Life’s success

One morning, while my wife and I are at the hospital waiting for our doctor to call us, out of the blue, I pose this question to her “ Do you think you can consider yourself successful?”

She says:” Well, being a nurse, I ’m satisfied with my job despite the hardships of this kind of work and the fact that I’m also satisfied with my spiritual life, I know I’m successful”

“ I can go to sleep, without worrying so much. I ‘m content with my simple life. Success in life can only be possible if one has the spiritual, emotional and psychological, stability,” she says.

Well she’s right, she’s found joy and fulfilment in her spirituality and in working hard and in the words of King Solomon “I have come to know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good during one’s life and also that every man should eat and indeed drink and see good for all his hard work. It is the gift of God.” (Ecclesiastes 3:12,13).

I‘ve e-mailed a friend in the Philippines and asked her the same question and she said “Successful? Yes, in a way...kasi being successful is not only about having a successful career and plenty of money...it's also when you get to see that you've raised your children well... and "spiritually" siguro because you're at peace with yourself and contented—I don't know if this is the right term) and you know God is always with you...and when you've learned His teachings, you can always look forward to a bright future.”

Yes, it’s true there is a link between success and spirituality because when a person pays attention to what God says, the Bible tells us “ Everything he does will succeed. (Psalm 1:3)

But why is it that having a successful and happy life has eluded many people?

Many of us could not find success and happiness in life as we have been using the wrong norms and standards in measuring success and gaining real happiness. The God’s Word warns of the danger of walking “ in the counsel of the wicked one.”(Psalms 1:1) And Satan is the “ wicked one” (Mat.6: 13) and he is also “the ruler of this world “and that “the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one”. John 16:11; 1 John 5:19)

And since Satan is the ruler of this world, he is the one influencing the minds of people, it is not surprising why most people are so engrossed in amassing wealth and seeking fame “ the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father but originates with the world.”

At Ecclesiastes 7:12, it says that “ Wisdom is for a protection the same as money is for a protection; but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom itself preserves alive its owners” So there’s nothing wrong with the money itself because we need money for our living specially if we have our family to support. (1Tim.5:8)

But what is wrong is the love for money, the Bible says “ For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains”. (1Tim. 6:10)

We cannot depend on these superficial and unstable riches since in the blink of an eye, everything will be gone. Look at what happened when the Typhoon Ondoy struck our country a few months ago: most of the material things—houses, cars, and other prized possessions that our kababayans had accumulated in their lifetime were destroyed in just few minutes

In this life, nothing is certain, nothing is secure, why-- when storms, earthquakes and other natural calamities hit us hard, then, all the material wealth we have accumulated through the years of handwork could easily go down the drain even without any warning. Even a serious illness is enough to cause the breakdown of our spirit.

As regards seeking  fame  and glory from the eyes of people whose lives are uncertain and short-lived,  it’s better that we make a good name before Jehovah God who said through his prophet Isaiah: “I will even give to them in my house and within my walls a monument and a name.... A name to time indefinite shall give them, one that will not be cut off” (Isa.56: 4,5) Because of their obedience to God, those acceptable to him will have “ a monument and a name”

Let’s all strive to do our very best to have a good name before our Creator and He will always remember our name to time indefinite.

.

OFW Bank

Help wanted: A bank to protect modern-day heroes--OFWs

Now is the time to push for the creation of the OFW bank that will provide not only cheaper remittance rates for our kababayans working overseas but also serve their financial and investment needs.

Why now? Well, let’s consider these facts: OFW remittances for the first 10 months in 2010 reached US$ 15.5 billion and most of the remittances came from the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Japan, United Kingdom, UAE, Singapore, Italy, Germany and Norway.

Recognizing their vital role in propping up the country’s economy, these modern-day heroes—our millions of workers deployed overseas—should be given their rightful honour as the government takes the initiative to set up these workers’ “own bank”

This money remittance business is a billion-dollar enterprise. Why not let these OFWs have a bank that will genuinely serve their interest, a bank whose operational profits should redound to OFWs’ and their families’ benefits—a bank that they can call their own.

Just imagine how much all these privately-run remittance outlets and other banks have been raking up billion of profits all these years.

One of the problems confronting these overseas workers is where and how to invest their hard-earned money. At present, most of these OFWs have been investing into real estate—buying condos, houses and lots for their families.

But, do we have banks and other financial institutions which we could expect to really think about the OFWs’ interests first, thereby, giving them not only the right advice on the kind of businesses they can engage in, but most importantly, extending to them low-interest loans and capital if they so decide to get into small-and-medium businesses.

So, the main issue here is looking for some banks that would truly cater to the needs of these overseas workers and protect their interests too—that kind of banks that would be their real partners in improving their condition in life.

The recent proposal of Vice President Jejomar Binay for the setting up of the OFW bank could be the timely solution to OFWs’ concerns on their need to have their own bank.

Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers, said the bank will “ provide competitive and cheaper remittance rates”. He added that the OFW bank “will provide alternative yet viable economic financial and remittance institution for our kababayans at the local and international levels”

Fully cognizant of the plight of these overseas workers, Binay said the proposed establishment of the OFW bank is in response to their clamour for the setting up of a financial institution as they have become victims of exorbitant remittance rates charged by financial intermediaries and money brokers.

In a letter of President Aquino, Binay said “ The bank will provide fair competition towards reduction/lowering of remittance/transaction costs and provide productive outlet for our overseas Filipinos’ savings as bank investors and shareholders”.

Binay has suggested that the OFW bank could initially be funded and underwritten by government financial institutions and it will then be sold to and controlled by OFW investors and stockholders after a period of time.

So the proposal for the establishment of the OFW bank is now on the table—what’s needed now is for all the million of kababayan workers abroad and their respective organizations to work hand in hand in bringing into fruition this long dream of having their “ own bank”.

Help wanted: A bank to protect modern-day heroes--OFWs

Now is the time to push for the creation of the OFW bank that will provide not only cheaper remittance rates for our kababayans working overseas but also serve their financial and investment needs.

Why now? Well, let’s consider these facts: OFW remittances for the first 10 months in 2010 reached US$ 15.5 billion and most of the remittances came from the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Japan, United Kingdom, UAE, Singapore, Italy, Germany and Norway.

Recognizing their vital role in propping up the country’s economy, these modern-day heroes—our millions of workers deployed overseas—should be given their rightful honour as the government takes the initiative to set up these workers’ “own bank”

This money remittance business is a billion-dollar enterprise. Why not let these OFWs have a bank that will genuinely serve their interest, a bank whose operational profits should redound to OFWs’ and their families’ benefits—a bank that they can call their own.

Just imagine how much all these privately-run remittance outlets and other banks have been raking up billion of profits all these years.

One of the problems confronting these overseas workers is where and how to invest their hard-earned money. At present, most of these OFWs have been investing into real estate—buying condos, houses and lots for their families.

But, do we have banks and other financial institutions which we could expect to really think about the OFWs’ interests first, thereby, giving them not only the right advice on the kind of businesses they can engage in, but most importantly, extending to them low-interest loans and capital if they so decide to get into small-and-medium businesses.

So, the main issue here is looking for some banks that would truly cater to the needs of these overseas workers and protect their interests too—that kind of banks that would be their real partners in improving their condition in life.

The recent proposal of Vice President Jejomar Binay for the setting up of the OFW bank could be the timely solution to OFWs’ concerns on their need to have their own bank.

Binay, who is also the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers, said the bank will “ provide competitive and cheaper remittance rates”. He added that the OFW bank “will provide alternative yet viable economic financial and remittance institution for our kababayans at the local and international levels”

Fully cognizant of the plight of these overseas workers, Binay said the proposed establishment of the OFW bank is in response to their clamour for the setting up of a financial institution as they have become victims of exorbitant remittance rates charged by financial intermediaries and money brokers.

In a letter of President Aquino, Binay said “ The bank will provide fair competition towards reduction/lowering of remittance/transaction costs and provide productive outlet for our overseas Filipinos’ savings as bank investors and shareholders”.

Binay has suggested that the OFW bank could initially be funded and underwritten by government financial institutions and it will then be sold to and controlled by OFW investors and stockholders after a period of time.

So the proposal for the establishment of the OFW bank is now on the table—what’s needed now is for all the million of kababayan workers abroad and their respective organizations to work hand in hand in bringing into fruition this long dream of having their “ own bank”.

Should true Christians join revolutions, protest actions?

Should true Christians join revolutions, protest actions?

Through the power of the various media—TV, Internet, satellite and print media--we are all witnesses to the killing and maiming of hundreds of people in the Middle East; they are now in the midst of toppling down their despotic rulers.

While this violence is going on in that part of the world, our kababayan in the Philippines have been busily commemorating the EDSA People Power revolution, celebrating their success in kicking out a former dictator, thereby restoring democracy and freedom in the country.

But how should true Christians view and react to this world’s political turmoil: should they get involved not only by expressing their solidarity to these demonstrators but also actively joining their struggle to oust their oppressive leaders?

Well, the bottom line is, could we really bring about lasting solutions to mankind’s problems such as poverty, hunger, diseases, unemployment, injustice and corruption by joining these protest actions, even if we have been successful in removing from their lofty posts these wicked rulers, would that be enough to make this world a better place to live in?

Look at our own experience at EDSA uprising, after we have ousted former President Marcos, the aged-old problems of poverty, unemployment; violence, pollution, injustice and oppressions are still very much prevalent at present. Despite the leadership of these people-- Ferdinand Marcos, Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo—in running the affairs of the state in a span of many years, still majority of our people have not felt any meaningful changes in their lives; most of them are still poor, victims of injustice and corruption, unemployed, and millions of them have to seek overseas jobs in order to survive.

These problems are unsolvable; no political leader can ever hope to address these difficulties, it’s beyond humankind to find solutions to these dilemmas.

Even in some countries, let’s say the Islamic Revolution in 1979 in Iran, the ouster of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the recent defeat of the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, the downfall of the so-called The Gang of Four in China, the change of leadership in these countries has not wiped out the poverty, corruption, injustice and other woes plaguing their peoples.

In the December 10 issue of the Watchtower magazine, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses, an article entitled Reap Blessings Through God’s Spirit-Guided King, it says “ In a world that is in chaos politically, socially and environmentally, how can the human race sustain another 100 years?’ That is what astrophysicist Stephen Hawking asked in 2006. An article in the journal New Statesman observed: ‘We have not abolished poverty or constructed world peace. On the contrary, we seem to have achieved exactly the opposite. It is not as though we haven’t tried. ? We have tried everything from communism to pure market; from the League of Nations to nuclear deterrence. We have fought too many wars to end war to believe that we know how to end war.”

Let’s see what the God’s Word, the Bible, is telling us why we as imperfect humans don’t have the right and capability to govern ourselves, in Jeremiah 10:23, it says that “I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”

But, of course, there are some sincere leaders who would really want to effect changes in the world today, but their efforts are doomed to fail because of this truism that.... the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one”. Satan the Devil is the ruler of this world, he’s “the god of this system of things.” (1 John 5:19 and 2 Cor. 4:4)

Jesus lived at the time when the Jews were living under the tyranny of the Roman Empire. But, he never encouraged his followers to march in protest or become politically involved. Her repeatedly said that his disciples were “no part of the world.” (John 5:19).

When the authorities arrested him, he did not stir up his followers to stage protest actions, which he could have done so if he had decided to. But instead, he told the Roman governor “ My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.” (John 18:33-36.

So as followers of Christ, we should remain politically neutral and we should maintain our conduct fine among the nations and to remain subject to human governments even if those in authorities are hard to please and unreasonable (1 Peter 2:12,13 and 18).

But instead of being active politically, as true Christians, our main focus should be the preaching of the good news about God’s Kingdom, the Kingdom government which Jesus taught his followers to pray (Mat.6: 10; 24:14) And this Kingdom government will destroy all the world’s wicked governments and it will bring about lasting solutions to mankind’s problems. (Daniel 2:44)

Are we living in ‘The last Days’?

Are we living in ‘The last Days’?

Are we living in the last days?

Well, last Monday night while I was watching the CNN news, what caught my attention was the report about the thousands blackbirds that fell from the Arkansas sky on New Year’s eve for still unknown reasons.

This is not a simple news since thousands of birds have died and some people have even expressed thoughts that this birds’ falling incident could be an apocalyptic sign—“ what if this is the beginning of the end of the world”.

The next day, while my wife and I were having breakfast at Tim Horton’s coffee shop near our home, I leafed through the pages of the 24H tabloid paper and came across a news item about Australia’s flooding with a headline “Disaster of biblical proportions”

Other news stories in the paper were: A 7. 1 magnitude earthquake hit Chile Sunday; a suicide car bomber attacked an office of the intelligence services in Baghdad, wounding 28 people. And watching the TV Patrol World later in the day, I was not surprised seeing reports on murders, graft and corruptions, human trafficking, terrorist attacks, floods, landslides and the onset of extreme changes in the country’s weather.

Let’s take a hard look at the deteriorating world condition and all these worrisome things we are seeing today-- more crimes, internecine wars, hunger, pestilence, loose moral conduct, frequent earthquakes and other natural calamities and the proliferation of nuclear warheads—have been causing fear and anxiety to millions of people.

We all feel at a loss on what do and whom to turn to for help. All these things have been weighing us down but despite this messy world of ours, still we can look forward to the future with optimism, knowing that the days of violence and wickedness are now numbered.

So in the midst of these problems, where can we find comfort and peace of mind?

My dear readers, certainly I won’t render any opinion on the matter because just like you and everybody else, I’m imperfect and my own point of view is both flawed and limited. In the matter of spirituality—and your salvation and mine-- the Bible is the only book that can provide us with the timely knowledge and wisdom we need to fully comprehend the fearsome things happening around us.

The Bible says, “ All scripture is inspired of God, beneficial for teaching, for reproving, setting things straight....” (2 Tim 3:16) It’s our guide or map in living this troubled world—it’s the only book that tells us where we came from, where we are now in the stream of time and where we are going.

While I was reading all these news stuffs, I could help myself reflecting on what Jesus Christ said that “ The conclusion of the system of things” would be identified by war, food shortages, pestilence and earthquakes” (Mat.24: 1-8:Luke 21:10-11)

This world seems heading to a complete doom but the Bible assures us that one of these days, God will intervene in mankind’s affairs because human governments have been proven to be incapable of addressing these gargantuan problems that we are facing today.

However, what the Bible promises is something better for the future because as far as God is concerned the “ end of the world” simply means the end of this loveless, violent and wicked system of things and not the end of the humankind or the destruction of the physical earth. God will surely wipe away all forms of badness, violence, sufferings and even death itself. (Rev.21: 4)

As regards the physical earth, the Bible says “ A generation is going, and a generation is coming, but the earth is standing even to time indefinite.” (Ecc.1: 4) At Isaiah 45:18, it says “ This is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens, He the true God, the former of the earth and the maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: I am Jehovah, and there is no one else”.

So those who will survive the end of this wicked system will live here on earth as God transforms this earth into a paradise where the people will have a chance to live forever—“For the evildoers themselves will be cut off. But those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth. The righteous themselves will possess the earth. And they will reside forever upon it”. (Ps. 37:9,29)

Do you still remember the famous prayer, Our Father, when Jesus asks his Father “ Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place as in heaven, also upon earth.” (Mat. 6:10) In Daniel 2:44, it says that “And in the days of those kings, the God of the heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin. And the kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms and it itself will stand to times indefinite.” This is a real government to be led by Christ (Dan.7: 13-14) and this government will be used by Jehovah God to bring lasting solutions to problems of the humankind.

So before the destruction this loveless and wicked world, what’s needed now is for us to have some meaningful changes in our lives. We have been so preoccupied with our daily affairs and other concerns that we have forgotten to do something about our spirituality. Some questions we have to ask ourselves: Do we know God’s name? What are his purposes and qualities? What does God require of us?

In Psalms 83:18, it says that “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth”. (The Holy Bible, King James Version)

Why is God’s name that important? The Bible says, “ For everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved. However, how will they call on him in whom they have not put faith? How, in turn, will they put faith in him of whom they have not heard? How, in turn, will they hear without someone to preach?” (Rom. 10:13-14).

The Bible does not give any definite date on the end of this wicked world.

But those who continue to ignore the evidence that we are living very close to the last days might be caught off guard when the end comes. Jesus said, “ Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you as a snare. For it will come in upon all those dwelling upon the face of all the earth. Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

Pinoy hookers are classy; speak English well


In the 80s, when I covered the police beat, I’d routinely join the police in raiding prostitution houses locally known as casa, and other clubs and motels, which served as fronts for prostitution. And even before these prostitutes and their pimps could be taken to the police headquarters, they would beg us to spare and release them, telling us “ we are poor, we need money to support our families and our survival depends on our earnings”

As we knew before, these prostitutes didn’t have much choice and that they had been forced into this flesh trade by force of circumstances: extreme poverty, loss of jobs, and lack of education, marital breakdown etcetera.

Prostitution was the only way they could feed their families—it was really a matter of survival. And the sad part of these police operations, after a few hours they had been picked up, they were eventually released and went back to their regular routine--plying their trade. So this vicious arrest-then-release cycle was just a normal life for these people engaged in the prostitution.

However, I’ve learned lately that in our country, the prostitution landscape is rapidly changing: some women have become prostitutes by choice.

A few months ago, I had a tete-a-tete with a Filipino entrepreneur whose business affords him to frequently visit the Philippines .He asked me not to identify him for obvious reason; while we were talking, I was jotting some notes, so now here is his story:

Being a frequent traveler, I have been to various places and I’ve observed that prostitution now has gone more professional, meaning that women prostitutes are elegant, well-educated and some are even enrolled in some well-known universities.

A recent trip to Manila, I was billeted to one of the posh hotels in Makati. Since it was quite humid outside, I decided to while away my time staying in the hotel. At about 8 p.m. while I was to step out the hotel, a guy approached me asking me if I wanted to have some good time—well when I said yes, he accompanied me to nearby condominium where I found beautiful ladies.

I took one of them; well my intention was just to ask her to accompany me in a meeting the following day and right there I made an arrangement with her about the scheduled meeting. I was really surprised that aside from being beautiful, tall and sexy—by all standards she would pass off as one of the professionals working the Makati area.

Later I learned that she was 23 years old, and taking up law in one of the top universities in Manila. When I interviewed her, she handed me her calling card, telling me that every time I’d be in the Philippines and if I’d like her services—all I have to do is call her. And I‘ve learned that she is just one of the group of 20 escorts ladies who mostly belong to some well-off families.

She would not demand outright money, but what she would just ask me was a little money for her tuition and some allowance. Well, when I attended the meeting the following day, with the young lady in tow, some of my colleagues thought that she was my secretary, and someone even asked me if I wouldn’t take her to be an employee of our newly created company and then he would hire her.

However, when she was offered the office position, she politely declined telling us the she was committed to finish her law course. I could not imagine this young woman engaging in this kind of work and still she has this strong-willed determination to finish her course. She was really well focused on her ambition to finish her education and later quit prostitution. I’ve learned that some of them are part-time girlfriends politicians, and rich businessmen. In all my meetings, I had brought three beautiful ladies from the escort services—all of them spoke good English.

Well, we know that times have changed. With or without poverty, prostitution is here to stay; it would even advance from bad to worse. There’s no way by which we could stop the world’s deteriorating condition today.

The Bible has prophesied that”…. in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderer, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power. . (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

But this is our hope, in Psalms 37:9-10, it says, “ For the evildoers themselves will be cut off, but those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth. And just a little while longer, and the wicked one will be no more….”(New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures)

The compassionate Filipino nurses in our midst



While we are enjoying our breakfast one morning, my wife, Lilia who’s a nurse sighs and after stretching her back, tells me “ You know, Dad, it’s getting tougher, and tougher and very stressful to work in hospitals these days”

As I enjoy sipping my coffee, I keep listening to her saying “Look, most of us are always looking forward to our days off or the filing of our much-needed vacation. Being in the frontlines of the medical care, we have to face a number of difficulties --dealing with some demanding patients’ visitors, responding to patients’ and their relatives questions, especially when their doctors are not around to answer some of their concerns. It’s very emotionally draining seeing patients slowly deteriorating despite all things we have done caring for them. .”

Although, working at a hospital is very stressful environment, but look, I’m still working there doing my job because I love this work, Lilia says ‘

She adds, “ Aside from the heavy load on the floor, patients are getting heavier and more and more patients are being admitted—in short, more people are getting sick these days. The condition of the workplace is not good for doing one’s job well because of the understaffing which makes it doubly hard for us nurses to take care of these patients.

We are just human beings, we can’t detach ourselves and not be affected by this kind of work-- and most of us are burned out. We need to have a superhuman strength in order to give our 100 percent attention to our patients, And we also have to take into account the aging ranks of our nurses now whose ages range from 45-60 years old,” Lilia says.

For her part, my daughter Mao says that our Filipino culture on giving respect to the elderly is very effective way to ease patients’ anxiety—and by addressing Filipino patients as Nanay, Tatay, Ate and Kuya is a good way to calm them down, knowing that there is always a caring nurse ready to help them.

“ It’s good that I’ve taken up nursing instead of journalism because in nursing, I know how it feels to be human, as a nurse I’ve realized life is really that precious—and we have to give everything we can to save lives. A number of times, I have to skip my snack breaks just to do some social calls—meaning paying visit, saying simple hello to my former patients who have been transferred to palliative unit. It breaks my heart to see these patients and their relatives there. “Mao says.

There was this Japanese cancer patient whom I had the chance to talk about things we both love: books and filmmaking. While a Hungarian patient was undergoing chemotherapy, we chatted about our love for cooking—and because of that short talk, she not only didn’t notice the passing of time but also the anxiety of getting the chemo.

One time I have a chance to talk to some Filipino nurses, venting to me their frustrations that despite their compassion and loving concern in taking care of their patients, still working in hospital is both physically and emotionally tiring.

Well. I’m giving them a space in my column lest they might suffer from burnout and eventually—depression. Not only that, I have a soft spot in my heart when it comes to discussing nurses’ concerns and other issues simply because I have two nurse daughters working in Toronto, two sisters and sister-in-law who are practising nurses in New York. And so anything about nursing is a good topic in the family conversations and it’s always a part of our dining-table discussion.

Another nurse named Delia  Gonzales says “Although, the new technology is supposed to make work easier to do but these computers have even slowed down the flow of work in the floor because by just checking the patients, assessing them and going back to computer to enter the password and input the data, then getting the doctors’ orders, going back to the patients to administer these drugs, rushing back to the computer to document things done to the patients— no wonder why these nurses spend most of their time in front of these computers instead of doing the bedside nursing work.”.

“We Filipino nurses are outstanding when it comes to our interpersonal relationship with our colleagues in the workplace because our inherent nature of “ madaling tayong makibagay”, in short we can easily adapt or go with the flow in our workplace.” Delia adds.

I’ve also learned that these nurses are prone to physical attacks on their job from patients who are confused or when they are dealing with psyche patients— and they could not even restrain them unless they really become violent.

Adding pressures to these nurses is the fact that some of their colleagues moonlight in order to augment their incomes. This is understandable, considering the instability of the country’s economy. So, what normally happens, by the time they report for work at their regular jobs as RNs in one hospital, they are already tired because of working earlier in another medical facility.

My  wife, Lilia and Delia are alumni of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila College of Nursing Batch '72.

Well, what more can I say, except to say “ we all thank you—Filipino nurses around the world—for your dedication in giving your tender loving care to the needy patients.”

Despite life’s deteriorating condition, we can all look forward to the day, as the Bible says “no one …will ever again complain of being sick” (Isa. 33:24) and God “will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared.”(Rev. 21:4)--Bible in Today’s English Version

Kahapon, ngayon at bukas
—mahal pa rin kita

By willie jose


Kung nakaya ko na kita’y limutin
bakit sa pangarap – ikaw’t ikaw pa rin


Kung ‘di na kita mahal, bakit sa isip
sabik pa rin -- ikaw ay makapiling

Ito’y kahibangan at kabaliwan
Kan’iyaw lagi ng mga kaibigan.

Ngunit para sa aking sarili,
Ito’y pag-ibig, tunay na nangyari


Sa udyok nila, ika’y nagpadala,
Inisip ‘di tayo sa isa‘t isa

Sayang na pag-ibig na inilaan,
Hirap ko, ‘di man pinahalagahan

Bago ihimlay sa huling hantungan
tanging biling ko —mahal kitang tunay

Sa maikling pahanon’g nagkasama
Aking madama -- tunay na pagsinta

Sa ngayo’t iba na ang ’yon sinisinta
Tayo sana ay muling magkita

Pagkikitang muli’y aking ligaya
Kahapon, ngayon at bukas—mahal pa rin kita