Why worry? Be happy!


BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO


LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again…” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

DOH SC PETITION ON SMOKING: USELESS? The Supreme Court petition filed by the Department of Health and its former secretaries seeking to print graphic warnings on the ill-effects of smoking on cigarette packs is useless. People will not be deterred from smoking even if they see graphic warnings.

Smoking is a habit, ingrained through years of repeated action. It is no different from other deleterious habits, such as exploding firecrackers on New Year’s Day---people will keep on doing them even if they knew they will suffer for it one day soon.

What to do to kick smoking? I propose another approach: try to interest our people to read the Bible and to follow what is written in it. The Bible contains many passages that can convert even the most inveterate smoker into a smoking-free person. Try it now.

-ooo-

WHY WORRY? BE HAPPY: Can worrying do any good to anyone? The answer is no, it will not. When someone worries, he only causes his heart to beat faster and to pump more blood into his veins. With more blood racing through the veins, blood pressure is likely to rise and may even cause some veins to explode, leading to strokes or heart attacks.

“Do not be anxious about anything,” the Bible tells us in its Ephesians 4:6. Instead, we should ask God for everything we need, big or small, through prayers with thanksgiving.

The Lord Jesus Christ said, in Matthew 6:25, 27 and 34: “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life… Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life… Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself…”

When worrying starts, start praying, too, especially the prayer that Jesus taught us (Matthew 6:9-13). Remember that Jesus said: “…your Father knows what you need before you ask Him…” (Matthew 6:8).

-ooo-

LIBEL LAWS MUST BE STRUCK DOWN: So the Supreme Court dismissed a libel case filed by a former Makati City judge against editors and officials of the Inquirer, on the ground that there is a need to uphold the constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of the press. So? It would have been better if the court struck down our libel laws instead as being unconstitutional.

-ooo-

CONGRATS, MS. GRACE TAN, MS. HEIDI MENDOZA: I am happy that Maria Gracia Pulido Tan, a classmate of mine from the UP College of Law years back, got the chairmanship of the Commission on Audit, at the time that whistle-blower Heidi Mendoza was named a commissioner of the agency. Go, go, go Grace and Heidi. Show them you have “balls” to make things right at the COA.


---

Nababalisa ka ba? Magsaya!

INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “…At namatay Siya para sa lahat, upang ang mga nabubuhay ay mamumuhay hindi na para sa kanilang mga sarili, kundi para sa Kanya na nagbigay ng Kanyang buhay at nabuhay na muli…” (2 Corinto 5:14-15, Bibliya).

-ooo-

DOH SC PETITION SA PANINIGARILYO: INUTIL? Ang petisyong inihain sa Korte Suprema ng Department of Health at ng dating mga kalihim nito upang magkaroon ng mga larawan sa mga pakete ng sigarilyo na nagpapakita ng masamang epekto ng paninigarilyo ay inutil. Hindi titigil ang tao sa paninigarilyo kahit nakikita nila ang mga larawang ito.

Ang paninigarilyo ay ugali na, na bunga ng paulit-ulit na pagkilos sa mahabang panahon. Hindi ito kaiba sa iba pang mga masasamang ugali, gaya ng pagpapaputok sa Bagong Taon---gagawin at gagawin ito ng mga tao bagamat alam nilang madidisgrasya sila pagdating ng araw.

Papaano titigilan ang paninigarilyo? Naririto ang isang paraan: turuan natin ang sambayanan na magbasa ng Bibliya at sumunod sa mga utos doon. Maraming bahagi ng Bibliya ang magpapabago sa kahit na pinaka-grabeng maninigarilyo. Subukan natin ito ngayon na!

-ooo-

NABABALISA KA BA? MAGSAYA! Walang buting idudulot ang pag-aalala. Sa pag-
aalala, pinalalakas lamang natin ang pintig ng puso, daan upang dumami ang dugong dadaloy sa ating mga ugat. Dahil marami ang dugo sa ugat, tataas ang presyon ng dugo at maaari itong magpasabog ng ugat, na magdudulot naman ng stroke o atake.

“Huwag kayong mabalisa tungkol sa anumang bagay,” sabi ng Bibliya sa kanyang Efeso 4:6. Sa halip, hingin natin sa Diyos ang lahat ng ating kailangan, malaki man o maliit, sa pamamagitan ng panalanging may pasasalamat.

Sabi ng Panginoong Jesus, sa Mateo 6:25, 27 at 34: “Sinasabi ko sa inyo, huwag kayong mag-aalala ukol sa inyong buhay… Sino sa inyo ang hahaba ang buhay ng isang oras man lamang sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalala? Huwag kayong mag-aalala para sa araw ng bukas…”

Kung nag-uumpisa kayong mabalisa, umpisahan din ninyong manalangin, lalo na ng panalanging itinuro ni Jesus (Mateo 6:9-13). Huwag kalilimutang sinabi ni Jesus: “…alam ng Ama ang inyong mga kailangan bago pa man ninyo ito hilingin…” (Mateo 6:8).

-ooo-

BATAS SA LIBELO, DAPAT NG BALEWALAIN: Dinismis ng Korte Suprema ang kasong libelong isinampa ng isang dating Makati City judge laban sa mga editors ng Inquirer, sa pagsasabing dapat itinatampok palagi ang kalayaan sa pamamahayag batay sa Saligang Batas. O ngayon? Mas maganda sana kung binalewala na ng tuluyan ng Korte ang mga batas ng libelo.

-ooo-

CONGRATS, MS. GRACE TAN, MS. HEIDI MENDOZA: Masaya ako na nanombrahan bilang chairman ng Commission on Audit (COA) ang aking ka-klase sa UP College of Law na si Ms. Maria Gracia Pulido Tan, habang nanombrahan naman bilang commissioner si whistle-blower Heidi Mendoza. Sige, hatawin niyo at i-ayos ang COA, Grace at Heidi.