velasco, “Megiddo? Armageddon? What in hell are you talking about? To inject these apocalyptic incidents waiting to happen, when it cannot be circumstantiated, tells us of what kind of journalism you are in.”

Technically, that makes the two of you who are talking about something that is in your own point of view cannot be circumstantiated. For all you know, non-believers can also say, “What hell are you talking about?” They can also say, “Megiddo? Armageddon? Hell? What in hell are you guys talking about?”

One thing I cannot understand that bewilders me is your certainty of the existence of hell while voicing your skepticism in the power of prayers unlike the other Christian in this forum who said, “Just keep on praying. . . God will fix every thing”. Strong words of faith from someone who totally believes in the power of prayers.

We really do not need to be rocket scientists to know what these guys are talking about. Actually, anybody can explicitly learn about these subjects using any reliable dictionaries that circumstantiate or give detailed descriptions of Megiddo, Armageddon and hell.

But why do we use dictionary instead of the Bible when according to statistics, 93% of Filipinos claim to be Christians? Even dictionaries will direct us to the Holy Bible by telling us exactly where we can find in the Bible about these words Armageddon, Megiddo and hell. People who are more knowledgeable know their relevance to the current and future events that are happening around us. Are you one of them?

Ironically, according to the dictionary, a Christian is one who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus or one who lives according to the teachings of Jesus. By definition, therefore, a Christian is someone who believes in Jesus Christ, know His life and teachings and live according to His teachings. In truth, that is what the Holy Bible is all about. Do you as a Christian believe and read the Bible?

Can we honestly say that 93% of Filipinos are Christians when majority seems to be more familiar with the dictionary and/or other books than the Bible? Do not ask me why. We must ask the Bible experts, the fishers of men who seem to be sick and tired of fishing and who seem to be contemplating of going to a more exciting and glamorous profession in business, journalism and politics sometimes sharing the limelight with showbiz people and power brokering with men. I doubt if they have time and interest to talk about Armageddon, Megiddo or hell at the moment because, currently, they are busy and seem to be more interested in talking about politics, jueteng, the illegal gambling games and other controversial issues affecting the country and its people. The drawback if they are too busy with what they are doing, we might even need to make an appointment in order to personally see them even if we urgently or desperately need their spiritual guidance and/or prayers.

Maybe we should also ask them how much of their selves and time were dedicated to Caesar and to God. According to the Holy Bible, our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” If Matthew, the publican or tax-gatherer, were to ask them today if they have anything to declare, they can possibly say, “Nothing, not even our God the Father.” From what I heard, it is legal constitutionally because they had successfully entrenched in the Philippine Constitution of 1987 their tax exemptions. If you ask me, I cannot find any good reason why they are actively involved in politics and in opposing the proposed Cha-Cha. To protect their tax exemptions? I do not think so. Do you think so? I prefer to see them more actively involved in spreading the messages or Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I like to ask them to take a hike and just go fishing. That is what God wants them to do as fishers of men, is it not? I guess they are not like Matthew who completely abandoned more than Caesar when our beloved Lord Jesus Christ told the tax collector and the other disciples, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Is it because they are self-appointed or humanly appointed fishers of men and they have changed there mind because they found out that they wanted to become politicians, journalists and/or businessmen after all?

Just an opinion for us to ponder.

Cristina Garcia
5 August 2006

Anybody who knows contact numbers of Judge Ulysses Butuyan? Kindly please email me… thank you.

More power to Sunday Punch… thank you!

Paz Campbell
5 August 2006

Congratulations, Gringo, well done!!! I’m from Mangaldan as well but living in New Zealand. Mabuhay ang UPang! I’m greeting all the 2nd year nursing department too, esp. my niece, Cherry Ann Alon.

Edener Benitez Fabella
5 August 2006

How will a newly elected futuristic leader president Fabella lead a nation?

Making effective use of the phone set the way we did as young idealistic people plunking Php0.25 cents in a sari-sari store for hours long telebabad. My first official call is to the members of the CBCP.

Hello Monsignor, please let’s talk. Just take a look everywhere and you need no convincing we are running out of space and have problems controlling numbers. I agree learning addition and multiplication is important. Don’t you think it is time we take urgent efforts in mastering subtraction if we are to apply ‘dibay-dibay’ evenly across the board?

Next call is to JOMA Sison, Ka Roger, Eid Kabalu and JanJalani.

Hello to you all. This is the president let’s talk. Look fellas, enough of this macho camacho stuff okay? I am talking directly to you and extending an olive branch. It is not necessary to involve other countries, diplomats and neither should we spend money travelling abroad so we can talk. Dito tayo sa ating bansa magusap and let’s do one on one tayo tayo na lamang what do you say? There must be a way for us to resolve our differences but killing one another is the dysfunctional way and should stop once and for all. Sit with me in peace and together, let’s forge a working agreement that will last a lifetime. Mas lalo tayong maghihirap kung wala na tayong ginawa kungdi magpatayan. Let me know what you want and I will tell you if it is in my power to accommodate it. Don’t worry I will have the generals locked up while we talk walang double talk sa administration ko.

Next call is to the head of DPWH (I heard people joking that this agency is called ‘Department Populated by Walang Hiyas true?)
YOU’RE FIRED! I am issuing an executive order disbanding this agency once and for all. The milking, sucking, bleeding and mulcting of the Filipino people through low sub-standard infrastructure projects are over. I am bidding out our projects worldwide. I am sure Bechtel Engineering, Union Pacific and Kiemit Construction and those in Japan and U.K. can do better job. It is less painful for us Filipinos to bleed once than bled many times whenever DPWH people do the same job over and over and over without an end.

My last call is for heads of public schools and government offices.

I am ordering portraits of national heroes adorning every school rooms and government offices in the land and to educate everyone on who these are. It is a shame my portrait is hanging instead what is it ego trip? I assume when people voted me, they’ll recognize me without constantly reminding them. So let’s do away with that stuff.

Finally, SONA is another tradition we must let go. I assume, if I do good in my presidency and people from all walks of life are benefiting from it, there’s no need to coral select few so they can wear their fine jewelry and signature clothing at the expense of the people. What president Fabella prefers is called ‘TANGA’ acronym for Tama Na Gloria Arrovo!

Eduardo Pontaoe
5 August 2006

 Here’s one for you, Edener.

Dateline: Chicago Sun Times..Friday..8-04-2006

Looking for a maid who cannot only cook and clean but save your kid from a fire? Try a supermaid.

Philippine President Arroyo wants to create a “supermaid” using a new training program for Filipino domestic helpers.

“We will be sending “supermaids,” Arroyo said during a round-table discussion on efforts to evacuate 30,000 Filipinos in Lebanon, most of them maids and help them find new jobs.

Augusto Syjuco, head of the government’s Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, said the “supermaids” program includes training in first aid, evacuation from high rises in case of a fire and other skills to get higher pay.

“They are not just maids. They are really very well trained now,” he said. “If there is someone injured among the family they work for…how to get out of a fire in a high-rise building, all these are part of upgrading the program.”

I may add, eventually Arroyo could produce a clone of Superwoman who can dodge and stop bullets, stop an speeding train, clean the Philippines of debilitating corruption or makes ballots disappear?

Who needs Garcillano?