Vehicles run with the danger of falling into deep cracks on our highways. The cracks pose real risks to both lives and properties. Traveling along the highways of Samar would give one a scare on many portions of the highway that are badly broken. The cracks are not properly marked with warning signs, sending vehicles to leap at high speed or halt in screeching manner as brakes are abruptly applied to avoid from falling in such holes.

Many motorists had certainly encountered these death traps that could cause vehicles turning turtle at an instant mistake of the driver. Passengers are surely cursing government for pushing them into the edge of road mishaps due to badly broken pavements that have no warning signs. Those who are unfamiliar with such road cracks are caught by surprise upon reaching the brink to perdition. If one is traveling at high speed, the risk of jumping into deep cracks or tumbling off the pavement if very high.

People could only wail every time the vehicle they are riding pass over such deep cracks. While many are complaining in murmurs, nothing is being raised to the attention of concerned agencies. But the problem is very glaring for government officials not to notice. It is really bothersome that government would only act when something bad happens. As long as motorists are able to evade the deadly cracks and no accident happens, government would not lift a finger.

The situation is not beyond repair but government is simply not giving enough attention and priority to such problem. It is unfortunate that many repairs are being done on highway pavements that are seemingly still in good condition while dilapidated portions are being left in such bad condition. What is lamentable is the absence of road signs that will forewarn motorists of the dangers they are about to pass. Some roadblocks are placed to prevent vehicles from going straight into such cracks but even the roadblocks are unpainted are hardly visible especially at night.

While government could not undertake repairs or even place road signs to warn people from falling into deadly cracks on our highways, there is much fund to banner shameless faces of politicians and government officials whose expensive billboards are scattered along our highways. Maybe people should deluge concerned government officials and offices with complaints if only to push them to act on matters affecting their very lives. Until when can we endure living on the great dangers of deadly killer roads where contractors bagging the repairs of such roads are perhaps making a killing of taxpayers’ money.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com

IT’S the Advent Season again, the proximate preparation for the birth of Christ on Christmas Day. It also starts another liturgical year when we are made to go through the different stages of the life of Christ and of the whole economy of salvation that is designed by God.

With this Advent Season, we are somehow reminded of the need for vigilance and focus that is based on the real and ultimate purpose of our life here on earth. Of course, we are reminded also to be clear about the over-all picture of our life here with the view of avoiding getting trapped in our temporal affairs while ignoring the spiritual and supernatural goal of our life.

Thus, in the gospel of the First Sunday of Advent, Christ told his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” (Mk 13,33) We should take these words of Christ seriously and sharpen our vigilance skills and proper focus in life, being truly professional in managing our earthly sojourn.

This, in fact, is the most serious business we have in this life. We should see to it that everything that we do and can happen to us in this life should be referred to the ultimate purpose of our life.

And given the fact that the world is fast changing, coming up with new challenges and issues, we have to upgrade our vigilance skills. Remember Christ telling his disciples: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life…Be vigilant at all times.” (Lk 21,34.36)

Times are constantly changing. Although we are told that nothing is new under the sun, still we cannot deny that there will always be new developments that will require us to upgrade our skills in handling them, knowing how to take advantage of the benefits they give and to avoid the dangers they also pose.

Truth is the many developments today, while giving us a lot of advantages and conveniences, can also easily lead us to bad things. They can foster complacency, self-indulgence, vanity, pride, greed, envy, discord, etc. They can turn us into materialistic monsters, totally insensitive to the spiritual and supernatural realities of our life and to God himself.

We should never underestimate the tricks and snares of the devil, the false allurements of the world, and the dynamic of our weakened and wounded flesh. These enemies of our soul will constantly make new guises to mislead and tempt us. To upgrade our vigilance skills is not a matter of paranoia. It is to be realistic. It is to be effectively prudent.

We should not be naïve to think that with our current skills at spiritual and moral vigilance, we are already okay. We have to sharpen our sense of purpose in life, seeing to it that its general goal is being consistently lived and reinforced in the many subsidiary purposes we have during the year, month, week, day, and even hour.

With how things are now, we cannot simply rely on a generic sense of purpose. We have to learn how to be vigilant in all circumstances and situations in life, especially when we are tired, troubled, or when we are thrilled and excited.

This should be done without getting nervous or unduly tense. Yes, there should be alertness always, as is proper to any watchful person, but it should be an alertness that is compatible with naturalness, one that goes together with peace and joy, knowing that in the end, God is always in control of everything.

The river flow to the delta , not only within the rapids but towards other ways where it nourishes life nonetheless.

We are the unusual water ways, we are flowing towards uncharted path, to irrigate the hungry land..

We are the Local Community Colleges.

In the recently concluded Global Academic Leadership program run by erudite and of ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, more than a hundred LUCs Presidents and Directors finished an almost year long program.

We were so happy of the opportunity but more than that, we were elated to be recognized.
In the opening statement of the speech of my good friend Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig P resident Regie Maningas says, thank you CHED for recognizing us, the LUCs in the Higher Education Ecosystem.

To me that was not just a speech, it was a big exhale and sigh of relief.

We, 124 Local Colleges and Universities all over the country had that collective sigh of relief. We were not only given a fitting scholarship it was a validation of how important we are in the education of the next generation of citizens and leaders of this country.

With the worthy acknowledgement of LUC s role in the education universe, we cant help but look within our shoulders and see fellow LUC prime movers get teary-eyed, they recall the struggles and the structure mostly skewed against them and now stabilizing.

That moment, we felt the relevance and significance of local community colleges, shine a little brighter.

We are part of the ecosystem, alive and well.