Halfway through October, 2015
Under Proclamation No. 1906, October was declared as National Indigenous Peoples' Month. We hope more will be done to inform our people, especially our children, about the simple yet sustainable life that we can learn from our indigenous brothers and sisters.
For centuries, they have survived through their contented simplicity. They teach us how to partner with and protect nature, how to be content to have just enough for their needs, for their daily consumption. Their simple ways have produced beautiful attires, sturdy houses, beautiful art and crafts, and wonderful music and dances. Their council of elders allows them to settle conflicts and to remind them about values. They have proudly lived contentedly within their sustainable communities. Should we not learn more from them and discover their secret for a self-sufficient, satisfied, sustainable personal and community life?
Sadly, intruders have targeted their rich resources within their territories. Greed continues to destroy their collective land and territory, including their simple lives.
They need all our support and protection to allow them to proceed to survive and to continue their simple yet superior way of life. We can start by knowing more about our own indigenous peoples in our midst.
Halfway through October, UNICEF reminds us about "the power in our hands." The 15th of October is Global Handwashing Day–" wash with soap, live with hope." Despite the advance of technology of this so-called global world, UNICEF informs us that each year, diarrhea and pneumonia take away lives of 1.7 million children under the age of five. Washing hands with soap and water especially after using toilet and before handling food helps reduce disease infection by 40 percent. Making clean hands a priority for more than just a day to save lives!
Sadly, on this same day of October in 2013, a very strong earthquake claimed the lives of people in Bohol and in Cebu. Our cousin, Froilan Gallardo, a photo-journalist, posted on his FB , a picture of the ruins of Loay, our hometown's Santissima Trinidad Church not to merely bring us to the past but to encourage all to restore what can be restored and to reconstruct and to move on.
In our August visit to Bohol, we were happy to note how people and communities have moved beyond the October 15th deadly earthquake. Yet, so much remains to be done. So many still needing support and assistance to move on.
Candidates have all promised better lives for our people and our country. Time to weed out the wheat from the chaff, the genuine from the fake.
Miriam defends her choice of Bongbong Marcos as her vice presidential bet. Many question what happened to Miriam's so-called moral compass or did her rhetoric and jokes hide her real flip-flopping persona?
Where have all the delicadeza and principles gone? Where have all the stolen public funds gone, too? To those candidates tainted with corruption, may their alleged stolen public wealth be returned first, then their right sense of integrity and honesty restored, as well as the sanity of the insane among the candidates. May God's lightning strike the shameless and corrupt so that our people and our country are spared from fake and reel candidates posing as genuine public servants.
Happily, October is also the merry month of Mama Mary and saints. Despite the foolishness going on in our political sphere and despite threats of the return of the despicable, corrupt candidates, we are reminded to pray, pray, pray the Rosary for world peace as well as for peace in our country and in our hearts.
We are also reminded, in a timely fashion, that there are other important events taking place locally and globally aside from the political circus now taking place.
Like the survivors of the disasters, let us forge ahead together, in united prayer, to honor and protect our indigenous people, to raise the level of knowledge and awareness of our children and our voters that power is in our hands, we can have the country that we desire if we all do our share, responsibly, collectively, and prayerfully.
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