Do you find Bishop Soc Villegas' call "to keep your needs few and our desires simple" relevant?

BING LIMSON SALVADOR, METRO MANILA: Bishop Soc, this advice is for the wealthy people. Poor people’s needs are few and their desires are simple.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: The call is very relevant to most of our people whose income can buy them only the bare necessities of life. The call is not intended for the rich. They will not listen anyway.

Key to happiness

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: This is the ideal form of living and very timely nowadays that our minds flex between the concept of materialism and spirituality. The Bible says that a man could bring to heaven nothing but a clean soul, why desire or amass great wealth while still on earth?

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: Makes sense to me. Living within one’s means and being content with what one has is the best reminder for a happy life. Take it from me, it works. Make life a wonderful experience and a great journey.

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: Surveys have shown that Filipinos are among the happiest people on earth. My guess is that most Filipinos have simple needs. They are happy to have three meals a day and a cover over their heads when the evening comes. Learning to appreciate what we have and not desiring for what we don’t may be the key to a happy life.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: Few needs and simple desires are relevant to our view. Materialism and mundane wants are sinful. To keep away from sinfulness, one must keep his needs and desires simple to the barest minimum. Chinese sage Kuo Tzi Tzang said that in order to be happy, you must learn how to enjoy less.

Materialism prevails

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: Today’s philosophy of life is materialism. Nobody is recognized in society if one is penniless. Even honest service-oriented people are never rewarded in society because they do not have political connections and influence. “Machiavellianism” is our word and our way of survival.

Nescel Panes, Passi City, Iloilo: To exercise the power to choose simple needs in life is relevant. Although materialism prevails in the world, for the time being, let us prioritize the basic things in order for us to survive. Life in the beginning was simple, but it became complex when materialism invaded man’s will and decision.

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: In this time of socio-economic-political unease, uncertainty and insecurity, Bishop Soc Villegas’ call to keep our needs few and desires simple is very relevant. We can see that people haven’t found meaning in their lives. They are running all the time looking for it. They think of the next car, the next house or the next job, only to find those things empty, too.

Adrian Catral, Quezon City: He is right in his observation. Ang tao kasi, ‘pag nakuha na ang gusto, the tendency is to crave for more so that his desires increase.

William Gonzaga, Marikina City: Absolutely, and without reservations whatsoever! Sadly, the exact opposite is happening, which has adverse effects on people and the community. Many, out of either envy or the yearning to belong to the “in crowd”, are always trying to get the latest apparel or technological gadgets, even if they do not have the means to do so. To satisfy such cravings, improper or illegal methods are utilized to raise enough funds, which oftentimes run afoul with the law. Some even deviate from the moral code of conduct just to elevate their fashion standards or climb to the upper level of society.

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: With almost everybody becoming materialistic, Bishop Soc Villegas has a point. Worldly things and desires are driving us away from our spiritual needs.

A timely reminder

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan city: I find it relevant during these trying times when most of our countrymen are experiencing a lot of anxiety and so much stressful lives. 

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: It’s relevant all the time, but it seems unheeded and relegated to the dust bin due to our freedom of choice. Hence, God created all sorts of characters including the “manloloko at nagpapaloko” to keep this world going.

Ishmael Calata, Parañaque City: The call, a reminder through time on the essence of true Christian living, is timely again in our present world, where greed is a dominant force in the lives of many. Those who have none are led to criminality because they covet what they don’t have. Worse, many of those who have still want more, to the extent that they influence our society into nefarious activities, leading to massive corruption .Thank you, Your Excellency, for the call.

Happy and content

Raymar Gurrea, Bacolod City: Good thing I grew-up in a conservative family. My needs and desires are plain and simple. Kung ano lang mayroon ako, kuntento na ako.

Easier said than done

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: Very relevant. Problem is, words come too easy when they are said at leisure.

Elmo Cruz. Manila: That is easily said than done because it is difficult to survive in this to-each-his-own world without exerting our best to even have our barest necessity. Though I am not a Roman Catholic, I admire St. Francis of Assisi for shedding worldly desires despite his personal affluence. If all Christian churches would only emulate in action the way St. Francis lived, even our millionaires and the government will not need human security to live at ease.

Christian virtue

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: Bishop Villegas is a preacher. And religion is a way of living. If you are a believer, you ought to follow the doctrines of your religion. And self-denial is one of them, that is, if you are really a Christian.

Kelvin Casamayor, Ilocos Sur: From a spiritual standpoint, it is important to understand that living a simple life, as Jesus Christ did, is a Christian virtue.

Rene Poder, Manila: We are urged to be “poor in spirit”, and not just to be poor. The more we crave material things and pleasure, the greater the temptation to corruption.

To drive away greed

Mandy Rillon, Cabanatuan City: I agree with Bishop Soc on his call of keeping needs few and desires simple. It will take us away from idolatry and greed.

Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: Being content with what we have and desiring things that we really need are the marks of simplicity. Unbridled desires may lead to immoderate greed.

Rey Onate, Palayan City: Tumpak at mahalaga ang tinuran ni Bishop Villegas. Kung lahat ng tao ay magbabawas ng pagnanais at pangangailangan, maglalaho ang kasakiman.

Kolby Locano, Metro Manila: Greed is the opposite of love. Hate and anger are its by-products. When one is consumed by his lustful desires, he becomes greedy. To fight greed, let us share what we have with those who have less.

Dr Francis Regalado, Manila: I beg to disagree. The poor who have nothing in life should aim high, get a good education and work, lest the corrupt and cunning continue to exploit them. Hopefully, that message is stuck in the brains of corrupt officials, who I believe hypocritically attend church services. I call them the silent killers, executive “magnanakaws”.

Can’t take it with you

June Deoferio, Cavite: Yes, Bishop Soc Villegas is right. We cannot take our money to the grave.

Higher cost of living

Audrey Meir Salonga, Manila: I believe so. With the prices of commodities going up like a rocket ship, one needs to be self-restrictive in his needs and desires.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: Dapat lang naman. With skyrocketing prices, how can one make both ends meet with a salary that is only enough ? Before, the living was easy, but now life is so hard that you have to make kayod just to be sure you have food on the table. Let’s make our life simple and uncomplicated and let not vanities rule our world.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Bishop Soc’s call is very timely, considering the increasing cost of living and decreasing value of the peso.

Setting realistic goals

Randolph Hallasgo, Misamis Oriental: Yes, of course. We tend not to be content with what we have, even if it’s obvious that we can ill afford. It is not bad to aim and make our needs “reachable”, as long as we can do it; but if not, the more it becomes complicated and chaotic, and therefore dangerous.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: Living in an ever-changing world, our distinctive lifestyle dictates what has to be few and simple when it comes to our needs and desires.

Money to burn

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Those who have so much money to squander cannot accede to the request. The poor, on the other hand, have no choice. How about the church stipends?

Sammy Macana, Davao del Norte: Yes, especially if material wealth was acquired illegally and some people were hurt in the process.

Jun Montebon, Parañaque City: It’s sound advice, especially meant for greedy generals and bureaucrats.

J.R. Mondonedo Jr., Parañaque City: Let me put it this way - a man who does not enjoy wine, women, and song is missing out on something in his life. Am I keeping my needs simple? It is easy for him to say that because he chose to be a bishop and, being one, only needs few things and desires for less, and that’s what makes him happy, right? What about for people who have the money to spend, their degree of happiness goes up, and it is harder for them to control their desires and needs because of our modern age today? His statement came in a day late and a dollar short. Things have changed and I think it’s up to each individual. Maybe he was referring to the monks.

Diony Yap, Bacolod City: With or without crisis, yes. Simplicity is beauty and this is also applicable to the high and the mighty to moderate their greed.

Relative

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: It is relative. “Few” and “simple” to the upper 10 per cent of our population may mean two cars, two houses, P1-million bank account, etc., but to a family whose income is below the poverty line, it may mean three square meals a day, a good roof, an on-call carpenter job, free education, etc. What is more important, however, is we learn how to share our excesses to our less fortunate fellow persons.

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: Priesthood and having a family are two different things. If you are a family man, you not only desire a bright future for yourself.

Tell that to the President

Editha Tuason Angeles, Metro Manila: Bishop, please tell that to your President.

Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite: Yes, I agree. I hope he said that to P-Noy, to make his life simple as a public servant and set an example. Do away with Porsches and Lexuses.

Falls on deaf ears

Romeo Caubat, Masbate: Yes, but I have my doubts/reservations if the people will heed it, saying, “Tell that to the Marines.”

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: The call has always been relevant. Only that it’s not mostly heeded.

Practice what you preach

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: It would be better for Bishop Soc Villegas and his fellow clergy to preach with their own simple lives as role models than to exhort the people with empty rhetorics.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: The call of Bishop Soc is both timely and relevant. Aside from addressing it to the Catholic faithful, he should also convey it to his fellow priests, from the Pope down to the simple diocesan priest. Some members of the clergy need to change their lifestyle.

Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: Kayo rin po, Bishop, at lahat ng kaparian at religious, di ba? Let us follow Lao Tzu’s thought of contentment: “Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness and have few desires”. Jesus and Mama Mary are both paragons of a plain, simple and unselfish life, di ba?

Shirley Abuel, Metro Manila: Priests nowadays sport brand-new expensive cars. You can see them in malls, in fastfood chains wearing plain T-shirts, and if you’re not a regular churchgoer, you will never know that they are priests in the company of young boys and girls and so on. Some 40 to 50 years ago, priests were on the streets in habits, visiting houses, doing some ministerial work - a very big change from the past. They should walk their talk.

Felix Ramento, USA: Yes, moderation, self-control in everything is always relevant. But what makes the call more relevant is if the preacher practices what he preaches.

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: What an advice, kahit simpleng pamumuhay marami na ang di maka-afford. Marami na ang di kumakain ng three meals a day. Is the church aware of this, e ang mga pari paiba-iba pa ng kotse.

The poor cannot relate

Ed Gulmatico, Abu Dhabi: The good bishop better address this call to the ultra-rich and privileged few, who comprise less than one percent of the total population, and to evil political dynasties/families and corrupt government officials, who never feel satisfied in robbing our nation blind. Addressing this to the majority, who are jobless and destitute Filipinos, can be compared to rubbing salt to an open wound.

Rose Leobrera, Manila: For the poor, there is nothing to minimize, as the poor can’t even afford what they like because of hard times. He may be referring to our leaders who squander all the riches of the land.

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: For the majority of Filipinos suffering from poverty who barely make both ends meet, can they still care to limit their needs and desires?

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