Our Lady of Fatima: Genuine Penance, Conversion?

Today, we remember Our Lady of the Rosary’s last of six apparitions between May 13 to October 13, 1917 in Fatima before Lucia, 10, her cousin Francisco, 9; and his sister Jacinta, 7.

About 70,000 who witnessed that October 13 Fatima apparition were reported to have seen “the sun make three circles, move around the sky in an incredible zigzag movement which left no doubt in their minds about the veracity of the apparitions. By 1930, the Bishop had approved of the apparitions, which were also later approved by the Church as authentic.”

Mama Mary’s central message during her apparitions: “make reparation for sins, pray and offer sacrifices to God for peace for the world and that the trials may be averted.”

Yesterday, another powerful earthquake (with 7.4-7.6 reported magnitude) hit Manay, Davao, Oriental, triggering a tsunami alert for Eastern Samar/Southern Leyte/Leyte/Dinagat Islands/Surigao Del Norte/Surigao Del Sur/Davao Oriental.

Let us all continue to pray for everyone’s protection and safety. May all the world’s people as well be spared from destructive earthquakes/typhoons/other calamities from here on.

A number of Filipinos have shared that these natural calamities seem to be divinely sent to expose even more the various infrastructure projects marred by widespread/deep/shameless human corruption and greed resulting in deaths/harm/injury/loss of property/public funds.

Unfinished, non-existing ghost and overpriced projects, not only those for flood control but for building farm to market roads, school and other public buildings --are there government projects of any kind exempt from corruption and greed?

Aside from the DPWH, what other government and private agencies and businesses should be investigated for corruption and plunder? How many public officials can be cleared of corruption and abuse of public funds and power?

The corrupt are legion and omnipresent --all throughout the Philippines, from top management to bottom, to the grassroots.

The victims much more, however --the poor/marginalized, children, women, elderly, people with disabilities most adversely affected, deprived of basic needs and services.

Corruption and calamities go together, with calamities more destructive the more projects and funds are/were corrupted!

It is not only nature now bursting at the seams to get back at the abusive. People are furious, public wrath building each day corruption is revealed/exposed!

September 11 was a preview of emergent people power. Will public wrath burst and erupt even more by November 30 or earlier?

The corrupt/abusive in government, elsewhere need to be SOONEST punished/convicted/imprisoned and required to pay back their stolen billions through the years. Congress should never again be allowed to tamper, allot public funds for personal, selfish agenda.

YES to more funds for social services/education/health/welfare. YES to prioritized and more age-gender-disability-sensitive-DRRM supplies/facilities available for all barangays, towns and cities, especially those inaccessible and distant from the center NOW!

YES to providing tents, emergency communication devices, generators, water, medical, food, electric supply/more, and ready personnel to restore these basic facilities within the shortest time possible.

Our present calamities point to what should have been provided/allocated for by politicians during emergencies, even, most especially, during normal periods.

Our people need (have long needed for decades/centuries back) secured food/water/jobs/housing/medical/health/education/power/more basic welfare services!

Restore the stolen public funds back to our people NOW!

Our people need for their taxes to be immediately used/returned to/for them, not abused by a few privileged corrupt!

YES, why not a TAX HOLIDAY NOW for a month/more --no monthly tax deductions for all Filipino workers, also suspended excise and value-added taxes, especially for food and health needs?

Will those in power now move quickly, genuinely hear the public outrage/cries for justice of the Filipino people? Or will the present powerful ignore the people’s voices, delay/wait instead for power to be forcefully exercised once again by angry Filipinos?

YESb to sincere, genuine/prayerful change/repentance/remorse/reparation/conversion even from all in government NOW!