JOURNEYIST

CHIEF JUSTICE PUNO'S MORAL FORCE MOVEMENT AND THE ISANG ARAW LANG CAMPAIGN

2009-09-04T11:21:00.018+08:00

The Moral Force Movement launched last Monday by Chief Justice Reynato Puno has caught the attention of the Filipino public hungering for moral renewal.

Highlighting the Moral Force Movement’s avowed mission, Puno called on the people “not to elect anyone who bribes, cheats, lies nor [to tolerate] anyone who does.” Volunteerism was his battle cry and thus enjoined every concernmed citizen to “..not just stay neutral in this fight, for the surest way to lose a fight against evil is through the conspiracy of silence.”

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REVENGE OF THE MAMA'S BOYS!!!

2009-08-16T04:05:00.009+08:00

I was sure he was clueless at the time but my high school best friend Moses (not his real name!) taught me a great lesson in coolness when he kissed his mom in public one fateful afternoon. He was so casual about it and couldn’t care less who was looking that I actually felt embarrassed to be even there.

Minutes later, after we board the vehicle en route back to school, I asked him what has just happened in front of mine eyes hoping I could endlessly tease him about it. I was dumbstruck when he flashed a big smile and with a solemn masculine confidence confessed, “I’m a mama’s boy”. I tell you, that simple declaration created a minuscule crack in my juvenile universe that triggered an infinite crisis.

Who says it’s unmanly to express affection for your mom in the first place? And why deny mothers everywhere the affection they deserve from their male children just because of their gender? How on earth can boys develop a healthy respect for women if they can’t even appreciate their mothers who truly love them on a deeper, spiritual level?

I was thinking, “here, before me is a rare creature.. a mama’s boy with an attitude!” A rebel of sorts in fact against all the cheesy put downs by social conspirators who can’t stand anyone violating the feisty protocols of manliness.

I realized too that only a stupid stupid girl would find it uncool to love a warm-blooded real mama’s boy who’s capacity for love transcends his erotic, nature.

With my new-found political cause, I dared go radical and started kissing my mommy on the cheeks publicly… for all her friends and my friends to see. It works like a charm. Everyone blushed every time but me. Pure magic.

Unconvinced still?

Try it with your mom today and be part of a revolution!

LIFE IS A DECISION

2009-08-14T13:25:00.008+08:00

Image by * Photos by Chris M * via Flickr

Would you trade a life of security for a life of adventure?

DB's Adventuresome Advice had me painfully reminded about my own dilemma of the last few years. He narrated

"...how I left a secure and lucrative job as a radio announcer, which I had held for a couple of years, to go back into theatre. The life of an actor, for most of us, is about as secure as being out on the ocean in a row boat with no compass or chart and not knowing where the nearest land is. Nevertheless, that lack of security is the price paid for doing the work we love."

His actor friend on the other hand, took the road more traveled by of full-time job in a law firm and pursuing theatre only part-time, thereby missing a lifelong chance of building his dream career.

I thought its easy enough, to intellectualize this insight.. but I wonder what keeps people from jumping off into the unknown.. when that unknown represents the possibility of soaring beyond the clouds.

Is it lack of belief in the promises of life? Lack of self confidence? That all-too-human inertia? Lack of passion? Inhibition?

Or is it simply a value judgment, one that gives more weight to security than to possibility.

If this were so, then clearly no one choice is better than another. I can choose a secured life while you pursue an exciting life, and we'd both be equally right, so long as we are happy with our respective choices.

But then again, i would only be rationalizing. Deep inside, i still want to live my adventure. Deep inside i want to live beyond the limits of my own preconceived notions about life and about myself. I tell myself, I'm getting there but not yet.

In the meantime, I comfort myself in the thought that life is a question each of us struggle with. By living the question one day at a time, we journey towards an answer. An answer that makes sense to us. An answer that we ourselves distilled from the wine press of our personal doubts, dilemmas and experiences.

We may be influenced by society, religion, philosophy, and our own personal defects and weaknesses. In the end, however, the answer is ours to make or to choose. In this sense, I guess, life is a decision. A decision subject to revision as we go along but a decision nonetheless, out of our inviolable free will.

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I REMEMBER CORY AND NINOY

2009-08-07T18:44:00.017+08:00

Cory Aquino's Funaral, August 2009. By Voltaire F. Domingo
of NPPA Images

I was twelve years old when the People Power revolution happened in 1986 and distinctly remember how it felt to hear on TV that, at last, the impossible was happening. Ferdinand Marcos has left Malacañang!

It was way past my bedtime when I heard a teary-eyed Orly Punzalan announced on TV, "umalis na ang demonyo!", translated as "Marcos has left the palace!". I was twelve years old when Marcos left Malacañang during the 1986 People Power Revolution. Everyone else at home was asleep but I knew I was not alone flashing the Laban sign that very moment, with dancing and jubilation!

My early political awakening, happened three years earlier. We were traveling from Valenzuela to visit relatives in Manila on the day Ninoy's remains was to be transferred from Tarlac to Sto. Domingo Church. Everywhere we go, I saw crowds of people waiting for a glimpse of his casket bearing placards that say "Ninoy, hindi ka nag-iisa!" I didn't know what it meant and my dad tried to explain but still it didn't make sense to me. "Who is Ninoy Aquino, in the first place?" There began my quest to understand the concept of injustice.

I was still figuring out how to fly a kite at age nine when politics became the dominant topic of conversation in our homestreet. I began hearing people mention the Visayan word "pusila", (meaning "to shoot"), which completely eluded me so I didn't bother to ask what it meant. The word "assassination," however, caught my attention and it's always tragic when used in a sentence: "The Aquino assassination," I wrote beneath a cigarette foil etching I made of Ninoy's fallen body, which I copied from an oppositionist Komiks distributed at the time.

Two years later, the Snap Presidential Elections had everyone engaged in the epic battle between a vicious dictator and a widowed housewife clad in a simple yellow dress. Cory Aquino became the living symbol of the Filipino's struggle against oppression, greed and injustice.

After the downfall of Marcos, it felt like everything would be alright. It didn't. The reality of the Aquino Presidency slowly dawned on the masses. Eventually it toned-down people's expectations. Nonetheless, people still believed in her.

Back then, people at least knew they can trust their President even if they may find it hard to trust other people in government. Back then, decency was the norm, honesty was standard. For this, Cory enjoyed universal respect and admiration down to her last day in office and even beyond.

There have been three presidents since Cory stepped out of Malacañang. And each successor degrades the office (and the citizen's dignity along with it) down to the ditches where it is now.

Cory's death on Saturday morning was sad news for all.

It was to be a reminder that the Filipino deserves no less than honorable leaders.

In these poisoned times when we are made to accept mediocrity, apathy and impunity in public office, Cory's death reminds us in vivid colors, we need never put up with crap.

Short Film : The End of Civilization

2009-08-03T21:26:00.001+08:00

Depicts a possible World War 3 scenario. Very chilling.

DISABILITIES MAKE US STRONGER

2009-07-25T13:08:00.000+08:00

Ever noticed how life is wasted on those who have so much to live for but are afraid to try reaching for their heart’s desires?

Then consider how the blind struggle to see the world with their hands. Or how the deaf-mute struggle to speak through an elaborate system of gestures. Or how some amputees struggle to write and paint with their toes.

We all heard of stories of how otherwise lowly folks like Hellen Keller inspired the world to see beyond their self-limiting prejudices and embrace hope as a way of life…

Then we look back at our sad, little, pathetic, so-called normal lives of good health, strong body with solid education to boot.. and for what? Little by way of real accomplishments… A few useless trophies every now and then in honor of our vanity and self-serving ambitions. Then we reward our efforts with expensive indulgences, self-inflicted vices mostly, of various sorts, all in the name of fun… oh well.

When I see people with disabilities mustering herioc efforts just to survive a normal day I just can’t help but think that perhaps.. its us “normal” types who really are disabled.

Oh well. Maybe I’m just being cynical again.

Short Film : Frat

2009-07-08T03:00:00.001+08:00

"In a world where stone slowly overruns people and transforms them into statues, Sai, a twelve years old little boy, has the power to cure this disease with his blood..."

Short Film: Old Man

2009-01-30T22:32:00.008+08:00

This is one sad animation but very well made and quite touching.

THERE'S NO COFFEE LIKE ECCLESIASTES

2009-01-16T10:02:00.000+08:00

'
I'm a coffee lover and Ecclesiastes is my favorite blend.

Freshly brewed from on high Ecclesiastes perks me up when I'm feeling low and wakes me up when I'm backsliding.

Personally, I love Ecclessiastes' bitter taste, its downright cynicism, its in your face pessimism. It is guaranteed to make your mood gloomy or at least introspective with its harsh overdose of brutal honesty served hot straight from old Solomon's kettle.

I'm sure other Christians could relate to this special book in this way, even if they literally hate coffee. Realty bites and this book serves no lesser purpose than to serve reality as it is.

SO, YOU WANT TO LIVE FOREVER... BUT WHY?

2008-12-09T14:51:00.016+08:00

Who wants to live forever? Raise your hands! I say that’s a perfectly sensible goal… but what will you do with all that time tucked under your belt?

Isn’t a lifetime of problems and difficulties enough for any one man or woman? Would you rather wish for an eternity of struggle?

On a lighter note, have you asked yourself whether you have done a good enough job on your present mortal existence that makes you deserving of an eternal bonus?

The worship of LIFE, it seems, is a human instinct (how else explain our all-consuming tendency for self-preservation, to cling to life no matter what, sometimes in defiance of logic, nature and science).

But the excuse that INSTINCT offers is not enough to extinguish the discontent of those who say that life is overrated? There has to be more to an immortal life than mere instinct.

What Say You?

THE ELUSIVE MOMENT

2008-11-14T14:23:00.015+08:00

At the end of the day, we all just want to be real but no, the world just won't let us...

There's the boss at the office to impress, or at least to play pretend to... the fellow white-collar jerks in the lounge to try make laugh by poking fun on the stupid boss... those pesky underlings who you need to show to who's the boss... and back at home there's the real boss, I mean the wife, to boss you around... the kids to gang up on you... and of course the dog, don't forget the dog, whom you need to take outside for a pee or worse... life is full of sh.. demands by other people (and dogs) who want a piece of you, that, often, there's nothing left of you, for you.

As with anything in life that really matters, it takes courage to be true to oneself. Can you imagine the cinematic drama there! Here you are, you just want a few extra minutes all to yourself, say to enjoy your extra rich and classy, aromatic, pure, instant coffee... while the whole world screams back at you in a demanding tone saying "What about your Obligations!?"...

You shrugged off your shoulders and take your fist sip... "The traffic be damned!..." you snorted back "I want my moment..!" You take another sip. Coffee never tasted this good..."the boss and her client waiting for me be damned!... I won't give up this coffee for the world..." It was then that the dog barked at you, gently at first, then awkwardly... threatening to poop on the floor...!"The dog be damned!... I won't be intimidated by no barking beast who happen to share my carpet..."

It was then that the wife looks at you coyly, at first, then looks at the wall clock... and then gazed back at you, slightly disappointed.. you said to yourself "the wife be...!" ...then she said "shouldn't you be going by now... dear?", with emphasis on the dear.

Okay, the wife won this time... again.

THE PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER IS NOW A PARTY TO HARASSMENT OF BRO. SORIANO?

2008-09-01T05:14:00.001+08:00

I was saddened yesterday upon reading this article posted on Inquirer.net, this despicable excuse for journalism:

"Ely Soriano charged with falsification of public document"
By Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:57:00 08/29/2008

The title alone is a dead giveaway hint to the writer's incompetence at gathering information; he misspelled the nickname of a very popular personality in his own native land, a man who goes by the name of Bro. Eli Soriano. Philippine News Tabloids, which are known for their thoroughly irresponsible journalism, fared better than than the PDI if only for the fact that they got Soriano's nickname right. The daily toilet paper known as "Bulgar", for instance, spelled it "Eli" and not "Ely" as Lopez wrote.

Interestingly Lopez knew Soriano's full name well, its just the correct nickname that proved to be too challenging to write, it reads...

MANILA, Philippines—The head of Ang Dating Daan evangelist group Eliseo "Ely" Soriano and two others were charged with falsification of public document at the Manila City Prosecutor's Office for allegedly faking the certificate of detention in order to post bail for his rape charges.

I suppose Lopez has confused Bro. Eli , the very popular televangelist with Ely Buendia, the equally very popular soloist of Eraserheads. The fact that the title has passed the supposedly meticulous watch of the PDI editors also shows that the article was written under the influence of either gross institutional incompetence or stupidity or both.

The article goes on to say that Soriano was "indicted for the rape of his male follower at the regional trial court of Macabebe, Pampanga," but the writer conveniently forgot to mention that the case has been dismissed on January 26, 2006 as penned by Alexandro Lopez, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor of Region III, San Fernando, Pampanga and as approved by Jesus Y. Manarang, the Provincial Prosecutor. To quote an excellent account written by Jane Abao the document says:

"The foregoing facts, together with the rift going on between the INC and the ADD, which we cannot deny, only show that the complainant was indisputably ill-motivated from the inception, and these necessarily, without any scintilla of doubt, substantially affect, if not lessen, his credibility as an unperjured affiant. Wherefore, premises having been considered, the undersigned recommends the DISMISSAL, as he hereby DISMISSES, the complaint for rape filed by Daniel Veridiano against Eliseo Soriano docketed herein as I.S. N0. 05-I-2459 and 2460."

It would have been in keeping with PDI's credo of "Fearless Views, Balanced News" had Lopez also mentioned that on on March 21, 2006, months following the dismissal of the case, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales directed Regional State Prosecutor Jesus Simbulan to elevate the records of the rape case to his office. The letter said:

"Department of Justice. Memorandum to RSP Jesus Simbulan, ORSP, Region III, Subject: Daniel Veridiano vs. Eliseo Soriano for Rape. Date: March 21, 2006. In the interest of justice, you are directed to elevate the records of above-captioned case to my office. For immediate compliance. Raul Gonzalez. Secretary."

(to read the rest of Jane Abao's article, heres the link)

Without details like these to balance Lopez's article, the general reading public can't help but form an impression that Eli Soriano is already guilty as charged and a bona fide fugitive from the law. A fugitive from an unfair government, perhaps but but not a fugitive from the laws of the land.

Head of a minority religious group in the Philippines, Soriano's reputation has suffered a steady barrage of legal harassment... from being tagged as a land grabber, opportunist, libelous, a sex crime offender and finally a fugitive from the law.

How could the Philippine Daily Inquirer been party to this legal harassment and public humiliation of an old man, I just can't stomach. As a loyal reader of the newspaper, I feel betrayed...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

2008-07-04T16:51:00.001+08:00

The 2^nd Quarterly Thanksgiving in the Church of God International of 2008 is expected to be one of the most well attended events in the church’s history. This as the brethren eagerly anticipate the doctrinal topics to be discussed by brother Eli Soriano, which in recent months, have gone more and more in-depth proving again and again the biblical promise that the understanding of God’s revealed knowledge in the bible are an exclusive claim of his chosen people.

An even greater source of the brethren’s boundless sense of gratitude to the Almighty springs from the awe-inspiring growth the Church has undergone the last three months. The members have witnessed the humble beginnings of brother Eli’s international mission when he first set foot outside the Philippines.

Today the first fruits of this international mission are getting more and more visible with new members coming from various parts of the globe from non-Filipinos, especially from Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and even in some of the world’s most remote regions. They come in droves and no one really expected the growth to be fast.

Thanks be to God, this extraordinary development was made possible when pastors from various denominations around the world started leading their respective flocks to listen to the one sent to preach the word of God in these last days.

To God be the Glory!!! Happy Pasalamat to All!!!

FILIPINO AS A SECOND LANGUAGE IN NEW ZEALAND

2008-06-23T13:23:00.003+08:00

I’ve just got wind from the blog mills of this truly unprecedented development: New Zealand is set to prescribe Filipino as a required study in its schools, making it the country’s second language after English. Being a Filipino I couldn’t help but say Great! They couldn’t have made a better choice! Then, quickly, the question, arises: why?? But then my even quicker answer would be why not poknat?

Anong mapapala nila dun? (What benefit would they get from it?) Oh, so much, actually. New Zealand is home to a highly valued crowd of professional Filipinos (13,000 at least while some estimates place them at more than 16,000). Bridging the language barrier between locals and the Filipino foreigners would certainly make their working relationship more friendly, efficient and productive. Indeed it would make New Zealand a little bit more like home for Filipinos, making them a less foreign to their employers. By mastering their language we derived so much from New Zealanders aside from financial rewards; they must figure it’s high time they derive as much from us.

The same, however, can be said of studying any language be it as prestigious as English or French or as obscure as any of the world’s minority languages. For as they say, the biggest gap between peoples is not distance but culture: and language is the bridge that connects that gap. In this light, maybe it’s high time too that Philippine educators begin teaching studes in Metro Manila some of the regional languages. That way they’ll derive as much cultural learning as their peers from the countryside who just moved in. Additionally it would enrich the national language further and faster, making it more facilitative of nation building in these globalized times.

FALSE RELIGION IS BULLSHIT !!!

2008-02-07T08:46:00.001+08:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

A friend of mine has asked me recently what I can say about George Carlin's views on religion.

I said its Very Funny!!! And Very True!!!

George Carlin is very correct (but I don't necesarily share his faith 100%). Actually what Carlin says pretty much is a digest of what the Vatican has been telling people the world over. I say the Vatican gave religion a bad name, a very bad name. The worse part is that the protestants have picked up many of the same lies perpetrated by the Vaticanists... thus we have a very "fucked up" view of religion, even of the bible.

I've walked through George Carlin's road of atheism before. I symphatize with him. I think his views and comments are fair and sincere and logical. I would even recommend his views as an intellectual challenge to all Catholics and Protestants. Having said that, however, let me just state my take; Carlin's conclusions are based on erroneous beliefs.

With his characteristic open-mindedness, I believe Carlin still gives the Bible the benefit of the doubt. I say he hasn't heard the last word on religion until he hears what brother Eli Soriano has to say on the matter. Everything Carlin was ever fed about religion are lies. Jesus has warned us about this as much when he said many will claim to speak on his behalf... Carlin's incisive views is just one more confirmation of Jesus' prophecy. Indeed, what Carlin is attacking, essentially, is not religion per se but false religion.

You see, God's message in the bible is not necessarily what the Pope says it is.

ELISEO SORIANO ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIAN MORIORI

2007-08-22T15:30:00.004+08:00

That's the title I proposed for Brother Eliseo Soriano's biography article in Wikipedia. The page is jealously guarded by Wiki Administrator Moriori, my newfound online buddy. I have nothing personal against Moriori. In the course of my discourse with him, however, I have developed an acute disgust of Wikipedia, here's why.

The whole Wikipedia concept is supposed to be built on the idea of collaboration. Specifically collaboration of knowledge owners to build an opensource base of shared information. My determined and reasoned attempt to delete the word "controversial" from the lead paragraph on Bro. Eli's biography, however, has earned me a warning from Moriori that he will block me from further editing Wikipedia. That's not very collaborative of him. Not very Wikipedian...

My stand is simple. A subjective adjective has no place in a sentence describing a person, especially in his biography page. The word "controversial", after all, is not exactly descriptive of the person of Brother Eli. that word only describes other people's opinion of him.

I'm not disputing that some people consider Brother Eli as "controversial". I will, however, vouch that many people also consider him "phenomenal", "inspiring", "exceptional" to name a few choice adjectives. To his enemies I'm sure they would use all degrading adjectives in the dictionary to describe him. All these words, however, are a judgment by people on the character of Brother Eli based on their unique and personal appraisal of his person.

A website purporting to be an encyclopedia, meanwhile, must refrain from using such words. Interestingly, Wikipedia does not use the word "controversial" to describe people of proven "controversialness" like Jimmy Swaggart, Bill Clinton, Evita Peron or even the self-proclaimed antichrist José Luis de Jesús Miranda. They were all described casually on the basis of their nationality and profession or avocation. Why on earth then is Wikipedia allowing one Moriori to insert the word "controversial" on the biography of Brother Eli Soriano?

The inescapable conclusion is that he has a bias against Brother Eliseo Soriano. He denied this allegation twice. I doubt his denial very much. I am now calling the attention of Wikipedia to Moriori's bias. That's very unbecoming of a Wikipedia administrator.

Still I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps Moriori is just trying to be controversial himself, hmmm.

TRUE LEADERS SPEAK THE TRUTH

2007-08-14T22:36:00.002+08:00

Some people reminisce with pride that they lived in a time of hard won fights and impossible dreams. They say they fought side by side Che Guevara, marched in the streets with Malcolm X, and struggled for peace with Mahatma Gandhi. They lived in exciting times alongside troublemakers who stood for something true. Imperfect leaders who fought for something they know to be right.

Today, many say true leaders are a thing of the past. That they are an extinct breed. I say they are wrong. I say true leaders still exist but people just don't know where to look or else they are just unwilling to look anymore. Some, you see, just cannot commit to anything anymore beyond their personal world. Their battle cry is, Convenience! And they dare tell you "you will not insult me by telling the truth!"

I know a simple man who boldly speaks the truth. He holds a bible by his right hand and a microphone by his left. Yet he is looked upon as a troublemaker by many in the Philippines, his own land. His people love him so, however, for they know something many don't. They know Truth and yes, it had set them free.

He now lives far away from his loved ones to preach the the Truth to a world in dire need of it. Unlike Guevara, Malcolm X and Gandhi, however, this man will most probably never become a cultural icon. Unlike them, however, his message will never be lost in the hearts of people who heard him in earnest.

To anyone who would dare know the meaning of Life, let him listen to my Brother Eli Soriano.

THE PENTAGON PLANS TO PROMOTE LEFT BEHIND VIDEO GAMES TO TROOPS IN IRAQ?

2007-08-09T16:57:00.002+08:00

This piece from liberal/left political commentary site BTCNews should not really come as a surprise in the government of George W. Bush but really, this is just too much. Then again, I though it must be a sick joke, yet The Nation has a similar story in its blog.

The Nation says…

As an official arm of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, Operation Straight Up (OSU) plans to mail copies of the controversial apocalyptic video game, Left Behind: Eternal Forces to soldiers serving in Iraq. OSU is also scheduled to embark on a "Military Crusade in Iraq" in the near future.

First off, just what is the Left Behind: Eternal Forces video game about? Based on the equally controversial, no-brainer, Left Behind fiction series, the video game takes for the worse…

Newsweek once described the game this way:

“The game revolves around New Yorkers who are “left behind” after the rapture. Players scour the streets for converts, training them into a work force to feed, shelter and join a paramilitary resistance against the growing forces of the Antichrist.

Left Behind Games CEO Troy Lyndon, whose company went public in February, says the game’s Christian themes will grab the audience that didn’t mind gore in the movie ‘The Passion of the Christ.’…”

Radical Congruency, however, puts it more succinctly in describing the scenario of the game…

-The rapture has happened, so all the Christians are gone
-A bunch of people realize the error of their ways, and immediately become Christians after the rapture
-For some reason, it becomes necessary to blast the unrepentant to bits and hasten the destruction of the world
-Guns. Lots of guns.

The site further says …

The idea of religious video games that celebrate the death and eternal destruction of non-adherents - worse yet, that makes their annhiliation the primary task of the Christian community - raises my abhorrence for the Left Behind phenomenon to a level of utter disgust that I previously reserved only for racism and genocide.”

I say, Amen to that!

ATHEISTS NOW BELIEVE IN IMMORTALITY!

2007-07-31T10:43:00.002+08:00

In the recent past, the religion of atheism was so convenient for its faithful believers in at least one respect—they do not have to worry about the afterlife. Recently, however, some of their leading “pastors” are entertaining the plausibility of the soul’s immortality. And yes, of course they remain unshaken in their core belief that God is dead. They just now say God does not need to exist in order for the soul to survive. Oh well, whatever pleases them.

In the article Eternity for Atheists see how Jim Holt of the New York Times considers the possibility. He quotes speculations by one philosopher after another, considers the theories of one scientist after another, try to blend them well together with orthodox atheism and, voila! You have an upgraded version of atheism for the Web 2.0 generation!

Really, I was trying to be open-minded about the ideas proposed in the article. They sounded somewhat profound after all and well within the tradition of scientific guesswork. I must confess, though, it was a nice read and made me laugh a bit. Oh, I am so glad I do not share their passionate denial of God’s existence.

All their speculations really sounded like philosophical delusions than anything else. But the sad thing is, they are not joking. They seriously believe they can understand the great beyond through speculation. Have they really lost all respect for epistemology?

At any rate, this development is something to celebrate. Theists and atheists no have a little bit more in common than at any other time in the past!!! If atheists will consider every other speculation about the afterlife, it would be the height of scientific dishonesty to relegate to the trash bin the tons of ideas about the afterlife written in the bible!

Come on atheist friend, read the bible.

ANG DATING DAAN EXPOSED!!!

2007-07-30T20:14:00.004+08:00

I studied all the televangelists in town but this Brother Eli Soriano of Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) is one huge anomaly. He’s the only preacher who is not afraid of displeasing the crowd. He is the only one who is not worried about appearing the fool, uneducated and unwashed. He’s got a message to tell the world and everything, including himself, cannot get in his way.

Like prophet Elija of old, Bro. Eli appealed to me as one who can and will go it alone even should his flock desert him and veer away from the narrow path of Christ. Well I could be wrong of course so I set out to know more about this guy and possibly join his group, if need be, just so I can understand the guy firsthand, minus the negative publicity by his detractors and minus the positive testimonies of his adherents. It all sounded like a perfect plan but first I must confront one small personal problem.

You see, like the Batman, I’m not much of a joiner. I could stand before a crowd and deliver a speech with just a little prodding and an initial minor discomfort but no one could ever compel me to join a crowd of religionists and mingle. Like most everyone else I know, I was allergic mingling anyone who claim to be religious and do their damnedest best to coax you into joining them. Besides, I had always maintained a healthy distance against anything resembling a groupthink. One thing more, I had a reputation of being a loner to worry about, you know. In the name of science, however, I acted against my nature. And yeah, to my delight, I did found the juicy truth about this guy and his religion!

Unfortunately, (and this is where you say ahhhhhhhh!! what a letdown!) what I’ve seen and heard inside Ang Dating Daan is hard to explain to non-members, especially in a such a way as to fully grasp the group’s essential beliefs and practices. I tried to do this several times with close friends and in frustration I ended up saying, “you really must hear it for yourself to fully appreaciate.”

Following my personal investigation, however, I can say this much is true; Ang Dating Daan is not a religious cult (in the way that voodoo is a cult), nor is it a business scheme nor a front for any illegal stuff as Bro. Eli’s legion of enemies would have the public believe.

Simply put, the church of Ang Dating Daan is a misunderstood minority, which so happens to quell people’s thirst for biblical answers to life’s questions. Hundreds of thousands of people have found in Bro. Eli’s group their spiritual family. Including old-fashioned loners like me.

Nobody forced me to join. They welcome you when you show up for the indoctrination. They encourage you to listen attentively and then leave you alone. Nobody even tried to convince me. Indeed, they even dissuaded me a little, saying its okay not to join unless I am really convinced. Up until the very last moment before baptism, the baptizer would tell you its not too late to back out, then he asked if I wanted to proceed. I said yes. And its the best decision I have ever made in my entire life.

This all happened three years and three months ago. I wouldn't censure those who would now tell me I’m saying this only because I am now biased in favor of my religious affiliation. To them, however, I would quickly reply like my journalism professor in college, "but I have always been biased in favor of truth, beybeh."

To all doubters, disbelievers and believers out there, let me ask you…

DO YOU JUST EMBRACE OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINIONS WITHOUT QUESTION? OR DO YOU THINK MATTERS THROUGH AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF?

GOOD MORNING KUYA!

2007-07-23T14:33:00.001+08:00

Kuya Daniel Razon has just launched this morning his new morning TV show, still at UNTV37, entiled "Good Morning Kuya!" Still reeling from yesterday's successful 3G event, Razon was in a great mood showing around the TV audience inside the studio. Although the show was obviously still in its infancy stage you could see Razon's innovative blueprint already at work and I wouldn't be surprised if the bigger networks once again borrow some of his ideas and claim it as their own...(like what they did to early weekend morning day-starter "Kami Naman!" which boast of a first-in-its-class format called Live Magazine Sitcom!)

Razon describes the show as "unconventional", saying he is not one to put a noontime show early in the morning (as what the leading TV stations in the Philippines are currently doing). He believes public service is the stuff that a good morning show should be made of.

The show features a solid hour of public affairs-oriented discussion. It also boasts of providing daily free clinic, legal assistance, and jobs fair plus of course the UNTV Libreng Sakay Bus!

Do catch Daniel Razon and the rest of the UNTV early morning gang at GOOD MORNING KUYA! airing everyday from 4:45 to 9 am, Monday to Friday!

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BRO SORIANO GOES LIVE, WORLDWIDE!

2007-05-25T01:43:00.001+08:00

Two recent news inside the Church of God International these days have been generating a lot of excitement among brethrens and followers of brother Eli Soriano. First was his blog on WordPress, which has created a lot of buzz among bible lovers in the internet. And then there's the mass indoctrination for would-be Church members, live worldwide via satellite and the Internet...

The indoctrination started on Monday and is being conducted in Tagalog and English on separate dates and timezones. This means brother Eli would be working round the clock (from his overseas base) on weekdays and over the weekends to reach out to as

many people as possible.

Those in the Philippines who want to take advantage of this rare opportunity may contact the nearest Ang Dating Daan Coordinating Center in their area or call +63.45.8790522 and +63.917.5112052. The indoctrination sessions resume on Monday.

It is expected that the last three sessions will be capped with live question and answer segments with brother Eli. Take note that brother Eli only speaks the deeper things of the scriptures during exclusive events and gathering such as this, that even old time members are eager to listen, and listen closely.

Brother Eli's blog has inspired every kaanib blogger (me included) in more ways than one. It has been a fulfillment of the collective wishful thinking of all kaanib bloggers, especially Yirm. :-)

A friend of mine has long been asking me for reading materials regarding brother Eli's teachings. I gave him copies of the magazine but he wanted something more in depth. When brother Eli's blog came up, I emailed my friend the link. The very next morning he confessed to getting so hooked-up on it in an instant, telling me "this is what I've been looking for"!

The blog is as hot as the Itanong Mo Kay Soriano TV program and as exciting as the Eli Soriano Debates. Imagine, all pastors who were afraid to debate with brother Eli face-to-face may now do so anonymously in the discomfort of their own privacy!

In a related development kaanib bloggers are now "plotting" to hold the first ever bible-believing bloggers summit. Now, that's something great to thank God for!

(View this related post in Newsdrive)

OUR DAILY DEATH

2006-11-08T11:34:00.002+08:00

I am dead. And it's bothersome. This feeling has been plaguing me the past two weekends. They sometimes infect the weekdays too. Yes, whenever there's time to kill, there's also that nagging thought that there is simply nothing left for me in this world except that which was willed by the Almighty to be done.

Not even the best movies or best worldly books can erase this longing feeling to simply come home to the Father and escape the agony of living a soul so dead to the world. It is quite unbearable at times but I have no choice but to bear it.

I know what boredom is and this is not it. This is more like death on a daily dose. Nothing creepy or morbid really, it's just that I find it unbearable at times...

It's such a vague feeling of emptiness, filled only in moments of intimate communion with the Holy Spirit as during my private bible reading time or when I listen to brother Eli very intently.

I know, however, that this death on a daily scale is a consequence of my choice. I embraced it knowing there's nothing to resist at all. Life on earth is really meaningless if there's nothing beyond the grave. That's the essence of Ecclesiastes. And a Christian's hope lies not in this world but the next. All who live by faith knows this; our life on earth is just a journey. But if you enjoy the scenery now, imagine what beauty you will see when we get to our destiny. If we get there, that is.

In the mean time, here lies death.

Looking at it from a spiritual point of view, however, I can say I'm happy happy to be dead for I know of no other way to be alive in Christ. And I can't afford to be not dead for it is no longer I who lives in me but Christ.

"To die is gain; to live is Christ," so the bible says.

Having understood it more clearly now... I am less melancholic knowing that this too was made for a Christian to bear.

MARTIAL LAW 2?

2006-02-25T13:09:00.001+08:00

MRS. PRESIDENT, WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE COUNTRY?

The DOJ filed coup d'etat charges against former Senator Greg Honasan for his alleged involvement in the failed Oakwood Mutiny, which happened two years ago.

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran was arrested by the CIDG on the strength of a Warrant of Arrest issued in 1985! And government plans to charge him with inciting to sedition with no bail recommended.

Goodness gracious and they say we are not under Martial Law.

PARLIAMENTARY RUSH, FEDERAL DRAG

2005-12-02T16:10:00.001+08:00

Ramos is worried that federalism "could lead some regions to secede". I'm sorry but this worry betrays his utter lack of vision and leadership. His distrust for the people in the regions surely must make them want to secede from Manila as soon as The Ramos Parliament is in place. . .
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