Self-Gratification Machines

Based on a recent study in the United States by scientists, it is the conclusion that the earth is now facing turbulence and a massive crisis that puts humanity “two minutes before midnight,” meaning the sixth extinction is now coming. As stated in the study, the fifth extinction happened some 65 million years ago when asteroids hit the earth killing almost all life forms existing on earth then including dinosaurs. This time no asteroids are coming but the changing climate that is caused by emissions of so much carbon footprints caused by humans that is brought about by a development paradigm that has sacrificed Mother Earth to the altar of greed and profit.

Indeed, the human species called homo sapiens have grossly failed to be good stewards. In fact, it has been the conclusion that homo sapiens is the worst species created. What a paradox!!? That specie that is said to be made in the image and likeness of God has proven to be otherwise, having been transformed into the diabolic image of Satan, the collective offshoot of an egoic mind, having been reduced to just being self-gratification machines.

The earth’s resources have become scarce as only 1% of the earth’s population has much too much while the 99% has much too little. The

combined wealth of the top eight (8) billionaires in the United States equals the consolidated assets of 3.6 billion people. One billion people is just subsisting on 1 dollar per day and some 600 million people, mostly in Asia, are hungry.

Our agricultural products especially from the massive plantations in Mindanao are supplying the consumerist needs of the people in the North (developed countries), while we cannot even satisfy our basic staple like rice and milk as 99% of milk are being imported from other countries. Because of this paradoxical set-up, 85% of our children are malnourished, based on the study of the Food and Nutrition Institute.

The Philippines is number three in the list of the worst hit countries in the world by climate change that is now experiencing weather extremes: floods when it rains and drought when there is no rain. Indeed, that is in legal term, Res Ipsa Loquitor (the thing speaks for itself). In Cagayan de Oro, some 3,000 people died because of Typhoon Sendong and 11,000 people were rendered homeless. The two hundred thousand hectares of forest in the uplands of Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon and Lanao are now totally denuded brought about by the massive illegal logging operations by six logging companies. The massacre of all life forms in the forest ecosystem has brought about the deterioration of the other ecosystems. Our rivers and bays are now biologically dead, to the detriment of our fishing communities, now described as the “poorest of the poor.” Our Lumads who once upon a time, were the masters of the land that they used in the spirit of sharing and service belong also to that category as being the poorest as our lands have been converted into massive plantations by Trans-National Corporations. As economy goes down, violent extremism looms as exemplified

by the Marawi crisis. Despite these realities, it is still business as usual, meaning, nobody cares. Why? The truth is, we Filipinos have been massively brainwashed by the mainstream media, controlled by big capitalists, reducing contemporary societies into selfgratification machines. Even our candidates in the recently elections have exemplified a society that is so much enamored in self-promotion, in superficial looks and trivialities.

We are so engrossed in the day-to-day drama of life shown in “Probinsiyano” or in basketball games. We have so much problems but we do not mind because we are more concerned with the drams on TV or who won in basketball games.

The egoic mind is now winning, ruling our day-to-day life. That is the logical consequences of a society that is so enamored in self-promotion and superficial externalities.

Let us reflect on the essence that man or woman is a spiritual being, indeed, made in the image and likeness of the Being called God. Unless, we seek our true essence as connected with that Being, Satan will continue burying us into that bottomless pit of ego, of gross materialism, of non-stop consumerism, externalities and trivialities. The name of that bottomless pit of ego that has brought collective insanity to the humankind is also called hell. On the other hand, that internal essence of man, those internal values called love and serving the least of our brethren is known in its truest essence is the real heaven. If that be the case, we will have the new earth and the new heaven as stated in the bible. Remember, heaven and hell are not places but the state of being.