Crowds in Sri Lanka once stormed the presidential palace, forcing their leader to flee. In France, masses filled the streets against pension reforms, and in Thailand, young people braved water cannons and prison threats to demand change. These uprisings show what happens when citizens can no longer endure the betrayal of those in power—and the Philippines is not far from reaching that breaking point.

What fuels such upheavals is not mere inconvenience, but an accumulation of wounds left unattended. People tolerate hardship when they believe in the integrity of their leaders, but the moment rulers plunder funds meant for schools, hospitals, roads, and flood defenses, patience wears thin. It is not poverty alone that drives them to rise; it is the insult of seeing billions lost to corruption while they endure daily miseries. A starving man can endure hunger, but not the sight of banquets stolen from his plate.

In the Philippines, the figures speak for themselves: billions vanish into the pockets of officials who smile in front of cameras and swear oaths of service while looting the treasury. It is hard to think of a single national scandal in recent years that has not involved padded contracts, overpriced equipment, or ghost projects. Every peso stolen is a nail hammered into the coffin of public trust. When enough nails are driven, no government survives intact.

The danger, however, lies not only in the brewing anger against corruption, but in the possibility of opportunists hijacking it. The CPP-NPA-NDF, with its rigid dream of a communist society, waits like a vulture circling a wounded prey. It thrives in times of chaos, recruiting the disillusioned, exploiting the rage of the betrayed, and promising liberation in exchange for obedience. But the ideology it peddles strips people of the very freedoms they thought they were fighting for.

One must remember: communism has not brought prosperity where it has triumphed. It has built walls, silenced dissent, and forced uniformity at gunpoint. The democratic flaws of the Philippines are many, but democracy allows protest, satire, choice, and accountability—values that would evaporate under a one-party rule that worships the state as god. Angry citizens may chase the corrupt, but they must never invite another master that chains them tighter than the last.

This is why discernment is vital. Anger is necessary, for without it, people would accept injustice like cattle trained to bow their heads. But anger without direction can destroy more than it saves. To rise against thieves is righteous; to replace them with tyrants in red is folly. The mob can roar against the plunderers, but it must roar as defenders of liberty, not as torchbearers of a system that punishes dissent with prison and death.

Filipinos know how to rise. History has shown that when the cup overflows, the streets fill with bodies and voices that cannot be silenced. But history also teaches that revolutions do not end with the ouster of villains; they end with a new struggle over what comes next. This “next” is where wisdom must prevail, ensuring that the fight against corruption strengthens democracy instead of burying it.

If citizens must march, let them march not behind ideologues who dream of godless utopias, but behind the banner of honest governance, accountability, and human dignity. The enemy is corruption, not democracy itself. To uproot thieves from power is justice; to safeguard freedoms in the process is wisdom. The rising of the people must be remembered not as a fall into another abyss, but as a turning point where a nation chose its future with both passion and clarity.

ON the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christ, which falls on September 14, we are given an occasion to consider once again the importance and indispensability of the cross in our life. Let’s savor some words of the readings used on that feast’s Mass. (cfr. Jn 3,13-17)

“Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life…For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

These words certainly tell us how the Cross of Christ embodies God’s love and mercy for us in spite of our undeniable wretchedness. It’s where we can deal properly with our wounded, sinful condition here on earth.

Yes, Christ preached. He performed miracles. But in the end, he had to offer his life on the cross because no matter what he did, our sins are such that they simply cannot be undone and forgiven through the preaching of the truths of our faith and the tremendous effects of the miracles. Christ has to offer his life on the cross!

We need to know the purpose of the cross because the cross, through Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, is where everything in our life is resolved. Christ’s passion, death and resurrection is the culmination of Christ’s redemptive mission on earth.

We might ask, if Christ is God, why did he have to go through all that suffering and death? Why not just say, “Everything is now all right, guys.” As God, nothing is impossible with him. With a simple movement of his will, with a flick of his hand, everything would be as it should be.

I must say, it is a good question to ask. Indeed, nothing is impossible with God. He does not have to do anything spectacular to repair what was damaged. A word from him, and everything would be as he wants it to be.

Be that as it may, the fact is that Christ chose the way the Father wanted it. “Not my will, but yours be done,” Christ said. (Lk 22,42) And I imagine the reason behind this is because God respects our human nature as it is, as it has been created by him, capable of loving and hating, and also capable of being faithful and unfaithful and faithful again after some conversion.

The return to fidelity, given our nature, will unavoidably involve suffering and death which Christ took to himself. It shows us the way of how to go about the consequences of our sins.

That is why, it’s always recommendable to meditate often on the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, so we would learn to have some healthy abhorrence against sin and temptations, as well as to develop the capacity to suffer calmly with Christ to make up for our unavoidable sins.

This is the purpose of the cross in our life. It is to instill in us the proper attitude and virtues with respect to our sin, before it is committed and also after it is committed. Christ’s cross atones for our many sins, satisfies the requirements of divine justice, and demonstrates God’s unconditional love.

With Christ’s cross, sin and death are conquered, and we are liberated from the bondage of sin. With it we are offered a path to eternal life!

In today’s interconnected world, online reviews and ratings have become a cornerstone of consumer decision-making. An “overall positive rating” isn’t just a number; it’s a powerful indicator of quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction. This article explores the significance of consistently achieving positive ratings and how businesses can leverage them for growth.

The Impact of Positive Ratings:

A high overall positive rating acts as a powerful social proof mechanism. Potential customers are far more likely to choose a business with glowing reviews over one with mixed or negative feedback. This trust is built upon the collective experiences of previous customers, offering reassurance and reducing uncertainty. The benefits extend beyond simple sales:

– Increased Brand Reputation: Positive ratings are the cornerstone of a stellar brand reputation, driving loyalty and organic growth.

– Improved Customer Acquisition: High ratings attract new customers, boosting sales and market share. Search engines often prioritize businesses with positive reviews, improving visibility and organic reach.

– Enhanced Customer Retention: Satisfied customers are more likely to return for repeat business, contributing to long-term profitability. Positive ratings reinforce their positive experience.

– Competitive Advantage: In a crowded marketplace, positive ratings provide a significant competitive edge, differentiating a business from its rivals.

– Pricing Power: Businesses with consistently high ratings may have more flexibility in pricing strategies, as customers are willing to pay a premium for quality and reliability.
When a certain brand is posted by a satisfied customer, the positive feedback helps the brand gain more recognition online. This is similarly magnified when the brand is endorsed by a celebrity. With the recent issues that has been connected with some celebrities being dragged down by “scammers”, this has become a huge lesson to them – brand endorsements is not just for the sake of earning from brands. It can also affect their reputation as well. Therefore, truly making their own research about the company is an integral part in accepting such offer from them. Thus, these huge names in the industry should strive in ensuring that the products that they endorse are of high quality. Hence, when Celebrity endorser X stands for the brand’s quality, his/her followers are likely to purchase. And when they do experience the same as what this celebrity claims, the brand or specific product goes viral online, which means an increase in revenue for the company.

Strategies for Achieving Positive Ratings:

Building a portfolio of positive ratings requires a proactive and customer-centric approach.

Here are some key strategies:

– Deliver Exceptional Customer Service: This is the foundation of positive ratings. Delight customers; consistently surpass expectations. Anticipate needs, personalize interactions, and resolve issues swiftly and efficiently. This proactive approach fosters loyalty and positive word-of-mouth referrals.

– Proactively Seek Feedback: Encourage customers to leave reviews by providing easy-to-use feedback mechanisms.

– Respond to Reviews (Both Positive and Negative): Acknowledging reviews, thanking customers for their positive feedback, and addressing negative feedback professionally demonstrates engagement and care.

– Continuously Improve: Use reviews as valuable feedback to identify areas for improvement and enhance products or services.

– Monitor Online Reputation: Regularly track online reviews and ratings across various platforms to identify trends and address potential issues promptly.

Have you experienced not being treated positively when you asked for assistance at a particular shop? How did you feel about it? Even if you know how good a certain product is, but you did not receive the expected service from the company, it’s likely that you will eventually consider finding another brand.

Conclusion:

An overall positive rating is more than just a numerical score; it’s a testament to a business’s commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. Exceptional customer experiences and proactive online reputation management are crucial. Positive ratings build trust, attract new customers, and fuel sustainable business growth. Prioritize both for lasting success.
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If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the column, feel free to send an email to jca.bblueprint@gmail.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!

The day of infamy where a coordinated Islamic Fundamentalist group Al Queda attacked Lower Manhattan, Arlington and other places in the United States killed thousands. It was sudden, strange and the world was caught by surprise. It’s is almost a quarter of a century now and many of our young people are quite unaware of them.

The whole thing is somehow like an old song that is heard but whose Message and Relevance is not felt, it came from a distant past far too distant I may say that it never carries a weight on its collective memory.

The 9/11 would sadly pass by without the worlds notice and it is a thing that Filipinos shrugged off as something that is not worthy of ones attention.

This tendency to forget is a curse and it’s a sad curse, we humans tend to forget the past and the lesson it brought, that is why we do repeat the mistakes of the past because we have not learned its lessons. We have not fully comprehended it’s weight so much so that it becomes irrelevant, now.

In our country , we are often referred to as people with a short memory.
We do not dwell on the past and its lessons because we do them reset and focus on what’s to come.

Thus, we suffer the brutal effect of our forgetfulness, we became victims of our own doing.
The 9/11 attacks, is a foul and unmistakably evil mass murderers ploy.
The violence it employed are barbaric and beyond comprehension
If we want to deter, stop and prevent this from happening again, we must never forget.

The ‘ber months—September, October, November, and December—are a period that signifies the winding down of the year. A beginning of new season, and a heightened sense of celebration, charity, and family time.

But this was how I feel when I was younger then and with a carefree attitude towards my personal life, my career, and everything about me.

But nowadays, there seems to be a complete 180 degrees turn in my outlook as the so called ber months come along.

For example, since the onset of the current month (September), there is no day that we have less than 3 very important activities to do or accomplish at AMAD.

That’s why I felt like the ber months we used to be excited about are actually moving us into this annual stressful season of work marathon just to cope with our annual targets.
Aside from the routinary report writing, attendance to meetings or training sessions, we are also dutybound to formally open our three-day Kadiwa for Locally Sourced Food Exhibits Usually done at any given time.

Apart from this, we also need to attend to interagency invitations and even our own agency’s program-level assessment and review to know how far we have been in our various program implementations.

So, that’s how busy we are during ber months time – day in and day out.
If before, we always look forward and eagerly wait for the ber months, but with the enormous task that comes our way, it would seem that we now dread for this period to come as swiftly as possible due to overwhelming workloads.

For instance, yesterday (September 9), Ms Cherrymae Cabatingan, one of our MDS Staff (also, our point person for Benteng Bigas), and myself, had to rush to Isabel, Leyte in order to attend another interagency Benteng Bigas rollout.

It was a DOLE-initiated activity, but our involvement is very crucial since we are the designated lead agency responsible for the overall implementation of the Benteng Bigas Program.

After that activity in Isabel, we prepared to travel back to Tacloban, but along the way, we have to drop by at BINAPRIMCO in Merida, Leyte, to monitor and routinely provide technical advice pertaining to their FCA accreditation as possible partner outlet in the selling of Benteng Bigas. So, we had to personally talk and explain to the Coop Chairperson and other Coop personnel as regards to the rationale of the entire accreditation process.

But before we call it a day, we still need to passby Ormoc City and join the Team of our Agribusiness Promotion Section who were conducting an Agribusiness Investment Forum.
So, that’s it guys! Working for the government is not always a walk in the park. It really doesn’t come easy as what is commonly perceived by many.

Certainly, not all public servants are enjoying an easy and affluent way of living. Like other workers in the private sector, many of us are also experiencing great challenges or difficulties in trying to perform our duties and getting measly salaries.

But we are consoled with the fact that every person’s perception on the nature of work depends on his or her intrinsic qualities, characteristics, and fundamental elements that define a particular job or task.

As government employees, we should be familiar with the nature of our work and always be ready to cover the duties you’ll be asked to perform, some routine tasks, and other responsibilities that may pop up during the course of your day.

We, Filipinos, are known to be the people in the world who start the Christmas Celebration during the ‘ber’ months. This is because the 100-day Christmas countdown normally occurs during this time and, as such, this has become part of our tradition and psycho-social preparations for the Christmas season,”

But on a lifhter note, many of my coworkers – especially at AMAD, are already complaining that whenever the ber months come, “waray na kuno hira lovelife dara hit kabusy ha trabaho.”
Are you feeling this way too?