The Philippines arrived with 17 sustainable development goals. The first two are “no poverty” and “zero hunger.” Think tanks across the country have conducted workshops and seminars to develop logical frameworks and feasible action plans to achieve these goals. This is a common practice in goal-setting. We usually sit down at the table to write down the mechanics of implementation. Technical experts are actively involved in crafting these plans. We have substantial and satisfactory paperwork that backs up our plans.

It is important to always prioritize preparations and never overlook them. However, we need to combine the preparations with precise execution to attain a favorable outcome. This is where we typically fall short. We have a budget at hand. We possess the resources and methods to achieve our goals, yet we frequently succumb to temptation while executing our strategies.
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Examining the underlying cause of the issue reveals a deficiency in values, especially integrity. Integrity is not found on papers or visuals. People who implement the work imbibe and embody these values. Their financial and material stewardship, the exercise of their authority, and their adherence to existing laws, rules, and divine principles reflect their motives and intentions.

In the Philippines, we do not lack programs that promote integrity in the government and private sector. We also have established committees, government agencies, and constitutional bodies that uphold integrity and ensure its practice and incorporation in all aspects of administration or the discharge of public duties. However, if evil machinations twist or pervert laws, rules, and procedures, regardless of their soundness, all efforts will be in vain.

The lack of integrity is indeed a deterrent to the progress of a country. The lack of integrity contributes to the prevalence of poverty and hunger among the populace. The Philippines is not a poor or a developing country. It is one of the rich countries in the world. Our poverty does not stem from a lack of resources for our citizens but rather from the misuse, mismanagement, or improper distribution of a significant portion of our wealth. According to former Deputy Ombudsman for Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices, Atty. Cyril Ramos, we lose around seven hundred billion pesos (P700B) every year due to corruption, which is equivalent to 20% of our national budget. We can translate this amount into 1.4 million housing units for the poor, medical assistance for 7 million Filipinos, and a rice buffer stock to ensure no Filipino goes hungry for more than a year.

Since the value of integrity resides in every individual, we should learn to police ourselves, who profess to be citizens of the country. In part, we should choose wisely our leaders in this year’s national election. We entrust leaders with the power and authority to decide and command. This is crucial to the future of our nation. Peter Drucker, an Austrian-American management consultant and educator, once said, “Integrity is the final requirement of effective leadership.”

Happy holidays are just around the corner, the most awaited season of the year—Christmas and New Year. Some of us express gratitude for the numerous blessings we receive, including our 13th month pay, gifts, groceries, de minimis benefits, and other bonuses. These are the material things we are thankful for, but there are greater reasons to celebrate the season.

On Christmas Day, Christians commemorate the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who came to the world as a precious gift from God above. The Holy Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” His mission is not only to live in this world but to lead the people closer to God so that they may know Him and let them experience the abundant life under the covering and ways of God. Christ’s ultimate showing of his love for God’s people is his being the sacrificial lamb so that once and for all, people, although sinners, can come to God through the cleansing of the blood of the Lamb. This sacrifice for having access to God is what Christians are truly thankful for.  The nation honors the birth and death of heroes, but even more so for Christ, who not only made sacrifices for a particular nation, but also for the entirety of humanity, not just for his own generation but also for generations to come. How then do we show thankfulness for God’s love for us? Some express their gratitude by giving gifts to others, donating goods to the needy, celebrating, and spending quality time with their loved ones. However, beyond these tangible things, we can show our thankfulness to God by giving thanks and praise to Him, by devoting and giving time to commune with Him through His Holy Scriptures, by asking for forgiveness and forgiving others who have sinned against us, by extending kindness to others, and ultimately, by walking in His ways according to His precepts and His will.

This season, let us contemplate and reflect on the goodness of God in our lives—all the provision, protection, progress, promotion, and life lessons. Count our blessings and be deeply thankful for all that God has done. Let us resolve to be better persons—reflecting the image and likeness of God—so that the new year 2025 will indeed be a fresh start and a new season to be thankful.

​This value focus emphasizes the importance of having control over the use of our words. It speaks of our ability to choose our words carefully, considering the content, manner, and timing.
 
Firstly, we need to pay attention to the content of our words, as they can either build or destroy lives – both our own and those of others. Speaking words of encouragement and hope can uplift others, boosting their morale and enthusiasm, which ultimately leads to increased productivity in the workplace. On the other hand, others are demoralized by our words when the contents do not inspire and spur energy. Additionally, we will also be adversely affected by our words when we speak lies or deceptive words. Such actions can lead to serious consequences including legal penalties for offenses like libel, perjury, contempt, fraud, or falsifications. This underscores why taming the tongue is anchored on the core value of integrity.
 
Secondly, we need to guard how we use our words, as they can be interpreted in many ways. Words spoken loudly may be perceived as angry and offensive to the listener, while soft-spoken words may suggest secrecy and deceit. Manner therefore reflects the conduct and character of the person speaking. Someone who knows how to deliver a message appropriately is regarded as a discreet, cautious, refined, and mature individual while a person who is careless in words, unmindful of its consequences, is regarded as vulgar, rude, and abrasive.
 
Finally, the timeliness in the use of our words must be highly considered if we are to tame our tongue. Timing does not only refer to the date and hour but also the context and the seriousness of the situation. Words that are spoken during the pronouncement of oath or promise are given more weight because of its severity and seriousness as compared to words spoken during casual conversations. Words uttered in an oath or covenant are considered sacred and serious, thereby, failing to uphold them may lead to consequences. A person found to be faithful or committed to agreements and pledges is deemed a person of integrity, whether in private or public affairs.
 
Words spoken in private affairs such as in marriage vows, when violated, are actionable wrong such as in breach of promise to marry or breach of contract which gives the other party the right to claim for damages. In the same manner, affirmations or statements of allegiance in public settings such as the oath of office are also treated seriously. When not sustained due to a lack of accountability, it can lead to various administrative offenses. It is given credence and protected by law to preserve the public faith, thus, the provision in our constitution, that public office is a public trust.
 
We should always remember to stay committed to our vows that were witnessed by people as well as God. Our fidelity to every promise we make reflects our integrity. We must, therefore, be mindful of our words, as they can bring either death or life. The tongue is likened to a rudder that, while it is very small, can steer a large ship. Knowing the power of our words, we must resolve to be wise in our speech – being careful about what we say, how we say it, and when to speak. The Scripture has correctly admonished us: “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God, for God is in heaven and you on earth and therefore let your words be few”. 

More than 2,000 years ago, in the garden of Gethsemane in Israel, a Man  in agony prayed earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. He said, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Jesus made Himself nothing by taking on the very nature of a servant and humbly obeyed, even to the point of death, for the sake of the people He came to save. He is indeed the embodiment of selflessness that humanity should emulate for a better world.
 
Due to their fallen nature, human beings are inherently egocentric—self-centered and focused solely on their own interests, often to the point of degrading others, taking advantage of them, and disregarding their feelings and worth. The challenge for us today is to rise above this innate selfishness and embrace a new nature of selflessness, which is defined as “the quality of caring more about what other people need and want than about what you yourself need and want.”
 
Billy Graham said, “Only God can give us a selfless love for others, as the Holy Spirit changes us from within. This is one reason we must receive Christ, for apart from His Spirit we can never be freed from the chains of selfishness, jealousy, and indifference.” Selflessness is experiencing God’s love and goodness and selflessly extending it to others or paying it forward. Selflessness is putting others’ well-being or benefits first than ours. In a deeper sense, however, selflessness is putting God first. Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’”.   

​In implication, being selfless means demonstrating patience and kindness, avoiding envy, and refraining from boasting. A selfless person does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is slow to anger, and keeps no record of wrongs. Moreover, selflessness involves allowing God to work in and through us for His name’s sake and glory. While cultivating such virtues and practicing selflessness may seem challenging, with God’s help, we can live them out in our interactions with family, neighbors, friends, and colleagues. Ultimately, as we commit to a life of selflessness, the joy of the Lord becomes our strength, and His favor rests upon us.
 

Remember that we are His temple here on earth; we are to protect it and never be torn down through destructive practices in thoughts, words, or actions. Thus, we should disregard death-dealing activities like ill-judgments, discrimination, gossip, lies, greediness, and other forms of injustice against individuals. Respect for life is an obligation and a human reason that must be observed. We bear it in mind to always esteem our own life and the lives of others with fear and high regard. We should express how much we love and cherish the life God entrusted to every one of us, no matter how big or small, strong or weak, young or old a person is.
 
Respect for life is based on a credence accepted in every society. The inherent dignity of every life, whether among humans or even among every living creature, includes the environment. It is built within. For this reason, a person’s human dignity can never be rescinded nor withdrawn regardless of their race, nationality, citizenship, mental health, economic situation, race, intellectual ability, criminal record, or other conditions one’s society might use to marginalize and separate the deserving from the undeserving. Respecting life is a value that reminds us that we can never be excused from giving compassion, care, and honor to others. Respecting the dignity of life requires different proactive practices directed to end every form of violence and abuse that threatens human lives. We should never forget that everyone and everything we see reflects a certain degree of God’s glory that expresses The Life, The Truth, and The Way.
 
Remember, we respect life because we have received THE LIFE and are hidden in Him purposed to reflect the One who created us according to His image and likeness.There’s a buzz in our society through social media about AI-generated images of people. However, let us pause for a while and take a moment to look in the mirror and realize the beauty before us. The person we see in the mirror is the reflection of the invisible God who created us in His image and likeness. We are fearfully and wonderfully made - precious in the sight of God. Every time God brings a new life into the world, it tells us that He is glorious and loves us with everlasting love. Jesus Christ declared: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He is our life, and apart from Him, we fail to exist in fullness and with meaning. Having these things in mind, we ought to respect life.
 
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These past weeks, our country has been bombarded by a severe tropical storm and strong typhoons – Kristine, Leon, and Marce. Not only that, Mt. Fuji of Japan remained snowless for the longest time in 130 years. Valencia, Spain had been experiencing severe flooding causing deaths of many and damaging both real and personal properties. The most surprising through is the first-ever snowfall in Saudi Arabian desert. These are just some of the effects the world is experiencing because of climate change – a consequence brought about by human actions without foreseeing the repercussions, and obviously a lack of value for the common good.

Although these effects can no longer be undone, it is not too late for us to act in small and big ways, and promote the common good. Our children are the extension of our lives, and so what we do today will be for them and for their future. In the case Oposa vs. Factoran which happened in the 1990s, minors represented by their parents pushed for the preservation of the country’s forest and prayed for the cancellation of all existing timber license agreements citing the “adverse and detrimental consequences of continued deforestation” which we are experiencing until today, in a yet higher level. The case is a clear manifestation of promotion of common good since the minors who filed the complaint assailed not only their right but also the whole of their generations and the generations yet unborn, emphasizing inter-generational responsibility. In promoting the common good, we must not be near-sighted, concerned only for those living in the present, but must also consider the common good of those after us - the future generations.

What can we do now for the present and future generations? There are many ways, but let us cite a few simple examples and influence others to do the same for greater impact. Preserve. Conserve. Restore.

Preserve or protect our forests, bodies of water, and natural resources from decay and decline. For many years, the mountain ranges in our country have been protecting us from many strong typhoons. They act as barriers, shielding us from the strong winds and rain brought about by the typhoons. Some are not preserved due to deforestation and mining that gradually alter the physical features of these ranges. Protect our bodies of water by keeping them clean and managing our wastes properly. Recycle to reduce waste.

Conserve or use properly the resources that we have. Avoid wastage of water and electricity in our own little ways. Save some of our resources for the future. A good example is Joseph, the Prince of Egypt. He managed the resources well, which saved Egypt and the neighboring countries from famine. He did not allow all the harvest to be consumed. We can follow his example by not fully consuming the resources we have now. Save some for the future. Make way for the multiplication of the flora and fauna and other resources so that the generations to come will have something to use.

Restore or rehabilitate what the previous generations or others have destroyed. Plant more trees and clean the waterways. Revive the values and virtues that promote the common good. Be an example for others to embrace the concern and promotion of the common good, not only for us in this generation but for our progeny.
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Amid climate change, we need men and women who genuinely care for our country and fellowmen, men and women who preserve, conserve, and restore; men and women who will promote the common good and change the current climate.

​The answers to these questions reflect our reverence and fear of God. To live with such reverence and fear of God means that our lives should demonstrate a deep sense of awe and honor for God that we cannot afford to live a life of wickedness. When we genuinely uphold this value, we will avoid misbehaving and turn away from every form of evil. Instead, we will strive to live our lives purposefully, place ourselves under His authority, and walk in His ways. Living in righteousness becomes our driving force at all cost.   
 
By consistently embracing reverence and fear of God, we can strive to create a peaceful community with less violence and fewer crimes. When everyone recognizes the authority of the One who is the Judge of All, people will endeavor to lead a holy life. This is one way we can demonstrate or put into practice one of our national mottos, which is being “Maka-Diyos” under Republic Act Number 8491. This, also, aligns with the preamble of our Constitution. In imploring the aid of the Almighty God signifies a recognition of His divine authority. While we are sovereign Filipinos, it is essential to acknowledge the importance of divine guidance in our lives.
 
While it is a cliché to say that life is short, it really is. It is then important to make it count by living a life that is pleasing and honorable before God, our fellow Filipinos, and for our nation.  

The Collins Dictionary defines "original" as “something that existed at the beginning of a process or activity, or the characteristics that something had when it began or was made,” while "originality" means “the quality of being original” or “the capacity to think independently or be inventive.” Jim Jarmusch, who has an extensive history of original work across many mediums as a film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, and composer, argued, however, that “nothing is original” and “originality is non-existent;” instead, authenticity is. Austin Kleon adds, “What a good artist understands is that nothing comes from nowhere. All creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original.” Nonetheless, this does not mean that we cannot create and accomplish something remarkable. On the contrary, we can, and we will, as we put into practice our God-given innovative skills and creativity. 

The Scripture states, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” To create is to make something out of nothing; in Latin, it is ex nihilo, meaning "out of nothing." God was never created, and He is the only one who can create; therefore, He is the only true original. On the other hand, human work or “creation” is the application and outcome of the talents, skills, and knowledge God has bestowed upon us. It is also a reflection of the ingenuity of the Giver and Originator - God Himself. The apostle Paul says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” 
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While “nothing is original,” this does not mean we should not acknowledge the work of others. We must do so, as failure to give proper credit could put us in jeopardy. For instance, we must recognize the source or author of a quotation or story when citing it, acknowledge the inspiration behind our work, and be authentic by not infringing on someone’s ideas. Moreover, Clive Staples Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, says, “No man who values originality will ever be original. But try to tell the truth as you see it, try to do any bit of work as well as it can be done for the work’s sake, and what men call originality will come unsought.”