Stop Mass Killings

For the past few days I have been trying to pursue my annual ritual of reviewing life in the past year and writing down goals for 2013. But I have failed doing so, having read the latest news on the death toll in Syria’s civil war. According to the United Nations Commission for Human Rights, the total death toll has risen to more than 60,000 since the conflict began in March 2011.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay was quoted as saying, "The number of casualties is much higher than we expected, and is truly shocking."

What started out as peaceful protests seeking political change, the conflict  has become a full-blown civil war because of the adamant behaviour of President Bashar Assad who continues to cling on to power. He reacted with iron-fist hostility using the full-might of the military to quell the rebellion without regard to the growing number of civilian deaths.

The major power players in world politics cannot make up their minds; thus Assad remains focused in his armed campaign to overcome the growing number of opposition who now have obtained support in arms and ammunition compliments of countries who believe in their cause.

The United States and a good number of European and Arab nations have sought Assad’s resignation, while Russia, China and Iran maintain that the conflict is internal and should not have intervention from outsiders.

Why should not countries intervene? Why should we be concerned? When a leader turns the gun on the people that he has sworn to serve, then something is very wrong. I have always seen Ferdinand Marcos in bad light because of the institutional corruption, the human rights abuses and the curtailment of freedoms but there was some good in the man, and that is, he prevented bloodshed in EDSA where nearly a million gathered to seek his ouster. The United States had a part in that peaceful transition of power.

But in these times, the US no longer holds as much clout as it used to have.  Russia and more particularly China have balanced the world’s most powerful country in terms of weaponry and infantry.

What can we do? As sure as the sun will rise, Assad will continue to murder his people to keep himself in power.  Now that the ‘fiscal cliff’ was put to a stop in the US, President Barack Obama must use his Inaugural Speech to tell Assad that his time is nearly up.  If Obama does that – then he will not only prevent more bloodshed, but he will place the US in a higher moral ground and earn goodwill among many nations in the world. Russia and China will realize that they must heed the call from nearly all nations in the world for an end to senseless killings day after day.

Pope Benedict XVI, during the traditional Christmas mass called for an end in the conflict. “I once again appeal to end the bloodshed, to provide refugees access to care and to open a dialogue in search of a political solution to the conflict…there is hope even in the most difficult of times and in the most difficult situations”. He prayed that “peace may return to the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by the conflict, which does not spare even the defenseless”.

All nations must unite under the flag of the United Nations. We must never allow leaders to get away with mass murder. Not in the past, not today, not in the future.

A Gift to New Zealand

“What can we gift New Zealand?” I asked the question before new migrants and other participants to OG: Open Gathering on December 23.                                                                                     

New Zealand is home to people of diverse ethnicities. It is a beautiful country with its clean and green environment. It is a tolerant society that allows everyone to freely express themselves within the bounds of the law. It is a caring nation that attends to the needs of the elderly, the sickly, the unemployed and the poor. It is a land of opportunity that gives people the chance to progress personally, financially and creatively.

We must be grateful to New Zealand, its government and its people.

TawagAwit, the ministry that I founded, has seen the need for people to have a more meaningful celebration of Christmas, the season for giving, sharing and caring.

In a number of countries in the world such as the Philippines, Canada and Spain, employees are given 13th month pay usually in the month of December.  With the benefit, employees are able to spend for their families, friends and even to strangers for a merry Christmas.  On the other hand, the economy will flourish with the increased business activities as a result of the monetary benefit.

With 13th month pay adopted by New Zealand, employees who work hard to keep the business going and who pay taxes to the government are fairly rewarded.

As a gift to New Zealand, TawagAwit is initiating a signature campaign in a Petition for the New Zealand Parliament to Adopt a 13th Month Pay for Employees.

The campaign kicked off during the OG: Open Gathering on December 23, 2012 and will end on June 30, 2013.  Our target: 5,000 signatures. 

Join us.

Christmas Joy

There is much grief in the world as Christmas draws nearer.

On December 14, 2012, a troubled 20-year old shot his mother in their home and killed 20 children and six adults in Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut. On the same day in the village of Chengping in Henan, China, a 36-year old man stabbed an elderly woman and 22 children before security guards stopped him.  None of the victims died. In the Philippines, the number of dead in the aftermath of Typhoon Pablo breached 1,000 with another 1,000 missing.

In Syria, the 20-month-old civil war has resulted in 40,000 people killed and there is worry that President Bashar al-Assad may use chemical weapons against rebels and civilians opposed to his regime.
There is no shortage of bad news. Add to that the media build-up on the nonsensical Mayan End of the World prophecy on December 21, 2012.

Amidst the tragedies and anxiety, how can one be merry this Christmas?

As we pray for the souls of those who have died, we must strive to find joy in life. How?  We must become vessels of faith, hope and charity. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 King James Bible)

Surely you will have prepared gifts for your family members, your relatives, your friends and your sweetheart. But have you wrapped a gift, cooked food or sang a song for a stranger? Heed this message. “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)

We cannot all go to Connecticut or Henan to show our sympathy to those in despair. We cannot personally give a helping hand to those affected by the typhoon in the Philippines. We cannot march to Damascus to convince President al-Assad to peacefully turnover the government to the opposition.

But then we can strengthen the faith within our respective families by attending the Christmas mass together. We can give hope to others by donating to worthy causes that help the vulnerable in society. We can demonstrate charity by giving something special to less fortunate neighbours or volunteering assistance in community reach out programmes.

You can really do so much this Christmas to spread joy in the world, to find joy in your heart.

The Perfect Punch

Just one second and round 6 was over. At that moment Juan Manuel Marquez connected the perfect punch that hit Manny Pacquiao’s jaw. The former world boxing champion fell on the canvass like a log. For nearly two minutes, Pacman stayed motionless, while the Mexican ran to his corner to rejoice.

I am a fan of Pacquiao. Like most Filipinos viewers, I was awed at the epic battle in the early rounds when both fighters displayed remarkable boxing techniques. Then came the punch, it was shocking. As Pacquiao lay unconscious, in silence I was deeply worried. When he opened his eyes, there was relief. For the hours that followed, I was saddened as did many Filipinos I encountered.

Both Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach offered no excuses. Said Pacquiao, “That’s boxing. Sometimes we get hit. I started to get over-confident. I never expected that shot,” Roach when sought for comment, replied, “It was a great knockout. No excuses. Marquez won the fight.” 

Pacquiao’s wife Jinky was quoted as saying on the day prior to the fight that “everything happens for a reason.” Those words should be thoroughly reflected by Pacquiao. There will be a lot of people giving their piece of advice or opinion on what course he will take next.  There is Dionisia (Pacquiao’s mother), there is the pastor, there is the wife, there is Roach, there is Bob Arum, and many others.

Many of us are often in the crossroads of our lives. So many paths ahead, but you can only take one. When making crucial decisions, one must take counsel from elders and the wise. “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)

But even the wise err. The potent tool is prayer to a generous God. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5) When the Lord speaks, accept His will. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) For God has planned out for us what road to take to ascertain our reunion with Him. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)

Of late Pacman has been attached to his Bible studies. He may not be Catholic, but I am certain God loves him, and means well for him. If I was asked what I can advice Pacquiao, I will tell him, “Go to your room. Pray intensely; as intense as your preparation for a boxing bout. For if you thought that the most difficult battle is inside the ring, you are wrong. Outside the ring, there is a far bigger war: against sin and temptation; against fame and popularity, against greed and materialism.”

Would You Consent?

A 124-year old heritage building was brought down this year in the Central Business District of Auckland, New Zealand as it had become a hazard to the public. A group protested against the destruction of the old structure; but the Council bulldozed the building anyway. That was not the end of the story.

The property had been bought by John and Michael Chow of the Chow Group who describe their company as a “successful investment property group with a market value today in excess of $125 million.” There is a slant though in the tag; for the company thrives on the sex industry, particularly operation of brothels.  The Chow Group will be constructing a 15-storey brothel and hotel building in the property.

More than 200 objections to the use of the building were submitted to the four independent commissioners who said that the law permitted a brothel on the site. Many are upset with the decision. A disappointed Mayor Len Brown said that “a landowner would end up advantaged by a situation that should never have been allowed to happen.”

Denise Ritchie, one of the civic leaders opposed to the proposed brothel passionately said, “Any frustration about the expanding sex industry can be sheeted home to the 60 MPs, mostly Labour and Greens, who nine years ago voted to decriminalise and normalise prostitution and the commercial sex industry. It’s a simple case of, we reap what we sow.”

About 22 countries (in the US only in rural Nevada and in Australia, the eastern states) in the world legalize prostitution and New Zealand is mentioned as very loosely regulated. While legislations or regulations were meant for the protection of prostitutes, pimps have turned themselves into “decent” business executives profiting from the sexual services of women and feeding on the lust of customers.

The Bible addresses prostitution in this verse, "The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." (1 Corinthians 6:13) Another one says "For a prostitute is a deep pit and a wayward wife is a narrow well. Like a bandit she lies in wait, and multiplies the unfaithful among men." (Proverbs 23:27-28) Surely a pimp is a deeper pit.

The damage that prostitution brings is tremendous to marriages, to families, to society. Worst it destroys the purity of the body and the soul.

If I were to address the Chow brothers, and others who trade on flesh and pleasure, I ask them this question, “Would you consent to your wife or daughter becoming a prostitute? Would you?”

For those who offend God by desecrating the purity of the body and the soul, they have allowed themselves to become tools of the devil, and marked their spirits to eternal damnation in hell. It is never too late to turn away from the trade of prostitution, for God’s mercy is without bound. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2)