Recently, I just saw someone boasting that she earned P20,000 in five days from merely “copy-pasting” Facebook ads. All she needed, she claimed, was “grit” and “a phone.” I could see my brain thinking: this is not hustle—it’s highway robbery in disguise with hashtags.

Because let’s be real, most of these online “opportunities” are nothing but clever scams dressing up as the digital carnival. They strut around as hasty exits from poverty, but they are better described as highly oiled money vacuums extracting cash right from desperate individuals’ pockets. The setup is always the same: a promise of instant money, a series of screenshots with GCash notifications, some motivational quotes, and a person telling you, “If I did it, so can you.”

But the one thing that they never mention is that before you can even hope to make any money at all, you’ll first be required to pay—perhaps a registration fee, perhaps a “starter kit,” or worse, a “membership” that guarantees to unlock the gates of gold towards a life of luxury. Ironically, that P999 you spent? That’s their real earnings. Not the enterprise. Not the item. You. You are the commodity.

I’ve witnessed starry-eyed job applicants, fresh graduates, and solo working moms lured into this virtual existence of phony enterprise. Something repulsive about the way such scams use people’s aspirations against them. They use the parlance of the dreams—”Be your boss,” “Financial freedom,” “Break the 9-to-5”, but there is a very real manipulative psychology of want and insecurity hiding behind the veneer of smoothness. The irony? They tend to bloom best in economically troubled communities where a P500 increase in earnings is heaven-sent. They do not construct communities—instead, cults of illusions are constructed.

And don’t even talk to me about so-called “mentors” and “coaches.” These so-called gurus post up reels of them sipping frappuccinos, jetting off on planes, and soaking up the sun in condos that they likely don’t even own. Their greatest talent is marketing the idea that they have solved the equation for wealth, when in fact, they have solved the equation for making money off of people’s trust. Their bios say “entrepreneur,” but the only enterprise they’re running is a pyramid scheme disguised as empowerment. It’s predatory, but worse—it’s normalized.

They’re smart, I’ll give them that. They know how to use language like a fishing net, throwing around terms like “passive income,” “affiliate marketing,” or “drop shipping” to sound legitimate. But the structure is always suspect. If your business model collapses when new people stop joining, that’s not a business—that’s a ticking time bomb. And if your earnings depend not on selling a product or service, but on convincing someone else to join, then you’re not an entrepreneur. You’re just a cog in a money-making contraption that only fattens the pockets of the few at the top.

Social media is part of this game of deception to an unprecedented extent. Social media offers the platform, the audience, and the layer of legitimacy. It’s where lies are given a veneer of sheen with filters and affidavits. The online world pays for popularity, not honesty. The more improbable it is, the more it will be noticed—and in our times, attention equals money. Once you possess the influence, you can peddle anything. Even lies. And everyone will be eating it because it’s sporting the uniform of success.

Sadly, such scams never get reported, seldom get punished, and seldom get questioned by participants. The victims blame failure on themselves since they “had not worked hard enough” or “did not have faith in the system,” as if failure was a personal failure, rather than a failure of structure within the scam. It is a culture of deceit, shame, and silence. And so long as these dubious systems have their way and use people’s needs and dress them up as opportunities, we will keep raising a generation that pursues illusions and does not believe in honest hard work.

Perhaps the antidote is optimal if it’s not only warning individuals. It’s turning them into critical thinkers—making financial literacy something people talk about every day, particularly with younger generations. It’s revealing these cons for what they really are, calling names, and not glamorizing anything that guarantees money for no work. Because in this world, anything too good to be true is most likely not just not true—it’s a trick, and someone’s already counting on making money off your mistake.

In a world that constantly bombards us with external stimuli, it’s easy to lose sight of our inner compass. We’re bombarded with opinions, expectations, and advice, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and unsure of our own direction. But what if the key to unlocking our full potential lies not in seeking external validation, but in turning inwards? What if the most powerful tool for growth is simply the ability to ask ourselves the right questions?
Self-questioning, often overlooked in the pursuit of external achievements, is a potent catalyst for personal and professional development. It’s a deliberate act of introspection, a journey into the depths of our own minds to uncover hidden truths, challenge assumptions, and cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves.

The power of self-questioning lies in its ability to break down limiting beliefs and expose areas for improvement. By asking ourselves challenging questions, we force ourselves to confront our biases, analyze our motivations, and evaluate our choices. This process of critical self-reflection can be uncomfortable, but it’s essential for growth.

Here are some key areas where self-questioning can be transformative:

1. Defining Your Values:
– Question: What are my core values? What principles guide my decisions and actions?
– Benefits: Identifying your values provides a solid foundation for your life. It helps you make choices aligned with your beliefs, leading to greater satisfaction and purpose.

2. Setting Meaningful Goals:
– Question: What do I truly want to achieve? What goals are in alignment with my values and aspirations?
– Benefits: Self-questioning helps you set goals that are personally meaningful and motivating. It allows you to prioritize your ambitions and focus your efforts on what truly matters.

3. Identifying Your Strengths and Weaknesses:
– Question: What am I naturally good at? What areas do I need to develop?
– Benefits: Understanding your strengths and weaknesses empowers you to leverage your talents and address areas for improvement. It allows you to focus on developing skills that will contribute to your success.

4. Evaluating Your Progress:
– Question: Am I moving in the right direction? What progress have I made towards my goals? What adjustments do I need to make?
– Benefits: Regularly evaluating your progress keeps you accountable and helps you stay on track. It allows you to celebrate your successes and identify areas where you can adapt your approach.

5. Cultivating Emotional Intelligence:
– Question: How do I react to different situations? How do my emotions influence my decisions?
– Benefits: Self-questioning helps you become more aware of your emotions and their impact on your behavior. It allows you to develop empathy, manage stress, and build stronger relationships.

6. Embracing Continuous Learning:
– Question: What can I learn from my experiences? How can I expand my knowledge and skills?
– Benefits: Self-questioning fosters a growth mindset, encouraging you to seek new knowledge and embrace challenges as opportunities for learning. It allows you to stay relevant and adapt to changing circumstances.

Self-questioning is not a one-time event. It’s an ongoing practice that requires discipline and commitment. It’s about creating a habit of introspection, of regularly stepping back to examine your thoughts, beliefs, and actions.

Here are some practical tips to incorporate self-questioning into your daily life:
– Journaling: Regularly write down your thoughts, feelings, and reflections. This provides a space for self-exploration and allows you to track your progress over time.
– Meditation: Engage in mindfulness practices to cultivate self-awareness and focus your attention on the present moment.
– Seeking Feedback: Ask trusted friends, family members, or mentors for their honest feedback on your strengths and areas for improvement.
– Reflection Exercises: Dedicate time each day or week to reflect on your experiences and ask yourself probing questions.

By embracing the power of self-questioning, you can unlock your full potential and embark on a journey of continuous growth and self-discovery. It’s a path that may not always be easy, but it’s worth your time.
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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!

Lent, a season of penance, reflection, and renewal in the Christian tradition, holds a profound relevance even in modern times. This 40-day observance leading up to Easter serves as a sacred reminder of Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice for humanity. Despite the hustle and bustle of contemporary life, Lent invites people to pause, reflect, and reconnect with their faith, offering a message of love, hope, and redemption that transcends time.
In the fast-paced, technology-driven world of today, Lent resonates deeply as a counterbalance to the distractions and superficiality of modern life. Its emphasis on fasting, prayer, and almsgiving encourages individuals to detach themselves from material possessions and worldly pursuits, redirecting their focus toward spiritual growth and selflessness. This season challenges people to reevaluate their priorities, rediscovering the values of humility, gratitude, and compassion in a world that often celebrates excess and individualism.

Central to the observance of Lent is the realization of Jesus Christ’s boundless love for humanity. Through acts of sacrifice and self-denial, believers are reminded of the immense love that led Jesus to give His life for the salvation of all. The suffering and crucifixion of Christ become a source of inspiration, teaching that love is not merely an emotion but a profound act of self-giving. In a time when divisions and conflicts often dominate the global narrative, the Lenten message of sacrificial love serves as a beacon of hope and reconciliation.

Moreover, Lent fosters a sense of shared humanity, as believers around the world come together in their journey of faith. The communal aspects of Lent—such as participating in Ash Wednesday services, Stations of the Cross, and Holy Week observances—remind individuals of their interconnectedness and the strength found in collective worship and reflection. This unity transcends boundaries of culture and geography, emphasizing the universal nature of Christ’s message of love and sacrifice.

Through the lens of Lent, modern individuals are encouraged to see beyond their struggles and challenges, finding solace in the knowledge that they are deeply loved by a Savior who was willing to endure immense suffering for their sake. This realization fosters a sense of purpose and renewal, inspiring believers to carry this love forward through acts of kindness and service to others.

In conclusion, Lent’s relevance in modern times lies in its timeless message of love, sacrifice, and redemption. It offers a transformative journey that reminds people of the depth of Jesus’ love and His willingness to give everything for humanity’s sake. By embracing the spirit of Lent, individuals are empowered to live with greater compassion, humility, and faith, reflecting the light of Christ in a world that yearns for hope and meaning..

Exposing the daftness of the highest paid international lawyer defending the former and now detained president, Nicholas Kaufman who is reportedly a British-Israeli barrister by positing to limit the participants from the victims of his self-confessed client. In an effort to keep the surviving families of the bloody war on drugs that his client admittedly ordered if not masterminded, he raised the tactic of silencing the agonizing cries of the families left orphaned by the innocent victims of the bloody war on drugs. The weird idea is to purportedly simplify the proceedings by excluding family members of those innocent victims who could not present a valid identification card.

The proposal was immediately met with objections from the affected families and legal minds who care for the affected families. The main opposition was grounded on the fact that most of the victims’ families have no identification cards considering that the belong to the poorest of the poor. He mayhap not been informed by his high-profile client that government identification cards had not been issued to many poor citizens considering the cost of getting one and the fact that they seldom need such cards. It is impractical for a poor citizen to get an identification card when all their life are spent working in the fields, not even needing to go to town centers to buy for their daily needs.

The news in national broadsheets about a Filipino international lawyer accredited by the International Criminal Court (ICC) by giving the high-priced international lawyer of the former and now detained president a free lecture on realities in the country’s social and cultural situation is commendable. It explicated the situation in the country where the poorest of the poor opt rice than any identification card which has no use in buying items in the market. Indeed, why would one bother spending time and money to procure an identification card. For people living in the lowest economic strata, food is the be all and end all for the family.

Limiting the participants from the surviving families of the is a desperate strategy the defense lawyer of the former and now detained president can raise at the moment. It would bring the to fore the utter failure of his high-profile client. It is well to remind the highly-paid international lawyer that Republic Act No. 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act, was signed by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on 06 August 2018.

That national identification card may not have reached the poorest of the poor for reasons only the recipients can explain. With much more reason that the other identification documents such as driver’s license, passport or unified multi-purpose identification (UMID) can the survivors of the victims of the bloody drug war could not have. The highly-paid international lawyer badly needs ayde.

comments to alellema@yahoo.com

WITH the celebration of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord’s Passion, we begin the Holy Week of our liturgical calendar, the most important week of the year that commemorates the culmination of the redemptive mission of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s on this day that we are told how Christ went to the extreme of love by offering his life on the cross as a ransom for all our sins.

Let us hope that we can give time and due effort to meditate on this most important part of Christ’s life here on earth with the view of at least approaching this extreme of love to which we are also called.

As we can gather from the life of Christ, he, being God, not only became man to be with us, but also did everything to make things right for us, giving us the fullness of revelation about us. And since that was not enough due to our sinfulness, he went all the way to offering his life on the cross. (cfr. Phil 2,6-11)

To follow his example is the greatest challenge we have to tackle in this life. We may not be able to perfectly imitate him, but at least we should make the effort to pursue that ideal meant for us.

In this regard, we have to realize that given our wounded condition, the cross, in any of its forms, will always be an integral, if not essential, part in this pursuit for love. We need to understand that unless we love the cross the way Christ loved it, we can never say that we are truly loving, or loving with the fullness of love.

We really need to know why the cross is essential and indispensable in our life. That’s because in the first place Christ himself said that to follow him, we need not only to deny ourselves but also to carry the cross daily. (cfr. Lk 9,23) We need to know the purpose of the cross because the cross, through Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, is where everything in our life is resolved.

Yes, Christ preached. He performed miracles. But in the end, he had to offer his life on the cross because no matter what he did, our sins are such that they simply cannot be undone and forgiven through the preaching of the truths of our faith and the tremendous effects of the miracles. Christ had to offer his life on the cross!

In our daily life when we can encounter cases of severe differences and conflicts among ourselves—for example, between husband and wife, parents and children, among friends and neighbors, etc.—we need to see to it that the more difficult the situation is, the more unfair and unjust the conditions are, the more we should follow the example of Christ who, treated in the worst way possible on earth, just offered his life for us.

That’s why he was more close to the sinners than to the self-righteous ones. Just the same, he loved all as proven by the fact that before dying on the cross, he asked forgiveness from his Father for those who crucified him.

We have to expand and deepen our attitudes towards others. Are we willing to think always of them, keenly observant of how they are? Are we moved to pray for them and to leap to their assistance when the chance comes? Do we try to go all the way in loving them, no matter how unfair to us things may look?

To be sure, only when we truly identify with Christ can we go also to the extreme of love.