Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Graft probe vs. Arroyo goes to freezer in the meantime

HAPPY 54TH ANNIVERSARY, DADDY, MOMMY: July 8, 2010 marked the 54th wedding anniversary of my parents, and I thank God, in the name of Jesus, that despite the problems and rigors of daily living, the two of them---Melanio Pauco Mauricio Sr., 78, of Tarlac and Salvacion Haber Lazo, 76, of Ilocos Sur---continue to be together and, mercifully, living happily ever after. Once again, salamat sa Diyos sa ngalan ni Jesus.

-ooo-

GRAFT PROBE VS. ARROYO GOES TO THE FREEZER IN THE MEANTIME: I guess that, indeed, the Department of Justice order holding in abeyance the required preliminary investigation of the graft charges against former President Arroyo on account of the failure of the Truth Commission to come up with its guidelines yet confirms what we have written here just this week.

The investigation and, if warranted, the prosecution of Mrs. Arroyo and her family, official and personal, will have to be in the freezer for now, because, legally, there is now a bar to that investigation and prosecution, and this bar is the Hilario Davide Truth Commission. For how long? Only the commission can tell us that.

-ooo-

DECRIMINALIZE LIBEL TO PROTECT MEDIAMEN NOW: Arming journalists and other mediamen supposedly to protect them from attacks from determined assassins is no protection at all. There is no one---and there is nothing---here on earth that can stop killers and their masterminds from injuring or killing newsmen who are outspoken.

If we really want to protect mediamen, we must teach them first of all to be godly, subjecting themselves to God and His Word, obeying His commands and decrees, for that is the real protection for everyone. Then, we can decriminalize our laws on libel and remove it as a threat against press freedom.

-ooo-

LORENZO OFFER TO BECOME STATE WITNESS PREMATURE: Luis “Chito” Lorenzo, the former secretary of the Department of Agriculture who has returned from a five-year exile, may soon realize that it may have been too early for him to be even considering to offer himself as a state witness in the P728 million fertilizer fund scam being attributed to the Arroyo administration.

The fact is that, under Section 9 of Republic Act 6981 (or the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act) and Sections 9 and 10 of Rule 119 of the Revised Rule on Criminal Procedure, there could be a state witness only if the appropriate criminal charges have already been filed in court. Here, there are even no court cases yet, so where is Lorenzo going to be a witness?

-ooo-

THE LORD DETESTS LYING LIPS: And, while we are on the issue of witnesses, I guess it is appropriate to see what the Holy Bible, particularly its Book of Proverbs, says about witnessing, testifying and about witnesses in general.

Here are some of them: A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies (Proverbs 12: 17). Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment (Proverbs 12:19). The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful (Proverbs 12:22).

What kind of witness are you? Email me at batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

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Imbestigasyon vs. Arroyo mapi-freezer muna


MALIGAYANG IKA-54 NA ANIBERSARYO, DADDY, MOMMY: Salamat sa Diyos, sa ngalan ni Jesus, ginunita ng aking mga magulang ang kanilang ika-54 na anibersaryo ng kasal noong Julio 8, 2010. Nagpapasalamat kami ng lubos na sa kabila ng mga problema sa buhay, silang dalawa---si G. Melanio Pauco Mauricio, Sr., 78, ng Tarlac at Salvacion Haber Lazo, 76, ng Ilocos Sur---ay patuloy sa maligayang pagsasama. Minsan pa, salamat sa Diyos sa ngalan ni Jesus.

-ooo-

IMBESTIGASYON VS. ARROYO MAPI-FREEZER AT TITIGILAN MUNA: Sa aking palagay, ang utos ng Department of Justice na pumipigil pansamantala sa imbestigasyon ng mga kasong katiwalian o graft and corruption laban sa dating Pangulong Arroyo dahil sa hindi pa nailalabas ng Truth Commission ang kanyang mga alintuntunin ay kumumkupirma sa ating isinulat dito nito lamang linggong ito.

Ang imbestigasyon at ang posibleng paglilitis ni Gng. Arroyo at ng kanyang mga kapamilya at mga opisyales ay mapi-freezer at titigilan na muna sa ngayon, sapagkat, batay sa batas, mayroon ng legal na pagbabawal laban sa nasabing imbestigasyon at pag-uusig, at ito nga ay ang Truth Commission ni Hilario Davide. Kung gaano katagal ang pagtigil na ito ay tanging ang komisyon lamang ang makakapagsabi.

-ooo-

ALISIN ANG LIBELO BILANG KRIMEN: Ang pagbibigay ng baril o armas sa mga peryodista at iba pang mga nasa media upang protektahan sila laban sa mga nagnanais silang saktan o patayin ay hindi totoo at tunay na proteksiyon para sa kanila. Walang sinuman---at walang anuman---sa mundong ito na makakapigil sa isang mamamatay-tao at ang mga nag-utos sa kanila sa kanila na saktan o patayin nga ang mga mamamahayag.

Kung nais nating bigyan ng tunay na proteksiyon ang mga nasa media, kailangang turuan natin silang maging maka-Diyos sa lahat ng sandali at nagpapasakop sa Diyos at sa Kanyang Salita, at sumusunod sa Kanyang mg autos at tuntunin, sapagkat iyan lamang ang tunay na proteksiyon para sa lahat. Tapos, alisin na natin ang libelo bilang krimen, upang maaalis na din ito bilang banta sa kalayaan sa pamamahayag.

-ooo-

ALOK NI LORENZO PARA MAGING STATE WITNESS DI PA NAPAPANAHON: Tila yata naging maaga masyado ang pagsasabi ni Luis “Chito” Lorenzo, ang dating kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Agrikulta na nakabalik na mula sa limang taong pamamalagi sa ibang bansa, na nais niyang maging testigo ng gobyerno sa kaso ng P728 milyong fertilizer fund mess na ibinabato sa Arroyo administration.

Sa totoo lang kasi, sa ilalim ng Section 9 ng Republic Act 6981 (o ang Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act) at ng Sections 9 and 10 ng Rule 119 ng Revised Rule on Criminal Procedure, papayagan lamang ang isang tao na maging testigo ng gobyerno kung may kaso ng nakabimbin sa husgado. Sa kaso ng fertilizer scam, wala pa namang naisasampang kaso, kaya saan magiging state witness si Lorenzo?

-ooo-

GALIT ANG DIYOS SA MGA MAPAGSINUNGALING NA MGA LABI: At, habang nasa isyu tayo ng mga testigo, magiging maganda kung alamin natin ngayon kung ano ang sinasabi ng Bibliya, lalo na sa kanyang mga Aklat ng Kawikaan, ukol sa mga testigo at saksi, at pagte-testigo.

Naririto ang ilan sa kanila: Ang isang makakatotohanang saksi ay nagbibigay ng tapat na salaysay, subalit ang tiwaling saksi ay nagsasabi ng kasinungalingan (Kawikaan 12:17). Ang mga makakatotohanang-labi ay nabubuhay hanggang sa walang hanggan, subalit ang nagsisinungaling na dila ay nawawala kapagdaka (Kawikaan 12:19). Galit ang Diyos sa mga sinungaling, subalit nagagalak Siya sa mga taong tapat (Kawikaan 12:22).

Anong klaseng saksi kayo? Paki-email po ako sa batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

-ooo-

BATAS INTERNET TV, BATAS INTERNET RADIO: Please watch BATAS INTERNET TV and please listen to BATAS INTERNET RADIO through the website www.batasradio.com (click Batas ITV for tv, and BatasRadio.com for radio). We are on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

One day media seminar not enough

ONE DAY MEDIA SEMINAR NOT ENOUGH: Did Malacanang think that giving its Cabinet secretaries a one-day seminar on how to “handle” media would already be sufficient to enable officials of the Aquino administration to have good relations with those working in newspapers and those in radio and TV? Of course not.

Having good relations with other people, whether from the media or not, is something that does not come from seminars, much less a one-day seminar. It comes from the natural goodness of the heart, the purposeful righteousness of the mind, and a decidedly-godly upbringing.

-ooo-

PNOY AND OTHER OFFICIALS MUST HEED MARK 10:43-44 OF THE BIBLE: I suggest that what President Benigno Aquino III should now endeavor to do is to give some sort of “continuing education” to his secretaries not only on how to deal with the press, but on how to deal with governance in general, and what it will take to truly serve the people well.

For starters, all officials of the land, from PNoy down to the lowliest employee of government, must read and re-read the admonition of Jesus Christ, contained in Mark 10:43-44 of the Holy Bible, which says: “anyone who wishes to lead must first become the slave of the people.” Then, they can proceed to study other parts of the Bible dealing with leaders thereafter.

-ooo-

FRAT VIOLENCE: EVERY MEMBER IS A FAIR GAME: Here’s an update on the indefinite suspension imposed by the University of the Philippines against its students who are members of two warring fraternities: it appears that the mauling incident perpetrated by four or five masked men inside the UP Diliman campus against a frat member was preceded by a similar mauling incident involving a member of a rival fraternity.

What revolted many in all these was that the frat member mauled by the masked men at the campus was reported to be spearheading a peace covenant among the fraternities in the state university, including his frat’s rival frat. Based on my own experience, though, whenever there is a frat war in UP, everybody becomes a fair game and subject to physical abuse.

-ooo-

STUDENTS ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE NO LONGER HAVE GOD IN THEIR HEARTS: Why is this happening? Many reasons have already been advanced by many quarters to explain fraternity violence, not only in the State University but in all other schools and colleges now, but nothing seems to be more compelling than the fact that many of our students nowadays engage in violence because they no longer have any strong Biblical or spiritual moorings.

Since many of these students no longer read the Bible, or are no longer given sustained spiritual teachings, they no longer view God as having the power to punish them here in this world and in eternity, that God is just another word or entity that does not have any relevance in their lives, someone who can be ignored by them. This is pathetic and dangerous at the same time.

-ooo-

DEATH AWAITS THOSE WHO IGNORE GOD: Romans 1:18-32 has this to say about this failure of men to acknowledge God in their lives: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men…

“…For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him… they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them… those who do such things deserve death…”

-30-

Monday, July 5, 2010

Clarifications needed re: Davide’s Truth Commission

LAWMAKERS AND FORMER PRESIDENTS ARE TO BLAME FOR FATAL ROAD ACCIDENTS: Why are there so many road accidents happening around us today, killing scores and scores of passengers and even mere innocent by-standers?

The simple reason is that our congressmen and senators and all our previous presidents were remiss in their performance of their duty as protectors of the people.

You see, in all the years that they have been in power, they talked almost about everything, but they did not see it fit to amend, modify or revise the country’s archaic laws on road accidents which do not have any capacity to send to prison any erring driver.

I am sure all of them knew that under current laws, a driver found responsible for the death of one person---or even a hundred---will be sentenced to only four years of imprisonment, which means he need not be detained because of probation. Why then did not our lawmakers and presidents do anything about this?

-ooo-

CLARIFICATIONS NEEDED RE: DAVIDE’S TRUTH COMMISSION: The Aquino administration must clarify immediately whether the criminal cases that many groups already filed against former President (and now Pampanga Rep.) Gloria Macapagal Arroyo should await the outcome of the investigations of Hilario Davide’s Truth Commission before they can be acted upon.

I think that, under the law, Mrs. Arroyo can ask that the criminal cases against her, directly filed with the justice department right after she stepped down from the presidency, be suspended in the meantime that the Truth Commission is still investigating her.

This is under the “prejudicial question” doctrine, which says that when the issue of the guilt of innocence of someone being accused of a crime is already being tackled in another forum, the criminal cases that have been filed against him should be suspended or held in abeyance in the interim.

In line with this, the Davide Commission must likewise clarify how much time it will take to investigate Mrs. Arroyo and the Arroyo family. It must also clarify what would be the nature of its proceedings, as well as what would be the effect of any its reports, conclusions and findings.

-ooo-


WEDDING AT CANA, AND MARY’S ROLE AS MEDIATOR BETWEEN MAN AND JESUS: The Bible’s account of the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turned the water into wine as narrated in John 2:1-11, now forms part of the Holy Rosary of the Roman Catholic Christians as its Second Luminous Mystery (or Second Mystery of Light).

Among many Christian believers, this part of Jesus’s life is often unknown or is little heard of, although it should occupy a place of importance because, as the Bible itself in John 2:11says: “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana, in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”

Being the very first miracle of Jesus, it is significant to note that the Bible appears to have portrayed Him as a little hesitant in performing it, considering His refusal to do anything when Mary, His mother, first approached Him when wine had run out during the wedding banquet. Jesus told Mary: “Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.”

But it was only because of Mary’s persistence---she told the servants, “do as He says” even when she was already rebuffed by her Son---that Jesus relented and, as the Bible itself emphasizes, this became His first ever recorded miracle, the very first revelation of His glory.

If anything at all, therefore, this wedding totally justifies the Roman Catholic Christians’ giving of importance to Mary and calling her, among others, as the “mediatrix of all grace”.

Indeed, it is conceded that the only mediator between God and man is Jesus Christ. But, as shown by the wedding at Cana and the turning of the water into wine, Mary is the most effective mediator between Jesus and man.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Media `restless’ over PNoy’s team

PNOY SHOULD BE BOTHERED WITH MEDIA’S RESTLESSNESS WITH HIS TEAM: If I were President Benigno Aquino III, I will be greatly bothered by media’s increasing restlessness with the Malacanang team that has just been installed to help in running the affairs of the nation

To avert further deterioration of the President’s relationship with the press, he must tell Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, for instance, to go easy as it were on blaming the media as being part of the problems confronting the Aquino administration, conscious as the President and everyone should be of the great help that media gave to project him while he was still “candidate Noynoy”.

The President should also make it a point to tell all incumbent Cabinet secretaries to be more patient and understanding of media, even if many of its members are at times bellicose and too-insistent on getting the secretaries’ attention, pressured as they are for deadlines to report what is going on in this one week-old administration.

-ooo-

PNOY SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO PATCH UP DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEDIA AND HIS OFFICERS: If this matter is not addressed properly and seasonably, it could create an early and evidently unwanted friction between the President and the media, which is supposed to be his partner in effectively running the government, but which is fast turning out to be a formidable adversary even at this early stage of his governance.

As it is, stories are now being written and printed, published and read over radio-TV newscasts and public affairs programs, depicting the Aquino administration as a mere shadow of the Arroyo administration when it comes to efficiency and common-sense savvy in discharging presidential duties and responsibilities.

The Aquino administration is just one week old, and it certainly does not need the battering it is now receiving from those who wrote good stories about “candidate Noynoy” during the election campaign. Aquino’s officials must understand that media is a friend, not an opposition group.

-ooo-

ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: The fourth “Glorious Mystery” in the Holy Rosary of the Roman Catholic Christians is the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which deals with the taking up into heaven of Mary, body and soul.

Even among Christians though, this is a controversial issue, with many of the so-called believers outside of the Catholic faith insisting that the assumption of Mary into heaven did not happen.

But the teachings of Roman Catholic Christians point to the occurrence of the event, and Catholic popes and leaders from the 3rd century on actually cite many portions of the Bible to justify this belief.

In Wikipedia, an item on the assumption of Mary contains this explanation: “All these passages – John 14:3, Isaiah 60:13, Luke 1:28, Song of Songs 8:5, 1 Corinthians 15:21-26, Psalms 132:8, Psalms 45:9-17, Song of Songs 3:6, 4:8, 6:9, Genesis 3:15, and Revelation 12:1-2 – are drawn upon as Scriptural support of the Assumption both in that original document, and today by Catholic apologists.”

The prevailing thought is that these Biblical references show that Jesus would not have allowed His own mother to have died and her flesh to have degenerated to dust.

Also, considering Mary’s role in giving birth to the “seed” (Jesus) that will crush Satan, it is believed that the fate of Jesus in ascending to heaven body and soul is the same fate that happened to Mary.

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Media, may gusot sa PNoy team


PNOY, DAPAT MABAHALA SA MAAGANG DISGUSTO NG MEDIA SA KANYANG MGA ITINALAGA: Kung ako ang Pangulong Benigno Aquino III, sasakit ang ulo ko dahil lumalaki ang problema ko sa lumalalang disgusto ng media sa mga itinalaga ko sa Gabinete sa Malacanang upang tumulong sa pagpapatakbo ng bansa.

Kaya nga upang maiwasan ang mas maigting na pagbagsak ng relasyon ng Pangulo sa mga mamamahayag, kailangang sabihan niya itong si Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro halimbawa na maghinay-hinay lamang sa paninisi sa media bilang bahagi ng mga suliranin ng Aquino administration, at alalalahanin nitong malaki ang naitulong ng media sa Pangulo noong siya ay kumakandidato pa lamang.

Kailangang sabihan din ng Pangulo ang mga nakaupo ngayon bilang mga kalihim sa Gabinete na dapat silang maging mas pasensiyoso at maunawain sa media, bagamat marami sa kanila ang madalas na tila pala-away at mataray sa kanilang mga pagpupumilit na makausap ang mga kalihim dahil na rin sa kanilang mga deadlines upang makapag-ulat sa mga nangyayari sa administrasyong ito na halos ay isang lingo pa lamang tumatakbo.

-ooo-

PNOY, DAPAT AYUSIN ANG GUSOT SA PAGITAN NG MEDIA AT NG KANYANG MGA ITINALAGANG OPISYALES: Kung hindi ito mareremedyuhan ng maayos habang ito ay nag-uumpisa pa lamang, maaari itong magdulot ng maaga at di-kanais-nais na gusot sa pagitan ng Pangulo at ng media, na dapat ay katuwang nito sa pagpapatakbo ng maayos sa gobyerno (pero sa ngayon ay nakikita ng nagiging mabigat na kaaway ng administrasyon).

Sa ngayon, marami na ang mga balitang naisulat, nailimbag at nabasa sa radyo at telebisyon na bumabatikos sa Aquino administration bilang anino lamang ng nakalipas na Arroyo administration kung kahusayan sa pagtatatrabaho sa Malacanang ang pag-uusapan.

Isang linggo pa lamang halos ang Aquino administration, at siguradong hindi pa nito kailangan sa ngayon ang mga pambubogbog na nararanasan na nito sa media, lalo na sa mga mamamahayag na sumulat ng mga magagandang balita ukol kay Noynoy noong kampanya. Kailangang intindihin ng mga opisyales ni Aquino na ang media ay kaibigan, hindi oposisyon.

-ooo-

MISTERIO SA ILAW NAG-UUMPISA SA BINYAG NI JESUS: Pagkatapos ng mga Misterio sa Tuwa sa Banal na Rosaryo ng mga Kristiyanong Romano Katoliko, sumusunod naman ang mga Misterio sa Ilaw upang isalarawan ang isa pang aspeto ng buhay ni Jesus mula sa kanyang pagbibinyag o bautismo hanggang sa Huling Hapunan.

Kung ating papansinin, ang lahat ng mga Evangelio nina Mateo, Marcos, Lucas at Juan ay naglalaman ng kuwento ng binyag o bautismo ni Jesus. Sa Mateo, makikita natin ito sa Capitulo 3, bersikulo 13 hanggang 17.

Sa Marcos naman, mababasa natin ito sa Capitulo 1, bersikulo 9 hanggang 13, samantalang sa Lucas, ang kuwento ay matatagpuan sa Capitulo 3, bersikulo 21 hanggang 22.

Sa Juan, makikita natin ang kuwentong ito sa Capitulo 1, bersikulo 29 hanggang 34, bagamat hindi kasing-liwanag ang kuwento ni Juan ukol dito kumpara sa mga naunang mga kuwento.

Magkaganunman, ang bautismo o binyag ni Jesus, na isinakatuparan ng Kanyang pinsang si Juan Bautista sa Ilog ng Jordan, ay nagpapatuloy sa pagpapatotoo sa pagiging maka-langit ni Jesus, at sa kanyang katayuan bilang Anak ng Diyos.

Sa lahat ng mga Evangeliong ito, ikinukuwento doon na matapos mabinyagan si Jesus, nagbukas ang langit at ang Espiritu Santo ay bumaba sa Kanya sa anyo ng kalapati at kidlat, kasabay ng isang tinig mula sa langit na nagsasabing “Ito ang aking Anak, na minamahal Ko. Sa Kanya, Ako ay lubos na nalulugod.”

Kung ating wawariin ang buong kasaysayan ng mundo, makikita nating walang iba pang tinawag ang Diyos bilang Kanyang Anak, na Kanyang minamahal at kinalulugdan, maliban kay Jesus.

-ooo-

BATAS INTERNET TV, BATAS INTERNET RADIO: Please watch BATAS INTERNET TV and please listen to BATAS INTERNET RADIO through the website www.batasradio.com (click Batas ITV for tv, and BatasRadio.com for radio). We are on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

PNoy, the Pinoys’ President

PNOY, THE PINOYS’ PRESIDENT: The greatest highlight of the inaugural speech of President Benigno Aquino III Wednesday, as far as I am concerned, was his deliberate identification of himself and, by express implication, of his government, with the needs and concerns of the Filipino people.

That was a master stroke, a genuinely genius strategy that will surely endear him all the more with his “boss”, who, he said in his inauguration, are the masses who literally cleaved unto him and catapulted him to the presidency with the greatest and biggest number of votes ever for a Philippine president.

For the first time, our countrymen heard a president who is undergoing whatever they are undergoing, experiences the same inconveniences the people are experiencing, and who, because of this first-hand knowledge of what the people are going through, can respond directly and more effectively. Indeed, PNoy is now the Pinoys’ president.

All of us must therefore pray to God the Almighty Creator of the heavens and the earth that the country’s 15th president will not be sidetracked from this direction and that coupled with a sincere desire to govern using God’s Word, guidance and direction, his promises to transform this nation and our people will be achieved in the next years.

-ooo-

PNOY GETS A FIRM GRIP OF THE NEEDS OF FILIPINOS: Of course, there were references to the legacy of his mother, President Cory Aquino, and of his father and namesake, Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., in pursuing his task as chief executive, but it is undeniable that President Noynoy himself appears to have already obtained, this early, a firm grip of what Filipinos wanted for themselves, at least in their ordinary, day to day living.

He knows for instance that many of our countrymen no longer want the “tong” system to continue (or the system of paying or bribing government authorities for an easy way out of a transaction or problem), so President Noynoy says there is no more “tong” in any transaction under his administration.

He knows, too, that our countrymen are sick and tired of privileges bandied about by the high and mighty, most especially in the use of sirens and alarms (or “wang-wangs” as we refer to them), and in allowing traffic counterflows or stopping other motorists just to enable the privileged individual easy travel, so he has stopped all of these altogether.

Many would think the presidency should no longer be involved in mundane matters like this, but I understand the concern of the President to show an immediate impact on our countrymen, by a change in behavioral patterns most exposed to the public’s view. This is good, if you ask me.

-ooo-

PRESENTATION OF THE CHILD JESUS AT THE TEMPLE: The fourth Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary, as prayed by devout Roman Catholic Christians worldwide, pertains to the presentation of the Child Jesus at the Temple, a story that is found in Luke 2:21 to 40 of the Bible.

At first glance, the account of how Jesus was presented at the Temple seemed to indicate concern merely for the completion of the then existing purification process for males as mandated by the law of Moses, but, when one looks closer, it becomes apparent that this story of the presentation is actually another Biblical confirmation about who Jesus really is and what He is destined to do.

Thus, we can see two individuals, one man (the righteous and devout Simeon) and one woman (the prophetess Anna, then 84 years of age), prophesying about Jesus as Someone who will cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and as Someone who will redeem God’s people.

Simeon in particular confirmed that he had received a revelation that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. When Simeon saw Jesus, the Holy Spirit came over him, and he said he was ready to die in peace, since he already saw the Lord.

Anna on the other hand who was widowed after being married for only seven years, spent the rest of her life, until she was 84 years old, worshipping, fasting and praying at the temple. When she saw Jesus, she spoke about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Monday, June 28, 2010

What is Makati City Rep. Locsin up to?

THE JAMES-KRIS BREAK-UP COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED: The James Yap-Kris Aquino break-up sure looks to be something that could have been prevented from happening, if only the parties involved tried to bite their lips harder when they were quarelling and having a spat.

As it is, Filipino husbands and wives---and this includes James and Kris, obviously---do not really know how to control emotions and, worst of all, their tounges in times of trouble, saying many things that would scar them forever, even if they did not really mean what have been said.

Perhaps, Filipino husbands and wives---and this again includes James and Kris---should try to read what the Bible says about controlling the tounge, and thereby profit from it immensely.

-ooo-

JAMES 3:3-12 OF THE BIBLE SAYS WE MUST CONTROL OUR TOUNGES: The Bible, in its James 3:3-12, has this to say about controlling the tounge: “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

“Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.

“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water....”

-ooo-

WHAT IS REP. LOCSIN UP TO IN DISCREDING THE MAY ELECTIONS?Just what is former Makati City Rep. Teodoro “Boy” Locsin up to, in his recent remarks that theMay 2010 elections was marred by fraud and cheating, and that he would oppose the use of automation in the coming elections if loopholes in the computerized system are not remedied?

Surely, an accusation coming from him that the recent political exercise was tainted by computerized fraud can only raise doubts about the election of President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay, and all those who have been proclaimed by the Commission on Elections and are starting their terms now.

Is Locsin saying that President Aquino should not be allowed to assume the presidency because the election in which he was voted upon lacks credibility?

Is he not the same Locsin that served President Aquino’s own mother in 1986 to 1992? Why is he trying to discredit the electoral exercise that allowed the son to follow in the footsteps of the mother that Locsin also served?

-30-

Sunday, June 27, 2010

P-Noy must invite ex-presidents and ex-presidentiables

P-NOY SHOULD INVITE EX-PRESIDENTS AND 2010 PRESIDENTIABLES TO INAUGURAL: I do not know if it is too late for this, but I am urgently and earnestly proposing that all former presidents of this country who are still around---President Ramos, President Estrada and President Arroyo---and all the presidential candidates in the 2010 elections, should be invited to attend the inauguration of President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay on June 30, 2010, and then to regularly meet with them thereafter.

Regardless of political leanings and regardless of the acrimonious fight that characterized the 2010 electoral exercise, these former presidents and former presidentiables owe it to God, country and people, especially at this point in our national history, to shed off partisanship and divisiveness and aspire for unity so that, for once, the good of this country will be the overriding agenda of all leaders in the next six years.

Yes, there will be differences about what is good for the country and the people, and there will be differences about what course of action to take to achieve this good, but I am sure that a constant, regular, and open dialogue among all these leaders, initiated by President Aquino at least once a month, will go a long way in solidifying even our leaders and countrymen under one direction---to help this nation become great again.

-ooo-

AGRA SHOULD STOP RESOLVING PENDING CASES: I laud outgoing Justice SecretaryAlberto Agra for his last-minute efforts to expedite the resolution of criminal cases that have remained unresolved through the years with the Department of Justice National Prosecution Service, for indeed, justice delayed is still justice denied.

But then, if these cases could be resolved in the “last two minutes” of Agra’s term through a determined push, how come he did not resolve them when there was still plenty of time upon his appointment?

As it is, many of his own prosecutors and many lawyers practicing at the DOJ, are of the presumption that what Agra is doing is issue “midnight resolutions”, for one reason or another. I believe he should stop what he is doing now, and allow his successor to resolve the cases

-ooo-

VISIT OF MARY TO ELIZABETH CONFIRMS BLESSINGS TO MARY: “Visitation” is what Roman Catholic Christians call the second mystery in the Mysteries of Joy (or Joyful Mysteries) of the Holy Rosary, and it is an account of Mary, the Virgin Mother of Jesus, visiting her ageing but pregnant cousin Elizabeth, wife of Zechariah, just after Mary had an encounter with Gabriel, the Angel of God.

The account of the “Visitation” is narrated in Luke 1:39 to 45 of the Bible, and there we will see that upon Mary’s arrival at the house of Elizabeth and Zechariah, the baby which was in the womb of Elizabeth leaped inside her, with the Holy Spirit coming down upon mother and baby.

In a loud voice, Elizabeth exclaimed to Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear”, confirming Mary’s status as someone blessed by God, as well as the holy status of her child.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Astronomers prove hell is real; Binay’s blessing in disguise

VP BINAY’S BLESSING IN DISGUISE: If Vice President Jejomar Binay won’t be appointed to any Cabinet position under the term of President Benigno Aquino III, he would have more time to go around the country and prepare himself for bigger aspirations in the years to come.

Without any responsibilities other than the vice presidency, Binay can freely talk to all sorts of people in the four corners of the archipelago, help or assist them in one way or another with their concerns, and then galvanize their support for his future endeavors. Viewed this way, I think Jojo should consider his “alienation” from Aquino’s official family as a blessing in disguise, rather than a rebuke.

-ooo-

MICHAEL JACKSON COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED BY GOD: Indeed, turning to God and subjecting one’s self to His Word and obeying His commands and decrees will work wonders for everyone, not just for the late Michael Jackson, whose first death anniversary Friday, 25 June 2010, will be commemorated by his family and fans.

Michael’s brother, Jermaine, is actually correct in saying, during an interview with BBC Radio, that if the pop superstar only embraced God in his lifetime he would have been at peace and would not have died so soon. “God is so powerful,” Jermained said, and it is indeed true, regardless of what religious affiliation one may have, for God alone saves, not affiliations.

-ooo-

ASTRONOMERS PROVE HELL IS REAL: It was a shocking and revealing report that astronomers from the Netherlands’Leiden Observatory released the other day, confirming, as it were, that there is a place in the universe which approximates what Revelations 21:8 of the Holy Bible says is a “fiery lake of burning sulfur”---the place reserved for sinners, unbelievers, cowards, idolaters, murderers, sexually immoral, and liars.

The astronomers, led by one Ignas Snellen, identified the place as a planet named Osiris (ancient Egypt’s Lord of the Dead) in the constellation of Pegasus, 150 light years away from the Earth, and is officially named HD 209458b.
“On one side its surface is heated to a scorching 1,100 degrees Celsius (1,800 degrees Fahrenheit), although the other side is far cooler. The planet's atmosphere is laced with poisonous carbon monoxide and prey to storm winds that blow from 5,000 to 10,000 kph (3,100-6,200 mph), says the paper (as reported by the Philippine Inquirer).
This is a planet “where human beings would be simultaneously boiled, poisoned and ripped apart by superstorms”, the Inquirer said. Imagine if this is where you will be assigned for the rest of eternity?

-ooo-

LIFE OF JESUS RECOUNTED IN THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY: A keen study of the mysteries of the Holy Rosary will show that each of the mystery recited in praying it constitutes one important aspect of the life of Jesus.
In the Joyful Mysteries, for instance, what is recounted are the following events in the life of Christ: Annunciation, Visitation of Elizabeth by Mary, Birth of Christ, Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, and Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

In the Mysteries of Light, we find the following: Baptism of Jesus, Wedding at Cana, Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, Transfiguration and Institution of the Holy Eucharist through the Last Supper.
The Sorrowful Mysteries narrate these events in the life of Jesus: Agony in the Garden, Scourging at the Pillar, Crowning of Jesus with Thorns, Carrying of the Cross, and Crucifixion and Death of Christ.
Finally, the Glorious Mysteries make an account of the Resurrection, the Ascention, Descent of the Holy Spirit, Assumption of Mary, and the Coronation of Mary as Queeon of Heaven and Earth.
Anyone who prays the Holy Rosary, therefore, gets to remember Jesus Christ and is reminded all over again of His status as our God and Savior.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Pinoys helpless amidst violence: Why?

PINOYS HELPLESS IN THE FACE OF VIOLENCE---WHY? “What’s happening to our country, general?”---a question asked by former Vice President Emmanuel Pelaez to then Brig. Gen. Tomas Karingal after Pelaez survived an ambush in Quezon City years ago---should be the question uppermost in the minds of many Filipinos nowadays with the recent spate of killings and violence accross the country.

Mediamen being killed, businessmen being fatally ambushed, lawyers and politicians and ordinary citizens suffering violent death---these and more, and we appear helpless in doing something, we are unable to stop or at least minimize all of these. Why?

-ooo-

VIOLENCE REPRESENTS CURSES FROM GOD: The real reason is that all of these violence and chaos and sufferings actually represent punishment from God. They are, as it were, God’s curses, which were promised in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 of the Holy Bible, in this manner: if you no longer listen to God, and no longer obey His commands, laws and decrees, curses upon curses will come upon you and overtake you.

If you count just the verses between Deuteronomy 28:15 and Deuteronomy 28:68, it would seem that there are 53 curses that will be visited upon a people who have turned their back on God. Then again, some of the verses are composed of two or more verses, so that it is clear that there are hundreds of curses waiting to pounce on a recalcitrant nation.

-ooo-

VIOLENCE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL WE ARE DESTROYED: The sad reality is that all of these will not stop, and cannot be remedied by anyone, much less the politicians and our leaders. In promising the curses to those who will not listen to Him anymore, God also promised that these curses will cause all of us to perish completely. Not even a godly president like President Benigno Aquino III can help us.

Proof that these curses are designed to destroy us? Please read Deuteronomy 28:20 (which says in part “The Lord will send you (the curses) until you are destroyed and come to suden ruin), Deuteronomy 28:21 (“...until He has destroyed you...”), Deuteronomy 28:22 (“...which will plague you until you perish...”).

Deuteronomy 28: 45 says: “...All of these curses will come upon you. They will pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the Lord your God and observe the commands and decrees he gave you...”

-ooo-


PRAYING OF THE ROSARY IS BIBLE BASED: Roman Catholic Christians practice the praying of the Holy Rosary, which is something that is balked at by others who believe in Christianity on the argument that praying the Rosary is paganistic in origin.

I did some reading on the matter, and indeed, there is nothing in the Holy Bible that says Christians should pray the Rosary, as there is even no mention of the Rosary in any pages of that Book.

But when one looks at the mysteries of the Rosary, one begins to understand that whoever conceived and thought of this prayer, dedicated to Mary, the Virgin Mother of Christ, actually was following the examples of many leaders of the Christian faith, enshrined in many pages of the Bible, where they resort to repeating the history of the Israelites, from their exodus to their arrival at the Promised Land, as a means to strengthen their faith.

Just look at the story of Gideon, in Judges 6 and 7 of the Bible, and you will see what I mean. Before Gideon finally relented to be used as God’s chosen one to deliver his people from the Midianites who were causing them sufferings, he had to recount Israel’s story all over again.

This is what is happening when a Roman Catholic prays the Rosary: he is actually repeating a tried and tested tradition of Christian leaders, for he is reminded of the full and entire story of Christ, from the announcement of his birth by the Angel Gabriel to his Ascention to Heaven, taken directly from the Bible itself.

-30-

Monday, June 21, 2010

The truth in the Yusoph kidnapping

WHAT IS THE TRUTH IN THE YUSOPH KIDNAPPING? I hope the authorities handling the kidnapping of Nuraldin Yusoph, the son of Commissioner Elias Yusoph of the Commission on Elections, and the good commissioner himself, would be more circumspect and careful in giving out information about the event, so that the public will not be confused.

Pardon the strong language here, but then, who would ever believe the yarn that the kidnapping was made to force Commissioner Yusoph to nullify the election results in the towns of Malabang, Pilong, Taraka and Masiu in Lanao Del Sur?

Even a grade one pupil in our elementary schools would know that Yusoph, alone by himself, cannot nullify any of the results in any town in Lanao del Sur or in any other area where he was the commissioner-in-charge. That would need a collegial decision of the entire poll body.

Now, I am imploring all those involved in this sordid incident: please tell us the truth about this abduction, no matter where it would lead us, no matter how it hurts. It is time that we be truthful, if not to the Filipino people, then to God the Almighty creator of the heavens and the earth.

-ooo-

PRESIDENT AQUINO’S MEDIA TEAM SHOULD MONITOR COMMENTS NOW: Perhaps, the media team of President Benigno Aquino III should now try to monitor radio programs dealing with news and public affairs and do something about the spate of negative commentaries that are now being sent to the media through text messaging or other modes which, indubitably, seems to indicate an erosion of the public’s fascination over Noynoy.

As I was writing this column, I chanced upon Karen Golfo (the now famous partner of the venerable Joe Taruc of DZRH, in their program “Damdaming Bayan”) reading a text message presumably, where Noynoy is pictured as creating division instead of unity among officials in government and even among the public.

What is more, this kind of a commentary seems to have become pervasive, because even in the programs of other broadcasters or anchormen in other stations, similar messages are now being publicly aired, and Noynoy has not even started his term yet!

The media team of the President must do something to counteract these commentaries, because if left unchecked, they could really escalate and could render the Aquino administration ineffective without really trying.

-ooo-

BIBLE TRIVIA, PART VIII: THE FIRST COMMANDS GIVEN BY GOD TO MAN: Do you know that God, after creating the first man and woman, gave well-defined commands that they must follow? Here are the commands, in the order that they were given, according to Genesis 1:28-30, and 2:16 of the Holy Bible.

The first command (Genesis 1:28): be fruitful, increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it, rule over the fist of the sea and the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves on the ground.

The second command (Genesis 1:29): eat only seed-bearing plants and every tree that has fruit with seed on it. The third command (Genesis 2:16): eat from any tree in the garden, but do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when man will eat from that tree, he will surely die.

Any comment? Please email me at batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

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Sunday, June 20, 2010

Readers’ reactions: God celebrated on the `seventh day’

READERS’ REACTIONS ARE REALLY POURING IN: I yield the totality of this column today to reactions to what we have been writing here, as well as my own reply to our readers who emailed me their commentaries. I thank God, in the name of Jesus, that we are getting these reactions from our readers. All such reactions from any of our readers are welcome, and we promise to publish them in our subsequent issues likewise. Here goes:

-ooo-

NERIO CLOMA: GOD IS CELEBRATING ON THE “SEVENTH DAY”: “Hello Atty. Batas, God may also have intended to rest on the seventh day to `celebrate’ what He has done and to teach us to celebrate as well. A life devoid of celebration, enjoyment is a dull life. Its not the life that John 10:10 is suggesting...

“Communing with God on the rest day is good. But aren’t we suppose to commune with Him daily? What's so special with the 7th day communing? Communing to Him with the other believers might be special.

“God never rests. He celebrates when He is not creating... but He never stops creating... So what is God doing on the 7th day? Thats not for us to discover...what He revealed already is what we need to follow...just rest and celebrate! Thanks for allowing me to reply. God bless and happy resting and celebrating Father's Day! Nerio Cloma”. Thanks, too, Nerio.

-ooo-

CAN WE TAKE GOD AWAY FROM THE PROBLEMS OF FILIPINOS? Here is a part of my reaction to the email by “The other John, de Zamboanga” I posted here the other day: “20 June 2010; The other John, de Zamboanga: Thank God in the name of Jesus for this reaction. But let me share some of my insights on the points you raised:

“You said: `I wish that you would take God away from Filipino’s problems. If Filipinos are struggling, having hard times making things meet, maybe he should find out why instead of blaming it on God...’

“First and foremost, I am not blaming anything on God. I have no opinion on the matter, in fact. Please take note that I merely reiterated what the Bible said in Deuteronomy 28:15, in relation to the verses until 28:68, with respect to the curses that God will send to a people who no longer sincerely and truthfully listen to (or, more appropriately now, read) and obey, the Word of God.

“And so we will understand this a little better, here is what Deuteronomy 28:15 is saying: `However, if you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you...’ More of this next time...

-ooo-

LIFE’S DIFFICULTIES AND HARDSHIPS BROUGHT ABOUT BY MAN’S GOING AWAY FROM GOD: “Clearly, therefore, based on this, if a people, like the Filipinos are having hard times making things meet, the first thing that they should try to do is ask, as you said: why is this happening to us?

“If they read the Bible good enough, they will understand that the poverty, confusion and rebuke they are experiencing, although traceable to some problems, actually are rooted with their having stopped reading the Bible, listening to the Word of God, and then with their having refused to obey Him truthfully and sincerely.

“Now, given this kind of an insight, no one can (or must) blame God---we must blame ourselves because, if we look at what the Bible is telling us in the foregoing verse, it is us who turned our backs on God, it is us who no longer read His Word, it is us who no longer obey Him.

“If things are becoming more difficult these days, it is because we are at fault, in the manner Deuteronomy 28:15 is saying....”

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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

“Anti-foreign sentiments”? Read again! (Part I)

READER REACTS TO “ANTI-FOREIGNER SENTIMENTS” OF THIS COLUMN: I continually thank God, in the name of Jesus, that our columns here are being read by many people, and it is good to know that these columns even merit reactions from our readers.

Here is one such reaction, dwelling on our recent ideas about foreigners lording it over Filipinos. I changed the name of the writer and the places he mentioned (I put them in italics for purposes of this column today) for security reasons, and due to the writer’s own request:

“Dear Mr. Mauricio, My name is John, I am a foreigner, from abroad. I have lived here for 3 years, in Mindanao, and I have paid approximately $365.00 per year to be here, on a tourist Visa. I am married to a Philipina here, a Muslim, and a professional woman with a Masters degree that works in the service of her country.

“She has a family in Mindanao. She has an uncle that is a congressman, and an uncle that is a Supreme Court Justice.

“In the last 2 weeks you have cursed the days a foreigner set foot on the soil of the Philippines on numerous occasions. I can't help but wonder what it is that you have against the policy of the Philippine Government?

“The reason foreigners come here is because the government allows it. If you pay a fee, you can visit, if you pay a Big Fee you can stay forever. Foreigners are Commerce, just as OFW's are commerce.

“I am a poor, retired US Marine living on a meager retirement, I am not rich, I am not wanted by the police in any country.

“I have paid my taxes on a regular basis to the Philippine government (Visa Fees), Airport Passenger fees and so on. I am here because I want to be with my wife and her family, as I have no one else for family.

“Are you aware that I as a foreigner cannot even own the land I am building a house on?
Even with this lack of consideration, I still choose to stay in the Philippines. I employ a housemaid and a yard boy, I pay them cash every week.

“My payroll here in the Philippines is 52000 peso per year, and my wife's household allowance for all the bills and her pocket money is 35000 peso per month.

“My Point, what is it you have against my kind, be I American, Chinese, Korean, African, Russian, Japanese? Are you a closet Racist? or are you against Commerce? You better take a long look in the mirror of life, your past, your present.

“You quote the scripture on a regular basis. May I bring your attention to the 10 Commandments? This one comes to mind, Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. Keep up the good work and stimulating wisdom you send to All of us. Even us foreigners.

“Respectfully, John.” I already responded to this, and, God willing, I am going to print it tomorrow. Abangan (or, for our reader and other foreigners out there, watch out for it)!!!

-ooo-

BIBLE TRIVIA, PART IV: MAN WAS INTENDED TO BE VEGETARIAN? I don’t know if you noticed but, in Genesis 1:29 of the Holy Bible, there is an indication that God wanted man to be a vegetarian, not carnivorous, and not an eater of fish either.

Here is what Genesis 1:29 says as God’s instruction to man, after he had created the first male and female: “Then God said, `I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food...”

Interestingly, it would also appear that God intended even “the beasts of the earth”---all animals, if you may---to be vegetarian likewise, eathing nothing but plants. This is what we see in Genesis 1:30, which says “And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground---everything that has the breath of life in it---I give every green plant for food. And it was so.”

Does this mean that the meat-eaters among us (and even the fish-eaters likewise) have been violating God’s laws because of our predilection for meat? Agree? Disagree? Email me at batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

-ooo-

BATAS INTERNET TV, BATAS INTERNET RADIO: Please watch BATAS INTERNET TV and please listen to BATAS INTERNET RADIO through the website www.batasradio.com (click Batas ITV for tv, and BatasRadio.com for radio). We are on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Notice to lawmakers: God does not want population control

FINALLY, GOOD DEEDS ARE BEING RECOGNIZED: There is a positive message in President Benigno Aquino III’s announcement that he is likely to appoint outgoing Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo as the secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government---that good deeds and dedication to duty, coupled with a heart overflowing with concern for others, will sooner or later be rewarded.

Now, other local executives and officials and employees will have a reason to perform well, do good and strive for excellence---someone is watching and ready to give recognition. I hope President Aquino can develop a system of regularly rewarding those who are going out of their way to serve, to encourage better service to the public.

As for the rest of the Philippine bureaucracy who may not be noticed at all even if they are doing good, what they can do is to do everything for God, as the Bible said, in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”.

-ooo-

GAYS AND LESBIANS, THE BIBLE HAS A MESSAGE FOR YOU: Indeed, gays and lesbians should not be discriminated against as Chairman Francisco Duque III of the Civil Service Commission clarified, but there is something in the Bible which seems to indicate that there is a very strict rule when it comes to members of the “third” sex.

It would seem to me that, based on its Romans 1:18-32, the Bible is saying that being a gay or a lesbian is some sort of an indication of God’s wrath, against people, men and women, who do not give thanks and who do not glorify God.

Here is a part of that Biblical passage: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men... For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him...”

“...Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another....”

-ooo-

TO KILLERS OF MEDIAMEN: STOP YOUR SINFUL WAYS: It seems journalists and broadcasters and mediamen have become fair game once again, with the gangland-style killings of DZJC Laoag City anchorman Joselito Agustin and Sunrise FM Mati, Davao Oriental disc jockey Jessie Camanan happening one after the other.

There is no doubt Agustin and Camanan were killed because of their work as media personalities drumbeating negative commentaries against certain local personalities. But then, the real question here is, can the killings serve any good purpose for the killers and the masterminds aside from temporarily silencing their critics?

For one mediaman that is killed because of the exercise of his profession, there will be a host of others who will take his place, and continue the crusade against the bad guys. The real remedy here is for those who are being criticized to mend their ways and stop committing acts that invite criticism.

-ooo-

BIBLE TRIVIA, PART III: GOD DID NOT ENVISION FAMILY PLANNING OR POPULATION CONTROL: Here is one trivia from the Bible that Filipino lawmakers who are intent on passing the abortion-laced Reproductive Health Bill should always remember: God did not envision man to be undertaking family planning or population control.

Genesis 1:28 says, after man was created: “God blessed them and said to them, `Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground...”

We should note that there is no doubt at all that God wanted man to propagate himself in all of the earth. He used four phrases to underscore this point: “be fruitful”, “increase in number”, “fill the earth” and “subdue it”.

If God intended to say that man should increase in number only to a certain point or up to a certain limit only, He should have said so in the same clear manner. Therefore, anyone saying that man should limit his number by family planning or population control is going against God’s laws.

Agree? Disagree? Email me at batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

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Monday, June 14, 2010

Cebu tragedy bares ills in RP foreign residency training

TWO MOONS IN THE SKIES IN AUGUST 2010: Rolando Marasigan, a fellow Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Intramuros, Manila, under District 3810 of Rotary International, shared this exciting email with me on the appearance of two moons gracing the evening skies of the whole world on August 27, 2010.

The email reads: “27th August the whole world is waiting for...Planet Mars will be the brightest in the night sky starting August. It will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. This will culminate on August 27 when Mars comes within 34.65 million miles off earth.

“Be sure to watch the sky on August 27, 12:30 am. It will look like the earth has two moons. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Share this with your friends as NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it again...”

-ooo-

CEBU ACCIDENT EXPOSES DISCRIMINATION IN RP MEDICAL RESIDENCY TRAINING FOR FOREIGNERS: The accident in Balamban, Cebu that claimed the lives of about 22 Iranian doctors and medical practitioners should be a cause for alarm among Filipinos not only on the sorry state of roads and highways in the country but more on the manner by which the government, particularly the Department of Health, has been flip-flopping on the entry of foreign doctors to undergo residency training in the Philippines.

Why a cause for alarm? Well, the sheer number of Iranian doctors who died in that Cebu tragedy shows that while some foreigners are liberally and generously allowed to come into the Philippines and then undergo residency training among our doctors here, some other foreign nationals are inexplicably not allowed to do so.

I shudder and refuse to think that some divine intervention caused the accident to happen, perhaps to focus our attention on this shameful malady in foreign residency training in this country at this point. Why is there a discrimination in the training program such that some foreigners are accepted while others are not? What gives? Or, perhaps, what takes?

-ooo-

BI CHIEF LIBANAN: WHY ARE THERE MANY FOREIGNERS IN RP? I have asked literally the same question already before, in this same column: why is it that there appears to be too many South Koreans, Indian nationals, and other foreigners now in this country of ours?

What, really, is the official policy now of the government, through the Bureau of Immigration, when it comes to allowing foreigners to come here and, from all indications, live in this country permanently?

Whether Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan is aware of it or not, the entry of so many foreigners to the Philippines under his watch confirms a Biblical prophesy for people who no longer listen to God and no longer obey His commands and decrees---a nation whose language we do not know will descend upon us, live an economically superior life, lend to us, and then lead us, even in politics (Deuteronomy 28:43-44 and 47, Holy Bible).

-ooo-

BIBLE TRIVIA, PART II: WATER ABOVE THE SKY? If you are a Bible reader, you will not fail to notice that under its Genesis 1:6-8, there is a part of creation which indicates that there is a place higher than the sky, which is actually water.

Here is what that part of the Bible says: “And God said, `Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.’ So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse `sky’. And there was evening, and there was morning---the second day.”

Clearly, there is water below (evidently the water here on earth), and there is water beyond the sky. We must note that the sky seems to be a “middle section” separating the water below and the water above. Given this information from the Bible, is it right to say that God’s dwelling place up there beyond the sky is water?

Do you agree, or disagree? Please email me at batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Pinoys must give Noynoy a “honeymoon” of 2,190 days

PRESIDENT AQUINO MUST RELY ON THE BIBLE ALL THE TIME: While, indeed, President Benigno Aquino III cannot impose his religious beliefs on Filipinos, he can nevertheless be a living example, not only of a prayerful person, but of someone whose trust and confidence in God is strengthened by his constant and consistent referral to, and reliance on, His Word, the Bible, in his presidency.

This kind of reliance on the Bible on the part of the President cuts accross all religions, nourishes and instills righteousness not only on his person, but even on the persons of his officials, supporters and followers, and even of the whole citizenry as well.

In fact, that is the reason why, when President Aquino takes his oath as the 15th president of the Philippines on June 30, 2010 (just like what the other presidents before him had done), one of his hands will be resting on the Bible---as this Book is---or, should be---the one and only source of wisdom for him as he leads a nation wracked by poverty, confusion, dissension and failures.

If only Mr.Aquino will actively seek support and enlightenment from the Scriptures while he is President, he will not only make a difference as the President who followed the Bible earnestly---he will be the only President that will truly make this nation great again, for it is only God and His Word who can make a nation great and exalted (Deuteronomy 28:1 and Proverbs 14:34 Holy Bible).

-ooo-

AQUINO OFFICIALS MUST “FEAR GOD AND HATE DISHONEST GAIN”: For starters, he must carefully choose the people who will help him carry the burden of running this country for the next six years, and choose them according to what the Bible says---not according to how they helped him in his campaign, even if the pressure for him to do so is great.
What does the Bible say about choosing officials? In Exodus 18:17-26, here is how officials should be chosen: “...The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people... When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, `...Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?’
“Moses answered him, `Because the people come to me to seek God's will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws.’
“Moses' father-in-law replied, `What you are doing is not good... Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens....”

-ooo-

PRESIDENT AQUINO, THE LEADER GIVEN BY GOD, MUST HAVE A “HONEYMOON” OF 2,190 DAYS : On the other hand, Filipinos must likewise start following in earnest what the Holy Bible is saying about obedience to their leaders---even if the leaders are perceived to be no longer effective and responsive to the people’s needs.

In this light, we must not only give President Aquino a 100-day-honeymoon period---or the period during which we, in media, in particular, and we, the people, in general, should not be criticizing and contesting his actions as chief executive.

We must, as a matter of obedience to what the Bible says, give him a honeymoon period of 2,190 days, or the entirety of his six year term---for as Romans 13:1-2 says, we must always obey the authorities at all times, because there is no authority that God Himself did not establish.

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God...” is how Romans actually puts it.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

NGO wants review of the automated election system

NON-GOVERMENTAL ORGANIZATION ASKS FOR REVIEW OF THE AUTOMATED ELECTION SYSTEM: The Center for People Empowerment in Governance (or CenPEG) seems not about ready yet to simply throw in the towel over allegations that, at the very least, computer errors may have affected the results of the May 2010 elections.

Here is a press release from CenPEG that I thought would interest many of us: “The policy research institution, Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG), is seeking the release of at least 22 documents related to the Automated Election System (AES) prepared and implemented for the May 10, 2010 national synchronized polls.

“CenPEG said `various stakeholders (need) to help find answers to many questions that affect the credibility of the elections, especially with regard to some unusual incidences occurring with the PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machines of the Smartmatic-propelled automated system.’

“ `An objective study can only be done if pertinent data and information, relevant to the study at hand, shall be accessible and available to researchers and scholars, so that a no-nonsense body of knowledge can be developed in the interest of public service and good governance,’ CenPEG added, as it also pledged confidentiality and a copy of the final draft of the study and recommendations.

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CENPEG WROTE CONGRESS TO ASK FOR 22 DOCUMENTS ON THE COMPUTERIZED POLLS: “On May 21, CenPEG wrote the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) to help it gain access to needed information on the AES and to form an independent, non-partisan, and impartial citizens' body to review and assess the conduct of the May 10, 2010 automated elections, including the processes and procedures undertaken for the May 10 election.

“CenPEG and AES Watch, a multisectoral coalition of poll watchdogs, are active citizen resource groups in the JCOC.

“The documents CenPEG is asking for are: SysTest full report; source code walkthrough plan; source code of the PCOS program; source code of the CCS programs; file formats of all data files used or produced by the PCOS program; file formats of all data files used or produced by the CCS program; public keys used by all the PCOS computers.

“It is also seeking the public keys used by all the CCS computers; user manual of the PCOS program; user manual of the CCS program; Smartmatic-Comelec contract with the complete annexes; finance and budget plan of the AES-Smartmatic; copy of the Smartmatic Voters’ Education contract; contract between Smartmatic and the Dominion Voting Systems and contract on transmission and deployment plan of the transmission facilities.

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WHAT IS COMELEC’S REACTION? “CenPEG wants also a copy of the report on the PCOS transmission on May 10 and thereafter; report on the customization; old ballot faces (national and local) matching the faulty CF cards; new ballot faces (national and local) actually used for the May 10 elections; report on the training of BEIs and technicians; inventory of compact flash cards used in the final testing and sealing; and the re-configured CF cards for May 10.

“CenPEG’s request letter was signed by Evi-Ta L. Jimenez, executive director and noted by Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, chair of its Board of Directors.” Has the Commission on Elections, Smartmatic-TIM and all other affected parties have anything to say on this? What did Congress do to CenPEG’s request to be given copies of the foregoing documents?

About truth and its beneficial effects, let us listen to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, in John 8:31-32 of the Holy Bible. This part of the Holy Book says: Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Will the Filipino people want to be free from misgivings about the credibility and accuracy and honesty of the May 2010 elections?

Monday, June 7, 2010

So, how did Sen. Roxas lose?

So, how did Sen. Roxas lose?

“BINAY, WITH HIS GODLY NAME, COULD NOT HAVE LOST”: Congratulations are now in order for Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, who may have already been proclaimed as the country’s new vice president as you are reading this, on Wednesday, June 8, 2010.

There is no more doubt that he won, considering his lead of over 600,000 votes over his closest rival, and considering that only about 370,000 votes have not been officially canvassed as of Tuesday night.

Many actually prayed for his victory, and for many reasons. But for a Born Again Christian named Jun Kintanar, a member of the One Vote Movement, he prayed for Binay for a very peculiar reason, which he sent me by text message.

Here is that text message: “The main reason Binay won is God Himself made sure he wins. Binay’s first name is JEsus, JOseph, MARy (Jejomar). If he lost, Christianity will no longer be respected and Jesus will not allow it. Faith to understand this...”

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SEN. MAR ROXAS: TIME FOR SELF-EXAMINATION: So how did Sen. Manuel Roxas II lose, when, all along he was the man to beat, and he enjoyed a wide lead over his vice presidential rivals at the start of the campaign for the 2010 elections?

Many also prayed for his victory, and for many reasons, too, but then the Biblical injunction is that, only the prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective. Let us hear it from James 5:16 of the Holy Bible: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Perhaps, Roxas should now re-examine what he and his coterie of advisers and planners have done in his quest for the presidency and the vice presidency, and see if, in his desire to become president or vice president, he, or the people around him, did things that were not acceptable to God, and then, in all humility, make amends and atonement.

No matter what his advisers will tell him now, it is undeniable that God’s hand was in this election, and that there is no denying that there is a message from God in his defeat, the first-ever in his career as a politician, a stunning defeat indeed for a Philippine political Goliath in the hands of a political David.

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RP’S NEW LEADERS MUST UPHOLD GOD FIRST AND FOREMOST ALL THE TIME: And now that the Philippines will be entering a new period in its history where its new leaders are facing grave and insurmountable problems, it would be wise for President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jojo Binay to be always conscious about God in discharging their awesome duties and responsibilities.

They must try to make God a partner, as it were, in their governance, using His Word, commands, laws and decrees in every act, statement or decision they will have to make.

Paying mere lip service to God and His commands and decrees would not be enough. Indeed, God in His great power and omniscience can see through anyone’s heart or soul, and can immediately know whether there is complete trust and confidence in Him.

Aquino and Binay must always remember Proverbs 3:5-6 of the Holy Bible which says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”

There will be times when even their best decisions and the best of their intentions would not be enough to solve the country’s ills and problems, for, as human beings even presidents and vice presidents will have limitations, but if they upheld God right from the start in arriving at their decisions and in their intentions, He will be there to make sure everything is alright.

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BATAS INTERNET TV, BATAS INTERNET RADIO: Please watch BATAS INTERNET TV and please listen to BATAS INTERNET RADIO through the website www.batasradio.com (click Batas ITV for tv, and BatasRadio.com for radio). We are on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

DOH under President Noynoy: bring in the foreign doctors

DOH under President Noynoy: bring in the foreign doctors edit

BY ATTY. MELANIO "BATAS" MAURICIO JR.

THANKS FOR APPOINTMENTS AS PR TEAM MEMBER: I am greatly appreciative of incoming Rotary International District 3810 Gov. Tranquil Salvador, who is also the incumbent president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines Quezon City chapter, for his having appointed me as “deputy governor” for District 3810, for Rotary Year 2010-2011.



DG Tranquil told me he designated me as “deputy governor” to help him in the District’s public imaging campaign during his reign, in charge of doing TV specials for District 3810 and for the other nine Philippine Rotary districts as well, depending on the agreement of his fellow governors.

Certainly, this is a terrific job, especially because I have also been designated in a concurrent capacity as a member of the public relations team of Rotary International’s South Pacific Zone composed of the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, courtesy of the South Pacific Zone coordinator, Ms. Lyne Abanilla of the Manila Bulletin and three-time Zone 7 (Philippines and Indonesia ) chairman of RI for public relations.

My readers here will please pardon my having set modesty aside, but then, I am just very excited by the prospect of doing public relations job for both District 3810 and the other Philippine RI districts and for the entire South Pacific Region as well, especially because Lyne and I have already collaborated for the last three years on doing PR work for RI for Zone 7.

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BRING IN FOREIGN DOCTORS, DR. GALVEZ TAN: If incoming Health Secretary Jaime Galvez Tan would want an unsolicited advice on how to fight the “brain drain” among doctors and other medical practitioners who are leaving the Philippines for greener pastures abroad, he must allow doctors from other countries to come in and undertake their residency training here.

This is the only way to assure the supply, as it were, of doctors and medical practitioners in far-flung barrios and unreachable places in the country, especially because foreign doctors who are usually left out of residency trainings in their own countries would be just too willing to be assigned anywhere in the Philippines.

If he wants to, I can arrange a meeting between him and groups that even now are already engaged in bringing in foreign doctors here in the Philippines, but which are being subjected to absurd conditions by some people at the Department of Health and even from the Professional Regulations Commission.

I am sure an honest-to-goodness discussion can bring about a ready and effective solution to the on-going lack of doctors in our rural areas, a problem already causing prejudice to a lot of our countrymen, as noted by Galvez Tan himself in previous statements, and as noted by Dr. Jose S. Pujalte, Jr. last June 5, 2010.

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SIX OF 10 PINOYS DIE WITHOUT SEEING A DOCTOR: Here is a part of Dr. Pujalte’s article, circulated in the Internet the other day: “Our beloved Philippines is in a health quagmire. Some facts: Six out of 10 Filipinos die without seeing a doctor; four out of 10 Filipino babies are delivered by untrained hands; 29 million Filipinos have no access to safe sanitation.

“Add to these the mass migration of our health professionals: Doctors, doctors as nurses, nurses, physical therapists and other allied health workers. Also our next President, Noynoy Aquino, did not mince words in his campaign ad that corruption affects the delivery of health services too. What can be done?

“ Now to make sense of where Department of Health/Philhealth efforts should be directed, we must be reminded of this country’s commitment of attaining millenium development goals (MDGs) by 2015 as reiterated by the United Nations.

“We have barely five years to achieve most of these and there are five goals that touch on health: MDG #1: End extreme poverty and hunger; MDG#4: Reduce child mortality and MDG# 5: Improve materal health; MDG#6: Combat TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS; and MDG#7: Ensure environmental sustainability....”

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BATAS INTERNET TV, BATAS INTERNET RADIO: Please watch BATAS INTERNET TV and please listen to BATAS INTERNET RADIO through the website www.batasradio.com (click Batas ITV for tv, and BatasRadio.com for radio). We are on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Poll cheating is still very possible, computer expert warns!

COMPUTER EXPERT WARNS: POLL CHEATING STILL POSSIBLE: Yes, Engr. Jun Lozada, cheating and manipulation of the results of the May 2010 computerized elections can still possibly happen, but, no, it is not going to be in the source code of the computers, nor in the software or any other aspect of programming for the automated machines.

According to a computer expert who came to personally see me the other week, if ever anyone wanted to cheat and ensure victory in the May 2010 elections for any position (not just the presidency or the vice presidency), they will not tamper with the source code, nor with the software or any other aspect of computer programming, for those can be easily detected, verified, and thereafter corrected.

There is one other way to cheat, and it is apparently fool-proof: almost impossible to detect, can be smoothly carried out, and can result in a “dagdag-bawas” situation using computers and the other automated machines, the computer expert told me.

How can this cheating, resulting in a computerized “dagdag-bawas” situation, happen? Read how (or at least the explanation on the matter of the expert), in this same column, in our succeeding issues. Don’t dare miss this exciting piece of information.

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ARROYO’S HOLD OVER PRESIDENCY, LEGALLY ALLOWED: I don’t know whether I should be happy or what, but my opinion in earlier columns that President Arroyo can continue being president even after May 2010 has just been confirmed and affirmed, as it were, by no less than former Supreme Court Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban Jr.

In his column at the Inquirer on Sunday, January 31, 2010, Panganiban wrote, in so many words, that indeed Arroyo can be a “hold-over” president, in the event of a failure of elections (which may happen for one reason or another), which was exactly what I had been writing about and contrary to what the other so-called Constitutionalists have been bandying about in various media fora.

With Panganiban’s learned disquisition on the legality of an Arroyo hold-over presidency, I am emboldened, once more, to predict: Arroyo will remain president of the Philippines after May 2010, and this is going to happen because it has a very sound Biblical basis, as far as my reading of the Bible goes.

Of course, many have already reacted to my earlier columns on this matter, saying that my Bible maybe a different Holy Book from the Bible of Christians worldwide and that my Bible maybe based on graft and corruption, abuse and plunder.

I don’t really mind, but let me reiterate: if you will read the Christian Bible more closely, Arroyo’s continuing with her presidency is clearly written there.

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QUESTIONS FOR BOSS DANDING: Former Ambassador Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, chairman of the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and “The Boss” of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), must know something many Filipinos don’t, perhaps in the same fashion as Vice President Noli De Castro’s knowing something many of us don’t know either.

I mean, if Boss Danding really wants to continue the leadership and dominance of SMC in Philippine business and, by extension, the “relevance” of NPC in Philippine politics, there is no way for him to avoid supporting a presidential candidate in the May 2010 elections, as one of his sons is saying.

The undeniable truth is that, in the Philippines as elsewhere, one can only become a “big businessman” if he has become a “big politician”, and one can only be a “big politician” if he is also a “big businessman”. Being big in business means being big in politics and being big in politics means being big in business.

In the Philippines as elsewhere, the only way to protect one’s business, especially one as highly profitable as SMC, is to continue being in politics, in the way that NPC is doing it.

So, if, suddenly, we hear that Boss Danding isn’t supporting any presidential candidate at this point, which means, in any language, he is giving up being big in politics, does this mean that the Boss is also ready to give up being big in business? This is exciting, to say the least.

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CORONATION OF MARY: The “Coronation of the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth” is the fifth “Glorious Mystery” in the Holy Rosary of Roman Catholic Christians, and, despite attempts by non-believers to discredit this aspect of Mary’s life, Catholics continue to hold on to it as part of their Christian faith.

Catholic leaders justify their belief about the coronation of Mary as the “Queen of Heaven and Earth” in the following manner: “(Mary) is the Mother of the Son of God, who is the messianic King. Mary is the Mother of Christ, the Word incarnate...Elizabeth greeted the Blessed Virgin, pregnant with Jesus, as `the Mother of my Lord.’ [Luke 1:41-43]

“She is the perfect follower of Christ. The maid of Nazareth consented to God's plan; she journeyed on the pilgrimage of faith; she listened to God's word and kept it in her heart; she remained steadfastly in close union with her Son, all the way to the foot of the cross; she persevered in prayer with the Church.

“Thus in an eminent way she won the `crown of righteousness,’ [See 2 Timothy 4:8] the `crown of life,’ [See James 1:12; Revelation 2:10] the `crown of glory’ [See 1 Peter 5:4] that is promised to those who follow Christ…."

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BATAS INTERNET TV, BATAS INTERNET RADIO: Please watch BATAS INTERNET TV and please listen to BATAS INTERNET RADIO through the website www.batasradio.com (click Batas ITV for tv, and BatasRadio.com for radio). We are on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Movie experts join BATAS INTERNET TV

PETE AMPOLOQUIO, PETER LEDESMA JOIN BATAS TV: Famous movie columnists and talk show hosts Pete Ampoloquio and Peter Ledesma have agreed to do a daily show, also dealing with movies, films, radio, television, artists, and other related matters, at BATAS INTERNET TV and BATAS INTERNET RADIO, both of which can be accessed at the Internet website www.batasradio.com.

The two will be featured four times a day: at 8:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.; 1:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.; 8:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.; and 12:00 midnight to 12:15 a.m. starting February 01, 2010.

They will be bringing to the show both their wealth of experience and their conceded and greatly-admired and, now, much envied, expertise on movies and radio-TV, as well as their imitated-but-never equalled style of hosting and handling shows and writing newspaper and magazine columns which will surely fire up much greater audience viewership and listenership for any media network.

Their assignment as hosts for the daily programs at BATAS INTERNET TV and BATAS INTERNET RADIO at the Internet website www.batasradio.com would be in addition to their joint daily program over station DWIZ of the Aliw Broadcasting Station, and to the thrice a week program of Pete at TV 5.

I am sure the station where they started their team-up about four years ago will be green with envy about this latest show of the two, for that station knows deep in its heart that Pete Ampoloquio and Peter Ledesma were the gems that attracted people to watch it, and now that they are no longer there, no one is really interested to watch that station anymore.

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“JUDICIARY, WEAKEST OF 3 BRANCHES OF GOV’T”: USA-based Filipino lawyer Marlowe Camello, a staunch advocate of adopting the jury system in the Philippines, sent the following article which he entitled: “Why the Judiciary is the Weakest Among the 3 Great Government Branches”. His unedited article reads:

“We have been told by our law professors in colleges and universities that the Judiciary is a co-equal branch of the legislature and the presidency but it is actually the weakest among the said 3 branches of the government. It is more of a subservient instrumentality to powerful public officials and politicians.

“If you ask why, the ready answer by every law professor is because all the judges and justices are mere recommendees and appointees (or `tutas’) of the highest officials of the legislature and the presidency. In a way, this is correct but it is not the ultimate reason.

“The fundamental reason why the judiciary is not, in fact, co-equal in power and prestige with its counter-parts in the other two branches is LACK OF THE DIRECT VOTING POWER AND SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE in the official function of judges and justices (as well as by fiscals) unlike the support of the people with their votes in electing their lawmakers in the legislature and the president.

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“JUDICIARY, LAME DUCK INSTRUMENTALITY OF GOV’T”: “The judiciary is an ORPHAN branch of government with no voting foundation of its acts from and by the people. It is a lame duck instrumentality of the government. The same situation exists with respect to the Ombudsman, deputy ombudsmen, fiscals and government prosecutors.

“Their acts to investigate and prosecute are not anchored on the sovereign vote of the common people through the grand juries. Like those of judges and justices, the Ombudsman and other government prosecutors are like errand boys and girls by politicians.

“Adoption of the Jury System is the empowerment of the judiciary that will make it as a true and co-equal branch in the government. Once the Jury System is adopted, illegal intrusions in the functions of justice of judges and justices by lawmakers and the president will naturally stop.

“While judges and justices shall have the rightful and exclusive authority to directly instruct and supervise the jurors, the lawmakers and the presidency will have no business interfering in giving instruction to the jury. The buck stops with the people and not with the judges and justices or of the prosecutors.

“By the adoption of the jury system, judges, justices and prosecutors will no longer serve as proteges of politicians and of the president or of the warlords in the lower instrumentality of the government such as the warlords of local government units. Government corruption will be greatly minimized if not totally stopped....”

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PRESENTATION OF THE CHILD JESUS AT THE TEMPLE: The fourth Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary, as prayed by devout Roman Catholic Christians worldwide, pertains to the presentation of the Child Jesus at the Temple, a story that is found in Luke 2:21 to 40 of the Bible.

At first glance, the account of how Jesus was presented at the Temple seemed to indicate concern merely for the completion of the then existing purification process for males as mandated by the law of Moses, but, when one looks closer, it becomes apparent that this story of the presentation is actually another Biblical confirmation about who Jesus really is and what He is destined to do.

Thus, we can see two individuals, one man (the righteous and devout Simeon) and one woman (the prophetess Anna, then 84 years of age), prophesying about Jesus as Someone who will cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and as Someone who will redeem God’s people.

Simeon in particular confirmed that he had received a revelation that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. When Simeon saw Jesus, the Holy Spirit came over him, and he said he was ready to die in peace, since he already saw the Lord.

Anna on the other hand who was widowed after being married for only seven years, spent the rest of her life, until she was 84 years old, worshipping, fasting and praying at the temple. When she saw Jesus, she spoke about Him to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

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BATAS INTERNET TV, BATAS INTERNET RADIO: Please watch BATAS INTERNET TV and please listen to BATAS INTERNET RADIO through the website www.batasradio.com (click Batas ITV for tv, and BatasRadio.com for radio). We are on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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