Typhoon Ramon and Nick Perlas

After a no-show at the last scheduled dialogue, will the heavens, through Typhoon Ramon, convince those who are pro-flyovers to see for themselves the real problems needing urgent assistance and funds? And will today’s Feast of Mama Mary of Fatima also help?

Flooding will certainly be very obvious, except for those who choose not to see the waters. Relocation of those affected by the floods and the typhoons surely need more priority than flyovers? The plight of the poor surely deserves first priority over flyovers?

Who said that the P600M allotted for the flyover will be wasted if it will not be used for the flyovers? Are they so narrow-minded not to see how the P600M can instead be used to control the floods or more importantly, how the P600M can be diverted to meet the needs of the millions of poor? Why the urgent insistence to use soonest the P600M ONLY FOR FLYOVERS?

Will they need a devastating typhoon or the loss of lives and properties to convince them about real priorities for Cebu City?

Can they allow their personal common sense which prompted them to push through with the flyover projects to be overruled by public common sense, real to goodness, honest sensitivity and noble sincere service for God and His people calling their attention to what is really truthfully the priority needs of our people and our city?

Cannot even the church leaders see what are the priority needs of the people and the city God assigned for them to lead?

It is a sad day for our country when Church leaders themselves cannot even convince themselves about the reality and priority of the needs of the poor, when they cannot even convince themselves that flood control is more urgent than flyovers, that protection of lives and properties, amidst limited funds, assume highest priority.

Or is it because church leaders themselves have become so comfortable in their palaces and have sturdy vehicles to take them around, despite floods, that they can no longer see the actual and real needs of the poor around them?

Perhaps this time around, Typhoon Ramon from heaven will convince both political and religious leaders about the honest to goodness real priorities of millions placed by the Lord in their hands to guide and to take best care of?

Will the timely Feast of our Lady of Fatima and the daily readings this week from the gospel of Luke also touch hearts and souls that need to be touched, especially among the sacred and secular leaders?

We take comfort in being assured that God is and will continue to be in control and will take best care of His people, even if leaders fail to hear and see the cries of the needy. We also are inspired by those who are trying their best to seek the best for our people and our country, like the stop flyover movement in Cebu and elsewhere in the Philippines.

From an email, we also learned about a MISSION-Manila initiative called “LAKBAYANI, THE JOURNEY OF THE HERO that showcases stories of hope, stories of ordinary people, of groups living extraordinary lives working for a more positive, holistic and sustainable Philippines who affirm that it is easy to be a hero in one’s own country.

Founded in 2010, MISSION which stands for Movement of Imaginals for Sustainable Societies through Initiatives, Organizing and Networking, is a cultural, spiritual, scientific movement of individuals in civil society, government, and business. On the basis of profound inner transformation, MISSION aims to create a better country, a better world.

To clarify more about this move, Mission Cebu sent us the following information: “Nicanor Perlas, a renowned author, global leader, Alternative Nobel Prize awardee, international facilitator and lecturer, environmentalist and integral sustainable development icon will launch his latest book, “MISSION POSSIBLE! Sow Courage; Harvest a New World.”

For those who BELIEVE that the smallest act coming from an authentic and creative self can change the world, join Nicanor Perlas and MISSION at the following launch date: 4 pm., Sunday,October 16 Cebu at the Aula Magna, Pilgrim Center of the Basilica del Sto Nino, Cebu City . For more information, contact Weng Ebdani at +63-919-276-8885  or visit http://www.imaginalmission.net/web2.0/ .

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