"Follow CHRIST, Serve the PEOPLE" a work by Jose Dennio P. Lim jr.

"Follow CHRIST, Serve the PEOPLE"*
a work by Jose Dennio P. Lim jr.

I cannot consider myself as an ardent and faithful follower of Christ. Just like everyone else, I do get swayed by temptations easily and fall into sin. But despite that, I'm trying hard to follow his living example.

Lately, I had been finding myself engaged in deep reflection. I've been trying to scan the past 20 years of my life if I had been able to do something for Christ and if I had been able to somehow live out his examples in my life. Well, I found some.

There had been several instances wherein I had been able to give alms - specifically food. I had also tried to become active in several church-based and Catholic organizations (like YFC and SFC). I had been also, once in my life, tried to pray the rosary everyday that lasted for quite some time. I had also been attending mass regularly (though there had been times that I had not been able to). I had tried to put up a blog in the past that tried to defend Catholic doctrines and teachings (inspired by the relentless attacks by INC and Ang Dating Daan). And just recently, I had been religiously visiting the adoration chapel to spend some time in prayer.

But as I look in each action that I did to follow Christ, none of them had been really of service to him.

---

The Mass (for Catholics) is the highest form of worship that we can ever give to Christ. It is the time wherein we are all gathered in front of Him to praise and worship him. But for me, even if we regularly attend Mass, it is no sign that we are indeed following Christ's teachings on love.

We can sing our hearts out for him, actively participate as a lector, commentator or lay minister, give thousands of pesos to the church or feed the poor. But these things are not enough. Even Christ recognizes that.

He rebuked the Pharisees and Scribes for being too superficial with their faith (Matthew 23).

He reminds us that we cannot truly follow him if we cannot leave behind our riches in this world (Matthew 19: 16-24).

He tells us that we need to take up his cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24).

He asks us that if we truly love him we need to feed the sheep of his flock (John 21:17).

But what do all these bible passages have to do with truly following Christ so we can serve the people?

Christ simply wants us to take the path where most people never even dared to walk through.

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As we all know, being an activist or an outspoken critic of the status quo in this country is dangerous. You would surely get killed or immediately tagged by the military as a communist. Leftists in particular, are often criticized for their seemingly irrational acts like the recent events in PUP and UP. Leftists are often branded as barbaric, uncivilized and war freak people who only wanted to sow 'terror' and disturb the 'peaceful life everyone has.'

But what these people failed to realize (especially for Christians), that if they're going to put themselves in the same context that Christ lived, they were the ones who crucified him.

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It would be a bit too much to liken activists/leftists to Christ. But, we should also realize that in Jesus time, he was also heavily criticized by these 'holy and righteous people' because Christ had been very radical in his words and action. People then were scandalized to see Him eating with taxpayers, mingling with a prostitute and healing lepers. They could not accept then that a 'man' like Him would claim to be the Messiah and God himself.

He was decried by many for his breaking the rules, disobeying the laws and taking into his fold the most oppressed people of that time.

And while those who claim righteousness are busy in bringing Christ down, they turn a blind eye to the people whom Christ are evangelizing and helping.

Now, isn't it the same as what these 'civilized' people are doing?

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Christ is calling each and every one of us that if we truly want to serve him, we have to serve his people. Sacraments and traditions are okay but they are just the tip of the iceberg. The real meaning of being a true Christian lies in being able to reach out to the people of God and be one with them so that one day we may be truly free - freedom from injustice, oppression and poverty. But he also tells us that it won't be easy. People will see it as scandalous, barbaric, radical, anarchic and an irrational act that only aims to disturb the status quo.

Well, that's what Christ wants us to do.

He want us to disturb the present social order. He wants us to enlighten the people. He wants us to give our all no matter what happens - just like what Christ did on that cross.

He was crucified for simply carrying out the real message of love: service to the people.

Reflect on that my dear friends. Reflect on what happened thousands of years ago on this Good Friday.

And may it enlighten us to truly FOLLOW CHRIST and SERVE THE PEOPLE.

*The title is derived from the call to action (or is it tagline) by the Student christian Movement of the Philippines or SCMP, a militant, progressive, mass-oriented youth organization in the Philippines. For more info about them visit their Facebook Page or see this article about them here.

originally posted last 4/02/2010 02:17:00 AM

Roxas should take GMRC lessons -CEGP

Roxas should take GMRC lessons -CEGP

03 April 2010
NEWS RELEASE

Vijae Alquisola, College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) national president, denounced the claim of the camp of vice president candidate Manuel Roxas III that it (the camp) alone was able to impose a tuition fee increase moratorium on the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

“When we were protesting the tuition and other fee increases, where was he? When we camped out at the Manila Police District in support of the five student leaders wrongfully detained, where was he? The students have not seen hair nor hide of this Roxas.”

In a press release posted in the Senate website, the moratorium was credited to the representative of Roxas, who made a motion rejecting the increase. The release also described the March 24 protest action, described by media reports as the deciding factor in imposing the moratorium, as “unruly.”

“Before that day, we have exhausted every possible avenue without resorting to violence, but our pleas fell on deaf ears. They used fire extinguishers, which could have suffocated and killed us. Some of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) even physically manhandled us, punching some of the students. Now they tell us that we are violent, brash, that we are hooligans. We are peace-loving citizens, who desire to exercise our right to quality state-subsidized education, as provided for under the 1987 Philippine Constitution. We are far from unruly.”

“We should not be the recipients of the lessons on good manners and right conduct CHEd Chairman Emmanuel Angeles keeps on harping about. Given this development, Roxas should be made to take such a lesson. Does he not know that claiming something not his own is not only impolite but unethical as well?,” Alquisola added.

“This victory belongs to the students who continue to struggle for their rights. This victory proved that only through collective action can we achieve our goals. Rest assured that we will continue to fight, not just our rights, but the rights of the Filipino people, as befits the hope of the nation.”

A message to all Christians this Good Friday and Holy Week in general

A message to all Christians this Good Friday and Holy Week in general

Seeing humanity in a cross of dollar and gold

Seeing humanity in a cross of dollar and gold

Today is maundy Thursday, and that day somehow is a part of a sacred week. And for sure most of us are starting to get out and pray, lighting candles as well as meditating, reflecting their actions, intentions made before that sacred day.

However,
Not all problems can be solved through prayers, meditation, or even self flagellation as other people ought to do, as most problems are rather stem from economic, social rather than spiritual affairs that corrupts the inner, personal side of man. And noticing that we, people living in this rotten society didn't notice much as we instead stay away and acting apathetically whilst praying for forgiveness.

For example, the government's negligence on education. We see that most state colleges and universities hath started to increase their fees that in fact, attacks the student's right for education, then the government defending them, those who oppress instead of reprimanding them! How come the government became negligent on education and social services and instead having a large chunk of budget be in the hands of the murderers and of the rich and famous "few?" Or rather say, is the government became disobedient in its fundamental law?

Well...
As time goes by, this society became apathetically ignorant, as most people preferred the comforts courtesy of mass media, of modern lifestyle, they didn't notice much about the realities happened, except for earthquakes and other tragedies that may led to temporary unity, like the Ondoy and Pepeng or a mass mourning like the Ampatuan massacre. But on common affairs such as poverty? We simply disregard it away. I don't know why how these people, apathetic in nature are the same people who went to church, gave their tithe and prayed for forgiveness?

Bah! Why is the world becoming like that? Except to those who understand this and trying to break the cycle of problems, most people becoming too or half ignorant in regards to their ideas in regards to the society, whilst bannering words like "patriotism", "hope", "peace", "progress", speaking off words like "change starts from ourselves", "we must study our lessons", and any other kind of, these people are the ones who had no concrete goals and insist in building castles on sand, of pipe dreams without concrete settings.

While at the same time, the massive ranks of people, mostly coming from the oppressed are starting to rise up and marching a la the peaceful rallies during the Russian revolution! Like the PUP students who threw off and burned the old dilapidated chairs in response for Guevarra's increase proposal (that end up in scrapping it off), these people who called for change remained deeply oppressed. True to their ideas that they kept on fighting for it unlike those who banner who in fact hath nothing to deal with it.

In general,
This society we're belonging, remained as it is, rotten and dilapidated, wherein anything around the society is based on what Pol Pot said:
"To keep you is no benefit, to destroy you is no loss."
And thus, the clique of the rich and famous, who controlled the society itself simply approved on what Pol Pot hath said to them, to the fact that the ones working, from the farmer to the student are no benefit from them all despite the labors given to them day and night, of having their produce under their own greedy filthy hands and lastly, discarding them out of a certain problem in the end, thinking of it as nothing, no loss indeed as they look for another.

all things out of these problems are likely to give way to anger after languishing in physical torture and mental fantasy-of themselves, the humanity in general, being oppressed by the few, crucified in a cross of dollar and gold! And therefore we mustn't get contented in praying, fasting and anything-we need action all in the name of those who are suffering in the cross of capital against the ones in the temple of greed: for FAITH WITHOUT ACTION IS DEAD!

A message for the youth in regards to the PUP 5 and the struggle for Academic freedom

A message for the youth in regards to the PUP 5 and the struggle for Academic freedom

The PUP 5 is now free.
But millions of Filipino youth,
are still chained to the problems brought by tuition increases,
and the rotten state of education in the Philippines.

Therefore,
The struggle is not yet finished to ensure our right for education.

Continue the movement
Continue the struggle!

SERVE THE PEOPLE

After IMPRISONMENT: FREEDOM and VICTORY

After IMPRISONMENT:
FREEDOM and VICTORY

Last March 19, we sought students venting off anger through the chairs being thrown and burned, followed by protests in Diliman where they pushed and pulled its steel gates forcibly followed by throwing paint bombs in it. All was full of agitation, until...

Five students, leaders who fought against the tuition hike, were arrested by the Manila Police District last March 24, and formally given charges last March 25 201O. These students were charged of robbery with threat and intimidation.

But then,
Despite all the allegations, all in connected to the increase proposal made by the reactionary leaning administration, more students, parents, and even personalities like presidential candidate Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas, voiced out their criticism all against that said increase and includes the arrest of five students who were simply trying to voice out their opinions outside the office of Commission on Higher Education in Diliman through the burnt and thrown chairs of the institution intended to be bought out and be called as an evidence of student anger towards that said increase. As well as CHED Commissioner Angeles, who in fact saving his face in front of angry students, clearly declared that "no tuition hike will be approved or implemented in PUP."

And on March 29, after continuous clamor of the studentry, both for the freedom of five students and of scrapping the tuition hike proposal, Dante Guevarra, the reactionary-leaning representative of the PUP administration, eventually gave up his fight instead of pushing through just to save his face in front of people opposing him and his proposal, as well as dropped charges against the 5 imprisoned student leaders who opposed his proposal.

And the rest is history, wherein the scholars of the people gain victory over those who tried to curtail student's rights and minimizing welfare.

Well...
Despite having PUP's or rather say Guevarra's TOFI proposal being scrapped by the Board of Regents last Monday, it doesn't mean that the battle for free education stops-but rather intensifies the people's clamor for it, as Kabataan Partylist's Raymond "Mong" Palatino said:
“We welcome Chairman Angeles’ announcements but students also promise to remain vigilant."
therefore,
We must continue fighting!

A letter to Katleah

A letter to Katleah

Dear Katleah, or rather say "comrade,"

Its so happy to see and hear that you finished college. Happy because you finished four years of mind and body twisting ordeals that seemed make you "nose bleed", "groggy" and anything that may never control most of the time.

But then, Despite all of these things you have done with, lies sadness as you finish college and leaving it full of memories both material and immaterial. In fact, as I notice you during the first days of meeting, of running as a candidate in the CAS student council, under the banner of KBPA last 2008, I was nearly inspired-from listening to you singing "rosas ng digma" (a tagalog song meaning "rose of war") with Troy while playing a guitar, of enjoying with some friends' company, that even made me compelled much in drawing every features of you, and end up you (in my works) clenching a fist, carrying a gun, or even donning a "Liza Maza" getup of white and having a pink scarf. Well... perhaps out of activism rather and of you, creating a being whose beauty and strength is a product of ceaseless admiration.

And despite all the tragedies I passed though, of having a fight with your friend, I never made wrong or anything against you. But on the other hand, out of that "away", I became so shy, whenever I wanted to meet and have a chitchat with you. True and weird isn't it? But then, Despite any attempt to meet and having a chitchat, perhaps no to avail, since both of us are having most of the time working. And secondly I consider it "difficult", wanting no fight therefore better not to speak though-and instead preferring other means like drawing, of girl with a gun, rising a left fist, having a red star, wearing a mao cap or budenovka headgear, carrying an AK47, etc. Making the person who created is a hardcore.

And like the the song "Comrade Lover", with no regrets in doing every work both school and in struggle, that I sacrificed the blood, sweat and tears of my youth to complete every ordeal-all of these are due to you as my inspiration, as you sing every pop song whilst I listen to hardcore speeches. As what the song said:
"Joy and Sorrow,
parting and union
-The story always the the same
Hand in hand,
and unchanging face"

Perhaps, it's (or all it's) over, since you are leaving UE with profound memories. And so are the works full of agitation. "All hail thou hope of our land, Loyal thy sons we'll ever be."* these are the words I may say to you my once inspiration and idea in my work. Or rather say, we have another battle to face!

Farewell to a red star shining! You may have left UE, but there are millions of Katleahs, red stars rising and shining in the realm of struggle! HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE!

From a comrade, and once a friend Paul

*From Teogenes Velez's "UP Beloved" (UP naming mahal)