Political winds have started to surge into our consciousness with the open declaration of Vice President Jejomar Binay to run for President in 2016. He is just a heartbeat away from the presidency. But it appears that the heartbeat of the incumbent President remains active and healthy then indeed and rightly so Jojo Binay has to begin the process of drafting a blue print campaign strategy.
It is not easy to debunk Jojo Binay’s credential to vie for the highest post of the land. He has the experience in all levels of governance, his integrity still unsullied and he could be a visionary – meaning he has within his fingertips some ideas how to make a difference in leading a nation even now which is on track tangible and impressive achievement under the Presidency of Benigno S. Aquino III.
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The reported choice of Senator Jinggoy Estrada as Binay’s running mate in the 2016 presidential elections would be quiet a heavy load to carry for the party. The continues erosion of the senator’s credibility whenever he opens his mouth relative to his alleged corrupt practice in the “disbursement” of his Priority Development Assistant Fund (PDAF) certainly will remain an ugly smudge into his person during the campaign season especially. In all these months since the time this pork barrel scam that exposed Estrada, he has yet to credibly explain his involvement in this issue. His attempts to destroy the image of whistleblowers Dennis Cunanan and Ruby Tuazon is of bad taste. The “sins” of these whistle blowers is another case that deserve separate hearing. Jinggoy must explain, or deny the accusations hurdled against him with authentic documents to back up his defense. He should do it as soon as possible to give Binay a chance and time to make adjustments in his choice for a running mate – one who can help him in the campaign – Not a baggage.
Political Positioning for 2016
He speaks to you
Families today need the ability to know and understand God’s voice in their life. Husbands and wives need to recognize God’s voice so that they may learn how to build their marriage on a foundation of faith and selfless service. Mothers and Fathers need God’s voice to help guide them when raising and teaching their children and to help their children gain righteous values and moral character. Children need to recognize God’s voice so that they may be warned of danger when it arises and to help keep them from temptation when they are put in difficult situations.
In a world where fast-paced and high-tech living is the everyday norm, it can sometimes be difficult to hear the still small whisperings of the Spirit, which is one of God’s preferred ways of communication. Often times, even when we do hear it, it is difficult to distinguish among the many worldly voices drowning him out. If God’s voice is sometimes difficult for you or your children to recognize, remember, God most often speaks to the mind and heart. So, as you search your thoughts and feelings, here are six ways you can know if God is speaking to you.
One: Does it persuade you to do good? If you’re suddenly inspired to do a good deed or you feel inclined to make things right by doing the right thing, then you can know that you are receiving communication from God. Everything good comes from God, and that includes thoughts of doing good.
Two: Does it promote feelings of love? Are you prompted to show kindness when indifference would be so much easier? Are you compelled to clothe the homeless, feed the hungry, or help a family in need? If your heart is full of love and concern for others, then you can know that God is speaking to you. It is his way of helping his children in need through you.
Three: Does it enlighten your mind? Are you inspired to create something beautiful, to learn something new or to gain further understanding? Does your path seem clear, is your mind quickened or do you see life in a new light? If so, then your mind has been enlightened by the spirit of God and he is communicating his light to your mind and heart. This is how God brings beauty, joy and pure understanding into the world.
Four: Does it build you or someone else up? Are your thoughts and feelings positive? Are they affirmative in nature? Are they uplifting and do they edify? Do they bring you to a higher place to stand? If they do, then you can be certain that you are hearing God’s voice speaking to your heart. God’s voice will always uplift and edify. He will never speak thoughts of doubt, discouragement or fear. God’s voice will always be a voice of hope.
Five: Does it bring peace? Do you feel at peace with a decision? Do you feel calm in a time of trial? Do you feel comforted in your sorrows? If you do, then God is with you speaking peace to your heart and bringing solace to your soul. This is how God comforts his children.
Six: Does it inspire you to be better than you are? Are you motivated to be better today than you were yesterday? Do you desire to create goals and work toward fulfilling them? Do you see the goodness in others and desire to create that goodness in yourself? If you have a desire to improve, then you are being driven by the voice of God as he molds you into the person he knows you can be. This is how God perfects his children.
God speaks to his children in many ways, and if you are listening, you can know when he is speaking to you and your children. If it invites you to do good, then you can be certain that it is from God. If you are doing your best to make the right choices in your life and you strive to live worthy of God’s spirit, you can know in your heart exactly what God is saying to you. (Submitted in Faith & Spirituality by Tiffany Fletcher on July 16, 2013}
Let our weakness occasion strength
IF we believe in what St. Paul once said that it is “when I am weak, that I am strong,” (2 Cor 12,10) then there must be something good in our weakness, whatever form it may take.
If we follow his logic that “the foolish things of the world has God chosen, that he may confound the wise, and the weak things of the world has God chosen, that he may confound the strong,” (1 Cor 1,27) then indeed the goodness of weakness must indeed be something.
Christ himself affirmed so in his beatitudes. He considered as blessed those who are poor in spirit, meek, those who mourn, who hunger and thirst for justice, who are merciful, clean of heart, peacemakers, those who are persecuted and reviled.
In many other instances in the gospel, he praised the little children, gave special attention and healing to those with all kinds of affliction. He even raised the dead. He fraternized with sinners and what are generally regarded as the scum of the earth.
What peeved him were the proud and the self-righteous, or those described by St. Paul as “enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” (Phil 3,18)
Yet, in spite of all these, Christ was willing to die for all of us, assuming in the process all our weaknesses and sinfulness for all time and dying to them, so we may have a way to rise with him in his glorious resurrection, already freed of all of them.
We have to remember that our true dignity as persons and as children of God can only be attained and recovered through Christ. Yes, we also have to give our all in recovering that dignity, lost by sin, but all that effort would tantamount to nothing unless united with the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, renewed sacramentally in the Mass.
All this does not mean that we have to be cavalier in our attitude toward our sinfulness and weaknesses. On the contrary, we have to be dead serious in avoiding and removing them. What it means is that whatever may be our warts and faults, there is always hope. God, being a true father, is always willing to forgive.
In fact, we can manage somehow to be happy when we notice and experience our weaknesses and sinfulness, since in that way we attract the attention of Christ. As Good Shepherd, he is always at the lookout for the lost sheep.
What we have to avoid is to deal with our weaknesses and sinfulness by our lonesome, relying only our own powers and devices, which though impressive will never cope with the evil of our weaknesses and sinfulness without God.
What we have to do when we see our weaknesses and sinfulness is to go to God, to run to him, making acts of contrition and atonement, especially going to the sacrament of confession, because that is how we regain God’s grace, the source of our true strength.
Let’s try to avoid the example of Cain who after killing his brother fled from God and became a fugitive. Let’s follow the example of the prodigal son who in his lowest depth of dissipation decided to go back to his father and was roundly welcomed.
God as our father provides us with everything. He has given us our life, our health, our natural needs. He has made the masterpiece of his creation, making us image and likeness of his, children of his.
And as father, he does even more. He is willing to forgive us, to provide us with what we need most—his mercy, since we cannot help but abuse his goodness and fall into sin and suffer the consequences.
On our part, we should do at least the minimum that can be expected of a creature who thinks, judges and executes things. We ought to be sorry for our sins, making acts of contrition, atonement and reparation, and making confession a regular habit.
In this we have imitate Christ who did all this by dying on the cross. No wonder he tells us that if we want to follow him, we have to deny ourselves and carry the cross too. We die with him to be able to rise with him too.
Let’s strengthen our hope and trust in God’s mercy especially during this Lent. For where sin has abounded, God’s grace has abounded even more. This is where our weakness can occasion strength.
“Sambo” said no build zone not fully enforce; waits for the city master rehab plan
TACLOBAN CITY— Vice Mayor Jerry “Sambo” Yaokasin of this city expressed his disappointment on the non enforcement of the “no build zone” policy of the government.
The policy restricts residents to live or build houses within the 40 meter from the coastlines. The policy was introduced after supertyphoon Yolanda generated storm surges that resulted for thousands of houses to be destroyed or washed inland.
Despite of the signages on this policy placed in areas identified, houses were seen to have sprouted.
It was learned from Yaokasin said that members of the council came into agreement that should the master plan for rehabilitation of the city comes out, this no build zone policy would be reviewed by them.
Still the vice mayor said that should the master plan came into effect, the affected residents should relocate to the resettlement sites identified under the master plan drawn by the city government with the help of the UN Habitat.
Yaokasin said that the plan need some changes like three meters should be observed for urban areas; 20 meters for agriculture area and the 40 meter policy should only be applied in forested areas.
“But the government’s geo-hazard mapping that points Tacloban as risk area should also be considered. That is why it is to be studied well if such measurements still apply is this kind of situation,” Yaokasin stressed.
But for the meantime that the city government is still waiting for the master rehabilitation plan, it will stick to the 40-meter rule and will not add any exemptions as of yet, the vice mayor added.
Yaokasin thus advised residents living in the no build zones to coordinate first to the newly-created City Housing Unit before constructing any permanent structures.
Meanwhile, the vice mayor also talked about the housing projects being pushed by the city government in the northern part of Tacloban.
Yaokasin said that the beneficiaries need not worry because it is to be distributed in “sweat equity” scheme, which means that residents have to help in its construction to avail the program.
“We are thinking of 6 months to 1 year for completion of 10 thousand housing units and this is going to narrow the housing backlog in the city by half. All they have to do is approach the City Housing Office and see if they will qualify and (as for) payment, we have to do sweat equity or bayanihan system,” Yaokasin further added. (Regin Olimberio/PR)
Cristina joins women month celebration
TACLOBAN CITY- As an advocate on women’s welfare particularly domestic violence and human trafficking, Tacloban City Councilor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez joins women in the entire world and nation in celebrating the March 8, 2014 International Women’s day.
The city’s event kicked off with an early morning fun walk around its main streets followed by a short program at the City Hall grounds.
This year’s Women Month celebration has “Juana, ang tatag mo ay tatag natin sa pagbangon at pagsulong,” for its theme.
In her speech, Councilor Romualdez enjoins women to know their rights and empower themselves so as not to be abused and fight for their families’ rights and welfare.
She informed them that Tacloban has a shelter home facility for domestically abused mothers and children where they can seek temporary shelter with social welfare experts and medical professionals to assist them.
According to Councilor Romualdez, the women shelter located just at the foot of Kanhuraw Hill, where the City Hall is located, and is a few meters away from the Tacloban City police station.
The facility was established four years ago with the full support of her husband Mayor Alfred Romualdez.
In the country, every March is women’s month and the whole nation had its own set of activities to boost women power. The city of Tacloban together with women cause-oriented groups celebrate women’s month with livelihood programs in every barangay, medical missions, maternal child care health programs to include awareness campaign on women’s health. (GAY B. GASPAY)
Leyte folks hit by Yolanda continue to receive food aids
TACLOBAN CITY- The people of San Isidro, which was hit by supertyphoon Yolanda, continues to receive food assistance from the municipal government.
Thus said former town mayor and now Board Member Alan Ang of Leyte’s third district who said that all the 8,051 affected families coming from the town’s 19 barangays still receives food packs, over four months since Yolanda hit their town.
Ang’s wife, Susan, is the incumbent mayor of San Isidro.
Board Member Ang told Leyte Samar Daily Express that they are now conducting series of evaluations as to the extent of damage caused by Yolanda in their town.
The result of their assessment would then be submitted former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery.
Ang said that they hope that they could be given the necessary financial help from Lacson.
“We are happy that the Office of The Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery through Sec. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson will help rebuild the structures like our school buildings and other government office which were damaged by Yolanda and other government buildings,” he said.
The board member also said that both Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla and Rep. Andres Salvacion of third district are also helping them on their rehabilitation effort. (LITO A. BAGUNAS)