A spiritual Advent
Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent and Father Ramon Mores, SJ, explained the season’s real meaning given the modern day activities towards Christmas.
Father Mores once again said that Advent means preparation for the coming and birth of Jesus Christ and should not only be an anticipation of Christmas as it only is to many who have forgotten the true significance of the season.
Father Mores rightfully observed that we start preparing for Christmas in October but we focus on material needs, not really the spiritual ones.
Father Mores said Advent is the season for us to look inside ourselves and examine our relationship with God and with our loved ones.
But many times we have miserably failed to do this because we are more focused on the externals of Christmas so much so that there are people who do not feel like celebrating Christmas because they have nothing at all.
The true essence of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ who was born not inside a palace but in a manger, a simple place, a reminder that Christ was born a simple person and that we should not be ashamed if we do not have much materially on Christmas Day.
So allow me to invite each of us to consider the reminder of Father Mores for us to do some introspection and prepare ourselves spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ.
In a related development, in solidarity with the victims of the supertyphoon Yolanda, it has been suggested that our traditional Christmas party should be held in a simple rather than lavish way so we can share more to those who are suffering because of the devastation brought about by supertyphoon Yolanda.
It is also time for us to imbibe the values of empathy, compassion and love reflecting the values that the Lord God exemplified during his lifetime.
Take note, it is just for this Christmas that we are requested to empathize with the suffering and the loss of lives and properties and we pay forward the blessings that God has showered on us.
We can celebrate Christmas in a more meaningful way as Father Mores reminded us last Sunday.
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Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has charged the second batch of those involved in the pork barrel scam, including Commissioner Ruffy Biazon of the Bureau of Customs and others.
The filing drew interest because it included in the charge sheet even those considered as close to the President and members of the ruling Liberal Party.
As of this writing, we have not received any report about the reaction of the President regarding this development.
In a way, I am happy and I welcome this recent development because it just goes to show that nobody is being protected as the people seek justice over this scam.
I think the national government should be serious in its advocacy of prosecuting those involved in the pork barrel scam, whether they belong to the party of the President or to the opposition.
But what are we to do with Commissioner Biazon? Shouldn’t he resign or take a leave of absence so that he could be investigated and spare the President of the agony of defending him?
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Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao returned to the country only to know that Court of Tax Appeals garnished some of his cash deposits in the banks because according to Commissioner Kim Henares Manny was found to have been remiss in paying his taxes in the years 2008 and 2009.
According to Henares, Manny failed to reveal his correct income in the years referred to.
The President apparently is supporting Kim Henares when and advised Manny to answer the case squarely in court, not in the newspaper.
Manny’s promoter Bob Arum asserted that Manny paid his taxes to the US International Revenue Service (IRS), thus it is the responsibility of the Bureau of Internal Revenue to obtain the documents with the US IRS.
But Henares countered that they have been waiting for Manny to present documentary proof to them, which according to Henares, he has so far failed to do.
I hope this latest tax controversy that the boxing icon has gotten into shall be settled the soonest as he is facing serious challenges in his boxing career.
