Monday, December 31, 2007 Pangan: Another year, another quest By Benjie R. Pangan At Close Range
ANOTHER year, another grind, another quest for peace.
Stockbrokers and speculators cannot be faulted for their optimism that the bull runs in the stock market in 2007 will continue in 2008. Despite consistent criticisms and flak aimed at the administration and its economic managers, it cannot be dismissed outright that the country and its economy have survived some crises, internal and regional, including the latest tragedy in Pakistan, involving the assassination of the very popular former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and the ensuing riots and violent protests by her supporters which, if not abated, may spark a civil war in that nuclear-armed country and as a consequence will retard the growth of Asian economies and repeat the crisis some years ago.
As we know, even the stronger economies like Japan, Korea and Thailand were severely affected by the crisis which swept the region, causing massive unemployment, low income and productivity and, in some cases, bankruptcy. Most disasters, we observe, are man-made and we do not have anybody to blame but ourselves.
* * *
Alas, the lasting peace we all dream of achieving remains as elusive as ever, what with the latest serious acts of violence and disregard for human lives in Pakistan and sporadic skirmishes in our country and in several other areas in our aching, grieving world.
At most, we have tentative, volatile peace and quiet only to be shattered and disturbed again and again by the agents of doom and destruction. These sadistic animals do not love human beings because they belong to a different world populated by modern-day satans. They are not human at all, for they are devils incarnate.
I am through reading some texts and facts about Islam, which means submission or the total surrender of oneself to God and its adherent is known as Muslim or one who submits to God. There are about 1.8 billion Muslims, making Islam the second-largest religion in the world, after Christianity (figures courtesy of Wikipedia). Muslims believe that God revealed his final message to humanity through the Islamic prophet Muhammad through the angel (malak) Gabriel. They regard the Qur'an (or Koran) and the Sunnah (words and deeds of Muhammad) as the fundamental sources of Islam.
Prophet Muhammad, so Wikipedia discloses, was born circa 570 and died on July 6, 632. He was considered the last and the greatest in a series of prophets and as the man closes to perfection, the possessor of all virtues. Beginning at age 40, Muhammad was said to be receiving revelations from God and these were contained in the revered Qur'an. Muslims today belong to two major denominations, the Sunni and Shia, most of who are found in Iraq and other Middle East countries, Europe and even in the United States.
Generally, Islam and most other major religions frown on violence; instead, they encourage the promotion of peace among men and uphold the value of human life. The exceptions, as we can see, are the so-called extremists who, together with the terrorists, find fulfillment for their souls in killing civilians and being killed in the process so we often read about human suicide bombers who equip themselves with TNTs and blow themselves up to kill.
For the coming year 2008, we hope that peace will be still and undisturbed so that the world can face up to other priorities.
* * *
Resigned. I learned that all the job order contract holders in the local government unit (LGU) of Mabalacat were considered resigned effective December 29, 2007 in view of the end of their contracts, without prejudice to rehiring them as the expediency of public service may so require, justify and warrant and of course, considering the worth of each JO. Some key officials of the LGU are reportedly looking into the resumes of the resigned workers to find out who among them will be eventually rehired.
A job order contract does not feature an employer-employee relationship so it can be terminated at the pleasure of the hiring authority. Tama ba, Ka Roger, Rosan and Babes Amurao? Also, a JO does not have the security of tenure and the benefits being enjoyed by (and given to) casuals and regular employees. For those who still have jobs and those who will be job hunting, happy New Year to you.
