Man’s humanity towards fellowmen - JAYWALKER by Art A. Borjal

Will the storming of Malacañang by pro-Erap fanatics have a significant impact on the coming senatorial election? This is easy to answer when one analyzes what must have run in the minds of the millions of televiewers who stayed glued to their television sets during that Day of Shame and Fury.

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A great majority of televiewers must have been angered, repelled and disgusted by what they saw on television that Tuesday morning: burning of cars, looting of shops, destruction of traffic lights, endless acts of anarchy, savagery and brutality on the part of the pro-Erap marchers. When these viewers go to the precincts on May 14 to cast their votes, do you think that they will jot down the names of the senatorial candidates associated with the mayhem and hooliganism and vandalism? Of course not, considering that most Filipinos want law and order in their communities and in our country.

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GMA 7’s Jimmy Gil, who covers the Manila police beat in addition to other beats in the Manila area, passed on to me this human interest information on how some Manila policemen showed their humanity and humaneness during the storming of Malacañang by pro-Erap forces. Jimmy cited Col. Nicolas Pasinos, Western Police Director, who was assigned to oversee the security operations at the Malacañang area and its environs.

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When the Manila cops learned that the marchers were fast approaching, Col. Pasinos instructed them to get ready. "Prepare your guns and truncheons," he told them. The cops responded by aiming their guns towards the marchers.

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When the marchers were within breathing distance, the cops were shocked to learn that many of the shouting, jeering and taunting fanatics were youngsters and women. Many policemen held back their guns, with some even turning away from the onrushing crowd. The cops knew that they could have been charged with cowardice, but they opted instead to save human lives than fire at the attacking mob.

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Apparently, God again worked in mysterious ways. He prevented the cops from firing directly towards the mob. Had one volley been fired from the policemen’s guns, the death toll would have been awesome. And one can just imagine how the entire world would have recoiled with horror, with photographs and footages of the carnage flashed hour by hour. Indeed, God and luck were again on the side of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on that historic Tuesday of May 1.

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This is another inspirational essay that my Ateneo schoolmate Manuel ‘Noli’ V. Agcaoili passed on to me, asking that I also pass it on to my readers:

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it.

The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us – and all of us will experience them – we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief towards God.

The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God’s power to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm.

Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

The Bible says, "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles." (Isaiah 40:31)

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Noli Agcaoili requests that the following be done, after reading the essay:

1. Say a prayer for the person who sent it to you.

2. Pass it on to other special people in your life. Within hours, many people will have prayed for you, and you caused a multitude of people to pray to God for other people.

3. Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life for doing the thing that you know He loves.

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Noted cardiologist-internist Dr. Miguel R. Cornejo of the Heart Care Center at the Makati Cinema Tower in Makati City has, as he has been doing for the passed many years, issued a warning to persons who suddenly feel something wrong affecting their hearts. "If you experience a vague pressure or heaviness in your chest after finishing a hearty meal, don’t think that an Alka-Seltzer will be sufficient. Call your physician," Dr. Cornejo advised.

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According to Dr. Cornejo, the problem may not be indigestion. It may be that the heart is sending a warning signal that could spell disaster if not treated immediately. "You may be experiencing pain caused by an ulcer or stress, or you may be suffering cardiac problems," he said. "It could be angina pectoris, a predecessor to a heart attack."

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Statistics from the Philippine Heart Association and the International Society of Internal Medicine show that more than 45,000 Filipinos have heart attacks each year, resulting in some 8,000 deaths. "Learning to recognize the symptoms, causes and telltale signs of coronary conditions such as angina could save your life," Dr. Cornejo said.

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Let me again share with readers inspiring text messages that I continue to receive from early morn to late evening. Here are some of them:

Begin the day with a light heart,
let all ur worries be swept aside.
Smile a moment & thank God for this day.
He cares for U all the way!

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Always remember:
Life is nvr w/o a need,
nvr w/o a problem,
nvr w/o a difficulty,
nvr w/o a hurtful moment.
But a peaceful life
is nvr w/o Christ!
Gudnyte!

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Blessings are like hugs from God
to let you know how much He loves you.
Counting your blessings is like hugging God back.
Nay God embrace you all day!

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Each day is an offering of love,
a gift only God can deliver...
& d way we use each shining hour
is our gift of thanks 2 d Giver.
Only Jesus can turn a mess into a message,
a test into a testimony.
He turns trials into triumphs
and victims into victors.
Gud AM!
Hope U hv a beautiful day!

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A teaspoon of hope,
a cup of faith,
mix with a gallon
of God’s love.
Take this 3X a day
to take away your fears and
doubts if symptoms persist.
Consult Jesus!

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My e-mail addresses:
<[email protected]> and <[email protected]>