Think about it
Holy Week’s unholy observance
By Jun Velasco
THE week gives us a much-needed pause amidst the rat race, the political noise and haste.
Are the things we are doing every day really worth it? Have we asked why we are doing what we are doing?
Let’s hope the spiritual, week-long retreat will be devoted to reassessing our priorities, careful not to overlook or forget the meaningful and essential. At the same time, once and for all, let’s junk the cheap and the wasteful. Why? Because life is short.
Probably we are at least agreed on what is or what are meaningful and essential in our lives? Let’s go back to the first principles. What are we doing? Why are we doing these things: Why are we here?
It appears that the art of meditation is no longer exciting, no longer in fashion. Except for a few individuals such as the yogis, “functional Christians,” spiritualists, poets, writers and leaders (including those in the political variety), most men and women today have forgotten the art, the contemplative act.
What we seem to fear is that the fast pace, the computers, the cell phone, the internet; these breakthroughs in electronic media and all that crap have yanked out our literary and artistic selves.
At “The Other Office,” in Ermita recently, we told Pete Lacaba that poetry has been kicked somewhere by high tech. After a gulp of light beer, he said “no, the computer is a boon than bane, we are getting used to it. Poetry remains.”
The other day, at the dainty home of Nick Melecio, historian Resty Basa related an Igorot practice of butching a dog with a ritual. “They tie a dog and starve it for one week. Then it would be made to feast on rice-food. When butchered, the drink connoisseurs of Igorot land would suck the food straight from the dog’s belly, which has a yummy, sugary taste.” Yuks!
In the neighborhood, we received invitations to a wine and food feast, and much talk is raised on the morals of avoiding meat. The Holy Week is also observed with meat feasts.
* * *
We recently hobnobbed with officials of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the Manila Pavilion, courtesy of an invitation from association secretary Lily Lim.
Guest Speaker Joe de Venecia and Federation President Francis Chua brought home a point emphatically before some 700 leaders coming from all over the archipelago. The Fil-Chinese never had it so good under the present congress that coughed out laws favoring the Chinese immensely.
The big crowd was carried away by JdV’s speech that enthused Dr. Chua to endorse the speaker for another term.
* * *
If you looked hard enough, the Lakas’ mammoth rally last Monday was virtually a Pangasinense affair led by the triumvirate of GMA, FVR and JDV.
The crowd was so massive, hakot or otherwise, but the festive atmosphere gave one the impression how the May l4 elections would turn out. Not to be outdone, the opposition is grabbing every opportunity to downplay its impact, and spreading the word the administration will cheat in the elections.
Killjoy!
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In the 2nd district, Victor Agbayani is facing a not so easy fight against pretty woman Kim Bernardo-Lokin, formerly of Channel 7, whose beauty and wit have captivated the hearts and minds of the rural folks.
Kim was Gilbert Remulla’s co-anchor in GMA’s coverages, and never lacks intelligent repartees. Kim’s charismatic campaign, says Girl Friday Lisa Soriano, will give Agbayani and the electorate a big surprise of their lives. Liza said tersely, “the governor is not unbeatable.”
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/)
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