“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-

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