A few weeks ago a middle age pastor and a Filipino missionary in the US was here for a brief vacation. He was so excited to see me, not because he haven’t seen seen each other for years, but my presence in the church. Of course I am not a mere visitor, I am a member. He could not believe it, me among the faithful in a Christian fellowship?
He knew what I used to be, a hard core ABS-alak, babae, sugal (wine, women, and gambling). Finally when he shook my hand he said, “this is the least of the places where I could see you Bob.Thank God you are here.” After the service, I invited him for a lunch and we had a great time together.
He was a newly ordained minister when I met him. He was friendly to me and we became good friends. We could talk almost anything but not religion. He knew I was allergic to anything about Christianity. Not that I was an atheist, It’s simply I have so many vices that I could not sacrifice in case I would be convinced to join his religion. He did not insist anyway.
Among the so many things we talked about, there’s one that really sank into my mind. It’s all about that incident when he went to the house of an American Pastor who invited him as a speaker. They were eating, he has not yet taken his lunch, but they never invited him to their table. According to him he was already salivating because the food smell good but there was no offer to join them.
After their lunch, the pastor’s wife immediately prepared for his lunch. It was no longer the same food the pastor’s wife prepared but it was so good and he ate a lot.
Culture shock, that’s the term we usually used when we encounter a totally different experience from what we regularly see in our day to day life. As Filipinos we have always treasured our hospitality values. When a visitor comes to our house, and we are having a dinner, we usually invite him/her to dine with us no matter how little what we have. But we live in a complex world where we deviate in almost anything, belief system, political views, and cultural practices. Yes the pastor was unaware of our culture, neither sensitive to the Filipino customary ways. We can not blame him for what the don’t know.
But someday all our differences and biases will come to an end. God has promised us a place where only the Glory of God shines and that the hearts will no longer speak of evil against others. There will be total justice, no man is greater that the other; we are all but equal in the Kingdom of God and in the new World to come.
Yes there will not longer be culture shock nor human biases. We feel nothing but everlasting love, joy, and peace as the light of God shines on us. There will be no greater happiness that we may experience than when God finally remove their guilt of sin and shame in or hearts. In that glorious Kingdom of God man will we no longer feel harm and humiliations; all because we believe and have kept His promises in our hearts.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.” ( John 14: 1-4 )
Culture shock, really? I think with the advent of modern communication, we should have been better informed about our cultural differences. Besides there is such a thing as cultural amalgamation or appreciation and understanding of people’s unique ways and characteristics.
With the advent of the information age, people should have been better educated and tolerant with other culture because of communication exchange. But many races and nationalities are still close with other cultural system and environments. They just don’t care. And there is still of problem of racial dominance and racial descrimination.
I am “shocked” that situation like this still pervades among Christians irrespective of courntry, race, and cultural practices.
Only in God’s Kingdom where there is truly a selfless and classless society? Please educate me Doc. and manay Chi.
Now I am convinced you are really a community oriented doctor. You are so sensitive with cultural realities in secular life and religion.
Darating ang araw na hindi na tayo magugutom pa, sa pisikal at spiritual na pangangailangan ng ating katawan.
Kaso may mga relihiyon ngayon na material prosperity ang ipinangangaral kagaya ng El Shadi.
Para sa aking ang nirvana ay nakakamtan lang nating kung marunong tayong mag-ignore ng ating mga material o pisikal na pangangailangan at i-focus ang ating isipan sa mas malalim pang kahulogan ng buhay.
Di ba ganon ate Chi?
Mawalang galang na dok pero marami diyang nagsasabing sila ay Kristiyano pero sa salita lang hindi sa gawa. Namimili pa sila ng taong kausap. Namimili pa sila ng taong maging kaibigan.
Ipokrito, iyan ang tawag sa mga Kristiyanong mapagmataas.
Banong
Is there such a thing as faith by example? Christianity is not only a theory and a concept, it’s a way of life isn’t it?
The reasons many Christians are misunderstood they use religion to cover their personal weaknesses. They appear like saints when they are not. They show reverence and faith but their hearts long for wealth and other things that satisfy their needs.
Eternity should mean the means to serve, not the end of our religious duties. People practice their religion so they will have material wealth, health and the promise of eternity. Many Christians are motivated to love and serve the Lord because of the promise of eternity. But serving and loving God should not be motivated by the promise of reward alone but our devotion to the Supreme being.
What do you think Renato?
Only very few I trust. I’d rather trust an atheist than god-fearing-apologists. God-fearing-apologists are like in fantasy world. If I have a problem I’d rather go to a down-to-earth atheist than fantastical B.S. from god-fearing-apologists.
It’s no wonder in America christians are losing ground to atheists. Atheists has doubled in population whereas christians are losing double percentage point.
Vatican has embraced Youtube (a creation of an atheist) to market their religion. Doc is well-read but problem is, Doc, don’t read other on-line newspapers.
Pilifinos who has no access to 24/7 news on-line abroad are totally dependent on pekeng-peryodiko that virtually practice self-censorship.
That is the reason why Pilifinos cannot know what’s going on abroad, what they are thinking and what made them think that way.
Pilifinos are still in medieval era.
Vatican says give up texting, sex and masturbation for lent!
Can we really?
I just texted Vatican of my masturbation video. They replied to give them some more.
Only in God’s Kingdom where there is truly a selfless and classless society? -docB
This is only possible when man becomes egoless. But for as long as there is a presence of a minutest ego, this Kingdom is not achievable.
Banong, you are korek. Napakalim ang kahulugan ng buhay at kung puro ego lang ang magsasalita at gagawa ay failure na kaagad ang buhay. Pati si Taning ay magagalit.
Kristiano nga, wala namang nagagawa sa kapwa at hindi umuunlad ang pang-unawa sa relasyon ng sarili at iba o kanyang environment, e di puro pisikal na existence lang ang nangyayari. Dapat ay itaas ang level ng sarili from physical to the highest one is able to achieve.
Kaya ayos na ayos sa akin na nandyan si Renato…”as above, so below”.
Basta’t ako hindi ako naniniwala sa religion kundi direct mismo ako kay Jesus Christ.
There are two contending forces within a man, the good and the evil. Is there something i-between.
While no body admits it, there are individual who places themselves at the middle. They are neither evil nor good. They are just happy, practical one, and cute, hehehe.
Nasaan ka doon Renato?
No religion can save. Salvation si through faith and the grace of Christ, di ba tito Cocoy?
On the other hand faith without work is dead. Ito iyong sinasabi ni tita na malalim ang kahulugan ng buhay. Faith includes learning, studying, sharing, and delving on our spirituality. Meditation enables us not only physical gain but spiritual.
Many Christians have a narrow perspective on spirituality, salvation, and eternity. At times they are more of emotional pretense on what they call faith.
Coligiala girl, I don’t believe in God nor Satan. I mention Satan for extreme effect.
Everyone is good. Example: People in prison have their own definition of good. A non-thief among all thief is bad.
Another example: A non-corrupt philippine government official is bad. Why? Because everyone is corrupt. If you are not corrupt in Bureau of Customs, either you are dead, or you don’t get promoted. So people in Bureau of Customs corrupt and politicize promotion to go up.
If a human being is “neither evil nor good” but “just happy, practical one, and cute”, that individual belongs to hell. hehehe! Maraming ganyan kaya si Gloria ay namamayagpag.
Aba, even Dante Alliegheri will get mad. It was he, in Divinia Comedia, who said that the “neutrals” belong to hell, which I agree.
The greatest sin for me is when a person does not put his mind to work. Imagine, the most precious gift we have is our mind, the capacity to think right or wrong, tapos ay wasted lang. This put us in the animal kingdom…hindi na kailangan ang isipan.
All human beings are BASICALLY good and only become evil when overcome by weaknesses that usually ripen due to conditionings, influences and experiences that are too overwhelming for them. Yan ang gustong sabihin ni Renato, kung hindi ako nagkakamali.
Sa practice ng spirituality, ang basic goodness na yan na inherent sa atin ang ating ibinabalik.
If I get you right kumareng Chi, itong mga santo-santita diyan sa paligid ng presidente na wala nang ginawa kundi purihin araw-araw ang ginagawa ng kanilang amo ay nanganganib na mapunta lahat sa impierno.
Ganon din ang mga Pilipino na kahit alam na nilang sinisimot na ng mga korap sa gobierno ang kakaunting pondo ng pamahalaan ay wala pa ring ginagawa, ni mag-react ayaw. Dedma lang sila sa mga isyu. Nanganganib din ang mga iyan na mapadpad sa impierno.
Ito namang mga pari, obispo, pastor, madre at mga aktibista na sarili lang ang inuuna kaysa kapakanan ng bansa, kaya hindi nagkakaisa ang mga tao upang labanan ang mga korap, ay nanganganib ding makulong sa dagat-dagatang apoy ng impierno.
At higit sa lahat, ang mga taong binigyan ng kakayahan ng Diiyos upang mag-isip at gumawa para gumawa ng kabutihan ngunit hindi nila ginagamit ang kakayahang iyan ay nanganganib ding malaglaga sa urno ng impierno.
So etenity means doing just the right thing and that you should be of good service to humanity not for any self-serving interest but the desire to love and be one with the ultimate source of positive power in the Universe.
Banong, ibahagi mo naman ang iyong nalalaman sa oriental philosopy. Maraming salamat din kay mareng Chi sa kanyang kaalaman at naibabahagi dito. Ganon din kay Renato na kung iisipin mo ng malalim ang kanyang sinasabi ay may punto din siya.
Salamat sa magandang talakayan dito. Dok, huwag ka sanang magtampo kahit hindi tayo nangkakaisa ng paniniwala.
Siya nga pala, iyang “inherent goodness in man” ang aming batayan sa pagtulong sa mga taong gustong magbago na sa tingin ng iba ay isinusuka na ng lipunan. Marami na kaming naingkwentrong mga taong kinatatakotan dahil sa mga krimen na nagawa ngunit kapag na-harness pala ang kanilang positive energy ay naging kapaki-pakinabang din sila sa lipunan. Di ba Banong marami kayong natulungan sa livelihood project na dting mga pusakal na Krminal at ngayon ay tuwiran nang nagbago dahil sa pagbibigay ng tsansang magbago at muling pinagkatiwalaan?
On the other hand doc.bobonyo may mga dating mababait at mabubuting tao na naging Kriminal naman because they have been pushed to the limits by polticians, businessmen, and even criminal syndicates.
Ibig lang sabihin ang pagiging masama ay circumstantial. Ano kaya ang pananaw ni dok dito?
You made it so clear, Kap. Magaling!
Kaya may kasabihan that hell is made wide open dahil sa hindi mabilang na mga nilalang na binanggit mo sa itaas nito. Gunaw ang Pinas pag nagkataon, hehehe!
Yan ang core of my discuss in layman’s lingo…”ang pagiging masama ay circumstantial”.
So eternity means doing just the right thing and that you should be of good service to humanity not for any self-serving interest but the desire to love and be one with the ultimate source of positive power in the Universe. – Kapitan Kidlat
Ito rin ang Fountain of Youth! (Take note girls and boys, forever tayong ‘beautiful’).
Ang daming naghahanap ng fountain of youth, including science, e ‘inherent’ naman sa tao yun…hindi lang tinitingnan o hindi alam kung paano i-harness at i-nurture.
Banong, nagkakamot yata ng ulo ang ilang friends natin, hehehe.
Pero, open tayo sa lahat ng pananaw, di ba?
Bilib ako sa inyo, Banong, dahil sa pagiging ‘community organizer’ ninyo na ang gamit na tema ay ang “inherent goodness in man”.
Kung ang lahat ng tumutulong sa kapwa ay tulad ninyo na AWARE sa kanilang ginagawa at pagtulong, lahat sila ay malalaman kung paano maging tunay na Kristiyano.
Noong unang nasabak si Banong sa Tondo, parang gusto na niyang mag-resign. Hindi siya siniseryoso noong una. Alam naman natin na karamihan sa mga taong guston nating tulungan ay pera o pagkain kaagad ang hinahanap, it is a dole-out mentalility kind of thing.
Napagpayuhan siya ng kanyang supervisor at sinabing huwag kaagad madidismaya, may solusyon bawat problema. Inugat namin and its all about perception. Hindi malinaw sa kanila kung ano ang nais gawin ni Banong, at si Banong naman ay hindi malinaw kung ano ang gusto ng mga clients o taong tinutulungan. Lumalabas na may communication problem, may cultural at attitutude gap na dapat ay bigyang ng matinding pagpapaliwanag.
Inisa-isang pinasyalan ni Banong ang mga members ng core group. Nasabi ang kanilang mga problema at pananaw sa proyekto. Akala kasi nila isa na namang project na pinagkakakuwartahan ng mga pulitiko. Napagpaliwanagan ni Banong sila. Umusad ang proyekto at hindi nag-resign pa si Banong.
Sandali lang, nakakahalata ako nito a, hindi pa nagpapakita itong si Banong. Dapat siya ang nagpapaliwanag nito kasi siya ang sikretaryo hehehe.
Huling hirit na lang, ang eternity dok ay isang proseso kung paano nating harapin ang mga barriers na nagiging sagabal sa ating pag-usad in a “journey to life.”
In my training sessions lagi kong sinasabi, what we do in the workplace is a journey to life. Everything good we do that draws positive result is all part in that eternal jouney to life.
Kung gagawa ka ng masama, mawawala ka na sa landas at hindi ka lalago bilang isang matured being.
Look at the politicians and our corrupt leaders, analyze what they are doing, parang isang paslit lang sila na hindi alam ang ginagawa. Magdudumi lang kung saan-saan, at maninira pa ng mga kasangkapan. In government look at the way they behave and think, mine…. mine… mine lagi sila. Akin iyan, akin ito, a minifestation of greed in man.
Colegiala and Segundina do you agree? Mer, makakatulong ba dito ang konsepto ng “learning and unlearning” process para sa cultural practices and values of man? Ilang taon kayang ma-expose sa ganitong experience si tita Glo bago siya magmature as a “social organism” hehehe.
Dok B. magsalita ka naman.
Nanay Chi and Kap,
Actually I’m just here reading your comments. The variety of thoughts and brilliant ideas from your comment is simply awesome. Thank you very much.
But I am hypocrite if I’ll pretend not “culture shocked” with your comments, they’re so thought provoking, very inspiring, and challenging. We totally deviate in so many things but we all zero in one common ground, the goodness of man.
Unfortunately I am not the kind who block comments (like some ministers and lay people I know) when confronted with different views that run 360 degrees contrary to their perspective. I am still a scientific individual having been trained in the medical field. I still believe in the comparison of ideas for there is only truth when what we believed is challenged but prevails.
We all agree that man has inherent worth and dignity as a human being. God has endowed him with a lot of potentials to become productive and be of service to God and mankind.
We are all striding in this journey to eternity. We start searching for the meaning of eternity in this world, but I am confident it does not only end with our earthly existence, it transcends beyond what we see as the boundaries of time and space. Eternal life is not just a mere conjecture of human beings, it’s God’s plan restoring the lost image of God in man because of sin from Paradise to Paradise. We lost Eden because of human sin, we’ll regain back Eden at the appropriate time.
Yes we are all passing through this journey in life, sometimes were at the middle of the road, at times lost on our way because of worldly distractions. Man’s materialism, greed, and lust for power and pleasures of this world taint our perspectives to what is holy and worthy unto the Lord. At time’s man’s pleasures puts God secondary in his life.
Yes man has the creative and intellectual capacities to transform himself and his environment but he is nothing without God. He can do so many things good on earth, but it is not God that is glorified but himself. Yet, everything he has comes from God; eveything he does happens because of God’s power. We should not be misled by the thought that our spirituality is only confined to doing good and doing what is just right and not harmful unto others. While that’s what God wants us to be, we are not God, to God is still be the glory.
On the other hand, God has bestowed upon man the freedom of choice, to think and do what his heart desires. But, unfortunately, that freedom has been exploited and perverted by man to pursue his lusts and greed. Man is basically weak and sinful. He goes againts the principles of God (rebellion) because of disbelief and corrupted mind, body, and spirit. He disconnects himself from the will of God because of what he perceives as “truth” and “reality.” But God is patient and loving to man despite his excesses.
As a corrupted being man is weak; such flaws allow him to ignore good and do evil. His lust and selfishness make him a murderer, plunderer, liar, and sexually immoral, etc. But there will be a time of reckoning man reaps everything he sows for good and evil.
Manay chi,
Malaking sakripisyo nga lang, maraming sakit ng ulo, maraming gulo, pero ganon talaga kung nais mong tulungan ang mga tao na magbago. Kailangang maliwanagan ang kanilang isipan na hindi aksidente ang pagsilang sa kanila sa mundo, mayroon silang mahalagang papel na ginagampanan sa buhay. At higit sa lahat taglay nila ang dignidad ng isang tao na nawaglit pansamantal dahil sa mga ibat-ibang kadahilanan.
Dok,
Ang tono ng iyong pananalita walang kakayahan ang isang tao kahit sabihin pa nating taglay niya ang mga mahahalagang katangian ng Diyos na lumikha. Kailangan pa rin niyang magpasailalim ng kapangyarihan ng Diyos at umasa pa rin sa lakas na ibibigay sa kanya para magtagumpay.
Sa akin naman ang puntong iyon ay uri ng pagpupunyaging mapaglabanan ang mga kahihaang nagiging sagabal sa paglago ng isang tao. In the ultimate analysis iyong tao pa rin ang siyang nagpapasya kung saan niya ilalagay ang kanyang sarili. Puweding magpasa-ilalim siya ng ganap sa kapangyarihan ng Diyos, o piliing maging malaya ang kanyang pagiisip at pagkilos.
Banong,
Kaya para sa akin, it’s the journey that counts, not the destination. Sa pagiging community organizer mo ay tiyak ako na mas nakakatuwa at importante ang iyong mga ups and downs na experiences sa mga taong tinutulungan at bonus na lang ang kinahinatnan nuon.
Ang ating kinakahinatnan, tama o mali, ay gawa natin dahil meron tayong abilidad at kapasidad na mag-isip. Tayo ang pumuporma ng ano at sino tayo kahapon, ngayon at bukas.
At agree ako, Banong, na dahil meron tayong isip ay pwede nga na piliin ninuman na completely na ilagay ang sarili sa ilalim ng kapangyarihan ng Dios. Gayunman, CHOICE pa rin yun na pinag-isipan. I have to admit, hindi ganyan ang aking napiling PATH. Pinili ko ang malayang pag-iisip at pagkilos, ako ang pumuporma ng aking buhay ayon sa mga pwede kong i-create na magagawa o opportunities na dumarating. Ang pasasalamat sa ITAAS ay palaging kaakibat ng anumang nangyari sa buong isang araw.
May the force be with you! hehehe!
Isang hirit din, ang “force” ay pwedeng tawagin ng anumang pangalan na pinaniniwalaan natin na ating GABAY.
Maganda itong kaisipan na naibahagi mo. If I understand you right, mas mahalaga iiyong proseso, pinagdadaanan, kaysa outcome. Tama sa Community organizing iyong proseso ang mas pinahahalagahan kay sa mga “gains” o kaunlarang na naging bunga ng pagsisikap.
Ang dahilan:
1. Sa proseso ay natututunan ng mga tao iyong tamang paraan upang tulungan ang kanilang mga sarili. Naging successful man ito o hindi, may aral na nakamtan at nabuo. Kaya sa muling pagkilos upang sikapin na maisakatuparan ang isang bagay na minimithi at hinahangad ay mas nalalapit sila sa tagumpay.
2. Iyong problem-solving process na na naisip, napagkasundoan, at isinagawa ay mananatili sa kanilang kaisipan, ugnayan, at pagkilos. Dito walang nagsisisihan lahat ay binibigyan ng kahulugan at pang-unawa ang mga sanhi ng tagumpay at pagkabigo.
3. Iyong result oriented na pananaw ay kung minsan siya pa ang dahilan ng pagkawatak-watak, panghihina, inggitan, at paglaho ng interest of motivation.
4. Ang proseso ay panghabang buhay, eternity, at nagpapatuloy. Ganito rin ang konsepto ng pakikibaka, ano ba ang dahilan kung bakit nagtatagal ang armadong pakikibaka ng mga NPA? Hindi kaya ang konseptong ito ang isa rin sa kanilang sinusundan?
Ang pakikibaka sa rehimeng Gloria ay hindi result oriented, nag-people’s power ka at talski siya kaagad. Hindi ito nangyari. Di ba nang sila’y nabigo ay pinanghinaan ang iba? Ito ang paraan ng mga pulitiko.
Kaya sa pag-unlad at pagpapaunlad ng mga pamayanan, pook, o Barangay proseso ang sinusundan hindi iyong mga pansamantalang goals na itinakda.
Mareng chi, noong panahon ng aktibismo sa Pilipinas hindi ba ganito ang mga konseptong ating naririnig sa mga guro natin.
Eternity is a process doc.bobonyo. It is not a definite point in space and time.
Anong sey mo mare?
May the Divine Power be with you too.
Kap,
It’s really the process that is most important in attaining a goal. Sinabi mo pa, ang result oriented ay maganda sana KUNG hindi nagsasapawan ng mala-coliseum na ego ang mga involved. And even if the intended result is attained, meron na dun na period, while the process goes on and on and on as an actual experience of the persons/participants that helps craft their future.
I”m an adventurous soul, kaya bakasyun dito bakasyan dun ang buhay ko, hehehe. Seriously, I give more importance to the journey of my soul and existence. My future depends on what I did yesterday and today.
Oopps…My future depends on what I did yesterday and DOing today.
Eternity is a notion as vast as space, but is still achievable through the processing of oneself towards enlightenment. It is a process, yes.
“It is not a definite point in space and time” because it is infinite.
Kap, only the two of us are talking a!
It is not really easy talking about faiths and beliefs of individuals because they are something very personal. But as the LEARNED ONES teach, it is always better to have a faith or nurture one’s faith than having no faith at all.
Malalim po ang pinaguusapan ninyo. Ang tanging masasabi ko lang, we are all passing through this journey in life. And we will pass through it once. Whatever good we can do, let us do it now for we’ll never that chance again.
We are the captain of our faith, the CEO of our soul, hehehe.
Kap,
Young CO process ay napakagandang basehan ng public service. Wala kang inaasahang papuri, wala kang inaasahan na kaperahan, at hindi ka namumulitika. Those in the administration should think of this.
Pero iyong sinasabi mong proseso kap ay may objective lagi. We may be process oriented but we always have ang objective to attend. And that objective to attend is also a part of the process. Ibig sabihin lang mahalaga pa rin na may makakamtan tayong results ng ating mga pagkilos. Process alone may not be the total embodiment of our actions and decisions. When we decide to act on something, the result will always be something tangible. Process is a systems of ways and procedures to implement, result is now the summit of your procedure you just end there, or from there you may start again another goal to realize. And the cycle begins.
Girl,
Iba ang goals ng mga taga administrasyon, iba ang prosesong sinusunod. At iba din ang result na gusto nilang makamtan. Paikot-ikot lang sila dahil iisa ang goal, to stay in power?
Gusto ko iyong sinabi ni ate chi na fountain of youth. I want to be beautiful forever, not physically but spiritually, hehehe.
Salamat po.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Although we vary in perspectives on so many things about spiritually, I know we all have common grounds for the love of humanity.
Please have time to read my new post, ‘the meaning of public service’