Crucified in 2018

Many people label “Muslims” as harsh or violent whenever they declare war, Jihad or sentence an infidel as worthy of death for dishonoring or insulting “Islam” or “The Great Prophet” or their God. What many of us don’t seem to give them credit for is how they usually praise “Allah” as they begin to give a talk, how they always state: God-willing, Praise God or Allah is Great! Recently, I was reminded of how weak, compromised or lost some “Christians” are in terms of how they honor or recognize God and Jesus Christ publicly, to the point that they consider it smart to put your faith in your pocket or leave it at home.

When Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was being interviewed by various media outfits last week, the Chief Justice regularly and confidently expressed her appreciation of GOD and Jesus Christ and how her faith gave her strength, integrity, wisdom and dignity. To be honest her repeated thanks and honor of God and Jesus Christ gave me a new found respect for the Chief Justice because there are very few like her who would publicly share her faith, and give honor to GOD particularly at a time when people expected her to come out of the corner swinging and exposing the corrupt conduct of certain Justices of the Supreme Court.

One of my friends actually commented that he found the Chief Justice’ sharing and talking about GOD out of place or tactically weak because she should have used worldly wisdom to deal with her enemies. Quite honestly, I probably would have come out swinging and cussing if I were in the same spot, but I guess that’s why GOD placed Maria Lourdes Sereno in that situation and not weaker vessels like me. I was actually inspired and encouraged by the boldness of Chief Justice Sereno as she gave glory and honor to God and in how she reflected Christ-like conduct and speech even when referring to the “Uninhibited 6” who voted against her.

If the Chief Justice inspired me, my friend’s comment and the many others like his; honestly pissed me off! Why should giving honor, recognition and praise to GOD be excluded from the dialogue we have even when it concerns such heavy or serious topics such as the MISCARRIAGE OF JUSTICE? How can we call ourselves followers, believers and a people named after Christ if we are embarrassed or afraid to declare what we claim to believe in? Isn’t that equivalent to calling for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ – 2018?

Given that today’s a holiday, you might find time to Google a song entitled: Read All About it by Emile Sandé (Live at the Royal Albert hall). It’s very a modern tune that challenges those of us who chose to be politically correct, below the radar, stay out of the fight, or be Lone Rangers in the Wilderness. It’s also a challenge to believers who have lost sight of the “mission” our “Co-mission” with Christ.

Read All About It. Pt. III – Emile Sandé

You’ve got the words to change a nation – But you’re biting your tongue

You’ve spent a life time stuck in silence – Afraid you’ll say something wrong

If no one hears it – how we gonna know your song?

So come on, come on – Come on, come on

You’ve got a heart as loud as lightning – So why let your voice be tamed?

Maybe we’re a little different – There’s no need to be ashamed

You’ve got to light to fight the shadows – so stop hiding it away

Come On, come on

I wanna sing, I wanna shout – I wanna scream till the words dry out

So put it in all of the papers, I’m not afraid. They can read all about it

Read all about it. At night we’re waking up the neighbors

While we sing away the blues

Making sure that were remembered, yeah cause we all matter too

If the truth has been forbidden – then were breaking all the rules

So come on, come on – Come on, come on

Lets get the TV and the radio to play our tune again

It’s about time we got some airplay of our version of events

There’s no need to be afraid – I will sing with you my friend

(Chorus)

Yeah, we’re all wonderful people – so when did we get so fearful?

Now we’re finally finding our voices – so take a chance come help me sing this 

*      *      *

Yes it’s hot. Yes you want to stay in, stretch out or may be catch up on some domestic chores or project you’ve been meaning to do on your next “holiday.” That’s not today. Today go out and vote because this election is one that concerns and affects you directly and immediately.

Many people tend to trivialize the Barangay elections without realizing that the people who get elected today will be the ones to determine the quality of life in your barangay or your neighborhood. The policies or circulars they put in effect will directly affect your security, the peace and order of things in your neighborhood and whether your neighborhood remains idyllic or toxic and commercial.

The correct selection of officials or failure to do so will result in a barangay run well by neighbors being neighborly or ending up at the mercy of political enemies and neighborhoods being turned into fiefdoms. I’ve lived in enough neighborhoods and villages to tell you that having a mixed bag of candidates will result in nothing getting done. Make sure that the Barangay officials you choose have the personality, character and political goodwill to deal with everyone in the neighborhood as well as in city hall. I know of two competent Barangay Captains who barely got anything done simply because they were too conscious of staying loyal to their political patrons and ended up getting nothing from city hall.