Cooling Off...For Now

I'll be busy in a couple of weeks with a project of mine. Though I'm not abandoning this blog, I might have to do a lot less writing. Till then. Bye.

Lectors Meetings

Ever wonder what a Lectors meeting is like?

Well, one silent rule pervades the agenda of the entire meeting: the Parkinsons Law of Triviality. I got this from the book, The Art of Conversation, by Catherine Blyth, and it states that: The less important an agenda item, the more time is spent on it. She adds to this by saying, "We speak most freely on matters that won't burn us, or for which any number of solutions is possible and equally desirable. The net consequence is that all meetings have a natural life span beyond which dementia sets in."

It's pretty amusing though but I guess that's the way it is. Aside from the usual discussions on mass schedules and exhortations for more commitment and focus, other side dishes abound to take up most of the meeting's time. For instance, there was the issue about acknowledging the audience first prior to reading a passage. What followed was a lengthy discussion on where to start looking at the audience ( Do we face the audience to the right? Or should we start with the left? How many seconds will this take?) or if there should be a uniform "protocol" to be implemented for everyone. Another case was about how early lectors should "report for duty" for their assignments and that discussion too devolved into a long debate about the time allowance ( 10 minutes? 15 minutes? 20 minutes? 30 minutes? 1 hour?). Still another issue I can recall was the case about the lector's garment to be worn by the ladies. Again, what followed was a gentle reminder from each one of the more outspoken group, reminding everyone about the responsibility not to soil or sully the garment as an act of charity for those who will use them next. Earlier than that was the issue of where and how to bow before the altar, a common issue then explained with great technicality by the veterans of the club.

Haaay. And there's plenty more from where these came from.

Sometimes, it does get to me, all this noisy racket on matters which matter very little. I suppose it goes with the culture of the group. Most of us are, in fact, sticklers for detail, even details which pose no significant value on their own. We can probably be called, and rightfully so, the Lord of Small Things. We don't just sweat the small stuff, we sweat it, taste it, and sweat it again ( Ewww).

I just hope though that my fellow members don't get lost in the woods reviewing all this trivia. We are still here for the same reason: to serve God in our own little way. I hope that reason won't be forgotten anytime soon. Till the next ( and hopefully, this time, "short") meeting then.

Catholic Priestesses

"Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church's divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Luke 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitely held by all the Church's faithful...the example recorded in the Sacred Scriptures of Christ choosing his Apostles only from among men; the constant practice of the Church, which has imitated Christ in choosing only men; and her living teaching authority which has consistently held that the exclusion of women from the priesthood is in accordance with God's plan for his Church."

- Pope John Paul II
Apostolic Letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis on Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone

May 22, 1994, the Solemnity of Pentecost

Something in that statement just doesn't seem quite right. Or spiritually uplifting for that matter.

Awhile back, Mama and I had this conversation about allowing women to become priests. I was for it and she was not, primarily because such a move would probably invite a plethora of sexual harassment issues, both real and perceived. She did give one consolation though, that despite the exclusion, women still play a lot of significant roles in the church. And if one is to look around, more women than men are actively participating in church activities as it is.

As for me, that's like saying the experience of an adoptive mother can approximate the experience of another mother who actually gave birth to her child. It's just not possible. So it is with women who have an inner calling to a priestly vocation. Though one may be active in the Eucharist, nothing beats being an actual priest and it cannot be fair to limit that experience and restrict it from the rest, who otherwise may have sincere callings for it, solely on the basis of gender.

I also came across one site, www.womenpriests.org, which basically sums up all the arguments in favor of Catholic priestesses. Simply put, there is nothing in modern-day theology which prohibits women from becoming priests. Chiefly, the main issue against this idea is the concept of tradition within the Catholic hierarchy. Reflected in the late Pope's words above, tradition supports the current practice of a male-dominated clergy ( It's the way it's been done before so why change it?). But such a view hinges on a narrow sense and understanding of church history, a history which has repeatedly marginalized women and has, sadly, been a witness to gross instances of the Church straying far from its teachings.

Perhaps, God never wished for women to become priests. But that assumption also falls flat on its face in front of thousands of women who have been, should we say, "touched" by the Spirit and do have sincere yearnings towards a closer communion with God.

Maybe, in this issue, we've been the ones foolishly playing God all the way. The church does have the authority to ordain women and that authority comes from the Divine and it resides in the hearts of the women who have been called to a priestly life. In light of such a revelation, who are we to question God's call?

Voting For The Top

I voted for Villar. Enough said.

In my humble opinion, he would have made a good President. Amidst the accusations he faced from his opponents, I believe he was the most competent, the most reliable of all the candidates for the presidency. He had the skills set, the background, and the story to back it all up. Unfortunately, all the black propaganda caught up with him and he was a doomed man.

Some had said I should check the facts about Villar. Yes, I did that and more. Yet, in the end, I still winded up voting for him. He was simply better than the competition (LASER).

What attracted me initially to voting Villar was the storyline of his ascent. From the masses, he climbed up the corporate ladder, made his own name, got filthy rich, then vowed to do the same for the rest ( Perfectly fits "The Great Equalizer" theory of mine. More on that later). His was a success story like no other and his message was compelling in itself ( An Entrepreneurial Revolution. I would have loved to see that). In addition, perhaps, I was being too naive, but I wanted someone who wouldn't pander to any one's interests while already in office and Villar was that man. Oh well...

For vice-president, I voted for Binay because he's the mayor of Makati and Mar Roxas doesn't keep his word and Bayani Fernando doesn't believe in consensus ( Although I'm starting to experience "voter's remorse" because his background is a little sketchy at best and his achievements as mayor is mostly due to circumstance and not to sheer bureaucratic genius. I should have checked on him more closely even if his position is *ahem* a mere ceremonial appointment).

So that's it for my series of posts about how I voted. As you can see, most of my candidates didn't win. But, if it's any consolation, I'm still okay with the candidates who got their posts. Until the next elections, then. And for the candidates who did win, here are my parting words: I'll be watching you.

Voting For Senators And A Party List

The list of senators is equally bewildering. But, fortunately, I had an easier time choosing who my senators were. Aside from the usual names of candidates known for their competence, there was the Kapatiran.

Yes, the Kapatiran. I first encountered this group of political wannabes in one of De Quiros' articles. They were supposed to be a party of New Age politicians (as opposed to Traditional Politicians or "Trapos") who were hell-bent in proving that good guys, and girls, can win and thrive in public office. They were there because they had to make sure that the people must always have a choice. I think they have this moral code for integrity and good governance but, more importantly, what they have right now is a brand they can build on for the years to come.

For me, I instantly voted for all their candidates in the senate because I knew what they stood for. In the midst of anonymous faces and dubious personalities, I was willing to vote for a couple of unfamiliar faces because they were part of a party which was presumably different from all the rest. I think that speaks for what would become a very promising brand in the coming elections.

As for the party list system, I cannot, for the life of me, understand why several parties are representing the same group or demographic. That's not how it should work but that's what the COMELEC is allowing right now.

Papa had a ready explanation for this. It's just that some people choose to bastardize the system by setting up a party, gathering the necessary number of signatures, and making money out of it. A group of fragmented parties will do a poor job representing anyone but there's a lot of money to be had with this arrangement as compared to, say, having one party represent the entire group. So now we're stuck with several parties devoted to teachers, farmers etc.

By the way, I voted for a party representing indigenous peoples. Hope they get the job done.

Voting For City-Wide Positions

Voting for the mayor, the vice mayor, and the congressperson is a lot easier. I just wish we had more names.

Earlier on, I was telling some colleagues at work that there must be other candidates for mayor other than the Dutertes and the Nograles clan who sport excellent resumes and equally excellent qualifications. It turned out I was wrong. When I did my research on the other candidates, what I got was a security guard running for public office as well as two other greenhorns. Very un-inspiring, if you ask me.

So on election day, I voted for Inday Sara, Ben De Guzman, and Mabel Acosta. But I really wanted to vote for someone else. It was a case where you just have to eat some veggies but what they're offering you is just fried chicken and rice. The menu was too limited.

Anyhoo ( I got that from Mel), I guess Inday Sara is quite capable for the job. But I didn't vote for Rudy Duterte as vice mayor because that would be too much. Two Dutertes, both in public office, doesn't sit well with me and, besides, I simple don't like Rudy Duterte ( Using a television show for your own benefit to bash all your other candidates into submission is not only unfair but is simply disgusting. If this goes on, at least, the playing field should be more level, with his opponents also being invited to air out their "grievances" in the show. Now, come to think of it, that would be more entertaining).

Finally, I voted for Mabel Acosta as congresswoman because I didn't like the other guy to win ( who eventually did). As far as I'm concerned, the Nograles clan are a very corrupt bunch ( The only thing lacking in that statement is the actual evidence). If I had to choose a lesser evil for the congress ( where dreams do come true for those who want to be overnight millionaires), I would have to choose Mabel Acosta.

Voting For Councilors

The next series of posts regarding the elections is meant to be anticlimactic. The elections are over, which is well and good. Now, I can share some thoughts about how I picked my candidates without imposing my opinion on others.

Unfortunately, I lost my kodigo awhile back ( my list of candidates I voted). I, for the life of me, cannot remember who I picked for as my bets for the position of councilor. So instead of sharing the names I selected, I might as well discuss the difficulty related to picking candidates for local posts.

There are a lot of names running for councilor. And it doesn't help that most of them are simply that, just names on the ballot sheet. Trying to be a responsible voter, I tried researching most of the candidates and that's where the problem starts.

One difficulty is that there seems to be no comprehensive database of resumes for these candidates. I tried searching online for curriculum vitaes of some candidates and what I got were a series of unrelated search results. For all the media hype surrounding these elections ( "bringing with you the most comprehensive coverage" my neck...), apparently, someone forgot to post resumes of the candidates online for the benefit of the more discerning voters.

So, I resulted to asking my parents instead (When in doubt, always ask your parents). Papa was more than willing to suggest names for me, names of candidates whom both he and Mama knew in person. I picked out candidates whom they knew were qualified and I also picked out candidates whom they knew have been worthwhile councilors before.

And that's how I got my candidates.

The only sad thing about this was that I really tried my best to make an informed vote. I didn't want to vote for strangers but that's how I ended up doing, relying on other people to name names for me. Oh well, life goes on.

Poll Watching Part 2

Election day started. We were up way early for comfort ( at around 5:30AM) but it turned out many voters woke up early as well. By the time I arrived at my precinct cluster, dozens were already outside the classrooms, scanning the voters' lists for their names.

Already, the BEI was up and running, making sure everything was in order. I had the honor of saying the morning prayer ( full of petitions which weren't exactly answered: orderly, peaceful elections etc.) before the BEI let in their first voters. A public school teacher ( Actually, everything was handled by public school teachers) was already at the entrance policing the crowd.

As I scanned the the list of voters, I found out there were close to a thousand registered voters in our cluster. That didn't bother me earlier until I finally got a grasp of the actual pace of the voting process. By 8 in the morning, close to only 40 voters had cast their ballots. If the cluster had to accommodate all of its voters, the rate should have been higher, closer to 125 ballots cast per hour ( assuming we had 8 hours to finish the work).

Admittedly, there were some flaws in the process, most of them stemming out from incorrect procedures brought about from the last elections. I guess many voters have already discussed these extensively and I do hope the COMELEC is keen on listening to these comments as we look forward to the next exercise. For instance, there was the issue of clustering several precincts together which could have been avoided if the COMELEC was more liberal in the use of their spare PCOS machines. Also, there was the issue of a disjointed flow in voter verification (voters had to go back to the voter lists twice; first, to locate their names and, second, to affix their thumb marks after voting). Then there was the issue of a non-consolidated listing of the voters which made locating names and identities a time-consuming nuisance. All in all, the voting process in our cluster must have been a very frustrating experience for everyone and, as volunteers, we could not do anything but watch.

If I were to encapsulate the whole PPRCV experience into one word, "boredom" would be that word. Boredom, coupled with sleep debt, made for a very long day. Several times, I went home to check up on my sisters and also to escape, even just for awhile, the duty of watching countless strange faces fill up their ballot forms. Clearly, there was nothing to the job except watch people vote.

By the time the last voter had left the premises, it was around 9:30 PM. I, for one, didn't expect it to end this late in the evening but there I was. Soon after, we got busy for the last part of the day. Unused ballot forms had to be ripped apart. Election returns had to be collected. The PCOS machine was dismantled and wrapped again for storage. Checklists had to be submitted. By the time our job was over, it was around 1 in the morning of the next day.

The last thing that went to my tired mind before I dozed off was the thought that that day should be a holiday. Well, at around 7:30PM later, I was off to work, eye bugs and all.

Poll Watching Part 1

I was a poll watcher.

The church or, more specifically, the PPRCV ( Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) was inviting everyone to either be volunteers or sponsors for the upcoming elections. My family and I joined as volunteers in what would be my first ever elections ( It was surprising, really, how it turned out to be a family affair. My parents joined in along with my elder sister and brother).

We had no idea what was going to happen then but it was fun actually participating in what could be a very historic event.

The work started on a Sunday afternoon. I was off to Bayanihan Elementary school to witness the testing of the PCOS machines ( The rationale behind testing these machines one day before the elections escapes me till this day). Already, there were delays in the process. The BEI (Board of Election Inspectors), although sufficiently briefed, had their moments of lapses. The testing should have started at around 2PM but we were still trying to tidy up the classroom and trying to make sense of all the election paraphernalia. When Tito Lester and I finally hauled the PCOS machine and the ballot box into the precinct, what followed was another round of checks to make sure the machine wasn't tampered with ( Those PPRCV checklists were pretty handy by the way).

Then, the voting started. We had only ten voters for the trial run but the voting session took almost an hour ( which didn't bode well come election day). Afterwards, when the excitement over the PCOS machines died down, we were off to see if the automated results coincided with the manual tallies ( It did).

By the time we were finished, it was well past 6 in the evening for a session which should have ended at around 4. By the time I got home, I was exhausted, wondering about what the next day would bring to the table.

Text Messages 19

Family Tea...

Ito ang tawag sa perang binabayad sa dyip.
Di ka makakasakay kung wala kang family tea.
Edwin Gutierrez, March 12, 2010

Juan: Imagine kung naa ka sa usa ka nasunog nga balay. Unsa man imong buhaton para maluwas ka?
Pedro: Ka-simple. Moundang ko'g imagine!
Edwin Gutierrez, March 20, 2010

Top 10 biggest brain-damaging habits by WHO:
No breakfast.
Overeating
Smoking
High sugar consumption
Air pollution
Sleep deprivation
Head covered while sleeping
Working your brain during illness
Lack of stimulating thoughts
Talking rarely
JV Colina, March 23, 2010

I feel someone standing beside me but no one is there.
I feel someone is holding me but no one feels my hand.
I feel someone is wiping my tears but no one touches my face.
I feel someone is calling me then I look around. But no one says my name.
I shout, "Who are you?"
Then I see a leaf falling.
Now I realize why I was looking around yet not looking above. It's God who never leaves me even though I almost forgot Him.
Mark Salazar, March 24, 2010

Thought for today:
Happy is the person who doesn't show sadness over what is lost but instead shows gratitude over what is left.
Ate Cathy, March 27, 2010

Boy: Miss, pwede manghiram ug ballpen?
Girl: Dara oh...
Boy: Dili lagi siya mu-agi miss?
Girl: Gasulat pa mana.
Boy: Sige daw beh. Isulat daw imong number...
Istoryahi!
Edwin Gutierrez, April 11, 2010

If I'm happy with my friends? Why should I need a deeper relationship with someone else?
-palusot sa mga walay uyab.
Joycee Launio, April 13, 2010

I just want to share with you some of the best words of wisdom in life:
Before you say "I can't", make sure you've tried.
Before you let doubts stop you, confront them with facts.
Before fear holds you back, go forward with faith.
Before you believe others are better, show them your best.
Before you dismiss your dreams, wait until they've come true.
Before you go looking for happiness, make your own wherever you are.
God will make a way for you.
JV Colina, April 14, 2010

When a person cannot answer directly to your question, probably, the answer is too painful for you to know or too hard for them to admit.
Mary Ann Andicoy, April 14, 2010

Rivers do not drink the water they carry.
Trees do not eat the fruit that they bear.
Clouds do not bathe in the rain they produce.
We are meant to give, even if we get nothing it.
Measuring life by what others do may disappoint us.
But measuring life by what we do will make life meaningful.
Mary Ann Andicoy, April 18, 2010

Renewal

It's time for a bit of renewal. It's time to renew some habits.

Time to save money again.

Time to exercise again.

Time to sleep better again.

Time to eat better again.

Time to smile more frequently again.

Time to be more grateful again.

Time to be more prayerful again.

Time to be more friendly again.

Time to reconnect with lost friends again.

Time to start learning again.

Time to start living this life a little better...again.

Shadow of Doubt

Ok. This is not a book review.

I had, for a long time, been wanting a copy of the book, Shadow of Doubt. Just like (almost) everyone else, my interest was due to the controversial nature of the book and its unique subject, the Supreme Court of the Republic of the Philippines. I also just had to buy another book by Marites Vitug, the gutsy author of an earlier but equally riveting book, Under the Crescent Moon: Rebellion in Mindanao.

I initially tried to buy one from National Bookstore here in Davao City. Unfortunately, my father had inquired about it in the bookshop's Gaisano Mall Branch and an employee had told him the book had sold out.

Next, I inquired about the book in the SM Branch and the manager told us the uncomfortable truth: National Bookstore is not distributing the book in one way or another. Apparently, management had found it prudent to not clash with the powers-that-be probably for fear of any political backlash.

The manager's revelation pretty much left a sour taste in my mouth ( I guess I won't be patronizing National Bookstore any time soon, that I can tell you). Imagine that: the biggest bookstore in the country to date, one of the bastions of information and free speech, is refusing to market and distribute a book that is bound to reveal the sinister machinations occurring under the political underbelly of one of the most respected institutions of the land. Whew.

That's "playing it safe" and that just doesn't sit well of me (Of course, you got to hand it over to National. They've got a lot to lose now that they're a giant).

After that incident, I pursued purchasing the book online instead. The book's website detailed some simple instructions and I went about sending a purchase order through email. It turned out no one was paying attention because nobody replied to my email.

Then, out of the blue, my sister brought home a copy of the book. It came from a client of their bank, a lawyer who just had the right connections. I had the honor of reading it first and it was a very sweet read (although I think that's not the first reaction it was meant to evoke). More importantly, the book stirred a lot of questions, questions about the integrity of the court and the administration of justice in the land, questions which, if not answered and addressed properly, will prove to be a detrimental factor to our nation's development. You get the picture.

As a final say, I believe every library in the country should reserve a spot for this book in their shelves, if not as an icon of excellent journalism then maybe as a reminder of how fragile justice can be in this country and what it takes to make our judicial system work.