Embracing New Things

By Sem. James Denn Bacuado Portal

This contemporary epoch has viewed our world as ‘fast-paced’ because of an easy access to certain things and a modern approach in providing human consumption. People are very interested to new things aiming to provide a comfort in their daily work and to ideas which can develop a modernized society. Consequently, people have shifted their way of life in such a way that they have to rely so much on things which can provide them ‘fast-paced’ information like the Internet and technology. Due to this reality, people have to go out of the tradition and embrace new things.

Heraclitus, a pre-Socratic philosopher, claimed that ‘all things in the universe are in a constant process of change’. Yes, with the realities of new discoveries, new inventions, and new innovations, change is absolutely present; thus, new things reborn. With the advancement of things which we use in our daily endeavour, this would present a certain reality that we need to embrace new things in order to survive. As I read one article, one blogger wrote, “If our world sticks of being primitive and do not embrace the reality of advancement and development, then we would have suffered and died eventually without grasping for a new discovery.” 

With the advantageous effects brought by these new things, it is also necessary to accept and embrace it as part of our day-to-day living. Of course, all of these things have one common principle why it is discovered or invented – to create a better world for the people. So, if all of these things are for the good of the total manhood, then why would be hesitate to be open for new opportunities?  

Just like in our daily experiences, if we have to embrace new causes of events that trigger our existence, then we would not be primitive but be open for new possibilities. For instance, the Diocese of Kabankalan had recently its general reshuffling of pastoral assignments for priests. So, if the Church does not embrace the new reality that has been triggered, then the Church would have been performing ‘out-of-date’ because its purpose is to realize new programs for the good of the Diocese. Another thing, if a seminarian does not ‘go out of his-self ‘ and ‘renew himself’ brought by the seminary formation, then he would not be an effective seminarian and not be an effective priest in the future. In other words, a candidate to the priesthood must be ‘a reborn of new opportunities’ because one who is open to changes for his own sake will be an effective tool in bringing change for the good of the Church for the many generations to come.

However, one question arise: due to the fact that embracing new things can improve our lives, is this tantamount to the dissolution of the classics? Though we are advanced and updated, still the things brought by tradition are still relevant because it could be our reference towards societal change. We might live now with the advancement of things but what we experience sometimes can be classified by the ancient schools of thought. So, let us not forget what and where all these things start from. Let us not forget the classics.  Philosophically, the classics are good because these are still considered as cardinal.  But of course, traditions do not stick to itself because it had brought itself to what is new brought by the this day’s demand. People have utilized it and developed into something adaptable in this modern times. As a result, people have no need to stick to the traditional per se  because it is difficult to adapt; however, people have to embrace new methodologies to adapt the traditional ones. With that, embracing new things is still acceptable.

Let us open the portal for changes and new things. I think, embracing new things is not that bad. If we have to accept the change that occurs in our lives, then it would bring us to more inclusive development whereas, development uplifts standards. I do hope for a better world embracing new opportunities for the good of the whole humanity.

BUILD! BUILD! BUILD! FOR A NEW PHILIPPINES

OPINION: BUILD, BUILD, BUILD FOR A NEW PHILIPPINES!

By Sem. James Denn Bacuado Portal

Since the rise of the Duterte Administration in 2016, Filipinos have been introduced to initiatives that would benefit and access them with such standardized economic and social service all over the archipelago. One of which is the Project Build, Build, Build’. It has become the hallmark of the government, aiming for the welfare of the population most especially to Filipinos living in far-flung areas. With this kind of initiative, the government partners with private sectors aiming to build new infrastructure, business, and social projects to let every citizen be benefited and granted with paved highways, new hubs for trade, and easy access to government-related transactions. Thus, it resulted to an economic boost to the country and more trade and work opportunities to Filipinos.

According to Forbes.com, the Philippines is experiencing an infrastructure boom unseen since the time of strongman Ferdinand Marcos as the government is set to embark on an ambitious $180 billion infrastructure spending bonanza, set to transform the Philippines’ economy. Under President Duterte, the country is expected to invest more money in reaching and connecting enormous and local markets through paved roads and high-standard transportation. Thus, this project will result to hundreds of infrastructure development like building new road networks, bridges, transportation hubs, and energy facilities, aiming to provide fast-paced satisfaction of goods and services throughout the country.

In looking to the bright side, The Asean Post, a news online authority, mentioned that the Build! Build! Build! programme has been positively received by economists, citing its potential to boost growth in the country because this initiative will provide an increment to the economy up to eight percent due to the creation of more than one (1) million jobs to the Filipinos. Moreover, this project sets to improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate of the country as it expects to increase 1.4 percent annually due to new infrastructure projects created by the programme. With these financial and economic presentations, Project Build, Build, Build is aiming to build a new and a better Philippines.

As a observant citizen of this country, I see now that many roads were widened, many bridges were rehabilitated and retrofitted, and many financial centers like public markets were renovated due to this project; and it was been realized. It seems that this project has made a domino effect to the people because an improved road network can contribute to the fast-paced distribution of supplies to the market; then, a  surplus of supplies can easily generate the demands of people; and, if demands are being satisfied due to a sufficient number of goods to the people, then the economy will be boosted. In lieu, the economic principle of ‘Supply and Demand’ has been resolved.

Though Mr. Duterte is being criticized due to his subversive campaign against illegal drugs resulting to thousand deaths, his Build, Build, Build initiative has a positive outlook for the Philippines now and  in many years to come. Though how rough the TRAIN Law is, he managed to outline his initiative for the welfare of his constituents most especially to those who are far beyond accessibility. Though, it has been part of every political arena that there will be pros and cons in the present administration, still the project continues to prosper in providing accessibility and economic opportunities to the people.

The tag word of this initiative is its name itself. The phrase, ‘Build, build, build’ could be a game changer towards societal transformation. Through economic development brought by this project, the feasibility of having an improved living standard can be realized; thus, the impact of globalization and modernization can be felt through improved services brought up by a high-quality facilities for trade and investment. As we are embracing the tremendous effect of globalization and modernization, it is appropriate to build, build, build a new Philippines. Though how disorganized our country is because of violence, corruption, and partisan politics, we could hold one another and help to rebuild our nation with a stabled economy. Though there are times that we could oppose some of the policies because they are against our convictions, we still to render our utmost service because we presume the sole duty of the government to enforce  economic policies.

The government’s flagship initiative is one way to uplift our standards. Though it is quite ambitious because it requires a lot of money to fund it, it does not stop the goal to make our country not a ‘sick man of Asia’ but rather an ‘Economic Tiger’. I think this is an alternative solution because our country, as an agricultural and a retailer’s country, needs more infrastructure to pursue its goal to address the economic dilemma through massive production and retailing efforts. Through roads, ports, and trade hubs, one could deliver easily the goods intended for the people. Moreover, the more goods to be produced and sold in an open market, the more profits we earned.

As partners for progress, let us help the government to implement this initiative. There might be misalignment due to natural errors, but to be very keen in helping out our nation can contribute a lot for the sake of every Filipino. Let us remember that we, the Filipino people, are an element of the state. As an element, we have the power to circumvent the irregularity into regularity. It is time for us to help this initiative. Let us build, build, build a new Philippines.

THE VALUE OF ‘WAI’ AND ‘MANO PO’

THE VALUE OF ‘WAI’ & ‘MANO PO’

“Sawasdee krap!” (Thai for “Hello”).

“Kamusta po!” (Filipino for “Hello”).

Appreciating one’s origin is what I like most. As History and General Interests are my favorite subjects at school, I like to discover new culture and experience new learnings. That is why, culture and tradition, for me, have significance to this world despite modern-day advancement.

Just these previous months, I was so addicted to Thai drama-series and movies. Before, I was always watching comedy skits, documentaries, and news bits on YouTube. But when a friend of mine was so addicted in watching Thai screenplays, he encouraged me to do the same because drama-series in Thailand are more entertaining than Filipino in which took years and counting of watching. So, I gave myself a try then it came to the point that I spent a lot of deep nights watching it. From the pilot episode until the finale, I spent a lot of internet data connection just to finish those entertaining Thai series. So far, I have already watched two Thai movies and ten Thai drama-series over the past four months.

At first, I found it awkward watching it because Thais have this awkward accent when they speak. No offense, people speaking Thai sounds like girly because of a high pitch sound produced by a Thai intonation. However, after many days of continuously watching Thai drama, I found it to be natural and purely Asian in which I could relate myself to it. Of course, I could relate to it because I am an Asian. Honestly, there are some Thai practices which are accustomed to Filipino practices. In fact, my country, the Philippines, has sort of connections with Thailand not because they are both ASEAN member-states but because of this pure Asian bond that connects to our Asian customs and traditions. Oriental people are very animistic. Filipinos and Thai are like that because these people are so fond to think of how nature connects to the inner peace of a soul or how myth or religiosity forms a person through holistic philosophical approaches though they have differences with ideas and perspectives on religion.

In watching Thai drama, there was one thing that captured my full attention. People greet each other with an act called as wai. According to WikiPedia, The Thai greeting referred to as the wai consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion. It has its origin in the Indian Añjali Mudrā, like the Indian Namaste and Burmese Mingalar Par. Wai is used to greet other people as a sort of respect with the accompaniment of the Thai phrase, Sawasdee kha (for woman) or Sawasdee krap (for man) as its meaning has been highlighted on the introductory of my article. As I researched about it, it has three levels: the first level is when you make wai to Buddhist monks, priests, and to the Thai Royal Family by doing the gesture with your thumbs placed between your eyebrows; the second level is when you respect elders like parents, teachers, et cetera by doing the gesture with thumbs placed on the tip of the nose and both index fingers placed between the eyebrows; and the third and last level is when you greet someone with the same age or level by doing the gesture with both index fingers placed on the tip of the nose.

The wai has been the trademark of Thai culture. It is so beautiful that it truly remarks how Thais believed on their national animism of cool heart which is tantamount to peace and tranquility. Aside from it, it has also possesses such uniqueness because it reflects how Thais are so related to their Buddhist religiosity. But there is one thing which I myself was fond of its value – the value of respect. Despite modernity and economic development around Thailand, people are always making wai not only to show respect and reverence to sacred things and places but also to give respect of how they preserve their culture and national identity. Despite the trend of secularization, the Thai people never forget to make wai because they value and respect it as a national treasure.

The value of respect which I think I have seen it from the act of wai has made me think if people nowadays have still the respect to one’ customs and traditions. As a Filipino, Philippines is a country where customs and traditions passed from one generation to the next are still preserved. Like the wai, Filipinos usually greet their elders with an act known as Mano Po. WikiPedia says, Mano or Pagmamano is an “honoring-gesture” used in Filipino culture performed as a sign of respect to elders and as a way of requesting a blessing from the elder. Similar to hand-kissing, the person giving the greeting bows towards the hand of the elder and presses their forehead on the elder’s hand. Though different in gestures, respect as the value manifested by the wai and the mano po still serves as the radius.

However, people nowadays are seldom or if not, mostly forgotten to make mano po to the elderly. Due to a contemporary mind shift, people tends to forget how to respect with the elderly and lacks vigorous appreciation towards culture and tradition. People are always interested to what is #trending for they found it as very fascinating. The Western influence of Silicon Valley have influenced the oriental side of the world. Due to modern-day advancement, the ‘ancient wonders’ have lost its vivacity.

Friends, I do not say that what we have achieved brought by modernization and globalization is bad. In fact, Silicon Valley have easily helped us a lot to upgrade ourselves and live a cozy life. However, too much modernization leads us not to look back to the ‘classics’. Philosophically speaking, contemporary era have brought us into a new perspective of humanity whereas man thinks of himself as the center of the universe. So, if a man thinks of it as that way, then man is ought not to look back on what is more supernatural to him because perfection is in his hands. When perfection lies on the hands of man, then the value of reverence and respect have lost. This is might be conservative but to embrace the ‘classics’ has made a great significance to every man’s experience.

The wai and Mano po have taught me personally to give respect not just to the person as a sort of greeting but to the fundamental way of life. That is why, I admire personally the Thai people for they have instilled in their day-to-day living the act of wai. The wai has taught me to embrace one’s origin of culture in which I am challenged to do the same with my own culture. It is so good to embrace what is today but it is better to look back the classical beauty. However, the best that this could be realized if we conceptualized the both the ‘classic’ and the ‘modern’ as one art – respect and reverence are still practiced to give beauty to this contemporary world.

With this, I have learned so much from this kind of experience as a simple fanatic of Thai-drama. “Kaphunkrap!” (Thai for ‘Thank you’).

AN ACT OF LOVE

AN ACT OF LOVE

“ Love thy neighbor as you love thyself.” – Matthew 22:39

One time, I attended an Anticipated Mass at San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod, one of the most beautiful cities in the Philippines, and heard Mass together with friends. As we attended, we found the mass as solemn not because of the magnificence of the church but people, the Church, were touched to the homily of the priest. I am one with church-goers who were inspired to the priest’s sermon as it was so true.

The priest focused his homily on the Gospel which tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In the Gospel, the one who has been condemned by the Jews has become the man of virtue because it was the Samaritan who helped the injured man lying on the street instead of Jews who suppose to help because they were the ‘righteous and the ‘chosen’ people of God. So, the priest focused his homily from the parable and made a theme out of his homily. He centralized his reflection on the act of mercy and compassion. To help out someone is an act of love. So, it was all about love.

I was touched when the priest made a realization about how people express love presently. According to him, people find so easy to say to other people ‘I love you’ or ‘Mahal Kita’, or Palangga ta ka’ but it is so difficult to act the love thingy. ‘Why is it that it is so difficult and awkward to people in expressing their love through actions and gestures?’, he asked the people. In times like this, many people are suffering from too much pain like violence, hunger, and injustices; but why those who are fortunate found it so difficult to love those people who are less fortunate? Upon hearing his reflection-question, I was touched and able to examine myself if I have done it as a person, as a Christian, and as a seminarian. Yes, I have learned a lot of translations of the phrase ‘I love you’ in different languages like Te Amo in Spanish, Wo Ai Ni in Chinese, or Chan Rak Khun in Thai but to act on it is absolutely different.

Yes, I am one with people who really loves to say ‘I love you’ to people whom I loved. Yes, I am one with people who likes to express solidarity to people who are unfortunate enough in life. But, I do admit that I am with people who also finds this expression as too far to become realistic. I do admit that I have judged other people ‘by its cover’. With the feeling of mistrust to other people, I have the reason not to be compassionate sometimes because I have to secure myself first. It is important also to take security because other people might gonna mistreat you as bad people live to harm other people. There are people who hide and disguise as ‘sheep’ but sad to say they are ‘wolves’. Alas, this is the reality of life. It is now difficult to love because others might abuse the love.

However, love is a powerful virtue that changes the course of life. It is not just an ordinary feeling but a virtue. It is not just a simple virtue but a ‘Divine Virtue’ because Love is God and God is Love. If love changes the course of life, then it must be noted that the person whom being loved can be changed. If love heals the wounds brought by wickedness and misery, then everything will be good. Therefore, I do say that to love other people most especially those who are bad and unlucky is a way for their renewal. With this, I cannot say that this is difficult because loving other people is worth living for. Another thing, if love changes and heals everything, then it also changes the perspective all about it. The perspective of love as limited because it can be abused by someone else as previously mentioned can be changed into a view as an unconditional and unlimited act regardless of how people show mistreatment.

Love is indeed a theological virtue. However, to endure how love is effective to others, it must be challenging as well. Love requires sacrifice. To sacrifice for the people and things you love is indeed a challenge because it requires time and effort to pave towards the success of the action. One must take risk in order to take how love is being an influence and an effective measure towards others. One must consider that to make a ‘tambal’(A Visayan word for medicine) effect for others, one must be an example of how love is carried to this secularized world. Of course, when it comes to love, loving other people is not that you have made an installment but it is a carried from the heart which it carries true feelings like mercy and compassion.

That is why, love is not that difficult but it is challenging. It is up to us if we apply how love is expressed through compassion and not through political, economical, or personal interest. Love as an action word is a bit challenging because it requires one to be wholesome and a ‘rubber stamp’ of goodness. Love is not just a feeling but it is a holistic view of what life is. If there is no love, then everyone dies for sure. How come? Love brings mercy and compassion and even intimacy; if people do not posses love, then people will become merciless, atrocious, and less intimate…and if people will become like that, then others who need help will be unfortunate to seek for it for selfishness and pride will be felt among people and this could be the end of someone’s life.

Friends, let us take the challenge of the priest who encourages us to love thoughtfully out of compassion. If one carries God as the center of an act, then everything would be smooth as silk. An act of love is worth doing for because love could be the reason of someone’s motivation to live a life out of this world. Love could push other people to instill courage and kindness in their hearts. Like Jesus, he showed how God is powerful through an act of love. Everyone receives such grace because of God’s love. Love requires nothing but only your open heart to be filled-up with instant grace to bring compassion to others. So, if you are willing to be part of this challenge, then forget anything, change and forgive yourself for being so selfish, and love, love, love!

Are you willing to take this challenge? Say a big YES and be part of the global revolution!

Kaphun krap! (Thai for Thank you).

A ‘WISH-GRANTING FACTORY’ WORLD

One night, I watched an American movie on my laptop. It was entitled The Fault in our Stars and it was starring by Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort. The story was all about a love story between people whose love story is meant only for a short time. Augustus Waters (played by Elgort) met Hazel Grace Lancaster (played by Woodley) in an Episcopalian Support Group for Cancer Patients. They were both cancer patients but their sickness did not hinder them to meet each other. They became friends and lovers eventually until such time death separated them. Due to a severe ailment, Augustus died eventually; and Hazel Grace was in forlorn. Alas, the story ended with a sad ending but there was one thing which Augustus had a powerful statement before he died.

There was one scene in the movie where Augustus had said something to Hazel Grace about his realization of life. He said, “Life would be so unfair if the world is not a wish-granting factory”. He said it upon realizing that his situation as a cancer patient could not be changed into a life he was wishing of. He thought that his life was totally unfair upon realizing that he and Hazel Grace may not be meant for a long time. Alas, the time came and the world was so unfair for little memories were reciprocated with a gargantuan feeling of sorrow. The world for both of them was not a wish-granting factory that they could call their genies or fairy godmothers to take sickness away from them.

Nevertheless, others may have their stories worse than in the movie. Maybe others feel despair rather than melancholy. Others may experienced the passing of their loved ones not because of natural death but because of injustice, violence, and wickedness which is worse than a peaceful death. With that, the lost may be at the extension of too much sadness and others might say and believe that the world is not a wish-granting factory but a world of misfortune.

Friends, life is harder than before. We live in this world full of negativity and pride. A wish-granting factory world where everything is possible could not be felt for an individual must work so hard everyday. Each one must take guts to survive…and that is not so easy but a pain on the neck. However, is everything would always be taken by sadness or despair? Sometimes, it is not.

The world of today is not that fair when how we take this earthly journey perilously. Of course, when a journey is so perilous, then one must take a lot of patience and perseverance to carry what he carries. However, a silver lining awaits at the end despite the path that has been taken is a path of thorns and nails. Behind sadness, happiness opposes it and covers it up.

It is true that Augustus and Hazel Grace’s story is a representation of many real stories by others. It might be coincidentally or imperatively real that their situation depicted in the story can be an excess or exact with others’ experiences. However, some stories may not be ended as what I have watched to the both of them. Others may be living happily and enjoys every single second of their lives despite pain and suffering. Though there is sadness to what they feel, hope heals everything.

Not all the time, negativity would always manipulate our destiny and luck. In fact, there is a remedy for all these problem – resiliency. Resiliency means restoration wherein people can gain the strength once again to stand and be happy and hopeful again. But of course, it must take a lot of dosage of optimism and courage and a lot of step-by-step treatment in order to take the supplements of resiliency and moving forward.

In relation to this topic, I had an experienced with my friends who have big problems. They were so depressed which they almost thought of suicide. One of my friends had an experience which she cannot deal of. She had a problem on her family particularly to her mother. Her mother was a gambling-addict as Mahjong was the most favorite and addicted gamble. Due to gamble, her mother would left the house with no food stored for the next meals and no rice to eat for the family. Most of the time, her mother would always blame and pass onto my friend for such irresponsibility. Lo these many years, my friend would always carry the cross of suffering brought by her mother. As she would always talk to me, she would always thought of life as unfair. She asked herself and God why she would always be the sponge of her mother’s stain. Worse than to Augustus and Hazel Grace, she would always think of the world not as a wish-granting factory where dreams cannot be real for fantasies are just inside the mind.

Well, as a friend, I comforted her and advised her to talk to someone who could help her relieve from her sadness. Due to her depression, I felt that her feeling for her mother was not that normal and could be suicidal. Personally, I could help her but it needed of a professional help. So, she went to a nun in our parish who also works as a guidance counsellor in a Catholic school. The nun helped her and made her realized about life which in fact is not so dark. The nun taught that life would always be a wish-granting factory if one must be so hopeful and resilient. As long a man lives, it is not the end of the world.  Fortunately, she breathed with a good relief and started to make chances for herself to learn how to forgive and love.

Despite the reality of life, one could circumvent also the reality of life as a ray of hope for others. Our world could also be a wish-granting factory. We could wish to navigate our way into the way that we want for ourselves. However, it must be needed of perseverance and determination. He must help his self to stand up. After all, there is no wrong to be failed on the first place but it must be a triggering moment for a person to be resilient and ask for the help of God.

Friends, we can be resilient though we may stumble and fall. A Filipino could be resilient according from an English Verse choir piece written by a Filipino. I think, Augustus died peacefully because he knew that life was not so painful. It was still great because he realized that the world could provide a lot of positive realities like the love of family and friends around us. Wishes and dreams do come true if we have to work hard with values hoisted up. A world could be a wish-granting factory if their is resiliency accompanied by optimism and faith.

Thank you, Augustus Waters and you may rest in peace.

IT IS STILL ‘ETHICAL’

There was a weekly task which Big Brother of ABS-CBN’s famous reality show, Pinoy Big Brother Otso, had given to the housemates. It was a task known as ‘Block Wars’. The housemates divided themselves into three groups. Then, each group must collect wooden blocks as many as they can so they could build a tower out of collected blocks. The criterion in winning the task: the group which builds the highest tower, wins! However, the group which made the lowest tower had a possibility to be sanctioned for an automatic eviction from the PBB House. That specific task was aired on the national television last third week of June of this year.

Due to the ‘at-stake’ prize of the task, housemates were pushed difficultly to do a lot of ways and means just to take the aim of the task – winning! They had to stay late up night until daybreak just to finish the task Big Brother had given to them and also to stay inside the house for their dreams and aspirations in life. Of course, I am one with million of viewers who had watched closely to their task because it was breathtaking. Breathtaking in the sense that the task was all about survival; the group must collaborate, cooperate, and dedicate themselves with their time and energy just to survive or else, they will not be close to the spot of the limelight. However, the task was a brick that breaks the loom among the housemates. They had done a lot of things in order to win the task even though there were things which broke them apart like shattered pieces of glass. Thus, conflict among themselves had started to bloom like a flower with thorns.

The clash started with a feeling of conceitedness. A group wanted to take the glory of success by stealing several wooden blocks from the other group. So, the other group had lost its blocks and minimized its chance to build a higher tower. Then, it had reciprocated into a feeling of hatred which such hatred with a purpose to take revenge. Until, hatred had turned everything into conflict and misunderstanding. Consequently, everything had tuned differently because one housemate must took the anger by destroying the tower of the other group. Another scenario, one housemate must be persistent with its own belief which stealing is legal because it was not included on the rules of the game; thus, everyone is free to take one’s blocks because the task was for the sake of completion.

Due to this conflict that has been risen among the housemates, millions of viewers were disappointed due to a very competitive and unfriendly match. Fraud was seen and established during the weekly task. Misunderstanding divided the sentiments of a peaceful friendship. Worse, stealing blocks was just normal and acceptable within the game because it was not clearly stated on the rules. Though it was a minor issue, it was still not acceptable.

When I watched every second of these recent series of PBB, this task got my ethical attention. Upon studying and applying the knowledge brought by Philosophy within my academic formation in the seminary, this minor issue of stealing did not got my ethical consideration over it. As far as I know, stealing is intrinsically bad. But to steal blocks knowing that it would be normal had raised my eyebrows and my voice over the television with a feeling of disappointment.

Is stealing okay? This question had made a personal flashback with my previous lesson on General Ethics with a priest-professor in the seminary. One of the discussions that my professor taught was the ethical view of the consequentialists and non-consequetialists. The former spoke of an ethical action that bears with a good consequence despite the mean of the action while the latter spoke of the opposite. With this PBB scenario that had gone on TV and social media platforms, it made a coincidental reflection on the ethical issue of Robin Hood. We already know what Robin Hood did. He stole things for the sake of his people during the period of Medieval England. Nevertheless, one question arises, ‘Did Robin Hood made a good action?’ Viewing the Consequentialist perspective, Robin Hood did a good work; on the contrary, Robin Hood was bad to the Non-consequetialists. The former speaks of an end of an action which has been justified by its mean while the latter speaks of the contradiction. The last point underpinned the ethical principle of ‘the end does not justify the means’.

Personally, I would stick my view on the latter point. Though there are means to resonate such an end of an action, a bad action would always be bad and the good would always be good. Robin Hood’s act of stealing for his neighbors’ sake is still tantamount to a bad action simply because stealing would not always be the only mean to help other people. In other words, it was not the primary and the only option to justify the purpose of the action. Now, if a PBB housemate would did the same way as Robin Hood would mean that what he did is still bad and unacceptable. Stealing, though not clearly stated on the rules, is fundamentally unethical. I think, there is no reason for us to discuss this problem philosophically because an ethical principle cannot be resonated or be dictated by an idea out of common sense. Epistemologically, it is far away from the truth.

Friends, I do not intend to dismay a housemate of Kuya but only to express my disappointment over the decision he/she had made. I do understand what was the feeling of pressure just to take home the bacon. Sometimes, there are ways which we cannot control of ourselves because we crave for something. However, when ethics is being contested over these actions, an ethical action would always be ethical. A good cannot be bad the same as bad cannot be good. With this mistake, we mislead our children towards the path of holiness and kindness. At this point, let us think of the future generation. Is it right to teach them the bad thing as a good thing though a bad thing would always be bad and cannot be good? I don’t think so!

May all of us be enlightened with our ethics and common morality. In every thing we do most of the time, just do the task fairly. Win or lose, at least you have finished a good game! Personally, I would salute to those people who have courageously stand for what is true because living truthfully by becoming honest and transparent would really make an example of a true follower of Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

No matter how small the tower which the housemates had made for their group, it would always be good as long you play the game ‘fair and square’. A true rule will never be circumvented by a sham. It would always be ethical. At least, you have gone out of the Pinoy Big Brother House with a clean conscience.

Introduce Yourself (Example Post)

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

  • Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
  • Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

  • Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
  • What topics do you think you’ll write about?
  • Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
  • If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.

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