In the not so distant past ,we have seen that TV Series called Fear Factor. It is a US TV series that challenges contestants to do seemingly fearsome and really dangerous stunts which normally ordinary humans cannot and will not do.

This time around, to me, Fear Factor is an Economic thing. In a country like ours where disaster pounds us every waking hour, like the daily earthquake and scores of typhoons would this not affect our economy. And every single day, where we are awakened and glued to screens by stories of corruption by our leaders , would these not be a fear factor for investors?

The Philippines stands as one of the most disaster-prone nations globally, a reality that profoundly shapes the collective psyche of its people. The recurrent typhoons, earthquakes, and floods are not merely natural phenomena but catalysts that expose systemic vulnerabilities within the country’s socio-political framework. This persistent exposure to calamities generates a palpable fear index, reflecting both environmental hazards and institutional fragility.

Diri ba makaharadlok inina Combo? Baga ini hin one two punch nga maul-ul!
It is a bit gloomy that the combination of man-made and natural calamity is affecting us as we speak.

Thus, we need to be wiser, and we need wise up. We need to formally and collectively disallow corruption and prepare for calamities; we need to do these, or we perish.

Literally, the word “resibo” or receipt in english refers to a physical or digital receipt for a purchase, such as when you use an invoice management system for billing purposes.
It’s simply a proof of purchase, but in today’s online language, it can be used colloquially as mean proof of something else, like a photo, a write up or video that serves as evidence for something you’ve done or accomplished; or to some extent, against someone who has done either something good or bad.

This only shows that language or words we use keeps on evolving. It is constantly adapting and changing to reflect our changing lives, experiences and cultures.

Language change enables us to accommodate new ideas, inventions and technologies. It’s not just the words themselves which change; the way in which we use them can dramatically shift too.

Haven’t you noticed that since the proliferation of information technology, the way people communicate and words usage drastically change. One reason for this is because we are constantly developing new things to talk about, so we need to create new words, expressions, and grammar to communicate about the new topics.

We usually do this by reinventing existing words.

The emergence of the internet and the consequential array of social media networks have, without any doubt, resulted in an exponential growth of online platforms such as blogs, tweets, tiktok, instagrams, Facebook posts and LinkedIn profiles, among others.

With English being the most dominant language on the internet, socmed users, like myself, has to embrace the call of our times.

There’s no denying that social media has had a drastic impact on the sheer volume of people we are now able to communicate with. It also has an impact on the frequency with which we are able to communicate with them. This has led us to being exposed to a myriad of different personalities, insights or perspectives, and approaches when we use social media to communicate.

Now, many of you may be wondering why I am always keen of posting stories highlighting agricultural programs, activities and projects?

As I said, there’s no denying that social media has evolved into a powerful tool that extends beyond connecting people and sharing individual experiences.

The role of social media in agricultural development has become profoundly significant, revolutionizing traditional farming practices, and fostering a more connected and informed agricultural community.

No country in the world can improve or enhance their agrifishery industries without moving fast towards digitalization and use of information communication technology.

The real-time access to information is crucial requirement for decision-making for farmers in agriculture and its allied insustries. Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, and its impact extends across various sectors.

There are numerous social media applications that cater to various needs and preferences. The popularity and availability of social media applications may change over time and new platforms may emerge.

But for now, I am an avid user of social media to provide tinely and accurate information for our farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and the general public so I can be of help in facilitating the sharing of educational content, ranging from articles on agri-research papers to insightful sharing of various modern farm technologies, and even sheer events that transmit positive values to end-users.

Modesty aside, I am one of the unsung founders of DA-RFO 8’s long-running and multi-awarded radio farm program “Kabulig Mo Kami, Sangkay” that pioneered the conduct of a series of School-on-the-Air courses on farming.

It was conceived way back in the late 1990s to early 2000s or at the time when radio broadcast was the most potent tool in reaching as many farmers as possible.
Nowadays, I fully embrace the social media platform since It democratizes access to knowledge and promotes continuous learning.

Social media enables the creation of communities around shared interests or causes. This fosters a sense of belonging, allows like-minded
individuals to connect, and provides a platform for discussions and support.

But most of all, since I am currently handling the marketing arm of DA RFO 8, the division under my watch, use social media as an effective and cost-efficient way to market our farmers’ products and services. It simply provides a direct line of communication with customers and allows for targeted advertising.

And every now and then, whenever we have major activities or any important undertakings in pursuit of our mandate, you can expect me to deliberately use the social media as our real-time communication platform to share updates, thoughts, and experiences instantly. Thus, making it our valuable tool for staying connected with friends, family, and the broader community.

Admittedly, it’s the kind of “Resibo” that will humbly prove that indeed, we are not just idly waiting for our salaries every 15th and 30th of the month. But we are doing worthwhile programs and services for our clientele – the farmers and fisherfolk, including other stakeholders in the agrifishery sector.
What’s better resibo than that?

IT’S, of course, to meet God at our judgment day. This should be the abiding and life-long expectation we ought to have, for which we should always be vigilant and, more than anything else, properly prepared.

We are reminded of this duty in what Christ told his disciples about being always watchful and prepared to receive the master of the servants in his return from a wedding. (cfr. Lk 12,35-38) “Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands,” he said. He told them that they should be like “men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.”

And Christ continued by saying, “Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he comes, shall find watching. Amen, I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.”

In this regard, we have to continually update and upgrade our vigilance skills. Remember Christ telling his disciples: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life…Be vigilant at all times.” (Lk 21,34.36)
Times are constantly changing. Although we are told that nothing is new under the sun, still we cannot deny that there will always be new developments that will require us to upgrade our skills in handling them, knowing how to take advantage of the benefits they give and to avoid the dangers they also pose.

Truth is the many developments today, while giving us a lot of advantages and conveniences, can also easily lead us to bad things. They can foster complacency, self-indulgence, vanity, pride, greed, envy, discord, etc. They can turn us into materialistic monsters, totally insensitive to the spiritual and supernatural realities of our life and to God himself.

We should never underestimate the tricks and snares of the devil, the false allurements of the world, and the dynamic of our weakened and wounded flesh. These enemies of our soul will constantly make new guises to mislead and tempt us. To upgrade our vigilance skills is not a matter of paranoia. It is to be realistic. It is to be effectively prudent.

What we have to develop is the skill of looking for God first and always in everything that we do in this life. We have to reassure ourselves that that is the best thing that can happen to us. With God, we would know how to properly think, speak, react and behave in any situation of our life. Yes, we are reassured of joy and peace. And most of all, we would be achieving the final goal of our life—our salvation, our sanctity.

We really need to develop an abiding and burning desire to fulfill the real purpose of our life which is precisely for us to be “another Christ,” God’s image and likeness. We should be clear about this ultimate purpose of ours so we can have the proper sense of direction and focus in our life, and the corresponding urge to fulfill it.

To be sure, God is everywhere. Not only that, he constantly intervenes in our life. He is never passive. He is full of love, concern and solicitude for us. We really have to learn how to correspond to this tremendous madness of love God has for us!

Yes, desiring to be with God in the end and always should be our greatest expectation!