​The increasing crime rate in some areas in the Philippines reflects not only the lack of fear before authorities but also the lack of fear of God. It is surprising that some people are unafraid to commit crimes in broad daylight and even in the presence of law enforcers. The Scriptures tell us not to be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. It shows that those who are perpetrators of crimes are mindful only of the temporary punishment that a court of law may impose. They have forgotten the God who is the Judge of all with the power to punish disobedience eternally.

It is not an excuse that these people have not known God. All people have conscience where the light of God goes. This will help them distinguish right from wrong even without knowing fully the penal laws. The consciousness of God as a judge other than as compassionate and merciful must be strongly active in one’s heart and mind. This will lead any one to render reverence to God Almighty. It will create a holy fear that will serve as a guide how a person conducts himself or herself. It will avoid a person from misbehaving. Just as a people render respect to earthly kings, so with the King of kings. If we can lie prostrate before a royal family on earth, so with Him, the Creator of heaven and earth.
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In the Philippines, we are aware of the fact that we are oftentimes visited by typhoons, earthquakes, and other calamities. Some say that these catastrophes are unavoidable due to the location of the country beside the Pacific Ocean. Others say that these are caused by climate change. However, we believe that nothing happens on earth unless God permits. From this standpoint that these circumstances were known as force majeure or acts of God. If we recognize that these are wake-up call of God, we will decide to reform. It is just sad to think that people are heedless to these great awakening that they remain stubborn. They remain steadfast in their wicked ways and unmoved by the consequential effects of their wrongful acts.

People of this kind even wish that their place be declared under state of calamity as they are after the rehabilitation funds and donation that will be released to their areas. They kept constructing infrastructure projects that are substandard unaffected by the resulting number of casualties and damages when disaster comes. This type of people should not be envied as they are walking in a slippery path. They may be enriched today but destruction awaits them. The wickedness of the wicked will come to an end but God will establish the just. The call of God for repentance never changed. If we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, He will hear from heaven and heal our land. We must not lose sight of Him who is calling us to live a holy life. We must have reverence and fear of God before it is too late.    

An object that is clear and light can pass through it is called transparent. But if that object is cloudy and dirty, it suppresses the light from coming through it. The same is true in our life. If our life is clear from all forms of wickedness, people can see through our life. Nothing is hidden from them. They can identify that we are genuine in our expression of love and affection. On the contrary, if our life is dim, people cannot see the whole picture of who we are. Chances are they have reservations in their dealings with us. We cannot gain their trust and confidence. 

From the above standpoint, we can determine how important a life that is open book to anyone. It is a powerful weapon that refutes all forms of doubt to a person’s life. It is a life that is clean and blameless. It is a life of integrity. Consequently, people who are transparent have the stature, right, and authority to correct any wrongdoing. They are look up to in high esteem and their lives are vouched by others. They set the example as they model a proper lifestyle.

While having a transparent life may be easy to some, it is quite hard to others. Nonetheless, this is encouraged the moment a person enters into public service. In public service, a public life and private life are intertwined because a person is still known as public servant even in his or her private life. Thus, he or she cannot misbehave in private life simply because it is his or her private life. He or she should not forbid the authorities from inquiry or investigation about his or her private life if it has a connection with his or her public function such as the use of public funds for private purpose.

The government, for its part, is doing its best to observe transparency in public service. All national government agencies are required to maintain a transparency seal on their official websites. Also, the Constitution itself is replete with provisions that uphold the value of transparency. It declared that the State adopts and implements a policy of full public disclosure of all its transactions involving public interest, subject to reasonable conditions prescribed by law. It also guarantees the right of the people to information on matters of public concern. It is at this premise that the Freedom of Information Bill was drafted, pursuance to the principle that public records or documents are accessible to the public.

Being transparent to the public is being accountable to the public. The public has the right to be informed because it is their taxes paid that are being spent in public expenditures. It is also the exercise of their right of suffrage that is being exploited in the performance of public function by an elective official. They put the public official into leadership, thus, their right to know how their leaders are functioning. We, therefore, should not hide anything from our people. Barangays should continue conduct general assembly. Local government units should continually observe full public disclosure. Government agencies should keep the practice of holding public consultation.

During the late 1890s, a blogger wrote, the Americans brought with them their technology, machinery, and other equipment when they came to the Philippines. Since their tools were better and more advanced than what Filipinos used the latter felt inferior with their bolos, hand axes, and simple carts. As a result, until today, Filipinos looked up to foreign products as far better than locally made ones. Consequently, a dilemma we have been dealing with but could be gradually outdone as national pride defined as “being proud of our own country and proud of ourselves for being from this country” is heartily lived out. 
 
The fallacious notion of Philippine-made goods as low-class or poor in quality and foreign products as high-class ought to be obliterated from our thinking. It is a mere colonial mentality. Thus, set our mind that local goods are excellent as well. In fact, there are tons of things Filipinos have to be proud of. We possess excellent traits such as being diligent, respectful, flexible, hospitable, and skilled which other nations admired us. Besides, the Philippines is blessed with varied and world-renowned rich natural resources and wonders like the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Banaue Rice Terraces, Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Mayon Volcano, Hundred Islands, and much more which we are grateful and proud of. 
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In simple and doable implications we are to highly prioritize the purchase of locally made goods; we are to boost by word of mouth the beauteous aspects of the Philippines particularly to foreign acquaintances; we are not to demean the Philippines in comparison to the countries we visited; we are to incessantly abide with the law, especially in the observance of traffic rules, no littering policy, and paying of proper taxes; as government officials and employees we are not to steal and misuse government funds rather utilize it to its lawful allocations for the well-being of our constituents, and we are not to abuse our natural resources rather enrich it and be good stewards. Finally, we are to be content, proud, and grateful for being Filipino and of the Philippines for it is what the Sovereign God made us to be. As the Scripture says, “from one human being he created all races of people and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live”.