There are days when there are so many competing topics to write about for this column. There are days, however, when one has to pray and discern harder to be guided about what to write. Yesterday was one of those days for me.
In keeping with the Christmas season and spirit, I reflected on what to positively write about but the daily news about election sabotage charges, now extended beyond GMA to Abalos, PNoy’s honest and direct ventilation of his sentiments before Chief Justice Corona, the execution of yet another Pinoy in China, and more, made it difficult, even artificial, to write a hopeful, happy article for today.
Originally, I had wanted to write a Christmas wish list for our people. First on the list was a fervent prayer that the hungry will be fed and fed sustainably, that there will be ample, steady, good paying jobs for all of our poor. Especially at Christmas, with so much focus on the glitter of material goods, the feeling of deprivation becomes more obvious. The season leads many to take the easy road and steal. Hence, the fervent prayer for the deprived.
From what I thought would be a hopeful list, I could not go beyond that Wish No. 1. Why? My reflection started to ask more questions related to the first wish and the answers did not bring much hope.
With so many millions of poor before their eyes, and with so much budget allotted for politicians, why do the number of poor not only remain high but continue to even increase through the years?
Why can’t the poor first be prioritized, their lives first secured and stabilized by politicians? Can’t the politicians, at least, share even just one term worth of infrastructure projects for the sake of the poor? What a fitting real Christmas gift, di ba?
How many of this nation’s politicians can honestly admit that in their term, or in the case of the political dynasties, in the term of their clan, the number of poor among their constituents have dwindled and the poor in their jurisdiction now proudly beyond poverty and are securely facing each day without fear of hunger, unemployment, homelessness and so on?
Shall I write about this again and again and again with the hope that the message to prioritize our poor may be read by those who have eyes and those who have ears among our politicians?
Then, providence stepped in.
“Please share Mama Mary’s December 8 message for all Filipinos,” my sister, Len Piquero-Goyeneche, my steady daily YM chat mate, suggested. She mentioned that she visited the Mountain of Salvation in Tagaytay during the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. She also mentioned that there is a Mountain of Salvation as well in Compostela, Cebu.
This is Mama Mary’s message shared through Emma de Guzman, the visionary who cried because she saw a very sad Mama Mary who sees our country now without peace, without forgiveness.
Mama Mary sees so many praying outwardly but are not genuinely praying with their hearts.
Mama Mary said that the Philippines is a favored country “pero parang walang ginagawa ang ibang tao, yong RH Bill, yong walang forgiveness, walang peace. Nalulungkot rin raw si Lord sa progress ng ating spirituality.”
The visionary said Mama Mary is reminding us to focus on the spiritual side of our lives, to be ready all the time because we don’t know the time when the Lord is coming. “ Be prepared always raw.”
Mama Mary reiterated that we have to act since the devil is also rushing to get people to their side....
Mama Mary told the visionary that people should be open in expressing what is wrong with our political system, that people should tell, remind politicians to go back to spirituality “hindi puro politico,” and to move forward for the better, especially “sa spiritual aspect of our lives.”
For our politicians, this message:
“Sa mga politico, di pa sila kontento sa pera nakukuha nila at i portray nila na religious sila, yon ang ikinalulungkot ni Mama Mary, wala sa puso ang religiosity nila.”
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Email: cherryb_thefreeman@yahoo.com