Think about it
Hope
By Jun Velasco
“SILVER bells, silver bells, it’s Christmas time in the city . . .” this familiar song and other heart-tingling Christmas carols pervade our radio and TV sets these days.
The old carols we’ve heard since childhood conjure joyful memories.
For a moment, we wished Christmas were now here, but alas, we might get what we want. We may not have the kind of Christmas we have in mind, such as the ones we used to know. Those were the days when there were no cares and concerns.
This year’s Christmas may not be joyful. The world was simple then, now it’s complicated, problematic.
Our world today has an air of uncertainty. Confusion that grips the land. We are worried there’s no telling when the tug of war — perceived or real — between the country’s top political leaders would end, and if so, in what manner, and how would it affect us.
What a privilege of our leaders! When they fight, we get hit one way or another.
Please note that except for a few rich who may despise or shun politics most of us depend directly or indirectly on our government, and the quality of our government is determined by the kind of leaders we have elected or the higher authorities have appointed.
Is the air of uncertainty to blame for the lack of Christmas decors in our homes and business establishments? Indeed, the low mood is killing the Christmas spirit. We pity the poor, most especially the children for whom Christmas was made in the first place.
The dark character of politics no doubt has something to do with the bloody events — the bombing of Glorietta mall, and, of all places, Congress, which is supposed to be invulnerable.
Innocents were killed, many injured. We think a more profound injury has settled in our souls. Pity the silent majority who has nothing to do with the violence and the political enmity among our leaders and the pall of darkness in the land.
We have been dreaming, articulating an ideal society. Yes, we have been working at it. We express it in our prayers that God not only care for our lives but also that of the whole community, our country and the world.
When Bishop Oscar Cruz blamed society as a whole for the suicide of 11-year old Marianette Amper, we pondered, are we to blame really? We thought of the apathy and indifference of the majority, a character flaw that has emboldened law violators, criminals and the corrupt to ply their trade so easily.
And so this Christmas, should be the best time to remind ourselves of our sworn duty: defeat misery with what God has told us to be our best tool: love.
It may be more convenient to turn our back on love, not to heed God’s summons for us to love one another — but disturbing signs are already everywhere to finish all of us.
Promote greed, violence and hate, and we all perish.
* * * *
As we go to press, we received a heartwarming report that the Inner Wheel Club of Dagupan East led by its lovely president, Leah Ferrer-Patungan ( wife of our kin past RCDE prexy Tony Patungan) has been doing its civic work in an exemplary manner.
Not given to skin-deep or show-off projects, the club has silently showered a barangay in Calasiao (Talibaew) with nutrition, healthcare and education projects that the barangay folk consider God sent.
The club started a daily supplemental feeding last June that would end on December 3l. Why a limited time-frame? Because Leah and her group believe that in time the barangay folk shall have made the project a part of their daily lives and institutionalized. They would be on their own, hopefully.
In the area of education, Leah says the club has donated to children school bags and books that came from Texas, thanks to Susan Lee-Hwa and her son Andrew and coordinators Frank and Malou Lee. The club also put up book shelves for the school library.
Talibaew is not the only beneficiary of Inner Wheel East’s Panagaro. There is the Catholic school in Binmaley, Leah’s hometown (charity begins at home, huh?), and Barangay Salisay where the club has adopted a day care center since 2000.
Her leadership activities were not unheeded after all by the national organization, which gave her the President’s Achiever’s Award last June. With Leah and her fellow Inner Wheelers around, this country has hope.
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/think-about-it/ Readers may reach columnist at junmv@yahoo.com . For reactions to this column, click “Send MESSAGES, OPINIONS, COMMENTS” on default page.)
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