Congrats, but something lacking in SONA?

BY ATTY. BATAS MAURICIO

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them…” (Proverbs 13:23-25, the Holy Bible).

-ooo-

CONGRATS, BUT SOMETHING LACKING IN PNOY’S SONA? Okay, okay, it was a State of the Nation Address that was not simply filled with boasts, but with an enumeration of what the Aquino government concretely achieved during its first year in office, as well as a clear plan of what to do next to firm up its achievements and ultimately make life better for all Filipinos.

Congratulations are in order, and indeed, we must take our hats off to President Aquino for the clearly-beneficial initiatives his government put in place from June 30, 2010 up to July 25, 2011. But then, there was something glaringly lacking in his speech that may yet spell the success or failure of the rest of his term.

What did the President’s speech lack? It lacked an invocation of God’s direction and guidance for him and his government. There was a reference to a “straight path” in his governance alright, but it would appear that there is no direct and significant role for God under his administration, and this may be tragic and may cause him to ultimately stumble and fail.

-ooo-

WITHOUT GOD, THERE IS NO SUCCESS: This is so because no great plan anywhere will ever succeed without God’s permission and blessings. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing,” Jesus Christ said in John 15:5 of the Bible.

There is in fact a warning against those who do things apart from God in the succeeding verses: “…If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned…

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

-ooo-

DESTRUCTION AWAITS THOSE WHO FORGET GOD: In the Book of Deuteronomy, under its chapter 8, verses 10 to 14 and 19, there is a warning against those who, after becoming successful, forget that it was God who gave them their successes: “…When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.

“Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God…

“… If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed…”

---

Congrats PNoy, pero kulang ang SONA?


INSPIRASYON SA BUHAY: “…Ang sinumang hindi gumagamit ng pamalo ay galit sa mga anak, subalit ang mga nagmamahal sa kanilang mga supling ay maingat na dumidisiplina sa kanila…” (Kawikaan 13:23-25, Bibliya).

-ooo-

MAY KULANG SA SONA NI PNOY: Tunay nga, hindi lamang isang nagmamayabang na State of the Nation Address ang nadinig natin, kundi isang masinsing paglalahad ng mga kongkretong tagumpay na nakamit ng gobyernong Aquino sa unang taon nito, kasama ang mga matitibay na plano kung papaano mapapag-ibayo pa ang pagbuti ng buhay ng mga Pilipino.

Pagbati nga ang dapat ibigay sa Pangulong Aquino at dapat siyang saluduhan sa mga pagkilos ng kanyang ng gobyerno na nagbigay ng mas mahusay na kabuhayan sa sambayanan mula Junio 30, 2010 hanggang Julio 25, 2011. Kaya lang, mayroong maliwanag na kulang sa kanyang talumpati na maaaring pag-ugatan ng dagdag na tagumpay, o kabiguan sa nalalabing taon ng kanyang panunungkulan.

Ano ang kulang? Ito ay ang kawalan ng paghingi ng direksiyon at patnubay mula sa Diyos para sa Pangulo at sa kanyang pamahalaan. Mayroon mang tinukoy ukol sa “tuwid na daan” sa kanyang pamamahala, pero lumilitaw na walang direktang  bahagi ang Diyos sa administrasyon, daan upang maaari itong mabigo.

-ooo-

KUNG WALA ANG DIYOS, WALANG TAGUMPAY: Ang dahilan dito ay ito: wala pang plano saan man sa mundo ang nagtagumpay ng walang pahintulot ang Diyos. “Ako ang puno, kayo ang sanga. Kung mananatili kayo sa akin at ako sa inyo, kayo ay mamumunga ng lubos; kung hiwalay kayo sa akin, wala kayong magagawa,” ayon kay Jesus sa Juan 15:5 ng Bibliya.

Mayroong babala sa mga kumikilos ng hiwalay sa Diyos: “…Kung hindi kayo mananatili sa akin, matutulad kayo sa isang sangang itinapon at nalanta; ang mga sangang ito ay itinatapon sa apoy at sinusunog…

“Kung mananatili kayo sa akin at ang aking mga Salita ay mananatili sa inyo, hilingin ninyo ang anumang inyong nais, at ito ay ibibigay sa inyo. Ito ay sa kaluwalhatian ng Ama, na kayo ay mamunga ng lubos, upang maipakitang kayo ay aking mga alagad.”

-ooo-

PAGKALIPOL SA MGA NAKAKALIMOT SA DIYOS: Sa Aklat ng Deuteronomio, sa kanyang kapitulo 8, bersikulo 10 hanggang 14 at 19, mayroon ding babala sa mga naging matagumpay pero nakalimot sa Diyos: “Kung kayo ay nakakain na at kayo ay nasiyahan, purihin ninyo ang Diyos…

“Pag-ingatan ninyo na di ninyo lilimutin ang Diyos, at kalilimutan ang Kanyang mga utos at tuntuning ibinibigay ko sa inyo ngayon. Kung hindi, matapos kayong kumain, kung nakagawa na kayo ng magagandang bahay at yumaman na kayo, malilimutan ninyo ang Diyos…

 “…Kung lilimutin ninyo ang Diyos at susunod kayo sa ibang mga diyus-diyosan at yuyuko sa kanila, sinasabi ko sa inyo ngayon na kayo ay siguradong malilipol…”