We have lifted this very relevant quote by Pope Francis who died only last Monday, a day after Easter, from a post on Facebook some two years ago. However, with too many things that pre-occupied our mind during those past months, we forgot all about it. But thanks to God our ever house-organizing lady, the Missus, did not touch the notebook in which we wrote the Pope’s quote.
With Pope Francis dead only four days ago, we scoured our cabinet hoping that our notebook was still around. And as we said earlier we were lucky enough the wife failed to consider the notebook as one of those worthy for the trash boxes. So we were able to retrieve it and found the pages on which the Papal quote was written by us.
Here is the quote that if read and practiced by the majority of us Filipinos and all other races in the world, we could have lived in a most peaceful universe.
“Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruits; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.”
What better words can the late Pontiff leave in this world at this time when everyone else lives seemingly on a “to each his own” basis; when the willingness to help others and live in harmony in society is manifested only when the opportunity is clear that he or she can get something in return for his or her supposed benevolent action.
Yes, Pope Francis endeavored to make the people live with his admonition. Unfortunately most prefer to ignore his message and instead do the exact opposite. Today what we have in society, especially in the Philippines, are people who ignore any opportunity to help and collaborate with others unless they get something in return whether in the nearest tomorrow or distant future.
Say, today we have politicians crafting laws with which the government can help the people although in almost all cases, the assistance in cash or in kind, is given to the people who are expected to return the favor to the facilitating politician by election time.
And to top it all, the irony is that the “ayuda” beneficiaries that politicians are supposedly helping, are actually the source of the money given as aid or assistance. Are not the people, specifically the beneficiaries –fried with their own lard?
Nonetheless, we still hope that what the late Pope Francis said will not be loaded inside his coffin and instead left in the hearts of those who read it, and hopefully will give it a try in practice. Perhaps life in this world will not only be good but even much better.
And should this happen we can only imagine how happy could be the departed leader of the Catholic Church in the great beyond where he will be.
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We are really intrigued at the silence of the agency or agencies concerned on the status of a concrete bridge spanning the creek that serves as boundary of Barangays Catalunan Grande and Tacunan in Davao City’s first and third districts, respectively.
Yes, the 2-lane bridge with a length of roughly 10 to 15 meters had long been completed. Only that it does not have an approach at the Tacunan end of the span and the Catalunan approach appears to be unconnected to the road leading to the old steel bridge currently in use.
We had been asking why and what is the problem that the project is facing that despite the completion of the main bridge it remains without an approach on one end and the other, though with the approach, is still not connected to the main road.
Neither the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) nor the City Engineer’s Office of the local government of Davao has not issued any statement on the unutilized bridge. Are the officials of the said agencies so scared that by issuing any statement they might be exposing cans of worms relative to the project?
We are certain that the contractor of the bridge was long fully paid. And we are certain as well that there were those who benefitted from the payment other than the contractor and the people who are supposed to use the bridge
Our wish is that if after the election Migz Nograles will have the luck of unseating Congressman Polong, makes it a priority to look into the said bridge project so the people of Davao City’s first or third district will know the real score.
Or, if she feels it is worth looking into and bring out issues on the project while the campaign period for the May 12, election is winding up, then perhaps it would do good for her fledgling candidacy.
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