‘Simbang Salba’

Telling Filipinos to “Vote Wisely” has not helped; launching social media campaigns only works for national candidates and in the end corrupt politicians characterized by Congressman Manik-Manaog continue either through corruption or consanguinity. In the end many Filipinos live up to what “Heneral Luna” said in the movie: we chose family fortunes before the country’s interest. So do we simply throw in the towel, fill in the blanks as an act of protest and carry on criticizing the underserving winners for the next 3 to 6 years?

While undertaking a bucket list DIY project; restoring a 1966 Mustang hard top in memory of my dad Louie Beltran, I’ve maximized my time by listening to numerous podcasts of respected pastors such as Rick Warren, Andy Stanley, Joel Osteen and Bishop TD Jakes. The one recurring message that made quite an impression on me was: When you don’t have the power, strength or ability to change something you don’t like – lay it down in front of GOD and pray. I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on the message and from a practical standpoint; what do we have to lose by praying or devoting several days to prayer for our nation especially for the upcoming elections?

That’s when the idea of suggesting to all churches or religion to officially host a take off on our traditional “Simbang Gabi” or Sambang Gabi of other Christian churches. If many Filipinos can get up at 4 or 5 am to complete a Novena or welcome the coming of Christ thru early morning mass or services, would it be such a great sacrifice for Catholics and Evangelicals and the INC members to devote evening worship days or masses from May 1 to May 12 praying for God’s will to reign during the election? Regardless of your political affiliation or color, your effort and sacrifice could also be a blessing for other people who need and deserve better public officials and candidates compared to the ones they now have.

I sincerely hope and pray that some church leaders would pick up on the suggestion because it definitely goes beyond merely praying for GOD’s “will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” Perhaps by laying down our politics before GOD, we would each be enlightened about GOD’s way and GOD’s politics, the one that tells us to take care of the orphans and widows, the one that tells us to heal the sick, feed the hungry, give to the poor and fight for the oppressed. Not political oppression but human oppression and indifference. GOD’s politics is about US: YOU and ME. About each of us doing something at our level with the resources He gave us. If you don’t have much or are barely getting by, one thing I know you have is time and the ability to pray. Put it on your alarm app, talk to your parish priest or religious community or friends about “Sambang Salba” or salvation of our nation. It’s our future – It’s our country under GOD.

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I used to think that removing the bus terminals along EDSA was a good idea because bus drivers and terminal security guards would often block the service road while maneuvering or parking. But in time I have come to realize that the presence of bus terminals along EDSA or within Metro Manila brings more good than bad and removing them would be the wrong solution. For starters the MMDA should penalize drivers and security guards who obstruct the flow of traffic. There is a law on obstruction, but it is not unlawful to enter and exit your business establishment in course of doing business. The excuse of phasing out Provincial buses from Metro Manila in order to reduce the volume of traffic, I now find, to be intellectually dishonest and flawed.

If MMDA wants to reduce buses why did they not start with removing the non-air conditioned buses and then follow this with a number system that would regulate the entry and operation of buses based on whether it is a peak hour or not. There are too many buses in Metro Manila most of the time when they are not needed. Why is the Metro Manila Council not implementing a policy of “Night Time Deliveries Only” to reduce the thousands of vans that have flooded the streets in order to avoid the truck ban on big delivery trucks?

To single out Provincial Bus terminals and buses as far as I am concerned is a plot or a commercial strategy meant to benefit the investors and business operators of the PITX, the proposed Super Terminal in Sta Rosa Laguna and the Valenzuela Central Bus Terminal. It also causes added expense on the part of commuters as well as added delays or longer traveling time and waiting time. The flaw in the plan is that riders will still need to get into Metro Manila on the same number of buses or 3 times the number via FX Vans. From the looks of it, the people in charge simply want to “Build-Build-Build” just for the sake of having projects. The fact that the plan has been opposed by bus operators who point out that they are only 2.6 percent of the traffic volume already tells us that the MMDA and DOTR are barking up the wrong tree especially since the ultimate impact or burden will be on daily wage commuters. It’s already a positive sign to see people working in Metro Manila but living in the suburbs or provinces, why hurt them by making them pay for ill planned and wrong solutions that, as Congressman Joey Salceda put it: ANTI-POOR!

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