And now they are gone

MARAWI City siege finally ended when our troops took out Oman Maute and Isnilon Hapilon for good. There is even a story trending on line “Boom kunana” during the night our brave troops finally got them. The city experienced Martial Law since May 23. Many have been written and more will be written about this phenomenon that happened in the history of the life of the Filipinos. Here’s another one.

The inclusion of Bibles in the relief goods distribution in Marawi has received some criticisms from Christian and non-Christians alike. Does that mean that there are no Christians in need of the Bible who are victims in Marawi? Does that mean that all the people in Marawi are Muslims?

Why the flak? I presume it is one’s interpretation of one’s freedom to practice religion. Let’s review some the history. The Christian movement in Nepal is the effect of Christian social workers in hospitals, NGOs, Schools and other similar organizations. These Christians shared their faith either by works or by verbal evangelism. There were signs and wonders that converted many Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim into the Christian Faith. This is familiar in similar countries like Indonesia and the Middle East.

Among the Filipino animist, most were converted into Christianity by such similar Christian work in schools, hospitals and in the churches that were built. The Christian faith carries with it the freedom to practice evangelism by work and by words. It is to practice the various rituals and feast like Christmas where the other nine were.

This week, let us put this value into action by approaching and thanking every person you know you should be thankful about: your parents for being patient in rearing you up; your teachers for teaching and training you to become responsible citizens; your friends for standing by you especially during your dark moments; your husband or wife for staying around through the years; your children for being obedient and responsible; and above all God for being faithful, gracious, and merciful.

Let us empower ourselves by declaring: I kinapudno. Kinatakrot ti panangtallikudmo iti kasangsangom a parikut. Mamatiak kenka lolo ta kanayonmo a sanguen ti pader no agjingleka! Ngakkk!

-o0o2015 idi napasamak ti Mamasapano masaker. 2017 itan ket umadani manen ti panagsukat ti tawen. Agasem ti no manon a tawen nga agrigrigat dagiti naulila nga agururay iti pudpudno a hustisya.

Nagsukaten ti turay ngem agtultuloy pay laeng ti naulpit a saadda iti kagimongan. Adun dagiti imbestigasyon ngem kaskasdi a kasla ubbaw ti amin. Kasla kano pag-ong ti pannagna ti kaso idinto ta simumulagat ti amin iti napagteng dagiti SAF 44. Di pay la kadi umdas ti biagda a naipatli tapno mapadaras koma ti letigasyon iti kaso? Adda ngata puwersa a mangkalkalub iti kinapudno ken legal nga addang tapno madusa dagiti nagbasol? Saan aya nga gapu iti nagkurangan daydi Apo Makoy, napadisi daytoy agingga iti nakassuan nupay pimmusay. Idi panawen ni Apo Erap, gapu iti pagiinnagawan a takem ken gameng ket napadisi met iti puesto.

Idi panawen ni Apo Gloria...kasta met laeng ti napasamak. Naksoan. Nabalud. Ngem apay kano a kasla kayatda nga ilisi ni and Easter and the like which seem to be an evangelistic tool for conversion. Historically, translating, distribution and studying the Bible is the reason, the message and the manual for evangelism. As such many have been martyred, jailed and ridiculed for doing work in relation to the Bible. At the same time, evangelism is individual and intimate acceptance of the LORD Jesus Christ. It is both public and personal.

Similarly, to the Muslim to freely practice their religion is to celebrate their rituals and holidays. It gives them the freedom to observe the Jihad, a war to men, women and children who are infidels or non-Muslim (Christian, Hindu, animist included). The jihad is a religious duty for a Muslim to further their religion and protect the adherents of the teachings of the Koran and Mohammed. And others would further say that a military jihad can be performed in many other forms legal, political, economic, diplomatic and other means to protect the religion. This is called by people in authority and violence ensues in the freedom to practice their religion. This is what is widely known; simialoud am a grateful person. I understand the importance of showing gratitude first to God, and then to people whom God has been using to demonstrate His love for me. From this moment on, I shall stop grumbling and complaining about the things which I think I don’t have and start thanking God for the many blessings which I have been taking for granted. I shall be optimistic at how I see life and consider circumstances, whether good or bad, as God’s means to build me up and create a new person out of me. I shall be happy seeing other people receive their promotion or breakthrough and shall be supportive of those who aim to succeed in life. I shall never allow bitterness to creep into and consume my heart. I shall demonstrate gratefulness in

Apo Aquino iti rebbengna a sungbatan iti napasamak iti Mamasapano? Ania ngata dagiti plano para kenkuana? Ket kadagiti tao a mangat-atibay kenkuana .... dida ngata makonsiyensiya? Dida ngata marikna ti saem nga umuk-ukuok iti barukong dagiti naulila ti SAF 44? No bimmaton ti pusoda .... dida ngata agamak iti pannusanto ni Apo A Namarsua inton sumangodanto iti maudi a pannakahusga?

-o0oPiman met dagiti biktima kadagiti kalamedad ti biag. Awan dumana iti kalamedad a nagpasaran met dagiti tagaMarawi idi napasamak ti gubat kontra terorismo. Bumangondan ngem adu pay ti pasarenda a pannubok. Kasta met kadagiti biktima ti super-Bagyo a ni Yolanda a nagbasnot idi iti Kabisayaan. Walon a tawen ti napalabas ngem dida pay laeng nakabangon.

Ti imasna...sangsangkamaysa ti dir-ida gapu iti saan a naipatungpal a programa ti gobyerno para kadakuada. Naibutaktak pay nga adda anomaly iti pannakaibangon dagiti taengda koma. Natrahedyada langaruden, matrahedyada manen gapu iti aramid dagiti buwaya ti kagimongan.

Sapay koma ta babaen ti Duterte administration ket sumirnaaten ti masakbayan dagita a biktima ti trahedya – Mamasapano, Yolanda ken Marawi. Sabagay...napartak larly Jihad can also be interpreted as the war within the individual. It is both public and private.

For the Nepali Hindu, freedom of practice includes being born into the family religion and they cannot take a religion apart from that of their parents. Thus conversion is not acceptable to them. To the Hindu and the Muslim who convert, most if not all are persecuted and others are even killed. The Hindu must adhere to the daily rituals and the festivals, otherwise he can be ostracized or killed by his own folks. It is personal, it is communal adherence.

Now, we go back to the Marawi siege where the practice of religion is a factor in the war. Yet the realities of the war is bloodshed, destruction, rape and more atrocities to the knowing and the unknowing. It has affected the budget of the Philippines as troops need to be sent to war instead of keeping peace in the communities of the country. And as I write this, another body of a fallen SAF from Bauko is on the way home.

In the aftermath, families in Marawi have buried their dead, the pains and the wounds will be there. Orphans in Marawi, will roam the streets wondering why the war has to be fought, they wonder what the future will be. The orphans of our troops from over the country will share the same uncertainty as those from Marawi City, the past will be etched in their memories that will carry them to an uncertain future. At times, we from afar miss the chance to empathize, for at times it matter not what religion they adhere to. all my dealings with people and be a good example of this virtue to everyone.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, I am sorry for being ungrateful to You and to people who have shown me kindness and generosity to bring me where I am now. I thank you that many times, the things that happened to me which I consider evil are actually blessings in disguise; they have kept worse things from happening. I may have no idea why challenges or problems set in; but I am sure that a grateful heart will always consider them as opportunities for you to demonstrate your love for me.

As such, cleanse my heart and teach me to be thankful. I know this will change my perspective into all other things. Amen.

met ketdi ti tignay ni Pres. Digong kontra anomalya. Maysa a pammaneknek ket ti panangikkatna kadagiti nagtaltalkanna idi a naikameng iti gabinetana.

Adu pay dagiti adda iti likmot ti presidente a masirsirip ti kaadduan nga adda pagkurkurangan ti serbisyoda. Iyuraytayo laeng pards. Masiripto met laeng dagita ni Pres. Duterte.

Makulanitanto amin dagita. Saludsod: inton agsubli manipud APEC summit ni Apo Digong...karintarenna ngatan ti isyu ti Mamasapano? No dakami ti inkay pagamadan...medyo saan a basta-basta ti ititibsok ni Digong iti nakuna a kaso. Magmagna ngaminen ti litegasyon . Mabalin nga inton addan masentensiyaan kadagiti akusado, ditan nga umablat nangruna ta dakkel ti talekna iti kapulisan ken militar.

-o0oKas pangarigan laeng ta karamanto kadagiti madusa gapu iti Mamasapno masaker ni Ex-Pres. Noynoy...nakarkaronton a sumikat ti Pilipinas. Ta apay kunayo? Ay ket no mabalud ni Pinoy...maikapaten daytoy a nagpresidente ditoy pagilian a maibalud, saan kadi? Maryusep! Kasla dakes a partaan daytoy. Amangan ta aminto nga agpresidente ket maibalud ! Nakababain, saan kadi? Sikat! Pakawan apo, ngem yamaktayo laeng a kastanto ti tinnagtayo. Adios mi amor, ciao, mabalos!