Where change begins

By Jun Velasco

AT PRESSTIME, Task Force Lebanon reported of two casualties who, probably gripped by fright, died while trying to escape from their Lebanese employers.

Most of our countrymen who have succeeded in returning to the fatherland are full of horror stories.

Many families – Pinoys and other nationals working in Lebanon – have been thrown in the melee and confusion.

Such is the tough life people, including many of our countrymen abroad, undergo to beat the hard life back home. Many Filipinos overseas live lonely lives and lose the old grace they enjoyed in the pre-OCW era.

It would be a comfort to have them back safely, but when the excitement dies down, they will miss their jobs in Lebanon, which are no longer there.

Let’s hope our cash-strapped government can handle the hundreds of returnees. This is season for emotional reunions. After a short while, our jobless “balikbayans” will have to wrestle with stark, painful reality.

* * *

At ChipChip’s graduation last April in Diliman, we heard the heartwarming speech of Gawad Kalinga founder and program director Antonio Meloto.

Tony, as we fondly call him (Chip Chip introduced us to him), is one very humble Filipino one can be proud of. Intelligent and self-effacing. The thousands of villages and communities he has built from self-help and his tireless, Christian work are clear show-windows of love and compassion.

His words in that graduation ceremony (we were seated next to former Sen. Kit Tatad and Mayor Jojo Binay)  were unforgettable: “Our selfishness has created the mess we are in” We are caught in a vicious culture of blame. Many politicians have not kept their promises.  Many of the rich have not shared their wealth.  Some church leaders have failed to practice what they preach.  Many Filipinos have abandoned their country.  And even the poor have been criticized for not working hard enough.

At the rate we are blaming each other, everybody is to blame… But blaming alone never solves the problem. It does not build homes for the poor. It does not feed the hungry. It does not restore human dignity. It destroys friendship. It poisons the spirit. It kills hope. Instead of looking for fault in others, let’s look at ourselves – what we have done wrong, what we have failed to do. We need to change, but for me, change begins with myself.

We have destroyed so much of ourselves and our country that I, changing myself is not enough. That you changing yourself is not enough. We have to inspire change in many others and we have to change together.

Change will not come easy, that’s why we need to encourage and we need to honor all the good examples around us. We need to invite everyone to come on board. Poverty is so massive that our response to it cannot be small. We cannot rebuild this country if we don’t engage every sector of our society including government. It is counter-productive to judge all government officials as corrupt. In dealing with dishonest   men, just be honest. We cannot change people if we make them our enemies, engage them and bring out the best in them.

While many are accustomed to the path of blame, we have to discover a new path, build a new culture of honoring those who do good.

* * *

Speaker Joe de V was visibly at home, nay, in Cloud Nine in the company of some 2,000 kanayons who trekked to the recent De Venecia-Claveria   grand reunion. It was more nephew Councilor Alex de Venecia’s pakulo for the speaker and him to renew the ties that bind.

The orig Joe d V who loved to backslap, hug and embrace resurfaced in all splendors. Many old kins couldn’t help pinching JdV’s face, chuckling “Si Pepe ya ay? That was the old form, the easy, graceful Joe which was his winning form in his first crack at Congress. Stars of the party were easily visible.  Aside from the speaker, Alex’s sister Joan who topped the Philippine Bar recently and daughter Carla Alexis who graduated form medicine magna cum laude in a US university.

Post reunion assessment shows Joe de V battle ready for another election and a De Venecia powerhouse that could equal a whole barangay in light of the clan’s unchecked increase.

* * *

The Sunday Punch is a family, a happy family.

The funfilled anniversary bash at the Star Plaza showed it. Columnist Al Mendoza and beauteous wife Sol didn’t miss it.

The night before, the three of us attended the wake of National Press Club Director Boy Togonon in Manila.

Gonz  Duque missed it. It was the wedding golden anniversary of the in laws of   brother Sec. Pingkoy. But he called up to assure his spiritual presence.

Well, Andy Estrada and Jess Garcia enjoyed the spirit in a glass. Later in the evening, Ermin’s cousin, Commissioner and Mrs. Al Fernandez and Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez threw out a dinner at Inn Asia as Punch’s anniversary party extension.

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