THE simple reason is that by over-reacting, evil can get worse and can have a greater chance to have a stronger hold on us. We should stay calm and focus our attention on who can best handle any form of evil. And that can only be God.

We are somehow reminded of this very practical indication in that Letter of St. James where he says: “Count it all joy, when you shall fall into diverse temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience. And patience hath a perfect work; that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing.” (1,2-4)

What wisdom this piece of advice has! It is truly divinely inspired and should be made a principle to follow in our life where we are going to encounter all sorts of evil and to contend with our own limitations and the supernatural goal we are meant to pursue.
We should always remember that evil cannot exist by itself. It has to refer itself to something that is good which it denies, distorts, corrupts, etc. And if we are smart enough, we should not worry too much about all the evils we can encounter in our life. As long as we know how to refer them to the good and the truth that they stand on, we would know how to deal with these evils properly.

As to the many limitations we always have, given the challenges of our life, we have to be ready for them and know not only how to deal with them but also how to derive something good from them. In these instances of the hard predicaments, for example, when we seem to be at a loss as to what to do, we should just see at what God does, after we have done all things possible to solve our problems.

We need to trust in God’s providence and mercy. We have to learn to live a spirit of abandonment in the hands of God. Yes, if we have faith in God, in his wisdom and mercy, in his unfailing love for us, we know that everything will always work out for the good. If we are with God, we can always dominate whatever suffering can come our way in the same manner that Christ absorbed all his passion and death on the cross.

Let’s always remember that God, in his ineffable ways, can also talk to us through these crosses. In fact, he can convey precious messages and lessons through them. It would be good that we have a theological attitude toward them, and be wary of our tendency to react to them in a purely human way, based only on our senses and feelings and on worldly trends.

In all our affairs and situations in life, we should always go to God to ask for his help and guidance, and to trust his ways and his providence, even if the outcome of our prayers and petitions appears unanswered, if not, contradicted.

This should be the attitude to have. It’s an attitude that can only indicate our unconditional faith and love for God who is always in control of things, and at the same time can also leave us in peace and joy even at the worst of the possibilities.

We have to follow the example of the many characters in the gospel who, feeling helpless in the many predicaments they were in, earnestly rushed to Christ for some succor. They went to him unafraid and unashamed and they got what they wanted.

Would a more favorable Philippine’s result from the conflicts in Congress and the Senate? I am sure, that it will not! Thus, we pray and hope for reconciliation!

The conflict of the two houses had never been pronounced not as it is this late. We are seeing a volatile back and forth between the two, perhaps this is democracy at its best. Disagreements and voicing of opinions may somehow create a better democracy. As others may say, it is the beauty of democracy.

Increasingly strained relations between the two houses of Congress and the Senate can be interpreted as either a sign of democracy or a threat to it, depending on how democracy is defined and assessed.

A democratic system of governance is one that guarantees the involvement, representation, and accountability of the people. As a result of the checks and balances between the many organs of government and the diversity of views and interests among the populace, the phenomenon of deteriorating ties between the two houses of Congress and the Senate might be viewed as a hallmark of democracy. Legislators’ rivalry and conflicts may also promote public discussion and knowledge, as well as civic involvement and supervision.

In the United States, the main precursor of our democratic systems is polarized by the Republican and Democratic parties that dominates their Congress. The United Kingdom has their House of Lords and House of commons at time warring and in conflict.
One time, this writer was buying rice at the V and G Public Market when I overheard two ladies talking.

Lady 1: Mahal na gud an bugas, tag 61 per kilo na an tag 55 han una? (The Price of Rice has gone up this time, from the usual 55 pesos per kilo now its 61).

Lady 2: Amo sige la man pag inaway an aton mga kamagaraman! (True, it maybe because our legislators are busy fighting each other, they may have forgotten their duties!)

Without putting a blame on anyone, this writer hopes that the conflict can be resolved and mended, for a better governance and a better economy. The purported gains in numbers shown in the news that reports the percentage of growth the economy has, is not felt on the ground, the rice is endlessly getting out of reach for the constant increase of its price and the gasoline are also rising in the per liter buying prices.

Ultimately, the phenomena of worsening relations between the two houses of congress and senate are not a definitive mark of democracy, but rather a manifestation of the tensions and trade-offs that are inherent in any democratic system. How these phenomena affect the quality and prospects of democracy will depend on how the legislators and the people balance the competing values and goals of democracy, and how they resolve their differences and conflicts in a peaceful and constructive manner.

Would a more favorable Philippine’s result from the conflicts in Congress and the Senate? I am sure, that it will not! Thus, we pray and hope for reconciliation!

The tragic accident that reportedly killed a tricycle driver and the passenger on the back-rider’s seat and caused serious injuries to the passengers inside the sidecar is too revolting to the public mind. The incident that was caught by a private closed-circuit television (cctv) immediately went viral on social media platforms.

It showed the slow moving tricycle going from the left lane just across the Bagolibas Elementary School in Barangay Bagolibas, Santa Rita, Samar, to its proper right lane to the direction from Tacloban City to Catbalogan City after evading a pothole on the right lane that could cause damage to the vehicle and shake the persons on board.

It was at that instant that a fast moving luxury pick-up car flashed instantly on the opposite direction. The two vehicles were too close on such collision course that there was no clear chance for evasion. The collision was too strong that it threw the tricycle to the air as high as the canopy of the nearby house and store.

Truly, 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.

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.

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 killer potholes and no accident happens, government officials would not lift a finger to repair such killer potholes.
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