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]

           

The Changing Face of American Education—For the Worse—and What We Need to Do About it

I’ve recently return to the United States after a long break in the Philippines to be with my family.  Now it’s time to hunker down and go back to work and earn money.  One of the jobs that I enjoy doing is being substitute teacher.  It’s one of those  jobs that I can leave and come back to at anytime.  Plus, the schoolteacher in me can’t seem to stay away from the classroom.  It’s like a calling that you find yourself going back to.  Part of me still thinks I can make a difference in young people’s lives today as I impart my knowledge and life experience to them.  However, in my last few returns to the classroom, the excitement that used to bring me back to the classroom is now beginning to wane.  Not because I’m  getting older or my patience thinning, it’s more the question of whether what I do as a teacher still impact the lives of young people today or the value system in American education has gone down the drain that it doesn’t make a difference one way or another.

The challenges for today’s schoolsteachers  mount up each  year.  They find themselves faced with budget cuts, overcrowding in the classroom, and lack of support from legislators, school administration,  parents and students.  Each time schoolteachers walks in today’s  classroom it’s like walking into a battleground.  They put their reputation, their teaching license, and physical health on the line.   In one of the schools I’ve substituted in, one teacher had to resign because she could no longer tolerate the behavioral issues in the classroom, while another teacher took the rest of the year off for job-related stress problems.  And these teachers  are what I–and other educators–considered highly effective professionals in the field.  Yet, they’ve become just another casualties of war in today’s classrooms, and it’s not getting any better.

 We can run all the statistics, bring in experts from all professions, and spend millions of dollars  to tell us what’s wrong with American education,  but no one is going to admit the real problem and carry out the most effective solution to help solve the problem.  Why? It’s  because we Americans are afraid to step up to bat to do what is right for our children.  We’ll willing to go to foreign shores and fight a war in the name of  freedom, but we won’t stand our grounds to fight the political strongholds that keeps us from holding our children up to  higher standards in the classrooms.  If this trend continues, American education will fall only a few yard short of being called a penal institution, where the mindset is to rehabilitate rather than educate. 

With my frequent travel to Asia, I was able to compare American students’ classroom performance to  students’ performance from other countries.  For example, whenever I asked students from the Philippines how much they know about other countries, these young people were able to tell me a lot about the different countries in the world, including their own.  And when I asked  American students how much they know about their own country, then couldn’t tell me very much outside of their city or state.  Just how do we expect the younger generations in America to compete in the world’s political and economic arenas if they don’t even know  much about their own country.

I’ve recently  had a discussion with a former co-teacher in the United States, and our talk turn to the topic of what kind of workers are we sending out to the work force.  He gave me a hopeless look and just shook his head at futulity of my qeustion.  He  told me that we’re not making producers in this country anymore; we’re making consumers instead. He’s right.  The next  generation of Americans  have adopted the consumer’s attitude instead of the producer’s attitude.  They’re main concern is how they could acquire material benefits instead of trying to fight for survival. 

If we Americans don’t make the effort to change the attitude of our young people from being consumers to being producers, we are going to continue to lose grounds  in this country and abroad.  The  American educational system needs to  raise the bar on the standards of education–whether it’s in academic or trade schools–and demand those expectations are met by everyone involved,  impose stiff penalties to anyone who do not conform, and not be swayed by political pressures to bend these principles.   This is the only way we’ll be able to remain competitive and survive in this forever changing world. [Written by Julius P. Bantigue]

A Classic Filipino Tale: D’ Original Bibingkahan Sa Dos

It’s the proper combination of just the right ingredients  that made this story an original one, an inspiration to those who’ve heard it. That’s exactly what I’ve felt when I sat down and interviewed  Bernabe “Abeng”and Paulina “Poleng”  Guillermo.  Married for forty-nine years, their  story was concocted from a simple recipe of unfailing  love, devotion, and hard work to create success in their  lives.  Abeng and Poleng  have been neighbors since childhood. When he was old enough to start looking for a wife, Abeng didn’t have to look very far.  Poleng was right there…the girl next door…and he began courting her .  The courtship lasted for  three years until they werer  married on June 5, 1960. 

Like all newlyweds,  Abeng and Poleng were determined to make their new  life  as husband and wife work.  He worked during the day, and well into the evening– tending to the riceland he’d leased from a landowner.   She  helped by sewing clothes and doing embroidery at home to add to their income.  The money  they’ve earned were deposited in  a makeshift piggy bank salvaged  from large empty  milk cans.  It took about a year  before they were able to save enough money to buy a kalesa  (a horse- driven covered carriage designed to carry passengers) that was used as a source of  additional income.  In those days engine driven vehicles were limited, and the kalesas were one of the few available modes  of public transportation for short distances.  So Abeng continued to work the farm, and  interemittenly provided kalesa services throughout the day.

When the demand for kalesas started waning and replaced by the growing popularity of  jeepneys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeepney)  and tricycles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricycles )  , Abeng concentrated all of his effort to farming.  He and his wife eventually sold the kalesa, and started thinking of other ways to make a living.  They both  realized that rice farming is a  physically demanding work , and Abeng was not sure how long his body was going to last.   The thought of going back to school to try to learn a new trade was out of the question.   Abeng had only reached the fifth grade and didn’t have enough motivation to pick up where he’d left of in school.  So he’d decided to  stay with farming.  The couple were able to make a decent living from farming and sewing that, by 1980,  the couple were able to buy their first  jeep.  By this time,  Abeng had even tried his hand at working as a security guard for  a relative’s  jewelry business in Marilao,  Bulacan  from 1975 to 1990 to support his growing family. 

By 1990, Abeng and Poleng decided it was time to change directions in their business.  They’ve been entertaining the idea of opening up a  meriendahan  (a small snack kiosk on the side of the road), and opened their first establishement  on July 1990.   Their meriendahan  served palabok (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palabok),  spaghetti, and aroz caldo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arroz_Caldo).   On their opening day, they ran a promotional scheme that meal was to be free to every diner in order to attrac business.  Their marketing idea worked.  On their  second day of operation, “Poleng” suggested they start making Bibingka (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bebinca).  She still  remembers the recipe her own mother had taught her when she was  a little girl.  Their first bibingka was sold on the third day.  It was an immediate  hit.   The customers  liked it so much that they’ve started  ordering the delicacy  on a regular basis and for special ocassions.

By December 1990,  Abeng and Poleng realized  that their business success lies  in making bibingkas. Their customers were  ordering hundreds , even  thousands, of bibingkas by  Christmas and New Year and  D’ Original Bibingkahan Sa Dos  became a household name almost overnight.  Their bibingka became the talk of the town of Bulacan and the word  stretched all the way to the three major cities of Manila, Makati, and Quezon.  Many of their  bibingkas even reach the America and many parts of the world.  D’ Original Bibingkahan Sa Dos has  grown every since. 

 Competition is normal part of the food business in the Philippines.  Other merchants  started copying Abeng and Poleng’s business idea, but the imitators could  never duplicate  the texture and taste of their bibingka.  D’ Original Bibingkahan Sa Dos’  revenue were slightly affected for awhile due to the growing competion. But as soon as  the customers realized that no competitors  could match the taste of their bibingkas, the profit went back up. Even through the current economic recession, the business is still thrived,  and has branched off into other delicacies like different flavors of suman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suman_(food ),  cassava  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassava)  cakes, ube ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ube), and  leche flan ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leche_flan).  The bibingkas now even came  loaded with cheese and young coconut. 

Abeng has an advice for anyone planning to start a business in the Philippines, especially those Filipinos who are thinking about going abroad to work.  He said there are opportunities to make it here in the Philippines.  People  just have to start a business  they enjoy working or have skills in, don’t give up, and their hard work will pay off in the end.  Abeng said he is sad to see Filipinos go abroad to work just to support their family in the Philippines.  If they would  just stay in this country and try to make the best of what they  have, then they’ll find the success they’re desperately looking for.  He thought about going abroad to work at one time  in the past, like what his Filipino contemporaries have done.  But he’d decided to stay because he wanted to try to make it in his own country and to be with his family.  At the age of  seventy-four, he’s never regretted the decision to stay.  As a former farmer, Abeng always believed in the old saying that, wherever a person planted his or her own seeds, that’s also where he or she will harvest. Abeng and Poleng have proven that belief to themselves, their children, and those who knew them. [Written by Julius P. Bantigue]

Admiration and Envy are Sibling Rivals; Jealousy is the Mean Cousin

At a birthday party  that my youngest son Jericho attended last year, I  engaged in a casual conversation with the birthday girl’s  grandfather, Epoy,  on  some of the undesirable behavior that  people display.  Since we both live in the Philippines and are familiar with the way Filipinos think and behave, we can’t help but use some of the examples we’ve noticed in everyday life.    One popular topic is the envious nature of Filipinos towards each other.  Epoy pointed out that admiration and envy are siblings of the same emotion, and they’re both fighting for our attention on which one to use.

I’m not  sure what Epoy meant by forming this close ties between admiration and envy, so I asked him to explain.  He told me that Filipinos are very envious people, and they don’t mind overtaking their fellow Filipinos to get ahead.  It’s evident in business and politics.  If one Filipino opens a certain type of business and does well, it’s  guaranteed that another business, similar to the first one , will line the streets or roads in a short time and try to compete with the other.  It’s the same with politics.  There are so many alliances…each one trying to fulfill personal agendas… that political parties can’t work together on common  grounds  to help move the country forward.  All in the name of envy.

I understand that envy creates mistrust,  broken alliances and inabilty to work together, but where does admiration come in the picture?   According to Epoy, the feeling is the same.  What– I thought–the feeling…the same?   Epoy went on to explain the emotion  a person feels is the same  when he or she admires or become envious of a person.  After giving a few examples and running it through different scenarios with me, I realized that Epoy was right.  Both  admiration and envy causes all of us to dream, set goals, and work hard to match—even surpass–we admire or envy. 

Whenever we become envious of  someone, especially if that person is  someone we like because they’re not arrogant about what they have in life, we tell them so publicly–whether or not we want their success to rub of on us.  This is called admiration;  socially speaking, it’s  an admirable part of envy because it doesn’t connotes negativeness like envy does.   But whenever we feel envious of someone, and that someone is arrogant and  condescending towards us, we become resentful of their attitude.  We’d never admit to ourselves, especially the target of our envy, that we admire them. Instead, we’d do the opposite and will almost everything in our power to bring these people down.  This is the purest form of envy and admiration, for it harbors ill feelings towards the person we’re envious of.

I’m convinced.  What Epoy has told me made lots of  sense.  I’ve experience feelngs of admiration and envy towards others, and I”ve witnessed these emotions from just about every person I’ve met.  This is why we all set goals in life, because we’ve envied and admired other people.  Depending on which label we use  lies on our perception and relationship with that person.  It’s amazing, how these two emotions of admiration and envy, that socially connotes different public responses, are derived from the same emotion.  Now I undertand what Epoy meant when he said admiration and envy are siblings.  They both came from the same parents.

The conversation between  Epoy and me was really getting interesting.  It also helped pass the time while we waited for the birthday party to come to an end so we can all go home.  After we’ve established the relationship between  admiration and envy, it was time to move down the family tree and turned our attention to the cousin.  Jealousy.  Now this is a subject of mystery  for me when I was younger.  Everyone  I’ve met seemed to get  envy and jealousy mixed up,  and used them interchangeably in the same context.  My friend and mentor  Epoy is now going to set the record straight once and for all.

Jealousy, according to Sage Epoy is the emotion we feel whenever we’ve assumed ownership of someone or an idea—even if it’s only been fabricated in our mind–because  someone is threatening to take it away from us.  If  envy caused people to do retrievable harm to others,  jealousy  causes us to destroy…even  kill… because someone or something we’ve invested in emotionally is about  to be taken away from us and possessed for themselves.  This is probably the worse emotions of all, and  most people try to avoid it if they can.  But jealousy—like admiration and envy—could not be avoided; it’s very much a part of our emotional makeup.  The question is  how we can control jealousy and not let it control us.  Jealousy is the most challenging of the family tree and requires constant control and awareness to prevent from getting out of hand.

Well there you go.  Epoy and I have differentiated among admiration, envy, and jealousy.  Siblings and cousins under the same emotional roof—ours.  If we can learn to identify these three emotions and tell ourselves which one–or maybe a combination of all three–is at work in us in any given situation, then perhaps we’d be able to take better control of our emotions and lives.  We can also learn to identify the same emotions at work in others and,  even if we can control how they feel, we can  control how we respond and react to their behavior.  I’m glad I had a chance to talk to Epoy about admiration, envy, and jealousy.  It most certainly  kept us from being bored at the birthday party, and I’ve actually learned something new.    [Written by Julius P. Bantigue]

A Father and Son Talk with Jeremiah

I had another one of those father and son talk with my oldest son Jeremiah on our way to ACE hardware at SM mall this evening.  I make it a point to have one of these talks with my children regularly to find out how they’re coping with their life in the Philippines since moving here three years ago.  Because Jeremiah is in college now and studying to become a nurse, and I don’t get a chance to have this father to son  talk with him because of his busy schedule.  I’m sure his school schedule will get more hectic by each succeeding semester.  So I’m taking advantage of what time we have together to talk. 

One of our talks usually revolves around his life as a college students and what it’s like.  He told me that college is much more challenging than high school, but he can handle it.  As  parents, our job is  to remind our children to keep up their study  and to  stay out of trouble.  I know Jeremiah is responsible enough to not let me and his mother down in those areas.  I also asked Jeremiah if he’s still happy living and going to school in the Philippines.  He gave me one those not again look. 

“Dad…you know I am.”  he smiled.

“I just had to make sure, son.”  I replied.  “I don’t want you and your brother and sister to blame me and your mom someday for bringing you here.”

“It’s about the culture thing isn’t it, dad?”

I nodded and smiled,  sheepishly.

“You didn’t make a mistake, dad.” Jeremiah reassued me.  “It’s there.”

I didn’t say anything else about culture the rest of the night.  The answer I was looking for was written all over Jeremiah’s face and I felt it in his voice.   He was  grateful, and I knew it.  It’s good to  know  that my own son confirmed that I had  made the right decision to  move them here almost three years ago.  Jeremiah is happy learning his Filipino culture and becoming intimate with it.  That’s what really matters  most. [Written by Julius P. Bantigue]

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]

It’s Good to Talk to a Fellow Blogger Bob Martin Again

I was on the phone with Live In the Philippines publisher Bob Martin a few hours ago  and we  had a very enjoyable conversation.  It’s been over a year since I’ve last  spoken to  Bob and  it’s always nice to hear from an him.  Although we’ve never met in person, I’ve always considered Bob a  friend.  I owe him  a lot.  He gave me a  good  start on blogging when he invited me to become one of  the first few writers on his website.  He’s also given me a lot of good advice on how to do business on the internet, which I’ve taken to heart and applied in my own business ventures.  I’ve always considered Bob a good mentor, even if we don’t get a chance to work together anymore.  From one writer’s  to another, I feel privileged to have been associated with this fellow blogger.  I look forward to re-establishing my communication with Bob Martin and his huge community on LiveInThePhilippines.com website in the near future.  He and his website are a great source of information for those people who are considering living in the Philippines someday.  [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 20^{th 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]

The Cause and Effect of Not Going Home

Originally posted on Saturday, 19 July 2008 and recently revised.

I’ve always been curious about the motives behind why people do what they do, and uncovering the reasons why Filipinos will not go back to live in the Philippines,  or visit regularly,  has always been a topic of great interest to me.  There are no studies conducted to prove or disprove what I’ve suspected all along, but it’s still worthwhile to bring to light this sensitive topic that Filipinos worldwide  have been trying to “sweep under the carpet” for years.   As Philippine Voyager writer Rob dela Cruz  pointed out in one of his comments to this article when it was first posted, the idea of moving back to the Philippines “goes against or breaks the conventional wisdom” of Filipinos living  in more developed countries. 

Filipinos are very practical people.   Too practical  because they’ve  ignore the things that really matter most in life by their continued  pursuit of  financial security.  They want to keep  improving their financial status  in order to protect their children from experiencing the material benefits they didn’t receive growing up in the Philippines, and are now receiving by living in more developed countries.  But what did Filipinos expats have to give up to do this?  After many years of personal  interviews with hundreds of Filipinos worldwide, I’ve  narrowed it down to these two :  the lost of  their cultural ties with their  homeland and  the deprivation of  their descendants’  Filipino heritage.   These tradeoffs  may seem inconsequential or barely scratches the surface, but the scars it leaves behind runs deep and permanent.   Each time I ask Filipino expats why they chose not to move back or visit the Philippines on a regular basis,  I’m met with the usual responses: “I have everything I need in in this country; why should I go back?”   Or it could be as banal as, “the opportunities are in this country; there is no opportunities in the Philippines?”   Some of Rob dela Cruz’s friends and acquaintances even went as far as saying that if they moved back to the Philippines they’ll experience nothing but hardship and starvation–which sounds very sarcastic.   I yet met anyone starving to death in the Philippines,  and this  includes the genuinely poor Filipino who still  managed to get by in life, even with just their meager means to live on.

What’s really disheartening  is that most of these negative comments came from middle-class Filipinos who have already migrated to more developed countries with the help of  their relatives already living there  or through their own professions.   They were able to acquire more material benefits, compared to  Filipinos who’d  stayed in the Philippines.   Yet these Filipino expats still insist they won’t have enough to live on if they were to move back to the Philippines  someday,  or their money will be pilferred away by needy relatives and sleek racketeers who’ll try to swindle them if given the chance.  The excuses are endless, just so  these Filipino expats can justify their reasons to continue to stay away from the Philippines .  However, what these Filipino expats do not realize  is the long term effect of not coming home.  There’s an old saying  in the Philippines: “Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan, ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.”   (For those who do not look back at where they came from, will never get to where they’re going).  We’re all going to grow old someday and our opportunity to make money will eventually diminish. The  same goes  with our ability to keep up with the constant changes that are  going on around us, that we’ll eventually become relics of our own doing. 

Most Filipino  retirees in more developed countries can live off their retirement without having to work or rely on relatives for financial assistance;  however,  there’s always going to be the question of what kind of  life  retirement will be?  Often these elderly Filipinos,  by desiring to remain a welcomed  part  of their children’s busy lives  instead living alone and eventually ending up in  a nursing home—continue to prove their usefulness to their children and their own family by helping around the house like babysitting their grandchildren.  Because of the demands of  living  in more developed countries,  where every member of the family–young and old– has to contribute either time or money, these elderly Filipino often feel obligated to render their  service in exhange for being a continued welcome part of their children’s household.   If these Filipino dream is to someday retire in the Philippines, the dream usually doesn’t come to fruition because they couldn’t bear to see themselves  enjoying their life–away  from their children and their family.   So these Filipino retirees  usually end up forfeiting their dreams of retiring in the Philippines–or doing whatever it is  they really wanted to do in their golden years— so they can be closer to their children.

Unfortunately, these Filipino retirees do not get to spend the quality time they’d like to spend  with their children and their family  because of the hectic life in more developed countries  that keeps everyone  on a very tight schedule.   Whereas  elderly  Filipinos in the Philippines continue to enjoy their life well into their golden years, even without the benefit of a retirement pension.  The social roles of elderly Filipinos in the Philippines  are never  limited to just staying at  home, obligated to continue to serve their children  just so they could feel welcomed and appreciated.  Elderly Filipinos in the Philippines feel welcomed in their children’s, and their grandchldren’s– lives regardless.   They continue to remain an important part of their children’s lives whether they could still  actively contribute to the household or not;  and they’ll never have to worry about being sent to a nursing home if they could no longer care for themselves.  It’ll be the unspoken obligation of the children–and  grandchildren–to make sure the elderly spend their last days in the comfort of their own family.  My wife and I have personally witnessed this time-honored tradition over and over again here in the Philippines, and it’s certainly a life to be cherished and  desired someday.

The other tradeoff   for not going back home is the deprivation of their decendants’ heritage.   Filipinos are known for being good providers for their family and they’re willing to work hard to ensure their children’s future.   However, there is one area in their children’s overall makeup,  that Filipino parents  living in more developed countries  failed to see and nurture, which is just as important as their academic and social experience is their Filipino heritage.  Filipino expats’ are proud of their Filipino heritage because they grew up in the Philippines and are intimately acquainted with it.   When  push come to shove for recognition in any ethnically diversified society,   Filipino expats will  always have their strong Filipino identity to back them up.  The children of these Filipino expats can’t say the same for themselves since they don’t have as strong a cultural identity as what their parents had.   These Filipino children end up getting lost in the shuffle and usually pickup cultural identities that are more popular, in order to be accepted,  and which usually not  their own. 

Because of the limited resources  of  growing up in the Philippines, Filipino parents learned to be thrifty in life, especially on where and how to spend their money when it comes to their family.  This include  avoid sending their children to the Philippines for cultural enrichment on a regualr basis.  “It’s not practical to spend thousands of dollars every summer to have my children visit the Philippines.   I could put that money to better use here,” as one Filipino parent argued.   These Filipino expats believe that if they could  provide all the materials benefits where they live to their children, especially a good academic education,  then they’ve done their job as parents.   I  disagree.  The overall education of our children is not just limited to  a solid academic and social experience. These Filipino children–whether their parents are both Filipinos or only part-Filipino– all need the cultural enrichment of their Filipino heritage because it’s  the basic foundation that defines who they are.   Experiencing  their Filipino heritage  is not a process  that can be taught at home or at occasional Filipino social gatherings.  Cultural education  is something that every Filipino children  should be allowed to experience the Philippines for themselves as often as possible–even if it costs thousands of dollars to do it.  Our Filipino heritage is our investment in our children’s mental and emotional makeup that they’ll take with them for the rest of their life.

Having spent half of my childhood in the Philippines and the other half  in a more developed country,  I was able to make comparisons of  the thought and emotional  processes of  Filipino children who grew up in both societies.  Filipinos children who spent their childhood  in the Philippine seem to have this quiet confidence of knowing who they are and where they came from;  whereas,  children who grew up in more developed countries  are somewhat confused and insecure of  acknolwedging their background as Filipinos.   Most of the Filipino children in more developed countries couldn’t relate to their parents’ mentality and mannerism, as well as, with other Filipino who came from  the Philippines.  These Filipino children thought and emotions are  like that of other children who grew up in the same society of various ethnic background.   But as they get  little older, ethnic and social  differences became more prominent  and the pressure to conform with their own kind becomes overwhelming.  The children from different ethnic backgrounds  subconsciously distant themselves from other children who didn’t look and talk like them–not always on the social level, but almost always on an intimate level.  White children related more with other white children ; black children  with other black children, and so on.  

The competition for ethnic recognition and affiliation became the way of  life in ethinically diversified society, and the ethnic and social background that’s  most popular wins.  The ethnic and social background that’s  not the most popular takes its place in the pecking order of life.   This is what I call Cultural Identity Crisisbecause  it’s the  dilemma that every  children–regardless of their ethnic backgrounds–experience growing up in an ethnically diversified and competitive  society.    These children never developed an intimacy with their own ethnic culture because it’s not  the one  that’s most revered by their sorroundings.   Filipino children living outside of the Philippines are not exempt from this dilemma.  When Filipino expats  deprive  their children of their Filipino heritage first-hand, they’ll be lost forever in the sea full of culture-less children whose  acquired culture and trends are not of their own. 

These are heavy prices to pay someday for closing the doors of our heart and mind by not going back home and taking our children with us, to try to rekindle the spirit of our Filipino culture to ourselves and our children.   Most of us will have to face the prospect of growing old someday.   Do we want to spend the rest of our life financially secured, but very  lonely and needy?   Or do we want to spend it with the feelings  of  belonging without having to continue to prove our worth?  What’s even worse is if we don’t pass down our heritage  to our children by taking them to the Philippines and allowing them to experience their culture first-hand,  then the Filipino heritage of our  future generations will be lost forever.  Having my children lose their Filipino heritage  is the biggest fear of my life,  and I’m not willing to take that chance of having them pick it up by chance or on their own.   That’s why my wife and I have decided to move and raise our children in the Philippines three  years ago.  I haven’t regretted that decision since.   I’m still able to provide for their  material needs, like a good education, while they’re being intimately embellished by their Filipino heritage.  

There are personal sacrifices my wife and I had to make in order to realize our dream , of course,  like putting our career and retirement  on hold,  by not taking the practical approach to life.  This require breaking  free from the chains of  ”conventional wisdom”, having the  ”going against the grain” attitude, and then learning to count the blessings we’ve received and continue to receive.   I couldn’t be any happier.   Sometimes the impractical-and not the practical–things we do in life bring us much more rewards and happiness.  I’m confident that  my children will thank me and my wife someday  for bringing them to the Philippines.  Life really is  like a circle.  Whether we’re young or old, whatever it is we do or don’t do now–for ourselves and for our children–will matter most when we grow old and for the future of our generations. [Written by Julius P. Bantigue]