Candidate's Pledge

The political season is now in full gear!

Hopefully, these candidates-to-be would include in their platforms “a moral crusade” since graft and corruption in the public (and even private) sector is a prime problem facing the nation! And, of course, poverty.

To put flesh to this moral crusade platform, hopefully also, candidates would make a written pledge under oath thus:

“I ASPIRE TO BE ELECTED/LEADER NOT TO GAIN POWER OR SECURE MATERIAL THINGS/ADVANTAGE – BUT TO SERVE FOR AMDG (the greater

glory of God) AND COUNTRY”

Incidentally, 13 Presidential aspirants did a “walk-in” and made written pledges under oath to uphold clean, honest elections.

After being elected, these public officials who violate this oath will not only be MORALLY guilty, but also subject to prosecution for PERJURY.

A Peaen To The Sunvalley Ladies

Way back in the late 60's an intrepid group of Sunvalley ladies, headed by the late Jojo Javier, a Pro-Patria Awardee, trooped to Cardinal Sin to plead for the establishment of a parish in Sunvalley. The were inspired by Fr. Quaranta who said (at the time he brought over the image of the Lady of the Most Holy Rosary to Sunvalley) : THIS LADY WILL UNVEIL A MIRACLE FOR SUNVALLEY.

True enough, OLMHR parish soon became a reality and a Church built from generous contributions of the people. A MIRACLE indeed! The prime mover: the ladies of Sunvalley then known as THE LADIES AUXILIARY of the Sunvalley Homeowners' Association.

Through the years, the Sunvalley Ladies spear headed the development and beautification of Sunvalley under the auspices of the Association.

The Ladies' Auxiliary meta morphed to what is now known as THE GARDEN CLUB. Largely thru their efforts, these ladies have left our subdivision clean and green thru the years.

Their latest accomplishment: THE 14 STATION OF THE CROSS.

Their ultimate mission/vision: to develop Sunvalley so that it will be known as the FLOWER AND GREEN VILLAGE of Metro Manila!

by A SUNVALLEY HISTORIAN

Food For Thought For All Seasons

VOLUNTERISM: Dead Or Dying?

VOLUNTERISM should be the underlying motivation for joining any organization, civic, religious, political, NGO's or homeowners' association or any group activities for that matter. One joins an organization to accomplish a goal/mission for the greater good to the greatest number.

VOLUNTERISM means service. Service means work. And work means SACRIFICE!

VOLUNTERISM in religious organizations does not mean: "pagkatapos ng Misa, tuloy sa LAMESA!" It does not mean gaining POWER/PRESTIGE, above things, RECOGNITION. Or any other physical advantage. It means serving the community- an in so doing, serving God. Especially the poor. For as long as you did it TO THE LEAST OF BRETHREN YOU DID IT TO ME!

VOLUNTERISM in civic/NGO's/HOMEOWNERS Association, also does not mean power, pretige, money or other material things. It does not mean enjoying free food, drinks and transportation for attending meetings, running errands or any other activities in behalf of the organization. It means service for the greater good to the greatest number.

VOLUNTERISM in political organizations does not mean public exposure to gain political advantage. It means expressing issues for the good of the public and the community at large and the nation.

Unfortunately, however, VOLUNTERISM is dying, and in some sectors, dead! Like the "bayanihan" of the old.

How do we revive this laudable culture of volunterism?

The ANSWER: Back to BASIC TEN (10)! The universally accepted tenets of MORALITY given by our God, our Lord and Master- our Creator. The basic lessons of which are LOVE, SACRIFICE, SHARING - and VOLUNTERISM!

Moral Discipline

"MORAL DISCIPLINE IS THE ONLY SURE ROAD TO NATIONAL GREATNESS"

(Quoted from Prof. Emmanuel Q. Yap's book "Let Us Build A Strong Nation", 1st Edition, 2003).

The late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos came out with a similar slogan thus:

"SA IKAUUNLAD NG BAYAN DISCIPLINA ANG KAILANGAN" (For the nation's progress discipline is needed)

The big difference though between these two (2) slogans is the omission of the all important word "MORAL" in the latter. Consequently, during dictatorship, we were subjected to all kinds of disciplinary actions, moral or immoral, to attain the ends of the dictator.

There is no question though that "moral discipline" is the only sure way to national greatness.

How do we acquire as a nation and as a people, this moral discipline?

As early as 1939, then President Manuel L. Quezon formed a Moral Code Committee (composed of Chief Justice Ramon Avancena as Chairman, Dr. Jose P. Laurel, Manuel A. Roxas, Jorge C. Bocobo, Norberto Romuladez, Members). Adopting the report of this Committee, President Quezon issued Executive Order No. 217 (Moral Code, 1939), the principal provisions of which reads:

MORAL CODE 1939

1. Have faith in Divine Providence that guides the destinies of men and nations.

2. Love your country for it is the home of your people, the seat of your affections and the source of your happiness and well-being. Its defense is your primary duty. Be ready at all times to sacrifice and die for it if necessary.

3. Rspect the Commission which is the expression of your sovereign will. The government is your government. It has been established for your safety and welfare. Obey the laws and see that they are observed by all that public officials comply with their duties.

4. Pay your taxes willingly and promptly. Citizenship implies not only rights but also obligation.

5. Safeguard the purity of suffrage and abide by the decisions of the majority.

6. Love and respect your parents.

7. Value your honor as you value your life. Poverty with honor is preferable to wealth with dishonor.

8. Be truthful and be honest in thought and in action. Be just and charitable, courteous but dignified in your dealings with your fellow men.

9. Lead a clean and frugal life. Do not indulge in frivolity and pretense. Be simple in your dress and modest in your behavior.

10. Live up to the noble traditions of our people. Venerate the memory of our heroes. Their lives point the way to duty and honor.

11. Be industrious. Be not afraid or ashamed to do manual labor. Productive toil is conductive to economic security and adds to the wealth of the nation.

12. Rely in your own efforts for your progress and happiness. Be not easily discouraged. Persevere in the pursuit of you legitimate ambitions.

13. Do your work cheerfully, thoroughly and well. Work badly done is worse than work undone. Do not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.

14. Contribute to the welfare of your community and promote social justice. You do not live for yourselves and your families alone. You are a part of a society to which you owe definite responsibilities.

15. Cultivate the habit of using goods made in the Philippines. Patronize the products and trades of your countrymen.

16. Use and develop our natural resources and conserve them for prosperity. They are the inalienable heritage of our people. Do not traffic with your citizenship.

Seventy-nine (79) years have passed since this "Moral Code" was formulated. Today, in the year 2008, we are facing the same, and even more serious social, political and economic problems far more urgent that confronted our nation in 1939.

It is submitted that to make this "moral discipline" concept more readily understood. We should go back to the BASIC TEN (10)- the universally accepted moral code coming no less from our Creator and Lord and Master- God.