THE year 2016 as the Year of the Fire Monkeys tends to remind us of the evolutionary theory that humans originally evolved from monkeys or apes, as supported by scientists who discovered through research that chimpanzees and humans share 98.7 percent of the same genetic blueprint and shared from about six million years ago a single common ancestor.
Indeed, so close, yet so far, and so, that's what we believe. But considering some observable behavioral resemblance among humans and monkeys, there may indeed be some connectivity. For instance, when a monkey tries to pick up a cookie bar from a cookie jar, which has a small opening but just big enough for a monkey's hand to insert and get through to pick up and grab the cookie bar, it will not be able anymore to pull out and free its hand from the cookie jar because of the monkey's instinct to clench its hand with the cookie bar in it and will refuse to unclench its hand and let go of the cookie bar. Try doing it yourself and behave like a monkey.
But we do have some people behaving so- just like the monkey! Our politicians. With exceptions, of course, which just prove the general behavioral rule of greed. For these politicians, public service is their good reason for running for public office, but their real reason is self-service, which they extend to members of their respective (not necessarily respectable or honorable) families under their own legal presumption of succession, aided by monetary consideration and political machination.
Thus, democracy becomes a legal fiction. Democracy as the rule of the people, by the people and for the people? In the first place, the people cannot and are not literally meant to rule but to be ruled by an elected or self-proclaimed ruler to be maintain peace and order for the good of all.
But, unfortunately for the country and its people, these politicians understand democracy as to rule the people, buy the people and make poor the people. And, sadly, it appears that this political state of our country has remained so after so many past elections and shall remain the same in the near future, more so during this Year of the Fire Monkey national and local elections, wherein we expect our politicians to continue monkeying around with our largely poor and ignorant electorate and with our electoral process, especially if these politicians continue to eat bananas as the monkeys do, as there is a saying of wisdom that a banana a day keeps a doctor away and it gives you enough energy to monkey around the whole day.
God save this country!--Atty. Amay P. Ong Vaño, Cebu City
Monsignor Camomot
(Remembering Archbishop Teofilo Bastida Camomot on his 102nd birth anniversay, March 3, 1914-March 3, 2016.)
Our firm Audio System Engineers specialized in sound system, paging system, piped-in music system, electrical system, language laboratory system design and installation in late 1960s through 1990s.
Engr. Manuel Jose A. Delfino , the proprietor and a topnotcher in the government licensure examination for professional electrical engineer designed/installed sound systems in 37 churches and many social halls and sports complex. He was cutting edge in his sound system design being an electrical engineer.
Consequently, the electrical circuits of the speaker system can pass strict scrutiny. The priest is able to deliver a well-prepared homily with clarity, understood well by the listeners. One need not strain his/her ears said Engr. Delfino.
One of his clients was Archbishop Teofilo B. Camomot, who requested price quotation of the sound system for the St. Catherine Parish Church. In Carcar, Engr. Delfino and myself submitted the price quotation personally to him and he would have had approved it if not for the opposition by his assistant parish priest. Unfortunately though our offer was overwhelmed by the choice of his assistant priest. He chose the expensive one, price double that of our quotation.
We persuaded Camomot even in his sick bed at Perpetual Succour Hospital. He approved our quotation. He remarked that, “It is mortal sin to buy this expensive equipment when many are hungry.” He was referring to the price quotation of our competitor.
Our competitor was awarded the project at the instance of the assistant priest.
Though I came to know by word -of-mouth archbishop Camomot was a living saint, I kept his statement in my heart and used it wherever and whenever I needed it. Inside the court and before the defendant in a case filed by the parents who were beneficiaries of an International child welfare agency.
I exhorted the defendant that if that’s the way you behave no wonder there are many who are hungry at your waysides. (Newsweek published a mal-nourished child on its page cover then, skin and bone from the sugar land of Negros Occidental.). The words penetrated deep into the heart of the defendant who happened to be a physician. He was persuaded to account for the financial aid for the children under his fatherly stewardship.
Monsignor, thank you for living the life you taught and preached, truly a very effective role model. Your Daughters of Saint Teresa (DST) have grown in number. To God be the glory!--Cleofe Kuizon Delfino, certified public accountant, 1966 until present