On a stretch of highway somewhere between the rice fields and the next town, the road has been quietly taken hostage. Palay spread wide and thin like golden carpets under the summer sun, now claiming a fourth of the road’s width on either side. I cannot sit still and call it “culture” or “necessity” anymore—it’s plain dangerous, and it needs to stop more so that they put rocks around the dried grains.

Every summer, this odd ritual unfolds as predictably as the season itself: rice farmers wheel out sacks of freshly harvested palay and let gravity and heat do the rest, never mind if it’s the national highway they’ve turned into a sunbaked drying facility. At first glance, it looks harmless enough—a rural practice stretching back decades, a spectacle of agricultural persistence against poverty. But that nostalgic picture crumbles fast when you’re on a motorcycle, swerving to avoid a mat of palay while dodging an overtaking truck. In that terrifying second, you don’t see heritage—you see death knocking on the asphalt.

Why do we still allow this to go on? The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has issued memoranda time and again, prohibiting the use of roads as drying grounds. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are not blind to this either. And yet, enforcement remains timid—almost apologetic. Are we afraid of offending those who cling to this practice, or are we simply too accustomed to looking the other way? Either way, our silence has emboldened a dangerous habit into a normalized violation.

Some might argue, “Where else can they dry their rice?” That’s a fair question—and a heartbreaking one because it reveals a deeper rot: the chronic lack of proper post-harvest facilities in the countryside. But what’s worse is that this same argument is used not to ask for better drying alternatives, but to justify taking over the road like it’s the last remaining option. We cannot let one injustice excuse another. Roads were meant for vehicles, not for rice grains, and certainly not for practices that gamble with the lives of innocent commuters.

It’s especially alarming how this drying method turns into a bottleneck of chaos during peak hours. With only half the road left passable, vehicles crawl through with the nervous energy of a traffic jam waiting to explode. Impatient drivers speed up to overtake, unaware that a patch of palay ahead might just cause a fatal skid. And then there are the riders—those poor riders—whose motorbikes lose balance as tires kiss the brittle grains and spin off course. When accidents happen, no one blames the rice; they blame the reckless driver or the poor visibility. But everyone knows what the real culprit is.

What’s worse is the sheer stubbornness that greets even the gentlest warnings. Try telling a palay dryer that they’re creating a hazard, and you’re met with defensiveness or mockery. Some even act like it’s a joke: “Ay, ikaw na ang may-ari ng kalsada!” As if public roads were private property and safety was optional. The casual impunity of it all is maddening. If barangay officials can’t get them to stop, and the police won’t step in unless someone’s already bleeding, then what’s left? A shrug from the sidelines and prayers that no one dies today?

I’m not here to demonize farmers. God knows how hard they work for so little. But that’s exactly why they deserve more than a crumbling system that forces them to risk other people’s lives just to dry their harvest. The government ought to invest in communal drying facilities, covered pavements, or even mobile dryers. And while we wait for that to materialize, let’s not be afraid to implement what’s already within our grasp: rules, enforcement, and yes, penalties. A fine today might just save a life tomorrow.

We don’t need a tragedy to wake us up—no child is run over, no farmer buried alongside his rice. We need the courage to say, clearly and kindly, that enough is enough. A highway must be a highway. Let’s give our farmers better options and our motorists a fair chance at getting home alive.

The fear of missing out, or FOMO, is a pervasive modern phenomenon. It whispers in our ears, urging us to chase the latest trends, experiences, and opportunities, often at the expense of our own well-being and goals. While a healthy dose of FOMO can motivate us to explore new possibilities, its grip can become a silent saboteur, preventing us from truly winning in life and achieving our full potential.

The Allure of the “Grass is Greener” Syndrome

FOMO thrives on the “grass is greener” syndrome, making us constantly compare our lives to others, focusing on what we lack rather than appreciating what we have. Social media, with its curated feeds of seemingly perfect lives, fuels this comparison, creating a relentless pressure to keep up with the Joneses, even if it means sacrificing our own values and aspirations.

The Paralysis of Analysis: Stuck in a Cycle of Indecision

FOMO can lead to a paralysis of analysis, leaving us trapped in a cycle of indecision. We overthink every decision, fearing that we might choose the wrong path and miss out on something better. This constant fear of making the “wrong” choice can prevent us from taking action, leaving us stuck in a state of stagnation.

The Pursuit of Instant Gratification: A Short-Term Fix

FOMO often leads to a pursuit of instant gratification, seeking fleeting pleasures and quick fixes rather than investing in long-term growth. We might overspend, indulge in unhealthy habits, or jump from one opportunity to another, always chasing the next high, without truly appreciating the present moment.

The Cost of Comparison: Eroding Our Self-Worth

Constantly comparing ourselves to others erodes our self-worth and confidence. We start to doubt our own abilities and achievements, feeling inadequate and unworthy. This negative self-talk can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and a lack of motivation.

Breaking Free from the Grip of FOMO: Strategies for Winning

While FOMO can be a powerful force, it’s not invincible. By understanding its roots and adopting strategies for managing its grip, we can reclaim our power and start winning in life on our own terms.

– Cultivate Gratitude: Take time each day to appreciate the good things in your life, focusing on your strengths and accomplishments. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have, fostering a sense of contentment and reducing the pull of FOMO.

– Define Your Values: What truly matters to you? What are your goals and aspirations? By clarifying your values, you can make decisions that align with your priorities, rather than being swayed by external pressures.

– Embrace Imperfection: No one’s life is perfect. Accepting imperfection and embracing your own unique journey will help you let go of the need to constantly compare yourself to others.

– Disconnect from Social Media: Take breaks from social media, especially when feeling overwhelmed by FOMO. Engage in activities that nourish your soul and bring you joy, rather than scrolling through curated feeds.

– Practice Mindfulness: Be present in the moment, focusing on your senses and appreciating the simple joys of life. Mindfulness helps to reduce anxiety and the urge to constantly seek external validation.

– Focus on Your Journey: Instead of comparing your progress to others, focus on your own journey, celebrating your milestones and learning from your setbacks.

– Seek Support: Talk to friends, family, or a therapist about your struggles with FOMO. Sharing your feelings and seeking support can help you navigate this challenge.
Winning Through Authenticity: Embracing Your Unique Path

The fear of missing out can be a powerful force, but it doesn’t have to define your life. By understanding its roots, adopting strategies for managing its grip, and embracing your own unique path, you can break free from the cycle of comparison and start winning in life on your own terms. Remember, true success lies not in chasing fleeting trends but in pursuing your passions, living authentically, and celebrating your own journey.
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If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the column, feel free to send an email to jca.bblueprint@gmail.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!

THIS is a “caveat emptor” that will always be relevant in our whole life. We may already consider ourselves as good Christians because we pray, attend Mass, do some good works, etc. But if our relation with Christ is really not strong, deep and abiding, and always in the process of renewal and conversion, then like Judas we can also betray him.

“Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’” (Jn 13,21)

So begins the gospel for Tuesday of Holy Week. With these words, we have to be wary of the constant danger of treachery. That possibility is always around. In fact, we can be our own traitors. We can also be traitors to others. The others can also turn us in. That’s just how it is.

It’s not to be cynical about our human condition here on earth that is prone to this danger. Rather, we just have to be realistic, and do the necessary things we need to avoid treachery, whether self-inflicted or inflicted by others.

Let’s always remember that our human condition here on earth where we are always engaged in the constant battle between good and evil, between grace and our weaknesses and temptations around, can always make this possibility of betrayal and treachery to happen. We should keep this fact of life in mind always.

Let’s never forget that because of our freedom, we always have the possibility and capability either to be faithful or not, to go up or down, to turn right or left, to move on or to stop not only physically but also morally and spiritually.

In fact, in the spiritual and moral realm, the possibilities are infinite, while in the physical dimension we certainly have clear limits. Yes, we can be a saint or a sinner, a hero or a villain. It’s our choice.

Said in another way, the possibility is always there for us to betray Christ like Judas, or to deny him like Peter. Or we can be another Christ, as is what is most ideal, who will remain faithful till the end, whatever it takes, in our love for God and for everybody else.

We should try our best that we make the proper choice. All the means needed for that purpose are already made available. It’s really up to us now to make the proper choice and to be faithful to it by using the means.

For sure, there is always a need to wage continuing spiritual struggle. As long as we struggle interiorly, we would be nourishing our relationship with God and with others. We would manage to be faithful to whatever commitment we have entered into.

We have to remember that our life is very dynamic, with all sorts of challenges to face, problems to solve, issues to be clarified. We need to see to it that our interior life, our spiritual life, our thoughts, desires and intentions are firmly rooted on God, their proper foundation.

We need not only to purify our thoughts and intentions from any stain of pride, vanity, lust, envy, sloth, gluttony, anger, etc. We need to also fill them and rev them up with true love and wisdom. These are the reasons why we have to engage in a lifelong interior or spiritual struggle.

The ideal situation should be that we are always in awe at the presence of God in our life, making him the principle and objective of all our thoughts, words and deeds. We have to be spiritually fit before we can be fit anywhere else—family-wise, professionally, socially, politically, etc.

Going into the final stretch of the Lenten season, we mark once more the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. It was a celebration of sorts as the people made a grand welcome for the man they now recognize as the Son of David, Jesus the Prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. Today’s gospel in all Catholic Churches, relives that event when the people came in droves bearing palms and branches to wave as a sign of reverent welcome to the Messiah, our Savior Jesus Christ. That biblical event is commemorated by the faithful in the present Church to remind everyone who believes that Jesus Christ came to fulfill God’s great plan to redeem all of mankind from the wages of sin.

In our time, we learned of the great love story that was punctuated with Jesus Christ nailed on the cross after a horrible passion no man could ever bear. Having heard of the passion, death and resurrection narratives, we are consciously looking at the twists and turns that ended in the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. Unlike the people who were blessed and graced to witness the events in Jesus’ time, we know what is to unfold in the passion, death and resurrection story. While those who welcomed Jesus Christ in His triumphant entry into Jerusalem had no inkling that they will change heart and loyalty in the days that followed, that to us is very well known.

But even without the excitement as to the plot of that great love story, we still have good reason to ponder and reflect on that story as it affects our individual lives. For the whole Lenten season, we were called as early as Ash Wednesday to turn away from our sins and believe in the Gospel with the stark reminded that we are all from dust and to dust we are to return. The Lenten season afforded us enough time to reflect on our lives and how God great love for us is being valued, treasured and reciprocated in our own ways.

The triumph on Palm Sunday is to be followed by unexpected turn of events that is mixed in ironies and conflicts where the supposed converted people would make a turnaround to condemn the Messiah they considered Lord and Savior. As we join the commemoration and celebration today, let us take a pause from our daily rush and examine our lives in relation to our God. Jesus Christ obediently fulfilled the will of the Father until the end of His mission.

Offering His unconditional love by dying on the cross was the supreme sacrifice for our eternal salvation. The win on that Palm Sunday did not end as defeat on His cruel and horrible death on the cross but on His resurrection which was the final and ultimate win of all and for all.
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