Let’s start with a prayer: “Creator God, You made me and You love me. My circumstances do not define me, my identity is as Your child. Your word says that, although people plan their course in their hearts, it is You who establishes our steps. Whatever I do today, Your loving eye is on me andYou have promised to guide me. I can do nothing without You giving me the strength to do it. The desires of my heart can only be satisfied in You. Guide my steps, Lord, to follow you. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”
Remember the dictum, “No matter how much you try, you can’t make everybody happy.” Or is it you can’t please everybody?
Well, in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t world, no words ring more true. As long as there are more than one person on Earth, there will always be disagreements. Look at Cain and Abel. Brother killing brother. That was thousands of years ago and it’s still happening right now and in even grander scales like World War 1 and 2.
No matter how good or saintly you are, someone will not like you or even hate you. Look at Jesus Christ who was crucified because some very powerful people didn’t like the way He preached. This despite Him preaching love and performing lots of miracles. Again, no matter what one says or do (or does not say or do), you just can’t please everybody.
It’s as impossible as saying that members of local political dynasties will no longer run for office or that politicos will stop giving empty promises. Impossible, especially now in this age of social media where cowards can hide under fake names and espouse hate, bash, criticize, insult or whatever until hell freezes over. That’s how easy it is in this so-called civilized age. A person can be hated, bashed, criticized, or insulted for doing or not doing something, for saying or not saying something, or maybe even for just being dead or alive. Maybe that’s democracy (crazy?). Maybe that’s freedom of speech (spit?). Maybe it’s just jealousy (inggitlang kayo). Who knows?
All this near-sighted Ibaloy writer can say is: Karma is a bitch. So just go on living your life the way you see fit, minding your own business and without causing harm to anyone, if possible. So there.
The chairperson of the Filipino-Chinese community executive committee, Peter Ng, announced the Chinese Spring Festival’s cancellation this year during Monday’s flag-raising rites at City Hall. He said the Filipino Chinese community is grateful for another year and ready to face the Year of the Ox.
Here’s “Invisible, Part II” by Gabriel Baban Keith: “Are you an Ibaloy in Baguio?/ I pity you./ Your lack of unity/ and being ‘shy mangu’/ (unless drunk with tafey),/ have made you and your kin/ non-entities in the home/ of your ancestors./ They must be turning in their graves/ to see what their heirs have become:/ Muted, marginalized strangers/ in a land no longer their own./ Aren’t Ibaloys themselves to blame?/ Are you an Ibaloy in Baguio?/ I pity you.”
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ continue to bless and keep us all safe.
