THE TALE OF THE PHILIPPINE ELEPHANT

When I was a kid I am very happy when I first visited Manila Zoo. This is not because that I live in the province nor because I am excited of the snacks that I may eat during such visit. This is because of the new things that I saw in such place which of course consists mainly of animals. Everybody would agree that the animals present on the zoo are not the same animals that we see in every day of our lives.

One of the animals there that I find great fascination is the elephant. Big as it is, such animal caught my attention. And the more I was fascinated when such mammal started to dance by the sound of a flute. Maybe I was lucky enough to see this mammal which not every Filipinos is fortunate to see it.

Last Sunday, I am deeply sorry that the same elephant I saw during my childhood is the single elephant that we have in the country. Maybe its not amazing to know such reality because to have this kind of mammal would cost the Filipino people 1 to 2 million pesos each. This is so as we are not capable of raising such mammal locally.

My senses start to accept such reality but when I think of the billions of dollars being talked about in the Senate with regards to ZTE scandal, I am greatly dismayed. It come to my mind that if our government officials have the guts to corrupt people’s money for their selfish interest, how come they could not afford to buy even five of this mammal. It maybe the reality that elephants are not part of the day to day lives of every Filipinos but is it not worth spending for this mammal for our next generation not just to see it in picture.

Filipinos.... before casting your votes, think first of what a certain politician can do for you even how minute it is.

EXECUTION

Our history would tell us that in order to achieve a gloriouus era for our society, execution should be implemented. This is being reiterated when Henry VIII of England was executed just for marrying his wife. Recently, the leader of Iraq was executed in front of the public for the crimes he commited against his countrymen. Japan has also a long story of its leaders executing themselves voluntarily for corruption that they have inflicted to their country.

With all the misfortunes that are happening in the Philippines, I am longing for a person who probably would initiate the assasination of our leaders who continouosly plunder our beloved country. I may sound murderous, but it is the only thing where public service in our country can be done by our leaders without endulging themselves to corruption. Another is, street revolution may brought us to nothing but shame to the international community. Such revolution is always done when we are tired of our leaders endulging themselves to corruption. For this, let us try another forum by which we can change our leaders and their attitudes toward governing our nation.

Execution of our leaders may not be morally upright but it is the only way for our dear motherland to survive and ultimately to regain its lost reputation as the Pearl of the Orient. Moreover, our leaders should be ready to give up their lives in serving their constituents and most importantly our nation........THE PHILIPPINES.

TERMINATION

One of the confronting questions in my entire humanity is that why God has allowed infirmities in His creations. Well, such questions can draw lots of answers depending on whom you are speaking to. Religious would say that it is for those who have infirmities to be strong. On the part of medicine, infirmities of whatever kinds have been explained in scientific way dealing with experiments, researches and other scientific methods. Well, what I am supposed to deal in this blog is the so called Down syndrome which is an infirmity of both physical and psychological in nature and is confronting not only the one inflicted with it but the society as a whole.

What is Down syndrome? Medically speaking, Down syndrome is a kind of chromosomal aberration in which the genetic make up of a human being is disrupted. It is evidenced by the duplication of chromosome 21 where physical and mental abnormalities are manifested by the person inflicted with it. People with this condition can hardly contribute to his community as they are said to be slow learner. But looking and analyzing them critically, we can say that they are even greater than normal human beings as they are very much talented. For the cure of this medical condition, it is still on the process of research. But how can we eradicate this societal scar as some would call it in our society?

One of the practices about this medical condition is the so called termination wherein a part of the ameotic fluid is examined in the laboratory. Such fluid is the one accompanying the baby while it is still in the mother’s womb. The ameotic fluid carries with it the genetic make up of the baby wherein one can see if the chromosome 21 is duplicated or not. The intriguing question about this medical process is if it is indeed found out that there is such duplication in the fetus’ genetic make up would it mean the termination of the life that is in the mother’s womb and will result to abortion?

Medical procedures can be viewed in two aspects; the good and the bad. The good point of view of medicine is that it can heal or can even survive life as a whole. On the other hand, the other side of medicine is that it can also eradicate life through euthanasia, abortion and other practices which as a Catholic nation can be unacceptable to us Filipinos.

Our views about Down syndrome can be affected by lot of factors but foremost is the family’s economic situation. Accept it or not, a family with member of such genetic aberration entails much expense, emotional bearings and the like. But great is the honor that should be given to families who have less in life but able to manage or survive a member with physical or psychological infirmities. Also, for this great respect should be also given to mothers who have able to bring their children in this world even knowing that such is inflicted with infirmities.

DESPERATION

Every time I watch the news on television these past few days, my senses are caught by this priest named Fr. Suarez. I am fascinated in him as almost all people whom he comes contact with say that they were healed by their infirmities. Well, I remembered the first time I saw him was on a Sunday Mass being aired at a national television where on the last part of his mass he made a crippled man bound on his wheel chair for a long time walk. I may sound fanatic, but I see in him the persona of Jesus Christ Himself as being reiterated on the Scripture in His numerous healing sessions.

Such action of the said priest brought to the attention of the Filipinos as of today he is roaming around the country to heal people. Well, the reason why such form of healing is accepted in our country is perhaps Philippines is a Christian nation and we have great inclination to spiritual heal notwithstanding that it is cheap and entails less burden to anyone as compared to conventional medicine where lots of drugs are involved.

According to what my professor said in our class in Pathophysiology, there are really illnesses that are without any known cause and such ailments bring lots of headaches to our medical professionals. There are also those psychomatic ailments where any illness is not an action of a particular part of the body but of the mind translated to a particular illness. We Filipinos are also fund of bringing our patients to people other than the medical professionals who claim that they can cure any illness. This is the medical environment here in our country where we have different illnesses and also different ways of treating such illnesses.

But why faith healing? Faith healing is an alternative form of medicine that requires no scientific medical approach but only entails our faith to our Creator. Well, this is the form of medical approach that Fr. Suarez is doing at this moment. What is needed in such form of healing is nothing but only our faith and our patients to forego such medical approach considering that there are many people who wish to be healed through such process. The reason perhaps why faith healing is patronized in our society is it entails less cost compared to scientific approach of healing.

Whatever is the form of healing that we choose to lessen our ailments what is important is we are cured and that for me does not questioned any aspects of our lives. This is so as if one makes access to faith healing some would say that he is less fortunate or if one is surrounded by topmost physicians it is a sign that he is well of in terms of his economic life. What is important is that we are cure of our infirmities so we can be contributors in our nation building.

BEAUTIFUL

This afternoon, January 26, 2008, I have encountered a very intriguing question which for me I am only expecting to hear from my future wife or fiancé. This is when an officemate of mine ask me whether she is beautiful or not. Well, what else I can say but she is beautiful and that for sure satisfies her senses. But what is really beauty for me?

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that the first need of every man is the physiological need which entails for us as a human being to look good to others. this would mean that we should care for ourselves in order to look nice to others. but the question is how about those persons with physical infirmities, is such need fully satisfied in them.

Speaking from my own experience, I personally not meticulous about my looks as I am contented with what I am and what I have. I just think that even though I look different from the others, I am even much better than them considering that I can do what they cannot. That is not to brag about my personal accomplishments as a student, an employee and ultimately as a son to my parents.

Overcoming the first strata of the hierarchy of needs as proposed by Maslow does not mean that one should be contended in his life. This is so as life is a continuing process and ultimately we should strive to be at our very best in order to look good in our society and ultimately to our Creator.

HEAVEN

One of the intangible things that are important to our lives and is affecting our life is our so called heaven. To the holy people it is the place where God and angels live but to others it is the thing that is the measurement of how one lives in this world. Heaven is said to be the final resting place of all of us but the sad thing is we have our own individual idea of what it and most of the time such is the place where we compare ourselves.

Heaven when being talked by the so called righteous is a very beautiful place where God will receive them. But for bad people, it will remain a dream place especially if they have accepted to themselves that they are sure to meet Satan. But come to think of it, no one has reached heaven and for this how can they say that it is good. For me, heaven is here on earth and we can make our lives good in here as to follow what God has suggested which are contained in the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, then earth is heaven but as the reverse is happening on us we are presently on the other side of the story which is hell. The so called presence of God in heaven can be done by us through being good to others. After all, Jesus himself said that he can be seen right through our fellowmen. And if ever there is indeed a place called heaven after we die, then we would not have any recourse as we have done what God has commanded.

It is indeed a challenge for us to make our present situation a heaven. But right now, we are far from that. Now to do it, we should be opened to change our lives that is to say backing off from what is evil and turn to life that is heavenly.One of the intangible things that are important to our lives and is affecting our life is our so called heaven. To the holy people it is the place where God and angels live but to others it is the thing that is the measurement of how one lives in this world. Heaven is said to be the final resting place of all of us but the sad thing is we have our own individual idea of what it and most of the time such is the place where we compare ourselves.

Heaven when being talked by the so called righteous is a very beautiful place where God will receive them. But for bad people, it will remain a dream place especially if they have accepted to themselves that they are sure to meet Satan. But come to think of it, no one has reached heaven and for this how can they say that it is good. For me, heaven is here on earth and we can make our lives good in here as to follow what God has suggested which are contained in the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, then earth is heaven but as the reverse is happening on us we are presently on the other side of the story which is hell. The so called presence of God in heaven can be done by us through being good to others. After all, Jesus himself said that he can be seen right through our fellowmen. And if ever there is indeed a place called heaven after we die, then we would not have any recourse as we have done what God has commanded.

It is indeed a challenge for us to make our present situation a heaven. But right now, we are far from that. Now to do it, we should be opened to change our lives that is to say backing off from what is evil and turn to life that is heavenly.

DIFFERENT

I am living in a community where there is a mixture of residents from poor to middle class to rich families. And for this, I can say that in our community there are different personalities, different ideologies and beliefs but somehow I can say that we are united which I personally experienced during last year’s calamities. And as we are of different personalities, one can expect that among us will come one that can be considered as “pasaway” or black sheep.

I notice this man who is 50 years or older, a carpenter the fact he helps in building our houses, of 5 children all were jobless and a wife who is inclined in simple game of chance. It is normal for all men to drink liquor but every man has different personalities after drinking such thing and he is one of the few that should never taste or even see such drink. This is so as when he is drunk, he makes chaos over our community and even encouraging everybody that he meets to fight with him.

What a disgrace to his family. I realized that every time he is drunk he puts his family in shame particularly his daughter. That is why such child of him transferred to another place. But it is different when he is not drunk as he portrays a very respectable man to me as he is kind. Also, what makes me think of him is that even though he is of such character when he is drunk, his wife remains at his side even though they can be considered a low income family. It may be called true love and that for me is a remarkable character of his wife.

I may not have a business with them but I want to share their story especially to those who are just married or even those in a relationship that as problems are part and parcel of the so called love, it is also worth suffering just to survive that love. Also, in a relationship it is a bilateral thing that both parties should do their part in surviving their love for each other after all both of them will have a morsel of happiness.