Religious fervor and discipline

Millions of Catholic devotees risked their lives joining the Black Nazarene procession, which the government, if it had its way, would have prevented because of a bomb threat.

If this show of religious fervor can be translated into love of country and discipline, the Philippines will progress economically by leaps and bounds.

By merely obeying traffic rules and throwing their garbage in trash bins, Filipinos can help the government on its journey to economic progress.

After the 22-hour procession, tons of garbage were collected on the route where the procession passed.

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The Filipino is an enigma.

He bathes every day and, if possible, will take a shower two or three times.

Yes, the Pinoy takes good care of his or her personal hygiene.

But, alas, he doesn’t take care of his surroundings!

If you visit a typical Filipino home and ask to use the toilet (comfort room is the local term for toilet), the host will tell you they will clean it first because the first user might not have flushed the bowl.

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A Catholic priest in charge of the Black Nazarene procession criticized the “excessive fanaticism” displayed by the devotees that “needs to be corrected.”

“We admit that there were elements or excess of fanaticism that needs to be corrected but we also saw from them the seed of their deepening devotion,” said Msgr. Clemente Ignacio, rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.

If there was “excess fanaticism”—the phrase is redundant since fanaticism is already excessive—it’s the fault of the local Catholic Church for abetting it.

The Spanish friars encouraged the worship of statues among the “Indios” or natives to make their subjects docile.

The reason it took the Filipinos more than 300 years to rise against Spain was because the friars mixed religion with politics.

It’s still true up to now, only we’re no longer under the friars but the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

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Don’t get me wrong: I never question another person’s faith.

When I was still a Catholic, I was a devotee of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and all my prayers were answered.

What a person believes manifests in his reality.

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Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson will be released on Saturday, Jan. 14, from a Hong Kong prison cell after serving an 18-month sentence for drug possession.

He will be fetched by his father, Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, by a private jet and flown straight to Laoag Airport in Ilocos Norte province.

From the Laoag Airport, father and son will motor to Vigan,

Ilocos Sur.