L.C. Clark's Blog, page 14
June 20, 2016
Who Created Sunday
From the era of slavery, to colonialism to capitalism, labor was the sought after treasure. Countries went to war to make slaves of each other. Slaves were bought and sold for farm production. Monarchies colonized small countries to enslave the population. Capitalism virtually enslaved laborers through contractualization and outsourcing. Contractualization is hiring temporary workers, for lower wages, with no benefits. Temporary workers get rehired repeatedly under new contracts. What do slaves, colonies and contract workers of capitalists have in common? They work on Sundays.
In America, the ‘blue laws’, imposed the day of rest laws beginning back in 1610. It states that “whoever on Sunday keeps open his shop, warehouse, factory or other place of business, or sells foodstuffs, goods, wares, merchandise or real estate, or does any manner of labor, business or work, except works of necessity and charity” shall be in violation of the blue laws.” The blue laws made Sunday a compulsory day of rest.
“In the 1800s, many Americans worked seventy hours or more per week and the length of the workweek became an important political issue.” The hourly measure of work has taken back the Sunday, by overworking without over time pay on an extended weekday.
“In 1961, 49 states had laws limiting Sunday activities, the majority of which sought to give most workers the day off. Today, most of these laws have been repealed.”
So, whose big idea was it to give us a Sunday, a day of rest? Before all the work even started, Jehovah, the God in the Bible, programmed the seven day measure of human activity.
“And God went on to bless the seventh day and to declare it sacred, for on it God has been resting from all the work that he has created, all that he purposed to make.” (Genesis 2:3)
To reiterate and enforce the day of rest, the Sabbath law was given.
“but the seventh day is a sabbath to Jehovah your God. You must not do any work, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your slave man nor your slave girl nor your bull nor your donkey nor any of your domestic animals nor your foreign resident who is inside your cities, in order that your slave man and your slave girl may rest the same as you.” (Deuteronomy 5:14)
Before man even thought of slavery, colonialism or capitalism, a loving God instituted a day of rest for mankind, which is followed, even by countries that worship other deities. No other god can claim to have invented Sundays. Without the Bible, greed would have us all working seven days a week.
See also:Creator of Poverty The God of the Poor Google It
In America, the ‘blue laws’, imposed the day of rest laws beginning back in 1610. It states that “whoever on Sunday keeps open his shop, warehouse, factory or other place of business, or sells foodstuffs, goods, wares, merchandise or real estate, or does any manner of labor, business or work, except works of necessity and charity” shall be in violation of the blue laws.” The blue laws made Sunday a compulsory day of rest.
“In the 1800s, many Americans worked seventy hours or more per week and the length of the workweek became an important political issue.” The hourly measure of work has taken back the Sunday, by overworking without over time pay on an extended weekday.
“In 1961, 49 states had laws limiting Sunday activities, the majority of which sought to give most workers the day off. Today, most of these laws have been repealed.”
So, whose big idea was it to give us a Sunday, a day of rest? Before all the work even started, Jehovah, the God in the Bible, programmed the seven day measure of human activity.
“And God went on to bless the seventh day and to declare it sacred, for on it God has been resting from all the work that he has created, all that he purposed to make.” (Genesis 2:3)
To reiterate and enforce the day of rest, the Sabbath law was given.
“but the seventh day is a sabbath to Jehovah your God. You must not do any work, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your slave man nor your slave girl nor your bull nor your donkey nor any of your domestic animals nor your foreign resident who is inside your cities, in order that your slave man and your slave girl may rest the same as you.” (Deuteronomy 5:14)
Before man even thought of slavery, colonialism or capitalism, a loving God instituted a day of rest for mankind, which is followed, even by countries that worship other deities. No other god can claim to have invented Sundays. Without the Bible, greed would have us all working seven days a week.
See also:Creator of Poverty The God of the Poor Google It
June 13, 2016
Neglect, An Emotional Abuse
“The pig walks to the slaughter because it knows what’s good for the farmer.” That is a line from an old TV episode of $#*! My Dad Says. It sounds like a puzzle, until you see what it means. Here’s what it means for a Filipina abroad. Let’s name her Lenny.
In the first seven years of her life in America, she sent money and boxes to only one son because the other two children did not communicate with her. She heard that one wants nothing less than $5K, which she didn’t have, and the other simply didn’t care one way or another.
After she lost her job and exhausted her savings, the son she sent money and boxes to, started to hate her. Surprisingly, the other two children stepped up to the plate. One supports her now financially and the one who wanted $5K gave her unexpected visits and treats.
Lenny’s three children are estranged from each other for one reason or another. She keeps to herself whatever she hears from one about the other. She doesn’t want to mess up the chance that her children would be fraternal someday, however remote it may seem these days.
All three children are step siblings, each from a different father. Two fathers abandoned them physically. The other one stayed but abandoned her and his child emotionally. Unlike most abandoned wife or lover, Lenny sang praises to the missing fathers all her life. She would rather be thought of as the bad guy, than spoil whatever memory the children cherish of their fathers.
However, it’s difficult to defend the father who stayed, after twenty three years of seeing his flaws unfold before their eyes. The ‘over staying’ father’s son still suffers from his emotional abuse. When the boy was eight years old, while in his care, he locked the doors and didn’t give his son a key, then came home late at night. The boy, came home from school, waited by the door till dark, without dinner. Lenny still managed to make this guy look good, by keeping to herself, her own emotional abuse she suffered from him ‘behind closed doors’.
From: www.nspcc.org.uk Lenny knows she had a hand on her children’s misfortune. She picked those fathers, as the song says “The heart wants what it wants.” She spent her life trying to make it up to her children, in different ways, as far as her arm could reach.
If you still don’t know what “The pig walks to the slaughter because it knows what’s good for the farmer” means. You’ll have to watch $#*! My Dad Says in Netflix.See also:The Dollar Exchange Rate To Hate Widow of the Living Mother Said …Part 2
In the first seven years of her life in America, she sent money and boxes to only one son because the other two children did not communicate with her. She heard that one wants nothing less than $5K, which she didn’t have, and the other simply didn’t care one way or another.
After she lost her job and exhausted her savings, the son she sent money and boxes to, started to hate her. Surprisingly, the other two children stepped up to the plate. One supports her now financially and the one who wanted $5K gave her unexpected visits and treats.
Lenny’s three children are estranged from each other for one reason or another. She keeps to herself whatever she hears from one about the other. She doesn’t want to mess up the chance that her children would be fraternal someday, however remote it may seem these days.
All three children are step siblings, each from a different father. Two fathers abandoned them physically. The other one stayed but abandoned her and his child emotionally. Unlike most abandoned wife or lover, Lenny sang praises to the missing fathers all her life. She would rather be thought of as the bad guy, than spoil whatever memory the children cherish of their fathers.
However, it’s difficult to defend the father who stayed, after twenty three years of seeing his flaws unfold before their eyes. The ‘over staying’ father’s son still suffers from his emotional abuse. When the boy was eight years old, while in his care, he locked the doors and didn’t give his son a key, then came home late at night. The boy, came home from school, waited by the door till dark, without dinner. Lenny still managed to make this guy look good, by keeping to herself, her own emotional abuse she suffered from him ‘behind closed doors’.
From: www.nspcc.org.uk Lenny knows she had a hand on her children’s misfortune. She picked those fathers, as the song says “The heart wants what it wants.” She spent her life trying to make it up to her children, in different ways, as far as her arm could reach. If you still don’t know what “The pig walks to the slaughter because it knows what’s good for the farmer” means. You’ll have to watch $#*! My Dad Says in Netflix.See also:The Dollar Exchange Rate To Hate Widow of the Living Mother Said …Part 2
June 6, 2016
Kabataang Makabayan (KM), In Hindsight
From: www.arkibongbayan.org Jose Maria Sison founded the Kabataang Makabayan (KM) in the early 60’s. “KM is not the oldest existing youth group in the Philippines but its radical contribution and impact to the country’s politics remains unsurpassed. Traditional youth networks focus on individual achievements (e.g. how many of their members became part of Congress or Cabinet) while KM is more concerned on how to mobilize its members in the national democratic struggle. There are no KM greats, no KM heroes, no prominent alumni – everyone is simply KM.” (Manila Today)
The KM took on the mission to teach all sectors, that there is more to politics than elections. It identified the problems of society that needed changing, explained the roots of the problem and organized for the struggle towards a socialist objective. It is a subversive idea today but more so in 1964.
The KM members multiplied in UP Diliman Chapter, then some members enrolled in other universities, for the main purpose of building other chapters. Soon there was UE KM Chapter, FEU KM Chapter, etc. Some members were assigned to the labor sector, coordinating between unions and building new ones. The Kilusang Mayo Uno or (KMU) was born. Other members were assigned to the divided and disorganized transport sector. In a matter of time, jeepney strikes were demanding and winning fare hikes.
The potential use for political power caught the eye of Ninoy Aquino. He put Jose Maria Sison, a central committee member of The Communist Party of the Philippines, and a peasant armed revolt leader, Dante Buscayno, together. The New People’s Army rose to “political power, that grows out of the barrel of a gun”.
The KM members were used as pawns. Students who could have had a good life, died or wasted their years in jail or in hiding. Jose Maria Sison went on an extended European vacation. Ninoy Aquino died without tasting the fruits of his schemes. “Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. Therefore, whoever opposes the authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God; those who have taken a stand against it will bring judgment against themselves.” (Romans 13:1-2)
In hindsight, do I regret my time and involvement in student activism? NO! Here are my reasons:
1. I didn’t do it for Jose Maria Sison. I was simply being me.2. The experience was unparalleled. 3. In it, I found the best husband ever.4. From that journey, I have a book coming soon, titled REBEL.
See also:Creator of Poverty The God of the Poor The Iron LadyMay 20, 2016
Creator of Poverty
The Bible says that God created man according to his own image. Is God poor in heaven? If not, would a loving God make humans poor? It doesn’t make sense. God put Adam and Eve in paradise.
Salt Mine (From: en.wikipedia.org) Despite their disobedience, the same God created wealth for the nations to share and enjoy equally. He provided inexhaustible salt mines, self-replenishing seas that never run out of edible creatures, self-cleaning air to breathe, and mountains that grow trees despite human mismanagement and illegal logging. He put diamonds, gold, silver, copper, gas, oil, etc. in the ground for future generations.
Some products of mines are: Batteries - cadmium, lithium, nickel and cobalt
Musical instruments - copper, silver, steel, nickel, brass, cobalt, copper, iron and aluminum Circuitry - gold, copper, aluminum, steel, silver, lead and zinc
Sports equipment - graphite, aluminum and titanium
Computer and television screens - silicon, boron, lead, phosphorus and indium Sun protection and medical ointments - zinc
Cosmetics and jewellery -gold, diamonds, iron oxide, zinc and titanium dioxide Surgical instruments - stainless steel Electricity - coal and uranium Vehicles and tires - steel, copper, zinc, barium, graphite, sulphur and iodine Eyeglasses - limestone, feldspar and soda ash
Housing construction - gypsum, clay, limestone, sand and gravel Fertilizer - phosphate, nitrogen, sulphur and potash
From: www.acareerinmining.ca
Hybrid car components - rare earth elements such as dysprosium, lanthanum, neodymium and samarium
"The worldwide production of mining uranium comes from Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia as the top three producers… Other important uranium producing countries in excess of 1,000 tons per year are Niger, Namibia, Russia, Uzbekistan, the United States, China, and Malawi.” (Wikipedia)
“The main use of uranium...is to fuel nuclear power plants…photographic chemicals (especially uranium nitrate as a toner), in lamp filaments for stage lighting bulbs, to improve the appearance of dentures, and in the leather and wood industries for stains and dyes.”
With all those constructive uses, man chooses to use uranium in building weapons of destruction. “The major application of uranium in the military sector is in high-density penetrators…uranium-235 has been used as the fissile explosive material to produce nuclear weapons”. (inventors of injurious thing...Romans 1:30)
If used for the betterment of mankind and if benefits are allotted equally, the wealth God planted underground is enough to provide free homes for all, so no one can say he's homeless, and food for the starving. We'd still get sick and die but the quality of life would be equal, no rich or poor, subject only to individual genetic imperfection.
So who created poverty? Every nation’s history shows political power struggle. To the victors belong the spoils.
See also:Invention of Weapons The God of the Poor Federalism, Explanation of Benefits
Salt Mine (From: en.wikipedia.org) Despite their disobedience, the same God created wealth for the nations to share and enjoy equally. He provided inexhaustible salt mines, self-replenishing seas that never run out of edible creatures, self-cleaning air to breathe, and mountains that grow trees despite human mismanagement and illegal logging. He put diamonds, gold, silver, copper, gas, oil, etc. in the ground for future generations. Some products of mines are: Batteries - cadmium, lithium, nickel and cobalt
Musical instruments - copper, silver, steel, nickel, brass, cobalt, copper, iron and aluminum Circuitry - gold, copper, aluminum, steel, silver, lead and zinc
Sports equipment - graphite, aluminum and titanium
Computer and television screens - silicon, boron, lead, phosphorus and indium Sun protection and medical ointments - zinc
Cosmetics and jewellery -gold, diamonds, iron oxide, zinc and titanium dioxide Surgical instruments - stainless steel Electricity - coal and uranium Vehicles and tires - steel, copper, zinc, barium, graphite, sulphur and iodine Eyeglasses - limestone, feldspar and soda ash
Housing construction - gypsum, clay, limestone, sand and gravel Fertilizer - phosphate, nitrogen, sulphur and potash
From: www.acareerinmining.ca
Hybrid car components - rare earth elements such as dysprosium, lanthanum, neodymium and samarium
"The worldwide production of mining uranium comes from Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia as the top three producers… Other important uranium producing countries in excess of 1,000 tons per year are Niger, Namibia, Russia, Uzbekistan, the United States, China, and Malawi.” (Wikipedia)
“The main use of uranium...is to fuel nuclear power plants…photographic chemicals (especially uranium nitrate as a toner), in lamp filaments for stage lighting bulbs, to improve the appearance of dentures, and in the leather and wood industries for stains and dyes.”
With all those constructive uses, man chooses to use uranium in building weapons of destruction. “The major application of uranium in the military sector is in high-density penetrators…uranium-235 has been used as the fissile explosive material to produce nuclear weapons”. (inventors of injurious thing...Romans 1:30)
If used for the betterment of mankind and if benefits are allotted equally, the wealth God planted underground is enough to provide free homes for all, so no one can say he's homeless, and food for the starving. We'd still get sick and die but the quality of life would be equal, no rich or poor, subject only to individual genetic imperfection.
So who created poverty? Every nation’s history shows political power struggle. To the victors belong the spoils.
See also:Invention of Weapons The God of the Poor Federalism, Explanation of Benefits
May 5, 2016
Flora
I’ve had a reputation for being a bully as a child but I was never mean. I simply didn’t know how to handle my anger. Being a Caviteña (people from the province of Cavite), I was easy to offend, carried the grudge longer than the next guy and was inclined to retaliate. Cavite was famous in the 50’s for the practice of “ubusan ng lahi”, which means in English “finishing the family”. If someone got killed the victim’s family kills the killer, then the killer’s family kills his killer, and the killing goes back and forth until no one is left standing in both families.
In the article A Scary Filipina, I narrated an incident where I got angry at a man’s comment about the way my daughter parked next to him. I wasn’t even the one driving, but I took his mild comment personally and responded with instant anger that actually scared him.
I never realized I had a problem until recently. Flora, a social worker, was assigned to help me with my medical issues. She gave over and above her duties to help me with my quirks. She gave me a pamphlet titled Symptom Targeted Intervention Guidebook. STI was designed to help those with depression, insomnia, anxiety, rumination, irritability, negative thinking and social isolation. My problems were insomnia, irritability, negative thinking and, although not socially, I am emotionally isolated.
Flora gave me exercises to practice control of my thoughts and emotions. She told me to print an image of a box and a stop sign to display where I can see it. I put them on my phone wallpaper. I am to put inside the box daily all my worries, anger, negative thoughts and close the lid on them. The stop sign is to remind me to stop before reacting to any thought that makes me feel bad. Avoid thinking of the past by taking 3 minutes to just sit and feel the present.
In the beginning I didn’t think it would help. Every week that Flora and I talked, she helped me with one issue after another. Like she were my psychologist, I tell her any event that got to me the past days and she would show me where I went wrong. Eventually I started to make progress. Lately, I have been cordial with two people I did not speak to for more than a year. I am sleeping better. I am now handling my irritability and negative thoughts by just bringing Flora to mind. She has become my imaginary stop sign.
This week Flora said goodbye to me. She is moving to another job, another place. I tried to hold my tears. You would think after losing so many people in my life, I should be used to it by now.
See also:
Living on Dialysis
The Bright Side of Colonoscopy
Get Up…
In the article A Scary Filipina, I narrated an incident where I got angry at a man’s comment about the way my daughter parked next to him. I wasn’t even the one driving, but I took his mild comment personally and responded with instant anger that actually scared him.
I never realized I had a problem until recently. Flora, a social worker, was assigned to help me with my medical issues. She gave over and above her duties to help me with my quirks. She gave me a pamphlet titled Symptom Targeted Intervention Guidebook. STI was designed to help those with depression, insomnia, anxiety, rumination, irritability, negative thinking and social isolation. My problems were insomnia, irritability, negative thinking and, although not socially, I am emotionally isolated.
Flora gave me exercises to practice control of my thoughts and emotions. She told me to print an image of a box and a stop sign to display where I can see it. I put them on my phone wallpaper. I am to put inside the box daily all my worries, anger, negative thoughts and close the lid on them. The stop sign is to remind me to stop before reacting to any thought that makes me feel bad. Avoid thinking of the past by taking 3 minutes to just sit and feel the present.
In the beginning I didn’t think it would help. Every week that Flora and I talked, she helped me with one issue after another. Like she were my psychologist, I tell her any event that got to me the past days and she would show me where I went wrong. Eventually I started to make progress. Lately, I have been cordial with two people I did not speak to for more than a year. I am sleeping better. I am now handling my irritability and negative thoughts by just bringing Flora to mind. She has become my imaginary stop sign.
This week Flora said goodbye to me. She is moving to another job, another place. I tried to hold my tears. You would think after losing so many people in my life, I should be used to it by now.
See also:
Living on Dialysis
The Bright Side of Colonoscopy
Get Up…
April 24, 2016
Prince, The Jehovah's Witness
In the 80’s Gloria’s sons were in their early teens. They were both fans of Michael Jackson. She heard them putting down Jackson’s rival, named Prince. They were in the Philippines and got very vague and confusing Hollywood gossips. At that time Jackson was the guy of good report. Prince was the guy nobody could figure out.
Then in 1984, Purple Rain happened. From what she’d been hearing, Gloria was intrigued, she went to see it at a local theater, by herself. Then a few days later, she went to see Purple Rain again. Then, she got a Betamax copy.
Unfounded rumors about Prince’s persona continued, while Jackson was a Jehovah’s Witness, he can’t be bad. However, in the exact same year, 1984, the Thriller single came out. Jackson lost his religion. In 2001, Prince found his, the exact same one Jackson lost.
“Prince joined the Jehovah's Witnesses in 2001…Prince said that he did not consider it a conversion, but a "realization"… He attended meetings at a local Kingdom Hall and occasionally knocked on people's doors to discuss his faith. Prince had needed double hip-replacement surgery since 2005 but would not undergo the operation unless it was a bloodless surgery because Jehovah's Witnesses typically do not accept blood products. The condition was caused by repeated onstage dancing in high-heeled boots. Towards the end of his life Prince regularly walked with a cane in public engagements, leading to speculation that this resulted from not having the surgery.”
“As a Jehovah's Witness, Prince did not speak publicly about his charitable endeavors” From: wochit Entertainment In 1996, the love of her life gifted Gloria with 6 CDs of Prince, Graffiti Bridge, Purple Rain, The Gold Experience, Around the World in a Day, The Beautiful Experience, The Black Album. Below is a cover of an album released after Prince became a Jehovah's Witness.
Prince died on April 21, 2016. Gloria’s friends extended their condolences to her.
See also:
Google It
The God of the Poor
Greatest Love Story
Then in 1984, Purple Rain happened. From what she’d been hearing, Gloria was intrigued, she went to see it at a local theater, by herself. Then a few days later, she went to see Purple Rain again. Then, she got a Betamax copy.
Unfounded rumors about Prince’s persona continued, while Jackson was a Jehovah’s Witness, he can’t be bad. However, in the exact same year, 1984, the Thriller single came out. Jackson lost his religion. In 2001, Prince found his, the exact same one Jackson lost.
“Prince joined the Jehovah's Witnesses in 2001…Prince said that he did not consider it a conversion, but a "realization"… He attended meetings at a local Kingdom Hall and occasionally knocked on people's doors to discuss his faith. Prince had needed double hip-replacement surgery since 2005 but would not undergo the operation unless it was a bloodless surgery because Jehovah's Witnesses typically do not accept blood products. The condition was caused by repeated onstage dancing in high-heeled boots. Towards the end of his life Prince regularly walked with a cane in public engagements, leading to speculation that this resulted from not having the surgery.”
“As a Jehovah's Witness, Prince did not speak publicly about his charitable endeavors” From: wochit Entertainment In 1996, the love of her life gifted Gloria with 6 CDs of Prince, Graffiti Bridge, Purple Rain, The Gold Experience, Around the World in a Day, The Beautiful Experience, The Black Album. Below is a cover of an album released after Prince became a Jehovah's Witness.
Prince died on April 21, 2016. Gloria’s friends extended their condolences to her.
See also:
Google It
The God of the Poor
Greatest Love Story
April 18, 2016
The God of the Poor
So, what’s a former student political activist doing preaching with Bible in hand? Somewhere along her nationalistic journey, she found preachers who gave her a copy of the Bible and offered her a free Bible study.
In the course of her study, which lasted almost three years, she learned that the Heavenly Father she prayed to in Catholic school, actually has a name, Jehovah. Then she read that Jehovah is pro-poor of all nations, not just the poor of Israel. Below are some of the Bible text that convinced the activist who was trained to sell socialism as the only hope for the Filipino poor.
Exodus 22:25
“If you lend money to anyone poor of my people, someone who is dwelling with you, you must not become like a moneylender to him. You must not charge him interest.”
The best way to exploit the cash-strapped poor is to offer a loan then squeeze them for life.
Exodus 23:11
“You are to sow your land with seed and gather its produce for six years. But the seventh year you should leave it uncultivated and let it lie fallow, and the poor among your people will eat of it,”
Jehovah set up the rules to allow the landless get to own the landowner’s farm every 7th year.
Leviticus 19:9-10 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not reap the edge of your field completely and you must not pick up the gleaning of your harvest. Also, you must not gather the leftovers of your vineyard or pick up the scattered grapes of your vineyard. You should leave them for the poor and the foreign resident. I am Jehovah your God.”
Aside from the 7th year provision, every harvest provided for the poor in a process called ‘gleaning’ which means gathering leftover grain or other produce after a harvest.
Leviticus 19:13 “You must not defraud your fellow man, and you must not rob. You should not withhold the wages of a hired worker all night until morning.”
Note that withholding the wage overnight is linked to defrauding the laborer. In today’s labor system, wages are given out every two weeks or 15 days. If a company has footprints in several states, employing for example 200 thousand, the wages from day one to fifteen would accumulate a load of money in interest that the companies get to keep when the employee receives his pay without interest. This money keeping is exploitation on top of exploitation.
Matthew 20:8-16 “When evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his man in charge, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last and ending with the first.’ When the 11th-hour men came, they each received a de·narʹi·us. So when the first came, they assumed that they would receive more, but they too were paid at the rate of a de·narʹi·us. On receiving it, they began to complain against the master of the house and said, ‘These last men put in one hour’s work; still you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!’ But he said in reply to one of them, ‘Fellow, I do you no wrong. You agreed with me for a de·narʹi·us, did you not? Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last one the same as to you. Do I not have the right to do what I want with my own things? Or is your eye envious because I am good?’ In this way, the last ones will be first, and the first ones last”
Some would say that the Exodus and Leviticus are Mosaic Laws that have become obsolete when Jesus amended most of them. The Matthew 20:8-16 is quoted from Jesus’ teaching and seems to be a further advancement to the above mentioned Mosaic labor laws. The verses shows that God prefers to give “to each according to his need” and not simply according to the hours worked.
See also:Google It Invention of Weapons The Silent Life
In the course of her study, which lasted almost three years, she learned that the Heavenly Father she prayed to in Catholic school, actually has a name, Jehovah. Then she read that Jehovah is pro-poor of all nations, not just the poor of Israel. Below are some of the Bible text that convinced the activist who was trained to sell socialism as the only hope for the Filipino poor.
Exodus 22:25
“If you lend money to anyone poor of my people, someone who is dwelling with you, you must not become like a moneylender to him. You must not charge him interest.”
The best way to exploit the cash-strapped poor is to offer a loan then squeeze them for life.
Exodus 23:11
“You are to sow your land with seed and gather its produce for six years. But the seventh year you should leave it uncultivated and let it lie fallow, and the poor among your people will eat of it,”
Jehovah set up the rules to allow the landless get to own the landowner’s farm every 7th year.
Leviticus 19:9-10 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not reap the edge of your field completely and you must not pick up the gleaning of your harvest. Also, you must not gather the leftovers of your vineyard or pick up the scattered grapes of your vineyard. You should leave them for the poor and the foreign resident. I am Jehovah your God.”
Aside from the 7th year provision, every harvest provided for the poor in a process called ‘gleaning’ which means gathering leftover grain or other produce after a harvest.
Leviticus 19:13 “You must not defraud your fellow man, and you must not rob. You should not withhold the wages of a hired worker all night until morning.”
Note that withholding the wage overnight is linked to defrauding the laborer. In today’s labor system, wages are given out every two weeks or 15 days. If a company has footprints in several states, employing for example 200 thousand, the wages from day one to fifteen would accumulate a load of money in interest that the companies get to keep when the employee receives his pay without interest. This money keeping is exploitation on top of exploitation.
Matthew 20:8-16 “When evening came, the master of the vineyard said to his man in charge, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last and ending with the first.’ When the 11th-hour men came, they each received a de·narʹi·us. So when the first came, they assumed that they would receive more, but they too were paid at the rate of a de·narʹi·us. On receiving it, they began to complain against the master of the house and said, ‘These last men put in one hour’s work; still you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day and the burning heat!’ But he said in reply to one of them, ‘Fellow, I do you no wrong. You agreed with me for a de·narʹi·us, did you not? Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last one the same as to you. Do I not have the right to do what I want with my own things? Or is your eye envious because I am good?’ In this way, the last ones will be first, and the first ones last”
Some would say that the Exodus and Leviticus are Mosaic Laws that have become obsolete when Jesus amended most of them. The Matthew 20:8-16 is quoted from Jesus’ teaching and seems to be a further advancement to the above mentioned Mosaic labor laws. The verses shows that God prefers to give “to each according to his need” and not simply according to the hours worked.
See also:Google It Invention of Weapons The Silent Life
April 10, 2016
Jumping Ship
It was said that the best thing one can do for the family is to make the co-parent happy. That sounds easy, but marriage is difficult even when there is genuine deep love. Mutual respect, a common religion, intellectual compatibility, financial stability and being blessed with genetically beautiful and intelligent children, having all of those do not guarantee a happy marriage.
There is no divorce law in the Philippines. The premise of the anti-divorce law is to keep the family together. That argument worked well in the past decades. However, in this age of information and technology, it’s hard to be ill-informed about the options open to couples in other countries. The funny thing is that, even if there is a divorce law in the Philippines, the deeply ingrained culture of staying married for the children’s sake would keep it together.
The unhappily married man’s recourse would be to cheat and keep another family tucked away somewhere. His other option is to suffer and make everyone else feel it.
I know of unhappily married Filipinas who found a way to jump ship without anyone noticing. They are those who work until late, till they are cross eyed in exhaustion. Then, they come home to dutifully bury themselves in house chores. They pretend that working themselves to death is their lot in life. As a result, their homes are clean and presentable. Their children are intelligent and disciplined. Their bedroom is dark and cold.
These women take pride in providing for their family, some better than their spouse. With or without education, they find a way to support the family, thinking that if they earned enough, the spouse might be emboldened to leave. The opposite usually happens. He sits back and enjoy the privilege.
While the rest of the world is turning, the Philippine family life has stood the test of time. Mothers who wished their daughters would have a different life, decades later, found their daughters in their own shoes. My mother once advised me “If you’re not happy, leave.” The pull of culture is stronger far than we. My mother died seeing me in her shoes. Like her, I left without actually moving out. It took me another 20 years before I got the courage to be different.
See also:Widow of the Living Divorce For Filipinos The Fast Lane to Goodbye
There is no divorce law in the Philippines. The premise of the anti-divorce law is to keep the family together. That argument worked well in the past decades. However, in this age of information and technology, it’s hard to be ill-informed about the options open to couples in other countries. The funny thing is that, even if there is a divorce law in the Philippines, the deeply ingrained culture of staying married for the children’s sake would keep it together.
The unhappily married man’s recourse would be to cheat and keep another family tucked away somewhere. His other option is to suffer and make everyone else feel it.
I know of unhappily married Filipinas who found a way to jump ship without anyone noticing. They are those who work until late, till they are cross eyed in exhaustion. Then, they come home to dutifully bury themselves in house chores. They pretend that working themselves to death is their lot in life. As a result, their homes are clean and presentable. Their children are intelligent and disciplined. Their bedroom is dark and cold.
These women take pride in providing for their family, some better than their spouse. With or without education, they find a way to support the family, thinking that if they earned enough, the spouse might be emboldened to leave. The opposite usually happens. He sits back and enjoy the privilege.
While the rest of the world is turning, the Philippine family life has stood the test of time. Mothers who wished their daughters would have a different life, decades later, found their daughters in their own shoes. My mother once advised me “If you’re not happy, leave.” The pull of culture is stronger far than we. My mother died seeing me in her shoes. Like her, I left without actually moving out. It took me another 20 years before I got the courage to be different.
See also:Widow of the Living Divorce For Filipinos The Fast Lane to Goodbye
April 3, 2016
Federalism, Explanation of Benefits
What exactly is the ‘federalism’ that has been proposed by politicians but not clearly explained? “Leading examples of such a political system, or federation, include Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Switzerland or the United States…it is often perceived as an optimal solution for states comprising different cultural or ethnic communities.”
The states of the US already had their own governments when the U.S. civil war ended and the US Constitution was written. The US Constitution "did not need to define or explain federalism.” The Philippine constitution, however, would have to undergo a “charter change” to effectively transition to a Federal government. Every time charter change was proposed, it was opposed by politicians and protesters saying that it would be used to perpetuate the current leadership in power. The opposite is true. History proves that the leadership has remained in the same families anyway, without the charter change. Charter change was the only thing that could effectively pass the anti-dynasty law, which would limit the families of politicians from acquiring government positions.
Why is Federalism “an optimal solution” and why does the Philippines qualify? The Philippines has provinces with extremely diverse religions, cultural or ethnic communities, different languages even, and separated by sea or mountainous terrain making it difficult for the national government to manage efficiently.
DSWD on buried rice Federalism gives the provincial government the power to solve their own problems using their own tax collection without the absolute control currently exercised by the national government. The messed up distribution of the food and 500 fishing boats donated to the Yolanda victims would not have happened if the Tacloban local government had the authority to distribute the donations. Instead, the donations were locked up in warehouses and allowed to rot by DSWD. "The wooden boats are now stockpiled at the vicinity of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) at the Government Center. In 2014, DMCI turned over the boats to DILG." It's human nature, politicians can’t be expected to sympathize with calamity victims of another region or province. Worse, they could use their power to deprive assistance to a region they perceive as personal enemy.
“To try to have a national solution to all problems…you end up with solutions that are more effective in some states, and less effective in others. To allow states to create solutions to their own problems, using policies and laws that work best in their state, means that each state can come up with its own solution, making government more efficient.” Fishing regions don’t share the problems experienced by mountain dwellers. Metro Manila provides better education than remote provinces because the Department of Education can’t oversee the needs of the entire archipelago so that the children in remote provinces have school rooms in dire disrepair or none at all. The current system leaves all the money in the hands of the central government awaiting any genius who can come up with a 'pork barrel graft', or wasteful spending of budget like the uninhabited rows and rows or condominium buildings along the coastal road initially called Pabahay ni Cory in the 80's, the AFP/PNP housing project, or the mismanaged unwanted housing like the 'Bayan ni Juan' relocation project.
“One of the first proponents of federalism in the Philippines is University of the Philippines professor Jose Abueva who argued that a federal form of government is necessary to more efficiently cater to the needs of the country despite its diversity... Aside from Abueva, Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. is a prominent supporter of federalism who, since 2001, has advocated for federalism…Federalism will also hasten economic development since resource and financial mobilization is upon each states' or provinces' discretion without significant constraint from the central government.”
Who oppose Federalism and why? Politicians from the central government use national laws to exploit the natural resources and mines of provinces.
The people of the Cordillera region have not benefited from the mines in their mountains. “On March 3, 1995, Republic Act 7942 otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act was passed into law. As a law liberalizing the mining industry… At present and due to the liberalization of the mining industry in the country, mining companies continue to target the Cordillera region for the extraction of gold, copper, silver and other minerals…” The president of the Philippines in 1995 was Fidel Ramos.
wikipedia.org/wiki/
Geography_of_the_Philippines The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), a partnership and free trade agreement between Japan and the Philippines was signed in on September 9, 2006 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In effect, JPEPA gave Japan the rights to fish in our seas, while our small boat fishermen do not have the capacity to fish in Sea of Japan.
See also:
The Iron Lady
Reshaping the Philippines
The Ladies of the Palace
The states of the US already had their own governments when the U.S. civil war ended and the US Constitution was written. The US Constitution "did not need to define or explain federalism.” The Philippine constitution, however, would have to undergo a “charter change” to effectively transition to a Federal government. Every time charter change was proposed, it was opposed by politicians and protesters saying that it would be used to perpetuate the current leadership in power. The opposite is true. History proves that the leadership has remained in the same families anyway, without the charter change. Charter change was the only thing that could effectively pass the anti-dynasty law, which would limit the families of politicians from acquiring government positions.
Why is Federalism “an optimal solution” and why does the Philippines qualify? The Philippines has provinces with extremely diverse religions, cultural or ethnic communities, different languages even, and separated by sea or mountainous terrain making it difficult for the national government to manage efficiently.
DSWD on buried rice Federalism gives the provincial government the power to solve their own problems using their own tax collection without the absolute control currently exercised by the national government. The messed up distribution of the food and 500 fishing boats donated to the Yolanda victims would not have happened if the Tacloban local government had the authority to distribute the donations. Instead, the donations were locked up in warehouses and allowed to rot by DSWD. "The wooden boats are now stockpiled at the vicinity of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) at the Government Center. In 2014, DMCI turned over the boats to DILG." It's human nature, politicians can’t be expected to sympathize with calamity victims of another region or province. Worse, they could use their power to deprive assistance to a region they perceive as personal enemy.“To try to have a national solution to all problems…you end up with solutions that are more effective in some states, and less effective in others. To allow states to create solutions to their own problems, using policies and laws that work best in their state, means that each state can come up with its own solution, making government more efficient.” Fishing regions don’t share the problems experienced by mountain dwellers. Metro Manila provides better education than remote provinces because the Department of Education can’t oversee the needs of the entire archipelago so that the children in remote provinces have school rooms in dire disrepair or none at all. The current system leaves all the money in the hands of the central government awaiting any genius who can come up with a 'pork barrel graft', or wasteful spending of budget like the uninhabited rows and rows or condominium buildings along the coastal road initially called Pabahay ni Cory in the 80's, the AFP/PNP housing project, or the mismanaged unwanted housing like the 'Bayan ni Juan' relocation project.
“One of the first proponents of federalism in the Philippines is University of the Philippines professor Jose Abueva who argued that a federal form of government is necessary to more efficiently cater to the needs of the country despite its diversity... Aside from Abueva, Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. is a prominent supporter of federalism who, since 2001, has advocated for federalism…Federalism will also hasten economic development since resource and financial mobilization is upon each states' or provinces' discretion without significant constraint from the central government.”
Who oppose Federalism and why? Politicians from the central government use national laws to exploit the natural resources and mines of provinces.
The people of the Cordillera region have not benefited from the mines in their mountains. “On March 3, 1995, Republic Act 7942 otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act was passed into law. As a law liberalizing the mining industry… At present and due to the liberalization of the mining industry in the country, mining companies continue to target the Cordillera region for the extraction of gold, copper, silver and other minerals…” The president of the Philippines in 1995 was Fidel Ramos.
wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_the_Philippines The Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), a partnership and free trade agreement between Japan and the Philippines was signed in on September 9, 2006 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In effect, JPEPA gave Japan the rights to fish in our seas, while our small boat fishermen do not have the capacity to fish in Sea of Japan.
See also:
The Iron Lady
Reshaping the Philippines
The Ladies of the Palace
March 28, 2016
Another Love Story
I recently came across another real life example supporting my mother’s interpretation of the old Salawikain (proverb) “Pagkahaba-haba man ng prosisyon sa simbahan din ang tuloy,” which she took to mean, in English, as “No matter how many mistresses a man should have, at the near end of his life, he will return to his first wife.”
Ruben was a young man when he met and married Erika, a beautiful heir to her family’s business. He had a stable job in the military and he looked handsome in uniform. She didn’t need much since her family was glad to keep her on allowance. They were crazy about each other but marriage is tricky whether it be ‘for richer or poorer’.
Erika had the temperament of a spoiled brat. When she got the idea to raise pigs, her family supported the business venture with a small capital. When she and Ruben had a fight she had the pigs killed where they stood. That ended the animal husbandry venture but not the marriage.
Her family built them a home, not a mansion but still a small fortune at that time. Then she and Ruben had a big fight. She had the house demolished to impress upon him that she has a right to do whatever she wanted to her property. They had to move into a rental. The marriage didn’t end there though.
Some years, a couple of children and more fights later, Ruben and Erika finally separated. As customary in the Philippines, a country without a divorce law, Ruben met someone new and moved on to have a common law 2nd marriage. The bratty Erika, surprisingly, never remarried.
The second wife spent her life bashing Erika at every opportunity, while none in Ruben’s family heard of Erika again. No one understood, why the girl who managed to steal the man was the one bitter.
Years turned to decades. The children of Erika and the second wife’s have all grown up civil to one another, like stepsiblings ought to be. The ravages of time caught each one in this ménage à trois. Now all in their 80’s, the 2nd wife walks with a bent back, Ruben can hardly see and walks with a caregiver. No one has seen Erika, thus no one can describe her health condition. However, the 2nd wife, still bitter, still talking about Erika, narrated how Ruben laboriously walks three blocks with his caregiver to where Erika now lives. The caregiver has reported to her that on those occasions, Ruben and Erika put food in each other’s lips like newlyweds.
See also:One Adam for One Eve Greatest Love Story Widow of the Living
Ruben was a young man when he met and married Erika, a beautiful heir to her family’s business. He had a stable job in the military and he looked handsome in uniform. She didn’t need much since her family was glad to keep her on allowance. They were crazy about each other but marriage is tricky whether it be ‘for richer or poorer’.
Erika had the temperament of a spoiled brat. When she got the idea to raise pigs, her family supported the business venture with a small capital. When she and Ruben had a fight she had the pigs killed where they stood. That ended the animal husbandry venture but not the marriage.
Her family built them a home, not a mansion but still a small fortune at that time. Then she and Ruben had a big fight. She had the house demolished to impress upon him that she has a right to do whatever she wanted to her property. They had to move into a rental. The marriage didn’t end there though.
Some years, a couple of children and more fights later, Ruben and Erika finally separated. As customary in the Philippines, a country without a divorce law, Ruben met someone new and moved on to have a common law 2nd marriage. The bratty Erika, surprisingly, never remarried.
The second wife spent her life bashing Erika at every opportunity, while none in Ruben’s family heard of Erika again. No one understood, why the girl who managed to steal the man was the one bitter.
Years turned to decades. The children of Erika and the second wife’s have all grown up civil to one another, like stepsiblings ought to be. The ravages of time caught each one in this ménage à trois. Now all in their 80’s, the 2nd wife walks with a bent back, Ruben can hardly see and walks with a caregiver. No one has seen Erika, thus no one can describe her health condition. However, the 2nd wife, still bitter, still talking about Erika, narrated how Ruben laboriously walks three blocks with his caregiver to where Erika now lives. The caregiver has reported to her that on those occasions, Ruben and Erika put food in each other’s lips like newlyweds.
See also:One Adam for One Eve Greatest Love Story Widow of the Living
