"For Christ who loved man he dragged them from despair and into the thereafter"

"For Christ who loved man 

he dragged them from despair

and into the thereafter"

(Notes after the start of Lent)

At first, pardon for the title of this post, but just like John 3:16, the title speaks how he and his tasks been remarkable to each and everyone. And because of this, the value brought about by the works of the Lord Jesus Christ as through the eyes of every radical seemed to be greater than those who assumed to be "christian." 

For this great man, known as the "Son of God", the "King of the Jews", "The Anointed one", has spent all his life among the people. For there he carried a divine message for humanity which guiding them towards justice, wisdom, godliness, and love; and at the same time fought oppression, corruption, and various forms of injustices that affected his people-dragging them from the hell of this world into the hereafter.

And for this, it is expected that every Christian, regardless of its sect, as well as those who regard him of magnificence and high spirituality as any other known personage, corresponding to his elevated position, will follow his path.

Sounds too early for a Lenten message isn't it? But the season of Lent starts on this "Ash Wednesday", and Christians, regardless of its sect has to "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" as well as on the dictum "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." And for as Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, it is the grief that brought out of sin and caused division from God. Ironically, that day is also Valentines day, and with its theme of "love" somehow that occasion equated to sacrifice, humility, and admission of one's humanness is also a time to show that like Christ himself, that love has to be selfless, virtuous.
However, given the present situations, it is admissible that humanity is indeed, "human" and susceptible to wrongfulness, and there are times people would describe "selfishness" as a virtue, that being unjust as human nature, virtues are even distorted enough to what more that there are those who do things in the name of Christianity, assuming to be pious and in moral perfection, yet in fact totally unaware of his teachings.

But again, from his message, what more of his actions and sacrifice, the anointed man invited humanity to follow his cross, which is also the path to mankind’s redemption and happiness; and also from his experiences he warned them against pursuing their evil desires, contaminating the purity of the human soul into depravity, cruelty and wantonness.

Furthermore, there are no more words to say in this message,
Thank you. 

Too true to be Sacral

"Too true to be Sacral"

Notes from the presentation made by the UP Repertory company

shown last Frbruary 13, 2017 at UP Fair, Sunken Garden,

University of the Philippines, Diliman

By Letty Guererro

It was early evening when this person went to the University of the Philippines in Diliman for its February fair.

Known for its series of booths, of music and anything that was worth respite for the students and for the community, that fair is also means to invoke sentiments as any other political action, although nowadays been almost replaced by anything that is, commercial.

However, one interesting presentation was a play made by the UP Repertory Company. Based from Genesis 22 in which God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, on Mount Moriah, the presentation was given a Filipino twist, this time replacing Abraham with Duterte and Isaac with the common Filipino who's greatly affected by the series of extrajudicial acts particularly those from the "war on drugs". Quite interesting knowing that from every verse Eshei Mesina narrated, to the actions made by its actors and actresses, the presentation somehow tries to reignite UP Fair's militant past as a way of protest.

Everyone did watch though, although expect not all would understand its message, if not ridiculing  it knowing that they "came for the well-known bands and not for some militant presentation such as inspired from the Bible and Oplans Tokhang and Kapayapaan." But still, the presentation continued till everyone somehow got its point such as how the system continues to retain the status quo-such as a bloodied one, and be intensified by a leader known for his assholeness.

Ironically, those who supported the administration are Christians. Regardless of their sect affiliated, for sure they've understood the biblical verse as well as the Apostles Creed that professes their faith. But, since they are supporters of an administration sworn to protect the status quo, what more of taking an act that is bloodied, they suddenly forget being Christians if not justify the killing as godly- no matter how many innocents be affect by that carnage.

Otherwise, the presentation may redescribe as blasphemous after using anything but sacral be it the Bible verse or the Apostles Creed, but still that presentation shows how a ruler, being conscienceless if not choosing not to heed his compatriot's insistence not to be killed chose to proceed his own doing, no matter how that compatriot as wrongfully accused if not innocent yet greatly affected by its own surrounding, in pursuit of restoring order. Apologists may nihilistically think of it as a necessary catharsis, with collateral damages be reinterpreted as a cleansing measure if not a means to return to stability even at the expense of a hundred, thousand, or even million lives. Apologists would also think that no matter how numerous deaths or unjust policies being done the presidency still "did something good" be it building a series of infrastructure to promises of an untaxed salaries to the lower-income earners. And the rising costs of goods and services, also from the views of the apologists, is likely to be intepreted as a "call for austerity".

Again, in spite of how apologists reinterpret that action, that the system, via the administration has made it happen that "sacrifice", while the people, sneered by a desire for that brand of "change", has chose to let it commenced. No angel may intervene the tyrant from doing his act, with the tyrant himself admitting that he doesn't care if he gone to hell as long as "his people he serve will live in paradise."

Still in a state of struggle

Still in a state of struggle

Notes in a country's still-continuing past 

and its struggle for national-social change 

At first, this person, after reading various news  reports, of comments in social media, and in seeing various forms of social inconveniences, thinks that ever since most  people claim that life as truly unfair, then it is worth admissible that all history is consists of class struggles.

For in this continuing past, everyone hath wittnessed how developing nations struggled against the developed, and within those societies sought how the struggling masses battled against the elites; chaotic in its first impression the way those who record history has sought periods be like the Peasant Revolts of the Middle Ages or the heavily politicised masses of the French Revolution.

However, in spite of all the chaotic yet change-driven intents, there may be peace but as mere intervals, enough to consolidate forces and waiting for another scenario; there may be various forms of achievements enough to steer  developments to and fro, also enough to create a scenario. But to each in everyone who desired a place in the sun, a place wherein justice and honour be prevail, admits that there is a final conflict to face, even in a series of scenarios that would affect life and property - and from there will pave way to a genuine kind of development in which people from all walks of life be imbued with honor, trust, responsibility, equality, freedom, and love.

Sounds ideal it may be, especially with men like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, Jose Rizal, or Bonifacio expressed in their works, but it turns out to be real if to be taken seriously and at worse, fatally as every blood, mind, sinew, sweat, waters and weaves the tree and tapestry of a growing nation. That even Christ himself saidth that he came not to bring peace but a sword, and also from he, being the so-called prince of peace he expelled violently the moneylenders from the temple whom he described as the house of his father; 

And from that example one, such as a Church-going, everyday praying, Christian may think that ideal as desperate, foolish move especially that one has to be against the status quo. They may recognise the possibility of change, but, they chose to limit it such as a change in character than a social one. Filipinos desired for independence years ago, and there are men and groups involved in that kind of ideal, but there are Filipinos who rather contented in simple privileges with its next generations be like “we passed by those times, but why are we still the same? If I were they I’d be contented in this current state: to be simple.” Sounds Tandang Basio Macunat isn’t it? For alongside the pessimisms of Señor Pasta and of the faux-fabulousness of Doña Victorina, its generations continue to exist: in a form of nihil-apathetics choosing to “enjoy” if not pseudo-idealists whom preferred to be contented as fencesitters and mindsturbators.

But as a revolutionary who chose to take the bitter cup of sacrifice, poverty, and even death, a value-added contribution meant putting value to a megali idea such as a revolutionary change; From there it lies a continuity of a cherished tradition, alongside the creation of a new order that has nothing to do with the past whose nature as rotten; the former Soviet Union did that, so was people’s China, Korea, Vietnam, Albania.

And to think that in the Philippines, in spite of its independence this person and others concerned is ought to say that it becomes null and void for the prevailing system hinders the path to independence; for sure leaders assumed to be outspoken for independence yet do they truly adhere for it? Not to mention those who babble some change but actually emphasising self-interest; while its apologists, particularly fanatical ones, would still continue to insist that the change being brought from a ruler may also affect the system itself no matter how obvious that it cannot be, given the centuries-old despotic nature that the system treats change half-heartedly if not with disdain for it hinders their personal gains; leaders like Marcos, Duterte, or any other despots assuming to be "for the people" shows that their brand of "change" turns out to be an example of a Bonapartist move- with situations which reactionaries tries to appear themselves as for the people, and in some cases uses selective reforms enough to co-opt the radicalism of the popular classes. 
Marcos did that with his package of food distribution, housing, urban development, and even arts and culture; so was his successors like Duterte whose frankiest basis was to sneer people in the battle for hearts and minds, promising them with take-home pay for lower-income workers while at the same time continuing its bloodied campaign against the poor using the "war on drugs".

But in spite of all their intents, Marx argued that within the process, these personages tends to preserve and mask the power of a narrower ruling class. Fanatics may not believe in that idea what more in opposing and maligning the concerned for investigating and unearthing truths what more of instigating and asserting the need for a revolutionary change; and in the case of the University of the Philippines, students tend to oppose unjust ones and offer just solutions, while fanatics, with their narrow-mindedness treated them as  any other social delinquent and hence liable for their demise simply because of its idealism if not those of its actions. Duterte, like his predecessors, may have approved programs like free education in which apologists applauded for it; but again, like his predecessors, that decree does not stop students from getting concerned what more of getting opposed to the unjust policies the system tend to shove in everyone's throats. He did even threatened them with expulsions, prison bars, even deaths, so where is the freedom and democracy these apologists praised about?

Pardon for some ridicule if not skepticism knowing how the system, in presenting some changes is meant to consolidate theirs than to emancipate the have-nots. Rule of law has becoming a condified rule of men as despots condify their stupidity using a hodgepodge of gutter thoughts and legalese; but to think that in a semifeudal-semicolonial order hinders or negates development for the masses, aggravates centuries-old situations ranging from the peasantry to those of the labouring yet debt-strapped masses, will there truly be Cooperation between those who oppress and those who are being oppressed?

Sorry but that makes it impossible for the latter hinders the path to redemption.

ContemporAntiquity inside Meralco Museum

ContemporAntiquity inside Meralco Museum

(or "how this person got stumbled in there")

Situated in Pasig City, the museum of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) shows off its ages-old contribution, that somehow made this person describe as a relics of ContemporAntiquity.

Ranging from its old electric meters, pictures, as well as a replica of a tram that was one of the recognisable symbols of old Manila, the museum wanted to show its visitors that the company as more than just a generator and distributor of electricity, but also a contributor in the metro, what more of a country's contemporary development.

At first, one would say that the once-named "Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company" has contributed much to Metro Manila, and in extention, Mega Manila's development for more than 100 years, and as a ContemporAntiquitarian, the museum’s intent is more than just revisiting the past with all its mementoes and replicas enough for a observer to know how that company hath brought light to its customers for generations, but also to inspire present and future generations to steer development in various fields: be it Power Generation, Transporation, Communications, and other emerging technologies in industries in need of breakthrough solutions to developmental challenges if not as part of a megali idea that leads to a nation’s renaissance.

Sounds idealistic after seeing those mementoes, if not too optimistic knowing that MERALCO but, come to think of this: was the founders of that company truly concerned about national development? By bringing electricity, by promoting cheaper and faster means of transport, wasn’t it that equivalent to a promotion of growth, progress, emancipation, and rejuvenation of a country? Filipinos then be like they sought the wonders of those as efficient than depending on human, horse, or carabao-power; as the power plants like those in Isla de Provisor churned electricity in every street light and home, and its Trams brought people in a faster pace to their destinations, one would wonder that MERALCO tries to “bring light”, in which those from the past would have equated it to “progress” if not “civilisation”.

Sadly, it turned out to be different. The old power plants in Metro Manila were either demolished for "development" or in case of the power plant in Bicutan as rotting and waiting to be at the hands of the wrecking ball; the Tramway system was destroyed during the war, enough to justify as an opportunity for those Yankees to have cheap automobiles to take over; from there it took decades to have an "efficient urban mass transport system"; only to be realised in a form of the elevated "Light Rail Transit" which was once supported by MERALCO. Currently, the company supplies electricity for both LRT and MRT systems.

However, in spite of their duty to bring light and power to the metro, MERALCO hath been synonymous to the oligarchy and of increasing rates, and for sure one would also say that development hath gone at its slower if not its slowest phase enough to make Philippine power rates to remain one of the highest in Southeast Asia (thanks to the oligarchs!); and because of that everyone hath been complaining about those and cursing the Lopezes and Manny Pangilinan for all those woes, as well as the government for its continued lack of government subsidies enough to cheapen its costs (or is it intentional due to the government's adherence to less intervention in economic affairs?).

Sounds too real, but anyway, this person did enjoy seeing those old stuff, and he left satisfied with those wonders. For sure kids will enjoy seeing those stuff besides taking a picture inside the replica of that Tranvia.