The Hopeless Saving Effort of the Poor Filipinos

The Hopeless Saving Effort of the Poor Filipinos
By Apolinario Villalobos

The Philippines as a country that belongs to the third world, has nothing to be proud of when it comes to the self-sufficiency of its people. There are strong indications that the Filipinos are far from gaining just a foothold on the edge of this aspiration. While there is an effort on the part of some hardworking Filipinos to become self-made entrepreneur even of the lowest category, external factors are just not on their side. The best investment that a few thousand pesos can give to the aspirant is a round and flat bamboo tray (bilao) of girlie accessories. The aspiring entrepreneur is also constantly haunted by sidewalk clearing agents of the government who drive him away from roadsides and street corners, and whose effort is enhanced by the threat of fine or arrest. The few pesos earned for the day is not even enough to buy three decent meals for a family of four which is the standard size of the Filipino family.

With small-time entrepreneurship out of question, here comes the encouragement of the government to save money in the bank. Some banks even entice kids to start their own savings purportedly, for a “bright future”. In advertisement, the call is very attractive, full of promises. The banks also zero-in to the sector of retirees to-be because of their separation pays in lump sum that sometimes amount to millions of pesos. Lucky are those who bit the bait five or more years ago due to sufficient return in interest , because, today, such topic does not deserve any serious discussion for lack of financial luster.

Today, if one puts a million pesos in a time deposit scheme of five years, it will not even earn one thousand pesos per month. As if the dismal interest is not enough, bank managers, exert much effort in selling the insurance programs of “sister” insurance companies which do not allow approration of dividend. The client must wait until the placement matures after three years or five years or whatever length of coverage.

For the retirees who have been looking forward to live on their savings’ interest in the bank,it is as if the world has closed in on them. A retiree cannot even rely on the interest of a five- million peso time deposit that was long-planned to be used to buy health supplements and regular physical check- ups.Worst, the social security pension, especially, of those who belong to the minimum level is barely enough to cover monthly household expenses.

The poor retiree is left with no recourse, but to spend the hard-earned savings with much cautious calculation so that they will last until the dayhe draws his last breath.

Francis and Jesus

Francis and Jesus
By Apolinario Villalobos

There is no better choice to head the Vatican of today than Francis in view of his radical effort in reforming the papacy. His refusal to live in the posh papal quarters more than symbolized his humility. In his simple ways, he sheds off the royal trapping that for him sets the pope apart from the people. His actions are always with implied reminder that in the eyes of God, everybody is equal. His stubbornness to project simplicity irritates some Roman Catholics, but for the rest, he is Jesus personified.

During the time of Jesus, the community he lived in was also beset with hypocrites who regard themselves as authorities on the Jewish traditions and the proper worship of God. This kind of “faithfuls” are still very much around, cloaked in different colorful uniforms of religiosities to distinguish them from the “sinners” . That is why, just like Jesus who practically resorted to almost any way possible to carry out his mission, Francis today, even mingle with the people in the Vatican’s square and “invaded” the social media to be able to reach out to those who decided to join other flocks, in an effort to bring them back to the fold of Universal faith.

Francis and Jesus did not promise anything with monetary value. Both just showed their real selves and dwell on the doable expectations of God from us. Just like Jesus who was pestered by his detractors who patiently waited for his missteps, Francis is being watched keenly not by those belonging to other denominations, but by Roman Catholics themselves who abhor reform. Criticisms about Francis are already coming out in the social media.

Those who belong to this generation should feel lucky for witnessing a radical religious reformation, the tableau being completed by different assemblages of fanatics who profess to be the real messiah. Aside from proving the truth in the adage, “history repeats itself”, those who read the Bible will also realize that the prophesy about the coming of false prophets is already happening.

A Lingering Question About Jesus

A  Lingering   Question  About Jesus

By   Apolinario  Villalobos

 

My  favorite  pages  of  the  Bible  are  those  about  the  Old  Testament  because  of  their  historical  content.    I  also  like  the  New  Testament  which  tackle  values ,  development  of  Christianity,  Jesus  and  His  works.  It’s  about  love  of  God,  love  of  fellowmen,  faith  in  God,  etc.,  that  need  to be  practiced,  an  expectation  that  unfortunately,  failed,  somehow.

 

There  is  just  one  question  about  Jesus  that  has been bugging  me – his genetic  lineage.  According to  prophesy,the  Messiah  shall   come   from  the  House   of  David.  Josephis only a  “foster”  father  of  Jesus.  So,  though,  Joseph  belonged  to  the  House   of   David,  Jesus,  genetically  does  not.   Jesus  was   broughtinto  the  world  through  virgin  birth,  that of  Mary.  But  Mary  does  not belong  to  the  House   of   David.  In  other  words,  Jesus  does  not  belong  to  the  House  of  David.   To  simplify  the explanation,  the  Vatican just   emphasized  the  whole  thing  as  a  miracle,  and  that,  Joseph  is  presented  as  the    “father”  of  Jesus,  to  complete  the  picture  of  the  Holy   Family.  For  the faithful,  no  question  should  be  asked  when  miracle  is  used  as an  explanation. 

 

In  the  first  place,  there  could  have  been  no  question  if   the  writer  of  the  particular   chapter  in the  Bible  dealing   on  the  prophesy   about   the   messiah,  just  espoused  the  miracle  of   the  virgin  birth   and  understated     his    coming  from  the  house  of  David.  The  faithful  I   suppose  are  willing  to accept  it   just  like  the rest   of   the  miracles.  It   seems  something   is  lacking  in  the  way  the  prophesy  has  been  written.   The  prophet  who   announced  the  coming  of  the messiah  should  know  about  it,  because  the message   came  from  the  all- knowing  God,  or  there  should  have  been  some  kind  of  a  “by   the  way”  about  the  messiah’s  adoption  by  a  foster  father.   In  my  simple   mind,  perhaps,  the  writer    mentioned   the  “House   of  David”  to  inject   an   image  of  royalty   to   the  messiah,  though,  born  in  a  manger  to  portrait  humility.  Such  an  implied  intention,  if  ever,  is  a  deceptive  ploy  of  the  writer  which  drained  down  to  the  Vatican  which  is  now  submerged  in  a thick  muck  of  controversies.