The Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values, Inc. (CRFV) actively participated in two important events that aim to improve local governance and community development in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
CRFV at the 2024 First Semester Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Council Meeting (MSAC)

• CRFV National Director, Nathaniel A. Saquiban, and Deputy National Director, Jesus V. Sison, represented the organization at the MSAC meeting held on April 4, 2024, at Sen. Nene Pimentel Hall, Department of Interior and Local Government – CAR (DILG-CAR), Baguio City.
• The meeting discussed crucial topics like the 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Results, the creation of a Cordillera Committee of Good Local Governance under MSAC, the 2023 LGU Capacity Performance Segmentation Results, and upcoming programs for 2024.
• CRFV representatives actively participated in discussions, particularly on the SGLG Results, offering valuable recommendations.

A Step Forward in Good Local Governance: The Cordillera Committee of Good Local Governance

• A key outcome of the MSAC meeting was the establishment of the Cordillera Committee of Good Local Governance.
• This committee, composed of representatives from line agencies and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), aims to provide technical assistance to local government units (LGUs) with lower SGLG scores.
• CRFV applauds this innovative initiative by DILG-CAR, the lead agency, as it fosters collaboration for improved governance across the region.

Building Livable and Resilient Communities: Baguio City Barangay Development Planning and Barangay Resiliency Planning

• On April 5, 2024, CRFV also participated in the City of Baguio's first Barangay Development Planning and Barangay Resiliency Planning at Orchard Hotel.
• Punong Barangays, Barangay officials, and CSO representatives gathered to discuss the Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the City for every barangay.
• This plan will serve as the foundation for developing plans in various areas, such as disaster risk reduction, environmental management, and community development.
• This initiative empowers barangays to enhance their governance, administration, and build a more livable and resilient city.

CRFV's participation in these events demonstrates its commitment to supporting initiatives that promote good governance, community development, and a more resilient Cordillera Administrative Region.

Our topic for this week is timely, as the nation is confronting challenges related to faithfulness. Faithfulness involves loyalty, fidelity, or steadfastness to your affection or allegiance. It touches on a wide range of issues in life that we need to revisit and reflect on and carefully realign and readjust ourselves before it is too late to act.

Faithfulness to our beloved country.

In the 1973 Philippine Constitution, Section 1 of Article V provides that "It shall be the duty of the citizen to be loyal to the Republic and to honor the Philippine flag, to defend the State and contribute to its development and welfare, to uphold the Constitution and obey the laws, and to cooperate with the duly constituted authorities in the attainment and preservation of a just and orderly society." Sadly, this provision no longer appeared in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. This, however, should not stop us citizens from being loyal to our country nor hinder us from loving and defending the State from aliens and oppressors who are trying to invade or take away what is ours. Grab every opportunity to show your love and loyalty to our nation – this is our faithfulness to our beloved country. Help her rise, boom, and bloom to be the nation that God has designed it to be. Protect her, nourish her, and take care of her. Do not hand her over to another for a bowl of soup.

Faithfulness to our spouses and relationships.
Fidelity is important in lasting relationships. Strengthening faithfulness is needed to see fewer broken families and relationships. When spouses, partners, or friends are faithful to each other, no storm is too strong for them because both can be a source of strength, encouragement, and inspiration. Resisting any temptation or how it will affect you is a choice one must make consciously. It measures how deep your love, respect, and honor for your spouse or partner.

Faithfulness to the Almighty God
"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments." Our God is ever faithful and never changed in His faithfulness to us. His love and devotion to us are demonstrated by how He was willing to sacrifice the one He loved to redeem us from our iniquities, sins, unfaithfulness, and brokenness, once and for all. Time and time again, He is willing to wait for the renewing of our minds and for us to grow into maturity, for our sakes, so that we can experience the life He designed for us. What does He require of us? To be faithful to our Almighty God and not to worship any other gods. To love Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
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"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."

Purity should be duly considered in all human endeavors. A pure person has an excellent spirit or nature and is guaranteed that all the work done by their hands is organized and carried out smoothly. One reason is that they are focused, thereby ensuring success. On the contrary, an impure person is double-minded and has a disturbed emotion because of a hidden motive or agenda. Their tasks are frequently haphazard because of the damaging nature within. This is why if we are to know a person, we will know them by their fruits.
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Typically, contamination starts in the mind. When we have impure thoughts, it alters our frequency, which eventually affects our actions. Thus, we need to guard our thoughts. As Mahatma Gandhi says, our thoughts become our words; our words become our actions; our actions become our habits; our habits become our values, and our values become our destiny. In line with this, the Scripture tells us that whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, we should think about such things.

Other than thoughts, impurities can also happen because of the negative motive or intention of the heart. This makes intent an essential element for conviction in criminal offenses. A person is penalized because of their evil intention, which propelled them to do a specific appalling act. By determining the purpose, a person is known because it speaks of their characteristic.

By purity, we can be transparent because we have nothing to hide. Just like a body of crystal-clear water, we can see what the surface of the water is underneath. In the same way, people see us beyond our outside appearance and become a message to them. Also, we can become like a drink offered to others, and they will not get poisoned. Every word we say to people can create a significant impact, and those who listen to us will drink from us. It is essential, therefore, to be pure in heart because whatever we speak will become a life to others. They are like drinking from us as we speak.
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Let us do away then from all sorts of impurities. Let us not keep bitterness within us because it will destroy our bodies. Note that it is not what goes into the mouth that makes a person unclean and defiled; what comes out makes a person unclean and defiled. Let us, therefore, make purity our goal because it will open the doors of blessing to us due to trustworthiness. If we become trustworthy with little things because of purity, we will be trusted with much more. We get promoted at work and may be assigned to handle sensitive and confidential matters.