Justice is giving what is due to whom it is due. It involves the observance of the principle of fairness, particularly in terms of rights, privileges, opportunities, and treatment. When the award is given to the deserving and penalty is imposed upon the duly convicted, we can say that justice is served. Justice is the measurement of a civilized society so any violation of human rights without the observance of due process is a denial of justice.
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How do we translate this to the workplace context, especially in the day-to-day discharge of our duties and responsibilities in public service where proper procedures and fair play need to be observed? For instance, in an open bidding, a project should be awarded to the lowest bidder upon review of the eligibility requirements, and all interested proponents should have equal opportunity to bid. The same ethical practice should be observed in issuing permits, licenses, or any similar document. Concerning promotion, everyone vying for the desired position should go through the merit system rather than promoting someone out of political friendship or any undue maneuvering.

It is time for us to be awakened. The promising future of this nation is sometimes undermined by countless injustices of all sorts notwithstanding the existence of deterring laws. Republic Act 3019 is extant in its provisions. The law considered the act of causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government, or giving any private party any unwarranted benefits, advantage, or preference in the discharge of official administrative or judicial functions through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence as corrupt and unlawful. Also, it is considered corrupt and unlawful to neglect or refuse, after due demand or request, without sufficient justification, to act within a reasonable time on any matter pending before a public official or employee… to favor his or her interest or give undue advantage in favor of or discriminating against any other interested party (words supplied). Any violation of these provisions of the law can be concluded as an act of injustice because of giving undue favor to the undeserving and denying service to someone because of discrimination.

Let us take a moment to reflect on whether we have shortchanged the public, clients, taxpayers, subordinates, and superiors in any way in the past. Have we ensured that the delivery of our programs, projects, and activities were of the highest standards? Resolve in our hearts today to uphold justice at all times, both in big and small ways, just as what is expected of us by the Almighty God – to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.

Let us then rally for justice in our country to effect significant progress. Justice is the foundation of our sovereignty. If we are to build a just and humane society and establish a government that shall embody our ideals and aspirations, it should be under the regime of justice. Philippines is a formidable country if justice is served. 

In 1894, Dr. Jose Rizal was in exile in Dapitan, a remote town in Mindanao, where he engineered a dam and waterworks with the help of his students. He built the waterworks with limited finances, inadequate tools, and meager materials, using stones, cast-off tiles, bamboo pipes, and mortar from burnt corals. Despite these challenges, he successfully provided a sound water system for Dapitan. Resourcefulness is “doing what we can with what we have, where we are,” says Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States. Resourcefulness is the ability to generate the resources necessary to accomplish a project.

Filipinos embody resourcefulness, as seen in their everyday life and various circumstances. They create improvised boats out of recycled materials to cross flooded roads, use cooking oil mixed with salt as a light source during brownouts, and turn water lilies that block water flow and cause flooding into a source of livelihood by making bags, baskets, furniture, slippers, and cheap organic fertilizer. In difficult situations, Filipinos find ways to triumph and thrive through resourcefulness.
An online article shares the story of Sam Walton, the man behind Walmart superstores, who became the second-richest man in the world by employing resourcefulness. Growing up during the Great Depression, Walton milked the family cow, then bottled and sold the surplus. Later, he took control of the retail sales market by selling merchandise people could afford. He was among the first to introduce a “profit-sharing” plan for his employees, significantly contributing to Wal-Mart’s continued success. Walton took the existing concept of large retail stores and improved upon it, bringing it to small towns across America.

The Scripture says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So, who will trust you with true riches if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth? And who will give you your property if you have not been trustworthy with someone else?”. Accordingly, God wants us to be good stewards of the resources He entrusts to us and find ways to maximize them for our good and the benefit of others. Unlike the man who received the resources of one thousand coins but dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money, who was called a “bad and lazy servant” and had the money taken away from him and given to the “good and faithful servant.” Consequently, with all your God-given resources, “do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can,” says John Wesley.

by: Micah A. Tecne

Let us commemorate our nation's Independence Day, when the Philippines was finally declared free from the colony of other countries. There is glory in acquiring freedom from oppression, a time when our nation began to move and live freely, unbothered by limitations. The feeling of being free grants us a life of joy and peace. We can sleep soundly and safely. What a liberty!

Freedom is a gift for us, both as a nation and as individuals. But what if, amidst our celebration, we realize its deeper meaning? Let us take a moment to pause and reflect. Are we truly free from within? We may seem peaceful and free on the outside, but deep down, we crumble, and our inner selves yearn for absolute freedom!

Have you ever felt trapped, even while moving freely in the physical world? Deep inside, we can feel imprisoned by many internal battles in our minds and hearts. We struggle with sleeplessness and unease, haunted by past traumas, regrets, mistakes, or burdens. We appear free, but we know we are not. We conform in a world of pretense and cover-ups, yet our conscience reminds us that true freedom remains elusive.

As David O. McKay said, "Life's greatest battles are fought within the silent chambers of the mind." When battles rage inside, chaos erupts, and eventually, we cry out for genuine freedom! Freedom from the oppression of bitterness, regrets, traumas, fear, guilt, and every negativity the enemy of our soul, Satan, may be launching and planting in us. The oppression intensifies as the battle lingers, leading to a desperate cry for liberation. We find ourselves in an exhausting situation, pushing all our known efforts and measures to break free.

Have we ever found ourselves feeling hopeless and frustrated that the battle within remains relentless despite our silent struggle? We grow weary of the chaos within. It's been too long; days, months, and years have passed, yet we still feel chained and in bondage. To truly enjoy the gift of freedom, we need to decide to fight not alone, but together. In our battle for freedom, we need the support of others, and we need the ultimate source of it. We have fought for liberty alone for far too long; now is the time to fight together. Our authentic and ultimate freedom is not attained by our own might, but by the might of the Almighty. "Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."