THAT need is clearly seen when Christ himself said: “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mk 3,35) If we always abide by our Christian faith that we have been created in God’s image and likeness, meant to share in his divine life and nature, then the only conclusion we can make is to unite our will with God’s will.

Our will, which is where we find our true selves, should not just be floating around on its own, thinking that it is how it enjoys its freedom. We need to acknowledge that our will is a creation of God and is meant to be united with God’s will. We need to acknowledge the truth that our real freedom is when our will is united with the will of God.

This, definitely, is not an easy task to do, given the fact that it is precisely in our will where we choose whether we would like to be with God, to be part of his family, or to be simply on our own. And given how we handle this issue, starting with our first parents all the way to the present, we always have the strong tendency to think that our will is simply our own.

We therefore have to be strongly wary of this danger and do everything we can to avoid it. I suppose it goes without saying that we need to be frequently reminded that our will needs to be anchored on the will of God. That’s how our will acquires its proper status.

Especially nowadays when there are just so many things that can grab our will to be on its own, we really need to train ourselves to develop a strong regimen of self-discipline and constant rectification.

It would be good if we frequently make pauses during the day to see where our will is anchored. That’s because even in those areas where we can exercise a certain autonomy or where we are encouraged to make initiatives, etc., we should be clear that all these things should be done in accord with God’s will. Everything should be referred to God’s will.

We need to remember always that our true humanity or the perfection of our humanity can only be properly pursued if our will is united with God’s will. Christ, the pattern of our humanity, shows us the way when he himself said, “Truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing.” (Jn 5,19)

This constant need to refer everything to God’s will will obviously require tremendous humility on our part, given our strong tendency to do our own will alone. That’s why Christ himself said that if we have to follow him, we need to deny ourselves and carry cross. (cfr. Mt 16,24) There is no other formula for us to discipline our will to be united with God’s will.

We need to convince ourselves strongly and frequently that it is when our will is united with God’s will that we can achieve the condition proper to us. Yes, it may involve a lot of sacrifice, but the joy and fulfillment such sacrifice would yield us is so much greater, infinitely greater than any sacrifice we may have to go through.

It’s important that we be always aware that our will is always united with God’s will! That’s where we can our best condition in life.

The Teacher Education Roadmap 2024-2033 is a strategic plan that aims to improve the quality and relevance of teacher education in the Philippines. It was developed by the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in collaboration with various stakeholders1.

The roadmap is expected to have a positive impact on the educational status of the Philippines by producing competent, committed, and compassionate teachers who can effectively facilitate learning and contribute to nation-building1. According to the Global Education Monitoring Report 2022, the Philippines has made significant progress in achieving gender equality in education, but still faces challenges in ensuring quality, equity, and inclusion for all learners.

In this second instalment this modest writer dwells on some specific issues that for me are exponents of the well-planned roadmap which upon reading imprinted in me, more than a topical admiration but of deep dive love for the good possibilities it is packed with.

For one, it thoroughly tackles the Wellbeing. Professional and Career Development and Qualification of Public-School Teachers, based on RA 7836 or the Professionalization Act of Philippine Teachers of 1994, Magna Carta for Public School Teachers, and the Philippine Professional Standards. All these leaves nothing to chance and take away the power of political backing and endorsements, one that subvert the proper ranking of teacher applicants. Perhaps, the disgusting power that politicians hold on some Schools Division Offices are placed at the minimum because of the guidelines stipulated herein.

Secondly, in one segment called Low Financial Motivation Impact on Quality and retention Challenges, the Department of Education without mincing words DepED accepted the fact that perception of having teacher education as a low reward pre-service course in college as truth. Compared to the police and other uniformed Personnel, teaching is an inferior profession in terms of salary and incentives, high time that this reality is mentioned and acknowledged.

As space will not suffice for my comments which has been mostly positive, I will make another column on the matter, soon.

Representatives belonging to the majority block are moving headstrong to change the constitution. The move had been initiated on grounds that appear as resurrection of in previous attempts, that of opening the economic provisions that restrict foreigners from owning corporations and properties to the detriment of Filipinos. The purported purpose being raised by the proponents is to attract foreign investors to propel our country’s economic growth. But the many foreign trips of the magical president had drawn commitments from supposed foreign investors.

The aim is sugarcoated with promising projections for a better socio-economic life of the Filipino people.In reality though, the move is clearly not limited to amending specific provisions that are deemed irrelevant. The majority under people the administration umbrella is bound, by the name of its initiative, to change the charter. That had been the battlecry of many of the politicians who keep their hidden agenda, with sights at lifting term limits more than any other.

The charter change proponents are conveniently pointing to other provisions and term extension is not one of them. But such denials are too good to be true. Once the move for charter change would prosper, there is nothing that can stop these politicians from opening the entire charter for all kinds of amendments, including the form of government as what happened during the despot whose son is now the magical president.

Under the present setup, it is hard to be convinced how the charter is so infirm as to require urgent action for radical changes that is bound to go beyond mere amendments. There are provisions that are seen incongruous and others that are irrelevant if not absurd but the charter had served its primordial purpose of restoring political stability and affording the people their fundamental rights, freedom and liberty. The inclusion of term limits had been a proactive response by its framers to contain the rising of family political dynasties.

It is very clear that moves to change the charter had primarily been aimed to lift term limits which had been the roadblock to the selfish ambitions of politicians who want to stay in power for as long as they wish. If there is anything to be changed, it is those moving to change the charter and not the charter.

By and by, the Filipino people would be at the losing end as the recent move for chacha that is charter change is for the mighty and powerful politicians’ benefit dance.
comments to alellema@yahoo.com