The Problem: It's What The Country's Name Represents

The republic should honor one of its own. Yes, it's time to put the country's foreign name into the history books. 

When I think of my home country and its beautiful people-- intelligent, kind, jovial, deeply spiritual, I'm reminded that the nation's new name ought to be of the people and for the people. 

Whenever the existing country's name is mentioned, one's brain imagines a kingly foreigner standing over a vanquished people. 

Jose Rizal Online recognizes that the honorable and practical change to the country's name will awaken the fervor of the Filipino citizen by reflecting the true nature of the islands and its citizens.

It's awkward to hear a name that represents conquest and subjugation. For example, when The Best Fighter In The Universe defeats an opponent, the opponent's camp does not rename itself after Pacman The Conqueror. The identity of the vanquished remains intact, its essence whole, albeit roughed up, di ba? 

 

If his own country wants to pay tribute to King Philip II, we can applaud the effort. 

For now, the colonialists have left the islands. So the people are free to reclaim its true identity and march forward, with pride.

The Pope: A Meaningful Conversation With The Filipino Citizen

In this age of technology and information, those of us who are "the people," find ourselves blessed with the ability to impact change without any wealth. 

The downtrodden Filipino citizen is poor yet intellectually advanced.  But its collective intelligence finds few-- and many times, no-- opportunities; the nation is unable to realize its potential even as other countries benefit from its talents. Often, finding employment means leaving family behind to work as servants overseas. If you're lucky. 

There is good news: in 2009, 72 million Filipinos were wired. Likely millions more have access to technology today. 

Technology is why the average citizen, the individual is key to rising from the ashes of five centuries. The poor  Filipino citizen can do more for the people and the country than perhaps all the leaders the islands have seen in 500 years.

Even in our digital world, of equal importance, in order for the sun to shine its magnificence on the Filipino citizen, is the Catholic church. 

The Filipino citizen has the deepest reverence for the teachings of the Catholic church, which tends to be the most important  factor in the lives of millions. It is the one blessing that shines on the poor citizen-- and offers an existing infrastructure whose untapped impact can help pave the way for meaningful social and economic progress. More on this developing topic in subsequent blogs.

First, something has to happen. 

The Pope must visit the islands to deliver-- in a sentence or two-- an acknowledgement of the abuse the Filipinos suffered from the colonialists who represented the Catholic church. Perhaps even offer an apology.

This symbolic visit and gesture would then be followed with a pep talk to inspire the Filipinos, as individuals and as a nation. The Pope's message would have a beautiful, loving global impact. A nurturing of the soul-- of all souls! 

If the church aims to inspire, the Pope's visit and communication would be a very big step toward revitalizing the Filipino citizen's quest for a life of dignity and prosperity. A sentence or two would reset history's course for a people looking for inspiration. The positive impact would be miraculous.

It would be a powerful major step toward fulfilling The Promise of Jose Rizal Online by 2020.

Our Divine Obligation: Defending Human Rights

With the historic development in Pakistan this week in the global fight against terrorism, many of us have had a reason to look inward, to look at our own sense of right and wrong.

Every person on our planet deserves to live in peace and security, to enjoy the human rights that are part of the universe's natural order.

The terrorists' cruelty wants to diminish the liberties we enjoy, robbing us of our natural rights. When we travel, we are now forced to endure intrusive searches. Fear and uncertainty consume our energy and time.

And so many have lost their lives.

The mechanisms for the US Navy SEALs' courageous mission were initiated long ago by its very subject. America did not choose the event in Abbottabad. 

Rather, it is part of the terrorist lifeline. A destructive threat that seeks to wipe out life is contrary to the laws of the universe. 

It is our divine obligation to defend our human rights and freedom. Human dignity does not take a back seat to atrocities against humanity. 

Really, there is no justice in the global war against terror. A life lost does not bring back the victims.

But this isn't about right or wrong. It's about mankind's divine will to survive.