Think about it
Arrogant leaders should heed Pope Francis’ warning
By Jun Velasco
POPE Francis’ warning against princes of the church who are show-offs of their pomp and glory shows a once imperial Rome bending to the broad masses, the faithful.
This is consistent with Christ’s teaching on humility and treating one another as brother and sister.
His warning should put to shame local big shots, especially the notorious politicians who steal from the mouths of the poor millions through clever legislation. They strut like demigods as if they own our lives!
They are no better than the filthy rich who treat their workers like beasts.
The new Papacy is a shot in the arm for a waning faith, for the cries of millions who hunger for God and his Word.
Let the proud and arrogant learn from the kind and humble Pope.
* * * *
Mindanao’s non-stop battering from Mother Nature is a frightening reminder on our vulnerability as earthlings.
It should tell us that this “new strain” of disaster and calamities could exact death by the thousands and massive destruction that cost billions anytime.
Now is the time, more than ever, for our local governments to take the weather seriously, even during sunny weather, to be ready on a 24-hour basis.
The lessons of Yolanda, Peping, and others are too vivid to be ignored.
Friday afternoon, our friend from Davao City called up to say that the raging storm in Mindanao and the Visayas is “much worse than Pablo.”
We told Ben Diansay, publisher of eight community papers, that years before, Mindanao was rarely visited by destructive typhoons.
Mother Earth has changed radically, we said.
Ben sounded distraught because his place has not tasted fair weather for a long time.
Erap would humor us with “weather, weather lang,” but we can’t take this weather syndrome lightly anymore. It’s like a criminal waylaying in the dark that will strike anytime and gobble us all.
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The other day, architect Gil Estrada recalled with a tang of nostalgia how the late Dr. Salvador Duque looked down on the bamboo-and -nipa housing projects and argued zealously for strong, steel houses.
How right was he!
Gil says the climate change phenomenon should change our mindset on housing designs, to live like Ivatans.
We may never live like this again… due to unpredictable weather.
* * * *
Over in Dagupan’s Barangay Pantal, residents are pinning their hopes on pretty Kapitana Julie Ann Fernandez Perez on their flooding woes.
They expressed confidence their no-flooding problem will now be realized with Kapitana’s known sincerity in governance and closeness to the powers-that-be, from President Aquino to Congresswoman Gina and Mayor Belen Fernandez.
In their report to this columnist, they cite their shift of support to Julie Ann because predecessor Lilia Yasar failed to contain the flooding problem during her time.
Kap Julie, please don’t fail your constituents.
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