Don’t go to Fixers. Fix it yourselves!

My recent visit to the Philippines was both official and unofficial vacation. It is official upon the agreement we had in the community. It is unofficial because I have to obtain one document (NBI clearance) which requires a lot of different processing and definitely did consume most of my time. Seemingly it’s my loss but I am glad however to have noticed the improvement in our country’s system. But hey, obtaining an NBI clearance nowadays requires one to queue as early as 1am in order to avoid the 2,000 cut-off of applicants per day. It also means a 10 working-day period before you can finally have the document in your hand. So where’s the improvement? This scenario is due to the change in the system at the NBI – from manual finger printing to biometric system. The agency with this new system just operated a month ago and literally, everybody is adjusting to it. Hopefully, in the not so distant future it will become less tiring and irritating especially to thousands of applicants. With the world’s unstoppable digitalization, it’s good to see we’re in to adapt.

After having obtained my NBI clearance, I proceeded to DFA to have the document authenticated. Since my time in the Philippines is limited, I opted to go through ‘a third party’ who can help quick process the said document. With all honesty I sternly condemned the use of ‘bribe’, the reason I did not give in to pay PHP1,000 to have my NBI authenticated by the DFA. Instead, I did it ‘my way’ and found out to have done the right action. It took me only an hour to have my document authenticated, a big improvement from two hours or more way back then. Moreover, the place was pleasant and spacious to the convenience of the applicants. I did affirm this good sign that change for our ‘everything poor’ nation is really possible.

Although the use of bribe still exists, the new system is more ‘service friendly’, allowing us to regain trust in our government in general and oneself in particular. Change is on the way and will definitely succeed if we will all work for the common good of everybody. Of course, the challenge remains the same: the change of attitude (heart). Patience is a key factor because it allows us to hope; hope on the other hand encourages us to see the positive side of the situation. Oftentimes the problem lies in the narrow mindedness and erratic behavior of many of us, who think change and improvement are the sole responsibility of our government leaders. It is not the question of the degree of responsibility, it is the internalization of the truth that everyone is responsible for the betterment of one’s and other people’s lives.

So before even thinking of going through a ‘third party’, think of what you can contribute to yourself and to your nation if you go through the right and legal way. You will be elated to find out it is more efficient and will do you a great favor. Never allow fixers to do it for you, rather fix it yourselves.  

Doing The Reverse...

The Transfiguration of the Lord

(Mt 17: 1-8)

We must have heard of people who were once rich and famous but being broke and almost forgotten now. Then we ask the same question: what have gone wrong when they were at the height of their career? The answers could be a bad and complicated relationship, health related problem, economic recession, mismanagement and more. Such realities make us want to come back to those old good advises whose wisdom lie at the realization of each: keep your feet on the ground, spend wisely, save for tomorrow, opportunity knocks only once, don’t forget your roots,  get an education (degree), be grateful and appreciative and the list goes on. Some people soar high because they memorize these advises by heart but for some it is going back to the basics. Again for others it remains a dream. 

Whether in business, entertainment, religion, science and the academe, success and failures are inevitable. This is one of the certain truths about life and we should know it by now. Therefore we should not be afraid of failures and overjoyed by success rather we do the reverse: be afraid of success and overjoyed by failures. Sounds absurd, right?

c/o photos8.com

Today in the feast of our Lord’s transfiguration we have a narrative from Matthew. We have Jesus and the ‘magnificent’ trio on ‘top’ of the mountain and above all we have the experience of Jesus’ transfiguration. All interpretations on the event point out to Jesus’ apparent ‘glory’, his lordship, the authentication of his identity revealed at Caesarea Philippi.  Being on ‘top’ of the mountain with his three chosen ‘agents’, this must be the highest point in Jesus’ “career” and makes us claim like Peter: “Lord it is a fine thing for us to be here.” But the message of Jesus’ transfiguration goes on to say: “guys, there is more than meets the eyes.”

And so by saying be ‘afraid of success and ‘overjoyed by failures’ I am pointing out to the attitude we should possess in dealing with life’s reality: by being cautious on the wondrous things we receive and experience, and by looking on the positive side of the not so good things in our life. We often perceive like Peter does that we often conclude we need to ‘build three tents’ and yet Jesus has eyes to see the real deal: while the Cross seems to be a huge failure yet it is the epitome of the saving power of God; while our Lord’s Messianic title may make our ears clap, but it causes distress for many.

The narrative has a lot of things going on, the characters, the succession of events, and mixed emotions. But one message remains true: life must go on.

Asks for Quality not Quantity (Mt 9:35 – 10:1)

The Gospel today emphasizes on the following certain truths:

1. Jesus saw the needs of the people and pitied them. Among us are people who have eyes but cannot see; who can see but are afraid of the troubles and responsibilities.  It takes a compassionate heart like Jesus to see the needs of others.
2. Jesus appeal to pray to God to send laborers is both an invitation and a reminder: It is an invitation to acknowledge that it is God who sends laborers, that He is the source of help and grace. It is a reminder that being sent means to serve and not be served, and that service entails doing the will of He who sends.
3. Jesus’ appeal proves that He wants us to participate in His mission. Thus, we must pray not for the increase in numbers of laborers but for those who agreed to labor for the sake of the Gospel; the one ready to serve and do the will of the Father.
4. Jesus being a Servant himself labored for our salvation. In the same manner he/she who knows his/her role and purpose in life is he/she who is ready to do the ‘job’. Because one sees not with one’s eyes but with one’s heart. The Cure of Ars, whose memorial we celebrate today exemplifies a ‘laborer’ who by seeing the needs of his parishioners sees for himself his role and the purpose why he was called and sent.