By Herbert Vego
THERE was a time when I wrote about a visiting American Jew who expressed surprise why most Filipinos were Christians. He wished there were more Filipinos embracing his religion, Judaism.
When I asked him why he chose to be a Jew, he answered, “Why? It’s to follow Jesus Christ. He was a Jew!”
Looking back to that incident today, I remember that he was born to Jewish parents, just as most Filipinos were born to Christian parents. He sounded convincing.
By then, however, I had become a religious maverick who would no longer go to church except to attend weddings, funerals and baptisms. Born to an Aglipayan mother and a Seventh-Day Adventist father, I had repeatedly allowed myself to be “towed” to various sanctums of worship, only to shake my head.
I vividly recall that Saturday when three women invited me to attend their church service. But the moment we entered the church, two Adventist pastors – one outgoing, the other incoming — were quarrelling over who would preach the sermon.
I don’t remember who of the two eventually preached the sermon, but he never talked about the scandalous quarrel. Instead, he praised his church and questioned the legitimacy of the Roman Catholic Church.
“Why embrace that faith,” he asked, “just because most Filipinos are Catholics?”
Indeed, if the voice of the majority of Filipinos were the voice of God, then Roman Catholicism would be “it” because most of us are Roman Catholics.
The Adventist pastor said It could not be right because it was merely imposed on Filipinos by the oppressive Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century.
Otherwise, this nation could have remained paganistic or could have embraced Islam like Indonesia and Malaysia because, by then, our southern forebears had already known Allah.
Christianity has evolved into thousands of sects; we select one where we are most comfortable with.
Priests and pastors preach whatever beliefs their Church hands down, or they could organize their own flock using “gift of gab” to earn tithes, as Apollo Quiboloy had done to build himself a “paradise” Davao City.
But as to where he is now, everybody knows.
There are non-priests who advertise themselves as Roman Catholic servant-leaders and establish so-called “fellowship” organizations. Naturally, they draw gullible Catholics to their prayer rallies and collect from them “love offerings.”
Religious organizations also amass money from politicians who generously “donate” in exchange for “blocked votes.”
The more I read the Bible verses – say, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3) the more I cling to another verse, “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).
“Mammon” here refers to money used for its demonic power to hold us in slavery.
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MORE POWER GEARS UP FOR DINAGYANG 2025
THIS early, MORE Electric and Power Corporation (MORE Power) does not let a day pass without upgrading its distribution facilities in Iloilo City in anticipation of a fully-energized Dinagyang Festival in January 2025.
Knowing that to be true, I don’t mind being a victim of occasional brownouts, given that rehab work necessitates power interruption.
According to Engr. Bernard “Bailey” Del Castillo, MORE Power’s vice president for network development and operations, the company is leaving no stone unturned in implementing proactive measures to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted celebration.
To address potential challenges during the festival, MORE Power has deployed multiple teams positioned in key areas. They are well-prepared to respond to any electrical concerns that may arise.
Del Castillo told us, “We have already taken preventive actions, deploying the teams strategically across the city. We have coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) to facilitate immediate responses in case of emergencies.”
