THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE PHILIPPINES

by Father James Reuter, S.J.

By her own admission, GMA (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) rightfully assessed that over the last decades; our republic has become one of the weakest, steadily left behind by its more progressive neighbors.' Forty years ago, we were only second to Japan in economic stature, and way ahead of Singapore , Hong Kong , Malaysia , and Thailand . Today, at our present growth rate, it will take us 30 years to get to where Thailand is.

1.. A population of 160 Million;

2. Of those, 70 to 90 million (equivalent to our current population) will live below the poverty line;

3. Our national debt is estimated to be at US$200B (compared to US$28B when Marcos fled);

4. We will be competing, not against Thailand or even Vietnam , but against Bangladesh ;

5. We will be the most corrupt nation in Asia , if not in the world (we're already ranked 11th most corrupt nation by Transparency International) ...

The signs are clear. Our nation is headed towards an irreversible path of economic decline and moral decadence. It is not for lack of effort. We've seen many men and women of integrity in and out of government, NGOs, church groups & people's organization devote themselves to the task of nation-building, often times against insurmountable odds.

But not even two people's revolutions, bloodless as they may be, have made a dent in reversing this trend. At best, we have moved one step forward, but three steps backward.

We need a force far greater than our collective efforts, as a people, can ever hope to muster. It is time to move the battle to the spiritual realm.. It's time to claim GOD's promise of healing of the land for His people. It's time to gather GOD's people on its knees to pray for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation.

Is prayer really the answer? Before you dismiss this as just another rambling of a religious fanatic, I'd like you to consider some lessons we can glean from history.

England 's ascendancy to world power was preceded by the Reformation, a spiritual revival fueled by intense prayers.

The early American settlers built the foundation that would make it the most powerful nation today - a strong faith in GOD and a disciplined prayer life. Throughout its history, and especially at its major turning points, waves of revival and prayer movement swept across the land.

In recent times, we see Korea as a nation experiencing revival and in the process producing the largest Christian church in the world today, led by Rev. Paul Yongi Cho. No wonder it has emerged as a strong nation when other economies around it are faltering.

Even from a purely secular viewpoint, it makes a lot of sense. For here there is genuine humbling & seeking of GOD through prayer, moral reformation necessarily follows. And this, in turn, will lead to general prosperity. YES, we believe prayer can make a difference. It's our only hope.

Today, we launch this email brigade, to inform Filipinos from all over the world to pray, as a people, for the economic recovery and moral reformation of our nation. We do not ask for much. We only ask for 5 minutes of your time in a day, to fwd this email to your close friends and relatives.

This is the kind of unity which can make a big difference. Of course, if you feel strongly, as I do, about the power of prayer, you can be more involved by starting your own prayer group or prayer center.

We have tried people power twice; in both cases, it fell short. Maybe it's time to try prayer power. GOD never fails. Is there hope? YES! We can rely on God's promise, but we have to do our part. If we humble ourselves and pray as a people, GOD will heal our land. By GOD's grace, we may yet see a better future for our children.

'If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.'(2 Chronicles 7:14).

If you care for your children and grandchildren, PLEASE pass this on. .. ...
Let's not just abandon the Philippines

**** Copy and paste this article and send it to every God fearing Filipino you know....
Let us give our country a favor. - RSP

Bakakeng, Baguio's Future Business District

The city of Baguio is a haven for all people to enjoy. It has a climate that would chill and soothe a visitor that comes up to this mountain city resort located 5,100 feet above sea level. Students who plan to study at different educational institutions in Baguio continue to flock in this mountain city resort due to its ideal climate suitable for learning. But this is bad news for downtown Baguio. Baguio has experienced a tremendous transformation from a simple tourist destination to a melting pot of education that cater to thousands of local and foreign students. With Baguio's limited downtown area and roads that are not sufficient to direct smooth traffic, congestion both in human and motor vehicles had been a perennial problem that have resulted to severe problems on pollution and garbage baffling the minds of those who govern it.

Bakakeng, composed of 3 barangays Bakakeng Sur/Norte, Bakakeng SLU-SVP,and Bakakeng Central, should be considered as one of the new site for Baguio's expansion. Saint Louis University, on its centennial year of serving Baguio as the prime destination of knowledge and wisdom seekers, will have its Bakakeng campus open next year. This would definitely benefit Baguio City as it will decongest the main city roads of human and vehicular traffic and with SLU's mission to transform, Bakakeng will surely metamorphose from a simple residential area to a booming job generating, money making business arena of different kinds of trades. It shall be host to a variety of new business ideas brought about by entrepreneurial thinking. A lot of people are jockeying for a slot within this future area of Baguio City's continues urbanization, and expect local and foreign investors pour precious investments, making this site as Baguio's uprising business district. Wanna bet?

The True Independence

The Philippines has what it takes to become a super power, leveling itself with top Group of 7 countries like the United States of America, France, Canada, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan.

Would this be possible? But of course! Filipinos are known worldwide as an exceptional race of people possessing a variety of individual talents and know how on doing things no other race could equal. Give a Filipino something to do with out the necessary tool or equipment, and he could finish the job in due time using his own resources, often time rigging what is necessary in order to accomplish a task. What Americans, Russians, Chinese, Japanese or any other kind of nationality could do, the Filipino can! The Philippines is rich in natural resources, we have a sustainable natural environment that could feed our people and the generations to come.

So why is our nation still developing? A country under siege from different rightists and leftists groups. A country so disorganized . We had been a developing country ever since we had our independence (have we really been independent?) and we remain still developing. Our forefathers might have figured out the wrong ideas, or they might have figured it right, but they just don't know how to do it right. It may sound absurd, but our elders seem to have traveled the wrong road towards progress. They might had been too individualistic, thinking only of themselves and their family, disregarding their fellowmen, resulting to the suffering of a wealthy nation.

The Philippines with its population nearing a 100M with only a minority of its people living above the poverty line, and majority striving below the poverty line relying on the elite (who calls the shots) for employment to survive. In short, the Philippines is ran only by a minority belonging to families that have ruled for decades, their scions and heirs substituting those who have ruled before them. Same dog with a different collar, or same face with a lift.

What the Philippines need, borrowing Obama's winning slogan, is CHANGE! And change is inevitable. It will happen and its up to the new Filipino to think what is best, not only for his family, but for the sake of a nation seeking true independence.

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Change is around the corner, start thinking, and be wise enough to choose the right and disregard the wrong. Let the Philippines attain it's true independence.