The Third U.S. Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution has come to a full circle the first one was led by the discovery, use and development of oil as the prime source of motive power. But let us not forget that prior to oil, coal was the motive power and oil was the developing alternative. The open burning system was too sooty and grimy so much so that an alternative was needed, then came oil and Standard Oil and the Rockefellers and the Fords.
That Ford Model T really made the internal combustion engine an acceptable mode of getting around in a car. The Stanley steamers that were produced did not stand a chance. And so America was so in love with the oil industry and thus the Seven Sisters was born, owned by only one family, the Rockefellers.
Forging alliance with the US Government, the Oil Cartel’s interests were forcibly made the foreign policy interest of the Government. It would seem at this time that the Government officials were recruited from the ranks of Oil Cartel executive pool. And Government independence and broader mandate was put aside. Almost all were recruited from the Oil Companies themselves.
The US Government fought for the Oil Cartel’s interests and its military might was used to subdue uncooperative Government such as what happened in Iran where a rightfully elected Government was toppled by the Oil Cartel and to be replaces by an offensive, oppressive and cruel Government of Shah Reza Pahlavi.
It supported alliances with a view for convenience, supporting dictators and discarding them when they were no longer useful. Look what happened to Saddam Hussein, he was the U.S. Government’s son of a bitch when it was trying to dislodge the reign of an equally repressive government of the Ayatollah Khomeini that the people of Iran accepted and has up to now supported.
So in conclusion, oil is not a neutral factor in production of wealth, it is accompanied by misery and death especially when the Rich Oil Cartel tries to take it over for themselves and has to use Government Military to support its continued dominance and perpetuate the nearly confiscatory economic relation with vassal states owning the oil resources. Why do you think Iraq was invaded? What political Party went all out in supporting the invasion prolongation of the war in Iraq? What are the economic interests of this party? Oil? Construction? Military Hardware? Charity? Religious Propagation? Or pure Altruism? CAN THE CONSERVATIVES HONESTLY ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? PLEASE? PLEASE PLEASE?
THE GREEN ENERGY OPTION – THE NEW REVOLUTION.
The Oil Cartel and the Conservatives does not like the phrase “Green Energy”, they dislike the idea of Global Warming, Carbon Emission and the lessening of the carbon dioxide being spewed out into the atmosphere. Why, because they will cost more in production if oil is replaced.
Excuse me but isn’t it you have sent out America’s jobs to Third World countries to take advantage of the lack of pollution regulations as in China and India and exploit the low survival wages they receive per your pricing instructions?
The benefits of going green are innumerable especially in the health aspect of the American citizens suffering from emphysema and other COPD and pollution of the waterways.
Politically, it will lessen the hold of the Oil Cartel on politicians and Government Administrations then and now.
It will lessen the fuel bill so that America can start to save and invest in more healthier and pro-people endeavor and not on wars of subjugation on oil producing states.
It will deprive terrorists and terrorists states of their income to threaten America and it may perhaps, deprive these malefactors of their cause or causes that has effectively rallied people to them.
It will develop new ideas for conservation and pollution reduction that can be made the world standard to which American imports must be measured (Remember the no child labor standards on sneakers imports?).
New ways of heating homes and cooling homes will start new investments in efficiency pursuit that will spawn new inventions and provide for healthier quality of life.
The bulk oil carriers that are the main cause of ocean oil-spill pollution will be a thing of the past.
New investments on roads, trains, trucks, communications and production will spur the new paradigm on prosperity, not the war and reconstruction pattern that has been the norm for the pro-war party and entities since World War 2.
This is why I consider Dwight Eisenhower a Great Man, he cautioned us against the Military-Industrial Complex that would have put the United States in a perpetual flux of war and reconstruction as a means of economic and political policy to support the war capabilities of the country and send more young people to an early death. Instead, President Eisenower built roads and other alternative economic activities to wean us off wars. The Korean war was supposed to be the last war but some “domino theorist” created a new reason for America to get into its one of its disastrous war, the Vietnam War.
New education and skills will remove the veil of monopoly from the selfish trickle-down economist and their party. The new energy paradigm must produce simple and cheaper ways to self-generate energy by-passing the too many regulations when using oil as energy source in the homes and businesses.
There should be more do-it-yourself kits on energy self-generation to spur new home businesses. States and the Federal Government must back off and even reverse some of their rules that has hampered small and medium scale industrialist in expanding to employ more people. One way of increasing employment is to increase employability. The best way is to shoulder the health-care (not of the addicts, alcoholics, and cigarette smokers) and education expenses of the people to make them more productive. Productive people are less prone to be addicts and trouble-makers. By giving preference to education, it will lessen the emotional appeals to go to war because education enlarges peoples’ options and they won’t be herded into supporting another Iraq style political and economic suicide.
I remember the adage “In war the first casualty is truth” and it happened in the Iraq war misadventures, the reason for the war were the lies, the killers haven’t been brought to justice………………yet. [Written by Deo Quiogue]
The phrase “Once saved, Always saved” is a BIG LIE; SALVATION CAN BE LOST……….THE BIBLE SAYS HOW
We have heard that ridiculous teaching from the United States called “once saved, always saved” peddled by religious leaders who have enticed people in believing that this belief is Biblical. To validate their argument, they rely on the Scriptures for support. Their favorite phrase comes from the Book of Ephesians 2:8-9, to wit:
“For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Citing the verses these pastors concluded, you need not work for your “salvation” boldly proclaiming they are saved no matter what they do. It was a blanket absolution in their mind, but a recipe for spiritual disaster in reality for those who deign to believe it. In order to lay clarity to these assertions, we pose the rebuttal and use the Bible to arrive at the truth.
The first question is, Where in the Bible can you see that phrase “Once saved, always saved”? We have searched the Bible using advanced Bible “phrase/passages/word” search aid and haven’t found an iota of proof that such assertion exists.
As said, we will use the Bible in ferreting out the truth. Perhaps it is best to say that there are two types of salvation in the Bible one of which is by “Gift” found in Ephesians 2: 8-9. That is the first type of salvation given only once and there are Biblical reason why God has gifted sinners with salvation and the “Process of Salvation”.
We begin by reading what God’s aim was in offering such generous and saving concession to sinners. Let us look at the verses in 1 Timothy 2:4-5, to wit:
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
That verse answers the reason why God sent His own Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ to be crucified and take the punishment for our sins. But of course let us not leave any stone unturned, what is the reason why God the Father has to send His own Beloved Son to die for us when there were a lot of prophets and messengers foremost of was Moses, due to the covenant or the Ten Commandments given to him at Mount Horeb.
We let the Bible explain why he sent His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the Book of Hebrews 7:11-12, we see the following verses, to wit:
“If perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law.) what further need, was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”
So God the Father is after perfection that can be attained in the Christian era only through the Lord Jesus Christ. Sad to say, there are pastors who have prated that no one can become perfect. Another question now comes to fore, why was there a need to change the priesthood and the law? Wasn’t Moses’ priesthood good enough for all mankind? Again we seek answers from the Bible. In Malachi 4:4 we read that;
“Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.”
There is the answer, the Law of Moses that God commanded him to enforce was only for all of Israel and there was a flaw in it since it did not “bring many sons unto glory”. Only Christ can bring the “many sons unto glory” or salvation. We again advert to the Bible. In Hebrews 2:10 and 8:7-10 we read:
“For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Hebrews 8:7-10 says:
“For if the first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second .
“For finding fault with them, he saith, BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD, WHEN I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;
“NOT ACCORDING TO THE COVENANT THAT I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS IN THE DAY THAT I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; BECAUSE THEY CONTINUED NOT IN MY COVENANT, AND I REGARDED THEM NOT, SAITH THE LORD. ”
Thus, the Israelites also lost their salvation thru disregard of the laws of Moses. Also, the law of Moses were carnal ordinances tending to bridle the flesh and not able to “bring many sons unto glory” as it was not a source of endless life thru knowledge of the truth in Christ Jesus. We again refer to the Bible, in Hebrews 7:16, to wit:
“Who is made not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of endless life”.
Christ offers, up to this, day eternal life, not possible with Moses nor his laws. In fact the Apostle Paul gives us an insight on its ineffectuality years after Moses died in the Book of Romans 2:23-24, and we read:
“Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking of the law dishonourest thou God? FOR THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES THROUGH YOU, as it is written.”
Another proof of Lord Jesus Christ’s power to offer eternal life was ordained by the Father are found in several parts of the Bible, it also shows the process and let us embark on a tour through several Biblical books
Matthew 3:17 – And lo, a voice from heaven, saying. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 17:5 – While yet he spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the cloud which said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him’.
Mark 9:7 – And there was a cloud that overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son: hear him.”
John 14:6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one cometh to the Father, but by me”.
Indubitably our Lord Jesus Christ has the power to offer salvation. The first salvation given as a gift by God the Father was a gift because we have to be separated from the power of sins. And why was it given? We find the answer in Collossians 1:12-13, to wit:
“Giving thanks unto the Father which has made us meet (fit) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and which hath translated us unto the kingdom of his dear Son”.
So it becomes clear and reasonable that God the Father wants us to be transferred (or translated) to the Kingdom of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ and learn from Him the truth to attain eternal life. In a gist the Father wants mankind to inherit salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ and not thru the laws of Moses. In so doing He prepared us for such transfer through the process of baptism or immersion in the water together with prayer as the Lord Jesus underwent by John the Baptist as found in the book of Matthews among others.
Also the Lord Jesus gave a command to Christians as found in the Book of Matthew in chapter 28:19-20 on how to obtain salvation and maintain it, to wit:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
So in order to be with Christ always, we have to follow the commandment He left us in the preceding verses until the end of our life in order to earn our salvation as Christians. Why? Because our Lord Jesus Christ will reward us our salvation as He promised in the Book of Revelation 22:11-12, which reads:
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his work shall be.”
The above verse exposes another flaw in the doctrine of “Once saved, always saved” because in the law of Christ you have to work in order to obtain salvation. This is just fair because the salvation of Christ is a reward, not a gift as was before. The plan for salvation in the last days is only thru tutelage, instructions and safekeeping of the Lord Jesus, only if we keep and observe through our work His words, not merely read them as some are encouraged to do in futile pedantic exercise.
To the astute reader the “work” required of us, is to do the bidding of the Lord God through His Son Jesus Christ. This we find in the verse in Philippians 2:12 and 13 which says:
“Wherefore my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but how much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling”.
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.”
Thus if we deny our own will and replace it with the will of God, we are working, why because our own works are not acceptable to Him and only our work done under His good pleasure are acceptable, nothing else. This also means that His work bears fruit in us and that fruit is the acceptable work we need to do continuously for salvation.
Another flaw in the doctrine of “once saved, always saved” is the wrong notion that mere acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ as savior makes the acceptor a “saved person”. Wrong. That is pure arrogance, a canard and damnable heresy. Who are we to precondition our salvation on our own efforts in the mere act of accepting Jesus Christ? God will not be mocked!
It is the other way around, our acts and deeds should be acceptable to God in order to attain salvation. We are the ones who need salvation. We find the premise in the various Biblical principles.
Psalm 19:14 – “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer
Romans 12:1 to 2 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And be not conformed to this world: but ye be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Conclusively, only when we do acceptable works willed by God for us to do or fulfill can we say we are candidates for salvation. These are the “work” we need to do for salvation in contrast to the philosophy of “you do not need to work for your salvation” by the “once saved, always saved“ group.
Again, the most dangerous fable that the “once saved always saved’ doctrine espouses is the idea that salvation cannot be lost. This is a foolish proposition.
Consider Judas Iscariot, he was saved once by gift, but did he lose his salvation? Yes. Consider also the husband and wife Ananias and Zaphyra did they die saved? I doubt. In Hebrews Ch. 6:4-6 it says:
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come; If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance: seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him into an open shame”.
Also in Hebrews 10:26-27
“For if we sin willfully after we have we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries”.
And also we look at the verses in 2 Timothy4:3 & 4 to wit:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers having, itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.”
Thus in conclusion, salvation can be lost, there is no doubt about it. The first Salvation is a gift, the second salvation is a reward from the Lord Jesus Christ, a salvation from hell in the last days, for Christians. My earnestness to send to you these verses is found in the letter of exhortation of the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 2, to wit:
“Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
We are sure of what we are sending to you are the truth for it comes from the Bible, undefiled by human interpretations or opinions. And all this we do in Love, for God is Love.
Thanks be to GOD Almighty.
Bro. Feli
[Written by Deo Quiogue]
How Filipinos Cope with the Worldwide Economic Crisis
By now everyone in the world has felt the effect of the economic slowdown. Companies are closing or downsizing, employee are being layed off in increasing numbers, and mortgage dependent homes are being foreclosed. Lives are literally being ruined by this ongoing world economic crisis. No one is certain when this crisis is going to end. Most countries are not prepared, and it’s causing major concern throughout the world, that could turn into a panic if the situation doesn’t improve.
I’m currently in the Philippines and, in spite of all the bad news about the state of the world’s economy, the people here seem to be taking everything in stride. The Philippine economy is also feeling the brunt of the economic slowdown but, according to a few Filipinos I’ve talked to in the last couple of months, ”the daily life in the Philippines is a recession. We’re so used to the hard life, that we just shrug our shoulders at what’s going on. This recession doesn’t affect us like it does other parts of the world.” These Filipinos are making these comments with the quiet confidence of knowing what they are talking about.
And these Filipinos are right. Life in the Philippines is an everyday challenge, and the current economic situation doesn’t make that much of difference in the way they live. Most Filipinos have no monthly mortgage on a house, car loans, and credit bills to worry about paying each month. Their main concern is how to get through the day by putting food on the table, living a simple life, and staying happy. People from other countries might be inclined to think that life in the Philippines may be too rudiment for their taste, but sometimes I wonder that is still the case with the worldwide economy the way it is. Nothing is guaranteed anymore–including our source of livelihood and lifestyle. Sometimes fortune change–or change hands–but one thing is for sure, living a simple life is still the best way to go. Maybe we can learn some valuable life lesson from Filipinos–and people from poorer countries–on how to live our lives. [Written by Julius P. Bantigue]
Unhappy Americans Should Be Really Unhappy with the Conservative Agenda
The American economy is hurting in a way it hadn’t hurt before and it did not arise overnight. It was a sinister plan by the “private sector with money and tax cut privileges” to take over the functions of Government and make more money not only from the taxes being paid by us as middle class taxpayers but also to make us pay directly for Government services (like healthcare) that were PRIVATIZED as “spoils of war” when Conservatives gain control of the administration. This service should have been free as part of the WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE CLAUSE OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION by virtue of the taxes we pay.
CORPORATISM AND DOUBLE TAXATION.The creeping menace is called “Corporatism” with some politically-connected corporations taking over and running profitably thru monopolistic activities certain functions of Government, health care being one of its highly visible victims. Roads and bridges built with public money are next in sight by these elite who did not pay the taxes for its construction, they just want to take over it in order to minimize Government presence in activities that are historically part of the Government’s covenant with the people. Example is the present healthcare situation in the U.S.A.
The net effect is a form of double taxation thru monopolies granted by elected Conservatives running the Government and legalized thru judicious “tax cuts”. We have paid your taxes whether in the direct or indirect form. As such we expect Government to deliver to us taxpayers, a well-planned and executed healthcare it being a part of the GENERAL WELFARE CLAUSE OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. But sad to say Government has abdicated it duty to serve us and another private entity delivers our healthcare thru payment of “health insurance” directly by us the taxpayer. And what do we get in return, a measly tax deduction. That’s what I call “mongrelized double taxation” we paid the Government taxes and we have to pay another company to give us healthcare but with several restrictions. Do we really have to pay for it when you have already paid it thru the taxes you pay?
That is why I vehemently dislike the tax cuts practiced by Republicans and Conservatives. Large corporations being unelected bodies have an insidious purpose, to exert control over the social and economic and eventually the political life of our society. Remember the U.S. corporations running the puppet governments of some South American countries at the turn of the 20th century? It is “imperialism” if done outside the borders of the United States and presently called corporatism within our borders with the same effect and purpose, to privately benefit from purely Government functions.
TAX IS THE LIFE BLOOD OF GOVERNMENT, TAX CUT HAS BLED US INTO RECESSION AND BAIL-OUTS, AND WE ARE HURTING WITH JOB LOSSES AND FORECLOSURES!The tax cut calls by Republicans and Conservatives have continually deprived the U.S. Government of its necessary taxes to fulfill its broad mandate. Government has an obligation to look after the welfare of the (all, not the rich only) people as provided under U.S. Constitution. The tax cut privileges and loopholes have enabled the rich to pay only 10% of the burden of supporting the U.S. Government, the middle income earners pays at least 87% of the burden (see table below).
Breakdown of Federal Revenues (Source: Council of Economic Advisors, Economic Indicators (Washington D.C., U.S. Government Printing Offices, 1967, 1977, & 2004) shows that percentage wise individuals pay more taxes than the “poor” Corporations.
Those Republicans and Conservatives crying for “tax cuts” are not following Christians tenets because of their unwillingness to share the burden of supporting Government that works to help the less privileged to enjoy the same amount of benefits, welfare and care (education, health, public services and utilities) due to every resident and citizen of the United States as assured by the Constitution under the “Welfare Clause”, (it is in the Preamble if you don’t know that’s why I am reproducing it for the Tax Cuts and Trickle-down Economy proponents, to read).
Years Individual income tax
1965 1975 1988 2004
Individual Income Tax
43% 45% 44% 43%
Social insurance taxes etc.,
20 32 37 39
Corporation income tax
23 15 10 10
Other
14 8 9 8
—— —— —— ——
100% 100% 100% 100%
By the way, as a fiction of law, U.S. corporations are also considered citizens having the right to acquire properties and to sue or be sued among other attributes. But the “tax cuts” of Republicans and Conservatives combine has so hobbled the economy so much that the victimized tax-paying, patriotic middle class, meaning us, are now called to bail out “tax cut” corporate beneficiaries for its reckless behavior thanks to its “trickle down voodoo economics”. The “trickle down economy” simply means the POOR has to subsidize the RICH.
Ouch!
”We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
THE CONSTITUTION IS THE CONTRACT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE CITIZENRY.The Lord Jesus, knowing that a Government is bound in a contract with the people and tasked with keeping the peace, law and order, maintenance of a system of educational, maintenance of a system of health care for the whole citizenry and those sojourning into its territory, maintaining an adequate food supply, assuring merchants to peaceably carry out their his trade, and other activities of a civilized and organized society during Caesar’s rule said: “Render unto Caesar those which are Caesar’s and render unto GOD those which are for GOD”. And for this benefit of living under a Roman Government the Lord Jesus paid his taxes together with Saint Peter the Apostle, He did not ask for a tax cut though He is Lord of All.
WHERE THE MONEY WENT?
Now the question should be asked, “Where the money went”. As stated in the breakdown of Income Tax Payments of Individuals and Corporations alike, the corporations have niggardly participated in the support of Government thru taxes. As to where it went? Ask the corporations who are doing business here and abroad. They sent their factories abroad to exploit the low wages and investment tax-holidays afforded by repressive regimes backed by the U.S. Government and NOW won’t even repatriate their profits here per advice of “Tax cuts gurus”. Imagine calling themselves American companies and not wanting to pay the American Government the tax due them? If I remember my taxation properly, U.S. corporations doing business abroad are given a preferential treatment on incomes from abroad to pay only the difference between taxes they pay the host Government of the foreign country and the taxes due to them had they done business here and operating in the United States. It is called tax crediting under the principle of tax-reciprocity.
Overseas U.S. corporations are allowed by the U.S. Government to pay a preferential rate and most of the time the foreign Governments gives U.S. Corporations income tax holidays and other tax subsidies not enjoyed by domestic corporations. So in sum most of them do not pay taxes there nor taxes here in the United States. Where is it? Your guess is as good as mine or better yet, ask the Conservatives/Trickle down economists to explain the merits of their programs and why we are in these dire straits. I hope they answer honestly.
THE ROOT OF RECESSIONThe recession we are in now was brought about by the reckless manner the Government was managed not by George W. Bush alone but in conspiracy with the trickle down economists and tax cut gurus. Here is what the tax-cuts do to us: If you are a boxer who do you hit with your punches, your opponent or the referee? It seems the tax cuts hits the referee or Government for that matter so that he is unable to do his job. Aside from the tax cuts, regulation laws were either ignored, put into the dustbin, and was broken such that a casino like atmosphere pervaded the bonds market what with derivatives and double derivatives. Trouble was just a whiff away.
To learn the benefits of the Bible in our daily lives, tune in to www.theoldpath.tvwhere Bro. Eliseo Soriano of the Church of GOD International, explains it in service to God and fellowmen as he exposes all false practices and falsities in religion. [Written by Deo Quiogue]
Congratulations to President Barack H. Obama
Congratulations to President Barack H. Obama on his inauguration on January 20, 2009 to become the 44th president of the United States of America. May he find the courage, strength, and wisdom to lead all Americans to work together to bring back peace and prosperity to the nation and the rest of the world. As the first black president of the most powerful country in the world, he’s proven that nothing in this life is unattainable if you really believe in what you’re doing and work hard at it. [Written by Julius P. Bantigue]
The Roots of Economic Hardships in the End Times
I usually do not write about religion but the economic hardship and conflicts or wars around us are quite disturbing to me. Proceeding from the point of scholarly inquiry for the truth I departed from the usual parameters such as politics, racial biases, and “religious conflicts” as typified by the “Clash of Civilizations” authored by Samuel Huntington and another book of Bernard Lewis entitled “The Roots of Muslim Rage”. In both treatises, it treats the conflicts as between the House of Islam and the House of Unbelief or the House of War (Lewis’ book) and firstly the Catholics sect and later on the Protestant sect.
I chose to look in the Bible for answers. Yes, it was there in a simple statement:
“For the LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL which while some coveted after, THEY HAVE ERRED FROM THE FAITH, and PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS. (1Timothy, 6:1)”.
No racial biases, politics or religious conflicts involved. Just plain old greed that is intrinsically evil coming from Satan, the father of all lies and the author of it all.
From this love of money arose two effects, 1) erring in the faith, and 2) piercing those who love money with many sorrows. Of course the faith mentioned here is the kind religion practiced by these purveyors of greed. They cover themselves with so many unbiblical lies in order to profit from religion some which are “once saved always saved”; “only Jesus saves”, “prosperity gospel”; the “oneness movement” whose belief is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one and the same”, the “Trinitarians”, and “Jesus was never a God, he was born a man, died a man and will return to earth a man” the last a home-grown Filipino sect, to name a few. Some turn a blind eye to divorce, most or all of them defeat the discipline in the Bible by creating their own interpretation to suit their greedy purpose and arrogating to themselves titles like “angel from the far east”, “worm of Jacob”, “son of God” or the infamous “substitute of the son of God” or the term “Vicarius Filii Dei”. But is not surprising anyway as it was already predicted by the Prophet Isaiah when he described them in this manner:
“Yes, they are GREEDY DOGS which can never have enough and they are SHEPHERDS that CANNOT UNDERSTAND, THEY ALL LOOK TO THEIR OWN WAY, EVERY ONE FOR HIS OWN GAIN, from his quarter. (Isaiah 56:11)”.
Corollary the Apostle Peter also said:
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter, 1:20-21)’.
Now comes the relevance of the Bible in understanding all that is happening around us We can safely state that Satan works through the greed in the hearts of men; that being greedy they seek and they find greedy pastors after their own heart who would bless and condone their actions for a fee, and what they will reap are what we are witnessing now, pestilence, drought, economic debacles, killings and pogroms, drugs, insolent children, irresponsible parents, adultery, debauchery, devil-worship or discipleship and every violation of the Message of Christ.
I took this opportunity to point out what, in my humble opinion, is the cause of the current economic hardships, one of the sorrows in the Bible. It is the lack of morality in business known for its dog-eat-dog system notwithstanding their flashy titles of Masters or Doctors of Business Administration. Greed overrode all that and wiped out the wealth of honest, hard-working Americans.
I say that the moral values of key people involved in the biggest scam in American history has and their pastors. QUESTION 1. Who are their pastors and their churches? ANSWER 1. The greedy dogs and most likely and their church is not the one mentioned in the Bible. QUESTION 2. What or how do these “greedy dogs” interpret the Bible? ANSWER 2. According to the wishes of what their audience would like to hear and their own private interpretations appealing to their basic instinct of greed. QUESTION 3. How can you tell if the pastor and his interpretations of the Bible are trustworthy? ANSWER 3. His answers must be from the Bible and he must be from the Church mentioned in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 3:15) because that is the place where God has placed His and His Son’s Name.
I strongly suggest that readers who are eager to expand and deepen their knowledge of the Bible to go to the website www.theoldpath.tv and listen to the discourses about the Bible as his service to God and fellowmen from Brother Eliseo Soriano.
My next dissertation will be about wars and the roots of wars. And the Bible tells us who. A hint, it’s the same ole’ “greedy dogs” again being the culprits and my role is how they use the Bible to justify their wars. [Written by Deo Quiogue]
Marketing of Ideas – An Experiental Review
It used to be that Marketing was thought of the field of moving goods and services to consumers. Its scope expanded when it was developed to Plan for securing sources of talents (for a service industry) and raw/intermediate material to keep the business cogs and wheels rolling. Another facet of marketing has emerged, the marketing of Ideas. As a Marketing graduate of a Business School in Manila, Philippines I used my Marketing knowledge not to sell goods or services but to sell Ideas to my clients’ Target Market, the Legal System.
Working as an Independent Tax Consultant in the Philippines before I left for the USA, my specialization was to take on seemingly “Losing Tax Cases”, or cases without an iota of “winnability”, pardon the jargon. The best way to approach and “win” a case is to do a Market Research, or simply study the arguments and position of each litigant especially the opposition side. In my experience these are the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Customs or any Offices of Government that has power to hold administrative hearings.
In studying the position of a client, start reviewing the evidence to get a good grasp of the facts. An interview of the company personnel involved can help form an honest opinion of the chances of winning or losing the case. You can then posit a course of action on how to approach the portion of the case that falls under either “contestable or non-contestable” in Court. An excellent grasp of Research Methods whether in Law or Business helps minimize time expended.
Once the non-contestable has been administratively disposed, the remaining contestable items must be organized in a way that the exculpatory provisions of the law will apply once the case is tried. The case presentation methods I have used are 1). Be a better storyteller; 2). Present your evidence closely hewing to the storyboard or to the exculpatory provisions of the law; 3). Lastly demolish your opponent’s arguments by merging all your evidence and legal arguments to show the client followed the law. The last portion is quite important since we want to avoid allegations of fraud.
In being the Better Storyteller, the chronology of events helps the credibility of the case. Organize the statement of facts along that line first and see where the evidence can support the facts. Dovetail the evidence into the facts that you have written and present the probative value as you go along. Probative value means cogent relevance of the evidence to the case at hand. Sometimes an interpretation of the real or object evidence necessitate expert opinion.
By presenting the story in a manner that gives it more credibility, the legal reasons takes center stage because the judge will tie the evidence to the provisions of law presented by both parties. Be sure to point all details because the review of the evidence is the crux of the case. In one case I won for a multinational client, I pointed out in the memorandum summarizing the case that the provision on “when an importation is deemed consummated” which I relied on calls for two step acts. First the act of paying the fees to release the importation from Customs custody and secondly, the act of granting the release documents to complete the process. I pointed out that the legal process of importation was not completed because the subsequent act necessary to terminate it was not done, so therefore the fees paid was deemed by the Court of Tax Appeals to be refundable. That clinched the case for my client.
Paying attention to detail always mean winning a case for your clients. It gives you an edge of excellence every time. Thus marketing of winning ideas is primarily being the better storyteller in every case. Do organize the facts, do your research and be ready to win. [Written by Deo Quiogue]
New Year 2009
We at Philippine Voyager wishes everyone in the world a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Let’s all be safe and we’ll see each other alive and well next year. [Written by Julius P. Bantigue]
Seasons Greetings To Everyone
I’m spending this festive season with my family here in the Philippines. I’ll resume work on my next articles after December 25. Anyway, I hope everyone will share this joyous ocassion relaxing with relatives and friends, and to not spend it all in one place. In the light of economic recession from many parts of the world, my only hope is we be frugal with our spending on both food and gifts. Let’s all be grateful for what we have and don’t have. Living on less is sometimes a more rewarding and humbling experience than having more. Cheers. [Written by Julius P. Bantigue]
Filipino Ambassadors and Anecdotes
Originally posted on Monday, 21 July 2008
Lately, I’ve been preoccupied with my planned return trip to the Philippines, which I’ll finally get to do this coming March. All the preparations can be very hectic – selling items I no longer need, packing all the things I’ll be shipping home, and getting things straightened at work before I leave. It’s exciting too, just thinking about going back to my old life. I have learned a lot since I first left five years ago, and I feel all these new experiences and ideas will serve me well in the coming years.They say that when your mind is attuned to a specific thought or goal, you tend to attract similar ideas, people, and events that correspond to what you’re attuned to. In my case, returning home has almost been an obsession to me, so it’s no coincidence that I have come across people with similar vibrations.
I haven’t told anyone in the office other than my boss about my timetable for going back to the Philippines. So when my Indian co-worker Rohan asked me, “So Robbie are you planning to work in US forever or will return home after some time?”, I was pleasantly surprised. Rohan was one of the good guys at work – bright, hardworking, friendly, and always helpful to everyone, in sharp contrast to much of the indifferent and oftentimes grumpy people in the office. I told Rohan, I don’t plan on staying in the US for good as I miss life in my home country. Then I asked him what his future plans were.
His answer was astounding. He said he always knew that the US would be temporary thing, and that India will always be home. In fact he and his friends were in the process of building a business in their home city. The way he said it, it sounded like it was the most natural thing to do. Almost as if it was expected of him to return to India after a couple of years and apply everything he learned from the US. There is much opportunity in India, according to him. I told him that I was happy to hear that, and that it was the first time I’ve heard someone say that they plan to return and give back to their country. I can imagine that in a few years, he will be back home, managing his own company, and building up the local industry in India. It made me proud and sad at the same time, as Indians like Rohan have such pride in their own country, something we Filipinos have not yet realized on our own.
I also met a pinoy shuttle driver named Tony. He is a slightly elderly man who looks much younger than his age. And he always has a cheerful disposition. Talking to him is a treat as he tells a lot of stories during his younger days in the Philippines. And he gives lots of frantic advice such as “Bata ka pa iho, mag-ipon ka, wag ka gastos ng gastos palagi, mas madali maubos pera mo dito” (”You’re still young so you need to save your money and avoid overspending, it is easy to run out of money here in the US”). There is always a sense of urgency in his voice, which reminds me that the choices we make today have a big effect on what will happen to us tomorrow.
He had this particularly amusing anecdote which I will relate. A decade ago, Tony used to work as taxi driver in Metro Manila. Just imagine this handsome, mestizo Fil-Am looking taxi driver, only he wasn’t your ordinary driver. One time, this British national and his Filipina wife rode in his taxi, I forgot where their destination was, it was probably some mall or something. But along the way to their destination, the British guy and his pinay wife kept complaining about how dirty and unorganized the Philippines was. It was like they found fault with everything they saw. This irked Tony to the point where he finally turned to them and said, “You keep complaining about everything you see. But the Philippines is not America or the UK, so it isn’t fair to keep comparing it to them. Let me make you a deal, I will turn off the meter, this ride is free. But in return you need to allow me to give you a free tour around Marikina, entirely at my expense, to show you that there are parts of Metro Manila that are clean and organized.” This was during the time that Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando had cleaned up Marikina to the point where it was much like a small well-off US city, maybe even better than most.
The couple was flabbergasted. I guess they realized they weren’t dealing with your typical taxi driver. So they politely declined the offer and stayed quiet the whole trip. Hopefully they got Tony’s point, and I think in the future, the Filipino woman will be more appreciative of her home country and take the good with the bad.
Tony has lots of other stories, mostly about politics, his Americanized daughter, and his admiration for former Subic Chairman Dick Gordon, but that’s for another time.
My last anecdote is about a couple I met in a party a month ago (I sent them the link to philippinevoyager so hopefully they are reading this!). The duo are a pinay named Dulce and her husband Joel, an American, and I think they have one kid together. When I told them that I had planned to return home, Dulce’s eyes lit up, “why??”, which is a response I am used to hearing. But the interesting thing is the American guy, Joel’s reaction after hearing that I wanted to return. I think he actually wanted to spend more time in the Philippines, but his wife didn’t feel the need to. When the rest of the crowd was sufficiently distracted, he confided some questions to me, some I didn’t expect and found fascinating.
He asked me what the job prospects are for me in the Philippines. I told him that Metro Manila is just like any other large city in the world, there are lots of people, lots of jobs to be had, and plentiful multinational corporations investing in it. I told him that I actually find Metro Manila to be more urbanized than most of the United States. People have this impression that the Philippines is all countryside, but anybody who has stayed in one of the major cities in the Philippines knows that this is furthest from the truth. I told him “We have high speed internet, dsl, cable, everything you are used to having in the US.”
Then he asked me this question, what do I think are the possibilities that a class revolution will occur in the Philippines, as there are a lot of poor people. I told him, yes there are definitely a lot of poor people in the Philippines, but there are also many more happy people in the country, both rich and poor. People can be poor and unemployed, yet happy as they can count on their family and friends for support. This type of thing is hard to describe to a westerner, as you really need tfo spend some time in the Philippines to relate to the culture. We have a culture wherein we are economically poor but spiritually happy, if that makes sense. Unfortunately, my conversation with Joel was cut short, but I hope was able to give him a clearer picture, and maybe it will encourage him and his wife to visit the Philippines more often.
Whether we are abroad or in our home country, it helps to think of ourselves as ambassadors of the Philippines. Foreigners and outsiders are listening, and curious to learn more about our country. Don’t hesitate to give praise when deserved and promote the good stuff and simple pleasures in our country that aren’t obvious. There is a lot that we can share to the rest of the world if they only knew. [Written by Rob dela Cruz]
