School for the deaf gets solar water system

ROTARIANS IN RP CONDUCT MID-YEAR REVIEW OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS: If there is one good reason why Rotarians should be welcomed wholeheartedly in any community, it is because of the service, real and concrete, that they give the poor and the needy, just like what my own club (the Rotary Club of Intramuros) had done when it gave a Php1 Million solar-powered water system for a school for the deaf in Laguna Province.

This humanitarian project, pursued and completed under the term of Rotary Year 2009-2010 Visionary President Dr. Arthur V. Platon, is being reported by him to District 3810 Gov. Connie Beltran, during the district’s mid-year review which is being held in Batangas City from January 16-17, 2010.

Here are the other projects of the Rotary Club of Intramuros highlighted in Platon’s report:

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ROTARIANS HOLD MEDIA CAMPAIGN: “On Club Administration: As of today, the Rotary Club of Intramuros has conducted 24 meetings. We have invited numerous Guest Speakers to grace these meetings, notable of which was then Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., who talked about what a president should accomplish once elected...

“On Club Membership: Last July 2, 2009, four (4) would be members joined our orientation. They were inducted as full-pledged Rotarians on July 3, 2009 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza...

“On Public Relations: Aside from the series of seminars we have attended in and out of District 3810, Public Relations is strongly marked by the Internet Based Radio-TV Program dubbed as “Rotary Moments” which hosted by none other than our Past President Batas Mauricio. We have also joined a series of public relations activities of RI Public Image Resource Group for Zone 7, with our very own PDG Lyne Abanilla, as Zone Coordinator...

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VARIOUS IMPORTANT PROJECTS OF ROTARIANS LISTED: “On Rotary Foundation: Matching Grant Projects are the highlights. We have MATCHING GRANT PROJECT 65454, a Donation of Medical Equipment and Supplies to two (2) Zoto Kliniks at Dagat-dagatan, Navotas, and Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, which is now completed.

“MATCHING GRANT PROJECT 64220, called “School-in-a-box Project”, which resulted in the distribution of a total of 125 boxes containing reading, writing and other educational materials for pre-schoolers worth about TWENTY THOUSAND PESOS more or less for each box.

“For this Rotary Year, we added 14 more boxes with 600 pre-schoolers as beneficiaries. This was made successful via our club’s partnership with RC Kessenauma South and RC Kishiwada East, both of Japan, which is also now completed.

“MATCHING GRANT PROJECT 23140, Open Heart Surgery Project (for Pediatrics) at the Philippine General Hospital. Twenty patients have now been successfully operated on. For this Rotary Year, we have already operated on 4 patients as of December 2009, and the number doesn’t stop there. There are 4 more patients who are lined up for this Matching Grant Project, in partnership with RC Syosset-Woodbury, New York.

And finally, our FLAGSHIP PROJECT, which is the current pride of RCI…The Solar Powered Water System in Paowin, Cavinti Laguna. Deaf students of the DEAF EVANGELISTIC ALLIANCE FOUNDATION, INC., and the school’s employees, along with residents of the surrounding barangays are now benefiting from this project, which was made possible by the cooperation of RC Batemans Bay, Australia.

“Now, we take pride in reporting that this project is now completed....”

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LUMINOUS MYSTERIES START WITH BAPTISM OF JESUS: After the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary of the Roman Catholic Christians, the Mysteries of Light, or the so-called Luminous Mysteries, come next, to narrate another aspect of the life of Jesus Christ starting from His baptism to the Institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper.

Significantly, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all contain an account of the baptism of Jesus Christ. In Matthew, we find the story in its Chapter 3, verses 13 to 17. In Mark, we find it in its Chapter 1, verses 9 to 13, while in Luke, the event is narrated in its Chapter 3, verses 21 to 22.

In John, the story is found in its Chapter 1, verses 29 to 34, although this account is not as specific about baptism as was written in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Be that as it may, the baptism of Jesus, performed by His cousin, John the Baptist at the Jordan River, continues to be a confirmation of Jesus’ divinity, and of His status as the Son of God.

In all the Gospels, the story is told that after He was baptized, the heavens parted and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove and lightning, with a voice from heaven saying “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Surely, in all history, there is no other person or being in this world whom God called as His Son, whom He loves and with whom He is well pleased except Jesus.

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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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LTFRB-Rotarians join hands to stop road accidents

ROAD ACCIDENTS, NUMBER FOUR KILLER IN RP: Undeniably, one of the greatest killers among Filipinos nowadays, which claims a sizable number of lives daily, weekly, monthly and annually, are road accidents, often caused by gross negligence of drivers and their inexplicable refusal to be concerned about the safety of others.

In a report at the website of the media giant ABS CBN on November 7, 2008, road accidents have been ranked as the fourth leading cause of death in the Philippines and, if things do not change, they are projected to be the number one leading cause of death among Filipinos in 2020.

Hopefully, this could be averted, especially because the government, through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) under its present chairman, Alberto Suansing, is teaming up with thousands and thousands of members of Rotary International (RI) from the Philippines to curb, if not totally eliminate, road accidents.

As I am writing this column on January 14, 2010, the LTFRB and a number of Rotary organizations in the country will have already signed a document captioned as “Memorandum of Agreement: Disiplina sa Kalye, Kaligtasan Para sa Lahat” which will enable Rotarians, pursuing Rotary’s motto of “service above self”, to report, act on the spot, and thereafter help prosecute erring drivers and, in case of public utility vehicles, even their operators.

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LTFRB-ROTARIANS JOIN HANDS TO STOP ROAD ACCIDENTS: Aside from the members of the Public Image Resource Group for Zone 7 (Philippines and Indonesia) under the chairmanship of Manila Bulletin Vice President Lyne Abanilla, the other participating Rotarians come from the Rotary Clubs of Intramuros (led by President Art Platon), Ermita (led by President Eugene Tan), Tondo (led by President Arlene Khoa), Pasay Gil Puyat (led by President Catherine Oyao) and Pasay Maharlika (led by President Agrifina Zafra), all of RI District 3810, under Visionary Gov. Connie Beltran.

Abanilla said other Rotary Clubs from the Philippines’ 10 Rotary districts, led by their respective district governors for Rotary Year 2009-2010, are to be asked to join this joint project with the LTFRB to give a nationwide effect.

The agreement, expected to be signed at the office of Suansing (himself a past president of the Rotary Club of Intramuros), provides, among others: “NOW, FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION of the foregoing, and of the terms and conditions hereunder set forth, the parties hereto agree, covenant and bind themselves as follows:

“First. Basically, pursuant to this memorandum of agreement, the LTFRB accepts the offer of collaboration and cooperation being extended by the Public Image Resource Group of the Rotary International for Zone 7 (for Philippines and Indonesia) and of the Rotary Clubs mentioned herein, for the further implementation and prosecution of “Oplan Isnabero”, and for the institutionalization of road discipline for the safety of all.

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ROTARIANS TO REPORT ABUSIVE DRIVERS AND OPERATORS:“Second. Pursuant thereto, the LTFRB undertakes to accept and act immediately on any report of abuse or any other malfeasance or misfeasance on the part of any public utility operator or any of the operator’s agents, employees or personnel, that will be made, texted or otherwise submitted (in any other manner) by Rotarians...

“Third. To assure the authenticity of the reports submitted to the LTFRB as coming from Rotarians included in this project, the reports, text messages or any other accusations must contain the name of the club and the family name of its president, including the club’s ID number issued by RI.

“Fourth. In the event that further investigations maybe required to enable the LTFRB to proceed against erring public utility operators or any of its agents, employees or personnel, the reporting (Rotarians) will extend all possible assistance to prove the imputed violations, but the LTFRB must endeavour to keep the identity of the reporting Rotarian confidential and secret.

Fifth. It is understood that the participating Rotarians shall be performing the tasks assigned to them by virtue of this agreement voluntarily, freely, and without any expectation of any financial remuneration or compensation and solely because of their desire to lead the way in discharging the Rotary International motto “Service Above Self”, in line with the Rotary Theme for Rotary Year 2009-2010 “The Future of Rotary Is In Your Hands”, and any act of the participating Rotarians pursuant to this agreement shall not constitute them as agent, officer, employee or personnel of the LTFRB....”

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FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS AT THE TEMPLE: The fifth and the last Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary, called “finding of the Child Jesus at the Temple”, depicts the joy of the greatly-bothered Joseph and Mary upon finding the boy Jesus, then aged 12 years old, at the Temple in Jerusalem.

Basically, Jesus was left behind by his parents who, not knowing that Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, proceeded to return home after their family attended the Feast of the Passover (an annual Jewish holiday that seeks to remind the Jews of how God freed them from their slavery in Egypt).

Realizing that Jesus was not with them while they were returning home, Joseph and Mary spent three days going back to Jerusalem and searching for Him.

Found in Luke 2:41 to 51 of the Bible, the account of this event in Jesus’ life shows once more the divinity of Jesus, and His having been in possession of a great amount of learning over and beyond what a boy of His age would normally have.

“Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers,” the Bible says, in effect confirming Jesus was not an ordinary man.

And when He told Joseph and Mary that they should not be searching for Him because He had to be in His Father’s house, it was a reaffirmation of His status as the Son of God, something that was already announced earlier by Gabriel, the angel who walks in the presence of God (Luke 1:35).

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Issues in appointing the next CJ: Sections 4 and 9

COMELEC MUST REVERSE ITSELF RE: DISQUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES: So that the Commission on Elections will not face any delay in the printing of the ballots to be used in the automated elections in May 2010, it should now reconsider its earlier orders disqualifying candidates and party list groups, and allow everyone wanting to run to participate and run!

This is the only practicable solution to the fears which Comelec Chairman Jose Melo allegedly expressed in the National Security Council meeting in Malacanang on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

According to published reports, Melo is saying that ballot printing would be delayed (and hence the election itself would be delayed) if its orders disqualifying candidates and party list groups would be subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court, as what happened in the case of the “Ang Ladlad” party.

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LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE ON DISQUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATES: The concern allegedly was that, if the Supreme Court would order the inclusion of candidates already disqualified by the Comelec after the Comelec shall have already printed ballots which will no longer contain the names of the disqualified candidates, that would invalidate all the already-printed ballots and would require the printing of new ones.

To avoid this, what the Comelec should now do is set aside its orders previously issued in which it disqualified candidates and allow everyone to run.

This way, it could already print the ballots at this stage, with the names of all candidates and party list groups wanting to run already included. In fine, we should let the people themselves, in their sovereign capacity as voters, decide which candidate they would want to disqualify by not voting for them.

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HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT SYNOMOUS TO GODLESSNESS, IMMORALITY: Right from the start, there was no doubt in my mind that the Supreme Court would overturn a Comelec resolution disqualifying the “Ang Ladlad” Party List.

Certainly, being a homosexual is not synonymous to immorality or sinfulness, in much the same way that being in a position of responsibility, in the private and public sectors, is no guarantee of moral uprightness or integrity.

It is not also a disqualification that would prevent a homosexual from being voted into office. Even the Bible, in fact, does not treat homosexuality as a sin, or as an aberration that disqualifies the homosexual from being considered as a child of God.

What is detested by God (and what we should detest likewise) is immorality, godlessness and impurity occasioned by homosexuality. But then, immorality, godlessness and impurity are not the monopoly of homosexuals, for there are many who are considered “straight” who are immoral, godless and impure.

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ISSUES RE: CJ APPOINTMENT: SECTIONS 4 AND 9: Two crucial items that must be considered in resolving whether or not President Arroyo can still appoint a chief justice to replace the retiring Reynato Puno this May 2010 are Sections 4 and 9, Art. VIII of the 1987 Constitution.

Section 4, in part, says: “Any vacancy shall be filled within ninety days from the occurrence thereof.

Section 9, on the other hand, in part, says: “The Members of the Supreme Court and judges of the lower courts shall be appointed by the President from a list of at least three nominees prepared by the Judicial and Bar Council for every vacancy. Such appointments need no confirmation.”

These are crucial Constitutional provisions, if you ask me, because they can be interpreted one way or the other, favouring or disfavouring President Arroyo’s right to appoint a chief justice even if she is already on her way out.

Expect a torrent of “learned discourses” on these provisions in the days to come.

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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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CJ appointment brouhaha hinges on general and special laws

CJ APPOINTMENT HINGES ON CLASH BETWEEN GENERAL LAW AND SPECIAL LAW: In the discussions on whether or not President Arroyo can legally appoint a chief justice of the Supreme Court after Chief Justice Reynato Puno retires on May 10, 2010, which is about 50 days before she ends her presidency, we must not forget the rule which distinguishes which law will prevail when there is a clash between a general law and a special law.

We must not also forget what lawyers are taught, right from their very first day in law school, that the special law prevails over the general law in case of an irreconcilable conflict in their application.

Anyone wishing to give his two centavos’ worth in these discussions must therefore study what is the general law and what is the special law in this particularly interesting legal point.

Whatever it is, may God’s will prevail. God, certainly, is not sleeping, and would know who deserves to be chief justice or not.

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88 OFWs STAGE HUNGER STRIKE IN RIYADH, KSA: I give way in this column to news stories emailed to me on Tuesday, 12 January 2010, so the senders will not tire sharing their press releases with me. Here they are:

From Migrante International: “A militant alliance of overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) groups today expressed solidarity with 88 OFWs who staged a hunger strike in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, after calls for their repatriation were left unheeded by the Philippine post in the Middle Eastern city.

“The 88 OFWs were victims of contract substitution and unjust labor practices of construction firm Annasban Group. They stopped working on October 12 last year after they complained of salary reduction, illegal salary deduction and delayed payment of salary.

“November 3 last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement that the Philippine Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh have been working for the workers’ repatriation `at the soonest possible time.’

“The promised repatriation, however, didn’t happen. `Migrante International salutes the Riyadh 88 for militantly standing up to assert their rights. OFWs the world over join them in their fight for justice,’ stated Garry Martinez, Chairperson of Migrante International.

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ROTARIANS TO GIVE MORE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOR FILIPINO KIDS: From Lyne Abanilla, chairman of the Public Imaging Group of Rotary International for Zone 7 (Philippines and Indonesia): “My dear All: Thanks again PP (Past President) Batas (Mauricio) for the beautiful write up and for your future news releases.

“Thanks too CP (Charter President) Blyth (Fielding) who is doing a feature too, hopefully for the PRM (Philippine Rotary Magazine) and others. Rotary International for sure has already read Batas’ column.

“After Benguet, we will now be distributing Gamit Aral (GA) Bags in Cavite (Noveleta), in La Union, Calumpit and Pulilan, Bulacan, San Pedro, Laguna, Tanay and Taytay Rizal, and some identified pre schools of Gawad Kalinga communities affected by typhoons Ondoy, Pepeng and Ramil.

“Today, (January 12, 2010) District 3810 Governor Connie (Beltran) and DPRC (District Public Relations Chair) Cynthia (Evangelista) and our Rotary Club of Intramuros President Art (Platon) are in Calumpit and Pulilan, Bulacan distributing 600 GA Bags to our friends at District 3770 thru District Governor Ding San Diego…

“Again, thanks again for our PR Team members CP Blyth and PP Batas who joined the trip and making sure we have a good media mileage. Batas was non-stop broadcasting thru the internet and the use of Skype while we were on the road…”

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BIRTH OF JESUS IN THE MANGER: Easily one of the most fondly-remembered events in the Bible is now immortalized as the third Joyful Mystery in the Roman Catholic Christians’ Holy Rosary, and this is the birth of Jesus Christ.

Mainly because the event augurs good tidings and happy cheers as it ushers in gift-giving and camaraderie among believers worldwide, the birth of Jesus Christ has become one of the cornerstones of the Catholic Christians’ faith as it heralds the great love of God for man.

But completely different from this happy scenario is the account of the birth of Christ that is found in Luke 2:1 to 20, and in Matthew 1:18 to 25 of the Bible, both of which paint a very humble yet solemn and dignified occasion, befitting the Son of God.

This story starts with a census participated in by Joseph, the man who was pledged to marry Mary, the Virgin Mother of Christ. During the census, Mary gave birth to Jesus in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

The birth of Jesus was announced by an angel of the Lord to the shepherds who were watching their flocks at night. The angel said that the Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, had been born. Just then, a great company of heavenly host appeared with the angel, saying “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”

The shepherds then left their flocks, looked for the baby wrapped in clothes in a manger and, when they found him, started telling everyone about him, glorifying and praising God.

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CHED-accreditors’ row: who is to blame?

WHY ARE FILIPINOS SUFFERING DESPITE THEIR SUPPOSED FAITH AS CHRISTIANS? If you will try to find the reason why Filipinos are experiencing difficulties, hardships and failures in everything they do, you will certainly be directed to Deuteronomy 28:15 to 68 of the Bible, which contain a listing of the 53 curses which God promised to rain down upon a nation which no longer listens to His Word nor obeys His commands and decrees, and which now afflict all of us.

This must be totally jolting to many who think of themselves as devout and pious, and who usually take pride in the claim that the Philippines, as a result of its four-centuries long indoctrination by Spanish priests and friars on the Catholic faith, is the only Christian (Catholic) nation in the whole of Asia.

But, the real question that we must all answer is this: if we were indoctrinated for more than four hundred years by Spanish priests and friars on the Catholic faith on how to have a prosperous and healthy life, how come many of us are admittedly mired in the difficulties and hardships and failures and in the illnesses which the Bible promised in Deuteronomy?

What (or who?) went wrong?

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CHED’S SIDE ON ACCREDITATION ROW: Chairman Emmanuel Angeles of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) sent me a letter he first sent to Fr. Joaquin Bernas, a former law dean of the Ateneo University and now a columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, in relation to his article regarding a conflict between the CHED and its Coordinating Council for Accreditation (CCA).

The CCA is an agency that, under an executive order issued by Malacanang, the CHED itself created for purposes of setting up accreditation standards for the operation and management of colleges and universities nationwide.

Here are parts of the letter of Chairman Angeles: “Dear Fr. Bernas: Peace be with you and may I wish you a happy and prosperous new year! Please allow me to clarify some of the issues that you raised in your article `CHED attempts ‘martial law’ over school accreditation’, which appeared in your column `Sounding Board’ of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on December 21, 2009.

“The public should know that in the Philippines, there are five (5) accrediting agencies, each operating on its own set of guidelines and procedures and all are accredited by CHED. The commitment of CHED on the usefulness and value of private accreditation cannot be questioned. For your information, close to PhP100M has been disbursed by CHED to support private accreditation over a number of years...

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ACCREDITATIN G AGENCIES FAILED TO COME UP WITH POLICIES AND GUIDELINES: “I would like to clarify for the record that on April 10, 2008, four (4) months before I assumed the office of Chairman of CHED, Executive Order 705-A was issued by Malacanang. This Executive Order amended EO 705 and created the Coordinating Council for Accreditation (CCA) headed by the Commission on Higher Education....

“In compliance with this above provision, I created the CCA on November 27, 2008. It is composed of representatives from the five (5) accrediting agencies. To my knowledge, Father, to date, CHED has not issued any governing policies, guidelines and requirements on accreditation that mandates standardized fees, composition of accreditors, etc.

“Such guidelines, I hope, will be recommended to the Commission by the CCA in the very near future as I requested. I have met with the CCA twice and I have impressed on them the need to harmonize our policies on accreditation as mandated by EO 705-A. I have yet to hear from them on their proposal on the matter.

“Between the periods January to April 2008, I visited all seventeen (17) regions of our country and had the opportunity to gather first-hand the views and comments of heads of higher education institutions, both public and private, on problems they face in running their colleges and universities...” More of this next issue.

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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.

Significantly, these words of Elizabeth are now enshrined in the Holy Rosary where the faithful intone: “Hail Mary, full of grace, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.”

What is more, the greeting in that prayer, “hail Mary, full of grace”, is the very same greeting that Mary got from Gabriel, the Angel of God, when it was announced to her that she will be with a child who will be called Jesus (Luke 1:28).

Elizabeth then confirmed the blessings that would come to anyone who believes in God, when she said to Mary: “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished…”

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Not what a presidentiable did for anyone, but for God, that matters!

WHAT HAS OUR PRESIDENTIABLES DONE TO SERVE GOD? Alright, so Sen. Manuel Villar and Sen. Richard Gordon wanted to know what Sen. Benigno Aquino III had done in the past to show that he has the necessary “it” to become the country’s president in 2010, but that is not the really important issue, for when one uses the past as a gauge, many of our presidentiables now will certainly fail the mark.

The more important issue, if you ask me, is what Villar, Gordon, Aquino, former Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., former President Joseph Estrada and the other presidential candidates had done, past and present, to serve God.

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KUSOG MINDANAO PUSHES BELLO’S CANDIDACY FOR SENATOR: Kusog Mindanao, a multi-sectoral coalition created in 1994 which seeks to promote peace and development of the region, should take the lead in promoting the candidacy of former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III for the Senate in the May 2010 elections, if it is really convinced Bello will work for Mindanao once he is elected as senator.

I myself am supporting Bello’s aspirations to become a senator of the Republic. Not only is he academically-qualified. Bello, by now, is a tried and tested government official, having served in the Cabinet for a long time, and is only one of the few who is trusted by the right and the left, and who could therefore be depended upon to promote unity and understanding among our people.

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IF THE PRESIDENTIABLES FAILED TO MAKE GOD HAPPY, CAN THEY MAKE US HAPPY? Can anyone of the May 2010 presidential candidates really say they have made God happy, even for just one moment, now and yesterday, because they were able to make one sinner repent and go back to God?

If the country’s presidentiables failed, or did not do anything, to make God happy, in one way or another, notwithstanding the fact that it was God who gave them life and the material riches that enabled them to run in May 2010, can they be expected to do something that will make Filipinos happy?

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PLAZO FOR SENATOR? Lawyer Grace Rinoza Plazo is one other senatorial candidate of the “Ang Kapatiran Party” which deserves the support of the Filipino people. Already comfortable in life as a lawyer, she did not really have to join politics anymore just to prove a point, except that she is also obsessed with a desire to really help the masses with responsive legislation.

Grace is going to be a guest in my Internet radio-TV program “Batas Media Reports” at BATAS INTERNET TV and BATAS INTERNET RADIO (which could be accessed at the Internet website www.batasradio.com) on Tuesday, at 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., where we will discuss her legislative agenda. The interview will be replayed also on Tuesday at 8 to 9 pm. Join us by logging on to our website, www.batasradio.com.

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CHANGE WITHOUT GOD IS USELESS: Even now, we have not heard from any of our presidential candidates if they have any platform of spirituality at all. In fact, to a man, they have been talking about change, but then there is no one among them who is saying that God has a role in the change they want to introduce.

And this is gravely dangerous, for, with due respect to the compassion, intelligence, money and mass appeal that our candidates are supposed to have, nothing and no one will ever really help the Filipino people in their quest for a better life at this point except God.

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FILIPINOS MUST PRAY, FAST AND PROSTRATE THEMSELVES BEFORE GOD: If no one among our presidentiables in the May 2010 elections is even talking about the role of God in their administration, we must now, as a people, really pray hard, undergo fasting, and prostrate ourselves before God to seek His forgiveness and mercy, for destruction coming from God Himself is already at our doorsteps, just waiting to strike.

The truth is that, if the electorates will vote for someone who does not have God in his heart once more, then we will see more plunder, more graft and corruption, and more abuses in government, which will cause the certain downfall of this country and the destruction of our people.

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BIRTH OF JESUS ANNOUNCED BY THE ANGEL GABRIEL: The Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary represent an account of how Jesus Christ started His life here on earth.

The first joyful mystery, the annunciation, is found in Luke 1:26 to 38, where the Angel Gabriel, “who stands in the presence of God”, came to Mary, a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.

Gabriel told Mary, who was greatly troubled by the angel’s statement that she was highly favored in the eyes of God and that “the Lord is with you”, that she will be with child and give birth to a son, whose name will be Jesus and will actually be called the Son of the Most High and will be given the throne of King David.

Mary was incredulous, and actually asked the angel how could she give birth when she had not known a man. The angel told her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and the power of the Most High will overshadow her “so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

The angel then assured Mary: “For nothing is impossible with God.” In reply, Mary uttered “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”

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Global effort up in helping kids victimized by killer typhoon

BENGUET STUDENTS GIVEN NEW INTEREST IN STUDYING: The 1,000 or so students of Puguis Elementary School in Puguis, La Trinidad, Benguet, refused to go to school for some time after 13 of their classmates were killed in the mud landslide that swept through their nearby village called Little Kibungan in the same town during the height of Typhoon Ramil in the last quarter of 2009.

The reason: for want of better facilities in the town and in Baguio City, their school plaza and playground were used as a temporary morgue for their 13 classmates, and for 62 or so other Little Kibungan residents who were killed in the same tragedy, traumatized as they were by the sight of so many dead people lying on the pavement, awaiting proper burial, for many days.

But hopefully and prayerfully, that should change by now, largely because of the efforts of local officials and other local, national and international non-governmental organizations and agencies to help them cope up with, and ultimately forget, the calamity that so mercilessly and without warning struck their town one nasty rainy night.

What came out of these selfless and disparate but highly collaborative efforts thereafter showed man’s generosity and compassion for his fellowmen beyond measure.

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ROTARIANS IN THE FOREFRONT OF HELPING KIDS VICTIMIZED BY KILLER TYPHOON: Of course, I am tremendously glad that my own organization, Rotary International’s District 3810---particularly my own club, the Rotary Club of Intramuros, Manila, and its sister club, the Rotary Club of Ermita, and RI Public Image Resource Group for Zone 7 (for Philippines and Indonesia)---voluntarily placed themselves in the forefront of these humanitarian endeavours.

Specially significant was the aid given by RC Intramuros, RC Ermita and the Public Image Group led by its chairman, Lyne Abanilla who is the vice president for Classified Advertising of Manila Bulletin, which consists of 1,500 “Gamit Aral” Bags distributed Friday, January 8, 2010, to an equal number of elementary students from Puguis Elementary School, and from nearby Buyagan Elementary School and La Trinidad Central Elementary School.

The Gamit Aral Bags, which contain reading, writing and other education materials, had the effect of magic, as they did not fail to ignite the youthful eyes of the recipient-children with delight.

Upon receiving the bags, the students not only thoughtfully expressed their gratitude and appreciation by endless “thank you’s”, but, more importantly, they also collectively promised that, with the gift from Rotarians, they would study more, and be more diligent and persevering in their school work henceforth.

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AUSTRALIAN-FILIPINOS GAVE THEIR HELP AND ASSISTANCE, TOO: The distribution of the Gamit Aral Bags to the Benguet school children was of course just a part of the story, a tip of the iceberg, as it were, which will not be completely told if we don’t mention here that the money used to buy them came from well-meaning Australian-Filipinos who wanted to help likewise.

Mention must be made of the Australian Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its Australian representative Robert Bock, Filipino representatives Arthur and Tess Sayas, Global Filipino Australia, Inc., and Blacktown City, Australia Mayor Charles Lowles and others whose names I cannot recall now.

Abanilla, who was responsible for soliciting their help, said their individual and collective contributions reached about Php800,000.00 more or less, and this was the money that bankrolled the purchase of the Gamit Aral Bags.

Then, mention must also be made of the help and assistance given by Rotarians from Rotary International District 3790 (which covers the Benguet-Baguio Rotary Clubs), under the leadership of District Gov. Ricardo “Oyan” Villanueva, who coordinated which schools the Gamit Aral Bags would be finally given.

Congratulations are likewise in order for RC Intramuros President Art Platon, RC Ermita President Eugene Tan and Spouse Jane, RC Ermita Past President Loy Cosico and Spouse Maricon, Charisse Abanilla, Lyne’s youngest daughter, and Past Presidents Blythe Fielding and Lilian Cruz, who, like me, are members of the Public Image Resource Group for Zone 7 of RI.

Their presence alone in the distribution of the Gamit Aral Bags made sure that global cooperation in helping the poor and the needy became a reality.

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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.

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