In the early years of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, he faced sleepless nights haunted by unsettling dreams. Troubled, he summoned the kingdom's learned scholars - magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers - hoping they could decipher the meaning behind his dreams. When they stood before him, Nebuchadnezzar demanded not only an interpretation but that they reveal the dream itself. Failing this, dire consequences awaited them, including destruction and ruin.
 
In this high-stakes scenario, we encounter a valuable lesson in navigating life's challenges with wisdom. Wisdom, drawn from a reliable source, offers three essential benefits:
 
Protection
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When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, embarked on a mission to execute Babylon's wise men, a young man named Daniel intervened with wisdom and diplomacy. Rather than rushing to judgment, Daniel inquired about the king's harsh decree. This action not only spared lives but also allowed time for a solution to be found. 
 
The adage “Ang taong nagmamadali, nagkakamali,” highlights the importance of wisdom in handling pressure and challenging circumstances. It shields us from exacerbating problems and making impulsive decisions. Wisdom, rooted in an authentic source, encourages us to seek guidance and understanding from a higher power.
 
Provision

Turning to his friends for support, Daniel urged them to seek divine intervention from the God of heaven. In a moment of clarity during the night, Daniel received a vision that unveiled the mystery of the king's dream. Grateful, he praised the God of heaven, acknowledging the divine wisdom that had been bestowed upon him.
 
Wisdom derived from a reliable source expands our perspective, enabling us to make informed choices and decisions. As the Apostle Paul noted, divine wisdom surpasses human understanding, revealing hidden truths. It elevates our discernment and empowers us to stand out in challenging situations.
 
Promotion

With newfound insight, Daniel persuaded Arioch not to execute Babylon's wise men and was brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar, astounded by Daniel's wisdom, recognized the presence of a higher power at work. As a result, Daniel received not only honor and respect but also a high-ranking position and abundant gifts.
 
Daniel's pursuit of wisdom from an authentic source propelled his rise and brought about his promotion. When we rely solely on our limited human wisdom, we find ourselves constrained. However, by seeking wisdom from a trustworthy source, we tap into boundless possibilities.
 
In moments when we feel confined by our limitations, the key is to seek the right source of wisdom. By doing so, we can unlock the power of wisdom, allowing it to guide our decisions, protect us from rash actions, provide us with clarity, and ultimately promote our growth and success.

When discussing trust, we always think of that famous statement in our Constitution: “Public office is a public trust.” This statement will never be fulfilled without the civil servants meeting the requirement of being trustworthy and accurate representatives of the public office concerned. In the past, we heard some stories that some clientele lost their trust in government offices due to bureaucratic inconveniences, illegal schemes, and taxing procedures in availing their services. It is more alarming to hear on a broader scale when investors refuse to invest their resources in our country because of a loss of trust. Allegedly, some are being unduly required to pay a sum long before the contract is executed or as early as in the proposal stage. It is a sad story in our local jurisdiction. 
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In the above situation, trust should be earned. Before we can expect others to trust us, we should exert effort that we deserve that trust in integrity and reliability. We should ensure that we are trustworthy enough to assume the office assigned to us and committed to performing the duties and responsibilities attached to it diligently. Thus, our laws prohibit any civil servant from having a financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract, or transaction in which he/she intervenes or takes part in his/her official capacity. In like manner, it is required that public officials and employees shall perform and discharge their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence, and skill and shall enter public service with utmost devotion and dedication to duty. 

If we belong to government service, do we deserve the trust of others, both from our colleagues and clientele? Are we building the trust of the people transacting in our office? Do we remain on guard in our conduct and character to preserve the dignity of public office? If part of the corporate world transacts with the government, do we comply with the standard requirements imposed? These are reflective questions we must answer and contemplate if we are to preserve public trust in any public office. It is a must for all who believe that trust is a non-negotiable value. It cannot be compromised, nor can it be downgraded. 

Know how valuable trust is. Due to trust, opportunities will be opened. It is the foundation for promotion, rewards, grants, appointments, elections, and other favors or benefits. On the contrary, if trust is lost, opportunities will be closed. As mentioned by Invajy, “Trust is fragile, don’t break it: Once broken, it will never come back to its original shape.” We concede to that statement.

Similarly, it further states: “Trust takes many years to build, few seconds to break, and forever to repair.” It is indeed vital yet delicate and must be handled with care. Trust is a vital ingredient in all forms of relationships, partnerships, and engagements. It is a stepping stone to unity and progress. 

Our challenges today are different from yesterday – even obstacles have different kinds and levels, so we must be ready to face and overcome them. It takes courage to hurdle these obstacles and so, we must endeavor to develop courage in all its facets. Courage, according to Merriam-Webster, is a mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. In their separate articles, Dr. Chris Drew and Sonia McDonald, expound on six types of courage. 

One is physical courage where one enters a situation that may put to risk his or her body, even his or her life to help someone else. An example of this is the courage exemplified by our firefighters who are to the rescue even though their lives may be at risk in extinguishing consuming fires. Physical courage was also manifested by our heroes when they fought for our nation’s freedom from tyrants and invaders. They sacrificed their own freedom, even their lives, so that we could experience better lives.

Another type of courage is social courage. Dr. Drew defines this as the courage to expose yourself to social situations where you may be vulnerable to embarrassment, ridicule, or discomfort. Speaking, performing, or presenting before a crowd or an audience takes social courage. Social courage is needed when we speak before an assembly, especially when we are taking a stand or defending a right. It takes social courage to create a people movement just like Nelson Mandela when he stood for equality and multiracial democracy to eliminate apartheid.
The third one is called emotional courage. Emotional courage is the ability to deal with your emotions in a productive and healthy way rather than a destructive one. Emotional courage is needed when we face rejection, hurt, or even loss. Emotional courage allows us to move forward by being optimistic and having vision for our lives. Remember the story of Joseph the Dreamer? He did not allow his emotions to overcome him when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. He had the emotional courage to forgive his brothers and save them from the famine.
The fourth kind is called intellectual courage where one is willing to learn and expand their horizons. When we travel to or live in other places – the territories we are not familiar with, we expose ourselves to different cultures, habits, or ways of living. Same happens when we accept new and higher positions in our employment. It takes this kind of courage to learn new things, to perform our new tasks, and to lead people with different perspectives and values. Intellectual courage takes proactivity and growth mindset. Just like at the time of Daniel, he and his friends were taken as captives in Babylon, a land that is foreign to them. This did not hinder them from growing, but even prospered and Daniel even became the governor of the province of Babylon.

Another kind of courage is spiritual courage, where Sonia McDonald describes as standing up for what we believe. Daniel also possessed this kind of courage. He did not bow down to the gods of Babylon nor to Nebuchadnezzar, but held on to his faith to worship God Almighty alone. During the time of Saint Peter, Saint Paul, and the disciples of Jesus Christ, it took spiritual courage for them to speak with boldness before the religious leaders, so that their minds will be enlighten to see the truth, and for them to be set free from the bondage of hypocrisy. We too can have the spiritual courage when we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Last, but not the least especially for all public servants, is moral courage. A good definition from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing says that moral courage is the ability to stand up for and practice that which one considers ethical, moral behavior when faced with a dilemma, even if it means going against countervailing pressure to do otherwise.  Uncompromising public servants who do not bend to graft and corruption are those who have moral courage – they stand for what is right. They do not give in to temptation but hold on to the north of their moral compass. Again, Joseph the dreamer sets a good example. When he was being tempted by the wife of Potiphar, he never gave in because he honored his master and has deep reverence for God. As public servants, let us not give in to the temptation of love of money, power, fame, and immorality. Let us have the moral courage to uphold the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the laws of the land, and most importantly, the laws of God. 

These faces of courage help us identify which kind we are manifesting and which we need to improve on.  Aristotle said, “You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” In the challenges we face in the present VUCA world, there is one way we could be strong and courageous in all these – know and believe that God is with you. God was with David when he faced the bear, the lion, and Goliath. God was with Moses when they escaped from Egypt. God was Daniel in governing Babylon. God was Josua when he led the people to the promise land. Remember, for God did not give us the spirit of fear, but He has given us power, love, and a sound mind for us to overcome this world.

Communication is one of the essential means of achieving a stronger bond or connection with someone. When we constantly talk to someone, we get to know them in a deeper sense, we develop a more intimate relationship with them. We eventually trust them even with our inner struggles and deepest secrets. We love to be with them through thick and thin, knowing they’ll be with you. Constant and healthy communication cultivates a stronger connection.
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If we want to be closer to someone or to strengthen our connection with others, we make every effort to reach out to them and continuously communicate with them. Most of the time, however, we fail to remember that healthy communication is two-way, sometimes we are the ones who listen and there are times that we are the ones who talk. It is why we must have good relationships with people around us, we need an avenue to express and communicate our thoughts, feelings, and ideas. What more if we can communicate with God, our Creator? How much more will good communication with Him accomplish?

Prayer is among the most effective way of communication with God, a vital ingredient to strengthen our spirituality - we are able express our joy, victories, pains, struggles and give our burdens to the One who knows us and can understand us.  Through prayer we can receive peace and assurance from the Almighty God who is all powerful to turn things around for us. As we establish our prayer lives strong, expressing and exposing to him the fulness of our being, including our faults and flaws, dreams, and desires, we begin a two-way communication with Him. This prayerful way of communicating with Him will eventually sharpen our spiritual senses to hear and receive His active response to everything we say to Him. And yes, to everything, whether silently or with direct response, God hears and responds to everything we pray to Him.

Saint Paul encourages us to not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. It is the desire of our Father to be with us in all of our seasons. He wants to have a healthier, deeper and closer relationship with us. For He has a lot in store for us. He wants us to be great! To have a stronger connection with Him, to be friends with Him like Moses, King David, Daniel, and other great and prayerful men in history.      

As we reflect on the value focus on prayerfulness under the core value of spirituality, we realize the importance of making prayerfulness as our lifestyle and establish strong connection with the Only Source of everything - the Almighty God. Whether we are walking through tunnels of uncertainties, confusions, heartaches, trials and testing or we are walking on the clouds of celebrations, happiness, and victories, we will remain connected to Him, who is all-knowing, ever present and all powerful.  

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Sense of responsibility, by the term itself, is being sensitive to responsibility. It is simply doing our best to perform our work completely and excellently. It is staying focus of what needs to be done rather than being lax, procrastinate, and in a lackadaisical attitude. It is like being haunted by the task and cannot rest until the work is finished. A person who has sense of responsibility is uncomfortable or uneasy seeing an unfinished business. Normally, that person is not living in a comfort zone and always on the go or up to the task. He or she need not be reminded or motivated to do the work as he or she is on top of every situation.
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In part, sense of responsibility is not only in terms of work performance but also in the area of accountability. It is assuming responsibility or accountability when something went wrong under a person’s watch or supervision. Naturally, a person passes the blame to others and run away from responsibility when setbacks occur. Not so for a person with sense of responsibility because he or she even answers for the mistakes committed by others or his or her subordinates. As John Maxwell said, “A sense of responsibility is the clearest indication of mature leadership”.

How many leaders today have this kind of character? Sometimes, it is disheartening to watch and listen to the responses of leaders under panel of investigators who put their subordinates to peril and in a precarious situation even if the matter is under their command and authority. They hastily, negligently, and selfishly make wrong decisions for their personal advantage but when problems arise, they deny involvement to such thing or to such subject of investigation. Never did they know that they will be all the more esteemed when they take responsibility of the consequences of their actions or decisions.

Leaders with sense of responsibility, thus, is not after position or fame but rather service. They are always mindful of what they can accomplish rather than what they can gain. They know that every function they take is not for personal glory but an additional responsibility. The more they accept responsibility, the more they get promoted to higher office and become great. Winston Churchill said in this wise, “The price of greatness is responsibility”. Nonetheless, in some parts of the world, only few are willing to pay the price yet they want the benefits. Thus, they resort to swift yet illegal means to get what they wanted.

Our country is in need of leaders with sense of responsibility. People who feel responsible for the ongoing poverty among large number of the populace and whenever there is economic challenges. They are prompted or alerted by the negative circumstances and forced to arise in order to find solution. They cannot afford to sit back and relax knowing that their constituents or fellow citizens are in the midst of trouble. These are the type of leaders who do not only give the answer but they become the answer themselves because their existence brings confidence and assurance to many that Philippines has a better future. May their tribe multiply and be countless. 

Our lives are a tapestry of diverse circumstances, each person having their unique story to tell—filled with joy or sorrow, encouragement or despair, triumph or defeat, and countless other experiences. While we may share common goals and visions with others, the complexity of individuality demands a varied approach to navigating life's challenges. Amidst this intricacy, the value of self-reflection and analysis emerges as a powerful tool applicable across our differences.

Often, our struggles and difficulties can be traced back to a lack of self-reflection. Reacting instinctively to situations may lead to irreversible negative consequences, making self-analysis crucial for personal development. Self-reflection and analysis involve diving deep within ourselves, setting aside external influences, and opening ourselves to personal moments of introspection — an intimate connection with our own thoughts and most especially, with God.

In this process, we lay our hearts bare, acknowledging the true condition of our being—the good, the bad, and the ugly. We assess our intentions and motivations, seeking to abandon the negative and align ourselves with higher purposes. This  act prevents us from falling into the trap of self-justification, ensuring that our responses are rooted in pure intentions rather than ego-driven reactions.

Recognizing that self-reflection isn't an innate trait, we must consciously choose to cultivate it. This begins by confronting the worst version of ourselves and deciding that it is not the path we wish to follow. By developing an attitude of self-reflection, we create a foundation for instinctively responding to life's challenges in a constructive and growth-oriented manner.

As men and women called to serve and inspire others, let us sow the seed of self-reflection and analysis deep within our hearts. Often overlooked, this essential element can be the missing ingredient in great causes and advocacies. When those involved are consistently guided by self-reflection, clarity of purpose, pure intent, and humility emerge as defining traits. By staying in touch with our hearts and remaining aligned with the Almighty God, we avoid being deceived by external influences.

Today, let us take a look within ourselves, examining our actions and intentions. Tomorrow, let us continue this practice, ensuring that self-reflection becomes an integral part of our lives. As we grow and learn, our ability to inspire and positively impact others will be enriched, creating a ripple effect of transformation in the world around us.

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“You have shown great mercy to your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness and in uprightness of heart with you; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.”- King Solomon

Righteousness unlocks a legacy that is approved, established and made to last. As we walk in truth and righteousness, the Almighty God will cause His great kindness and faithfulness to endure from one generation to the next. A lasting legacy of spirituality, values, actions, work and of people are recognized. It is heartwarming to know of God’s assurance to His people that righteousness exalts a nation, a family and an institution. It also sets up and solidifies our position of authority just like the wisest king who ever reigned declared, that righteousness establishes the throne. Indeed, our credentials can take us up in the echelon while character can sustain us but only righteousness could establish us where God planted and strategically positioned a person. As was a declaration of what a king in the ancient times was expected to do, so is in our present time, to properly conduct ourselves before the Almighty God and before the people. Righteousness refers to morally upright stature of a person. It is the quality of being just and right. And this value is an indispensable attribute of our Almighty God. For this reason, He loves righteousness and is attracted to it that His approval and favor is on the upright. It is of “being” and not just defining that is quite literally means “One who is right. Possessing righteousness consequently is “right standing before God.” It is the only living standard that is suitable for us to stand before the Father and before His people. It is believing and living according to God’s design for our lives, thus doing away with sin. In doing so, we live and lead our family, agency and the nation accurately that “in the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway, there is no death”2 Thus, the things we do produce life that is peaceable, joyful and truthful making all those who are around us contented and satisfied. This will continue to live on in a cycle creating life after life that we can simply identify it as legacy. So, when we talk about living in righteousness, some people thought that it had more to do with behavioral modification than heart transformation. In the context of the Public Service Values on Spirituality, to yield righteousness, a person must be Spirit-filled to be changed from the inside that would in turn result to a consistent practice of acts of goodness, kindness and holiness. Righteousness produces those works, not the other way around. The prophet Isaiah says that “we are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.”3 Our attempts to produce righteousness on our own are repulsive in the eyes of God. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. While those good works are commendable, rediscovering how God views and what He says about righteousness will lead us to full understanding of what He really requires. Even when our good deeds seem to be performed from the purest of motives, unless that motivation is to glorify the name of Jesus and the centrality of what we are doing is He, those deeds are completely self-righteous and sinful. As Saint Paul expressed that “the righteousness of God has been clearly and completely revealed apart from the Law and traditions, though it is actually confirmed by the Law and the writings of the Prophets; this righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe, trust in Him and acknowledge that He is the Son of God. There is no distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God,” 4 If we are to modify our behavior, the motivation is to please God above all, coming from the conviction of the Holy Spirit and not simply to appear, even without comparison, that we are more holy to others. With these thoughts, we start to ponder and realize that we needed to repent and lay all of this at the feet of Jesus. We are completely incapable of changing our own hearts and have righteousness. Only God can do that. When we stop trying to produce our own righteousness and begin to simply trust in the Holy Spirit to change our hearts, He will make us righteous. First, we confess our sins, then He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Only the perfection of Christ and His finished work on the cross could have accomplished and complete righteousness in us. Only Jesus, who lived as a Man on the face of the earth with a perfect, obedient, and sinless life can satisfy the requirements of God’s righteousness that must manifest in us. The scriptures are firm and clear that we have to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) and pursue it (2 Timothy 2:22); and yet we have fallen short and unable to produce it. So where do we get it? Again, our righteousness is imputed from Jesus through the atoning work that He accomplished on the cross. We couldn’t produce it, Christ produced and lived it for us. So, as we “learn to recognize and treasure what is excellent in identifying the best and distinguishing moral differences; we start to acknowledge and believe Christ that we may be pure and blameless until the day we actually see Him manifesting and living in us that lead and inspire others away from sin; being filled with the fruit of righteousness which also comes through Him, to the glory and praise of the Almighty God so that His glory may be both revealed and recognized.” 5 Pursuing righteousness is pursuing God’s character. We turn away from sinful desires and yield to Jesus Christ. As we allow Him to live and work in us, we are changed from glory to glory, and our new nature become more according to His image and likeness. Thus, when God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sin or filthy garments. Instead, He sees us clothed in the righteousness of Christ. He sees us instantly and completely justified through that righteousness. As it was declared, “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has covered me with a robe of righteousness,” 6 We are transformed from within possessing His nature. And through obedience, it will be considered righteousness for us, that is, again, right standing with God, as we are careful to observe all His commandments. (Deuteronomy 6:25) It follows that the land is also blessed. God outlined so many rewards because of righteousness that affects the entirety of the nation. From fullness of life to fruitfulness, safety and security- oh, the Nation is blessed. “For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.” 7 We can rest in the fact that God sovereignly works everything for the good of His people, including restoring us through the righteousness of His Son. Our righteousness began in Christ and is completed in Christ. As we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, we are proclaiming that His government shall be established within the system of ours because righteousness is the foundation of His throne. His government knows no end that it will continue to advance and expand influencing and subduing all other uncharacteristic forms or practices in the government. Therefore, where His throne is, His sovereignty resides and His Lordship manifests. “Your righteousness is like the great mountains” 8 that is immovable and imposing. It stands from generation to generation. So is a legacy unlocked by righteousness, it endures.

by: Atty. Carolina Lim-Gamban

“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first,” this were the very words of Jesus Christ when an adulterous woman was caught in the act, and the people were clamoring that she be stoned to death, as punishment. In this story, nobody threw a stone at her because the people condemning the woman realized that they too, were sinners.
 
Here we see the different dimensions of forgiveness taking place:
 
One, the people forgiving the woman after realizing that they too were sinners. At times, we too act so high and mighty, and are self-righteous to think that we did not sin. We easily condemn and judge others. This sometimes causes unforgiveness and lack of grace. But when we realize that we too have sinned, we cannot “cast the first stone” because our conscience reminds us of our own mistakes, or our conscience allows us to have the grace to give the person another chance.
 
Two, Jesus Christ, forgiving the woman of her sinfulness and enjoining her to sin no more. Oh what an amazing grace that despite the woman’s sinfulness, deserving death, she was given another chance because of another person’s intervention, even God’s forgiveness, only, she should sin no more. This is an open invitation for those who have sinned to ask, seek, and knock for forgiveness while there is still time, but at the same time, sin no more. This shows that forgiveness does not mean tolerating sinfulness but to put an end to committing sins. Just like the woman who has been forgiven, forgiveness paved a way for her to have a new life - a life free from sin and condemnation, and a life dedicated for genuine love and service. It is written in the Holy Scriptures, “Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
 
Three, the woman forgiving the people who have condemned her and had no resentment against them. There are times when people easily judge us or condemn us for some things that we either did or did not do. Forgiving them will not only pave a way for our growth as a person but will greatly contribute to our well-being. According to John Hopkins Medicine, “Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack; improving cholesterol levels and sleep; and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress.” Also, it is written in the Holy Scriptures, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” For if we forgive, our God will also forgive us.
 
Last but not the least, the woman forgiving herself from her sinfulness by turning away from sin because of the grace showed to her by Jesus Christ. For us to be totally free from the clutches of unforgiveness, we must also forgive ourselves for the wrong things we have done or mistakes we have committed. This will allow us to make peace with ourselves and move forward. Forgiving one’s self does not mean uttering the words, “I forgive myself” but it takes reflecting on what we have done wrong, acknowledging our mistake or wrong doing, putting ourselves on the shoes of those we have committed the wrong, and making up with our mistakes by putting things right.
 
Forgiveness is our gateway to freedom. Do not withhold. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
 
 

The word conviction has different meaning. It could mean the finding of guilt of an accused of crime. However, conviction as a value means the willingness to heed the dictates of conscience leading to a sense of remorse and repentance from sins. It is the realization of mistakes that will lead a person to turn away from unrighteousness.
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Conviction is very relevant in our days. It is material ingredient in the pursuit for change because it takes personal transformation to achieve national transformation. Indeed, it is true that the imposition of penalties helps as a deterrent to any form of malpractices. Nonetheless, it is not sufficient because an individual may be incorrigible even after serving a sentence unless and until he or she has been transformed internally. Internal transformation is possible if there is conviction for sins with the decision to live a new way of life. The good thing in this manner of change is voluntary rather than forcibly. The person concerned decides to turn away from sin.

The government is taking effort to achieve a genuine change among its personnel and its citizenry. It is investing much on trainings and seminars that reminds everyone the need for change. However, how many of the attendees truly put to heart the lessons learned on those seminars. Without heeding the nuggets of truth, conviction may not be achieved. For conviction to happen, a person’s heart must be open to receive the truth.

Looking into the realities of today, there are some people who seems unfettered by penal laws that even during broad daylight or in the presence of law enforcers, crimes are committed. Others just merely repeating their evil practices over and over again thinking that they will not be caught at any instance. It seems like they had a seared conscience that they cannot recognize their detestable misdeeds. Their wicked lifestyle became a norm.

Indeed, a person is honorable not because he or she holds an honorable position and possesses numerous ideas in mind but because he or she lives honorably. As Winston Churchill once said, “One man with conviction will overwhelm a hundred who have only opinions”. In the Philippines, we have brilliant and intellectually competent leaders. However, to this day, we still keep on fighting against all forms of corruption in governance. It shows that cognitive prowess is insufficient. It takes excellence in the internal configuration coupled with knowledge power among those in authorities and our citizens to achieve a desired national progress.

Let us therefore be led by our conviction. Let us abide with the existing laws and rules and meet the high standard of righteousness as required. We shall remain to be the true Pilipinos. Pili na, pino pa. 

by: Dr Laurence Mascay

​Justice is important in any society, like our country, the Philippines. It is the main thing that helps us get along with each other, solve problems, and protect our rights. Justice means being fair to everyone in a society. It involves giving people their rights and making sure everyone follows the rules. Justice tries to fix things when they go wrong, keep those who need help safe, and make sure society stays peaceful. Justice has two parts: making sure the way things are done is fair, and making sure the results are fair too.
 
In the Philippines, working toward justice involves many different things. It means trying to fix problems in the system, making sure judges are honest, and making sure everyone has the same chance to get justice. The country has some big challenges, but there have been important improvements in making the legal system better, fighting corruption, providing legal help, and supporting human rights. These efforts show that many people are committed to making the justice system fair and following the rules. Such is good news, especially for the majority of Filipinos who are less in life and look up to the fairness of the law.
 
Sadly, many Filipinos complain of injustices here and there. Wherein to them, the rich and powerful are favored and, at times, bend the law to their good while the masses are deprived of justice and experience the full force of the law for petty crimes committed. Such happenings lead some people or victims to distrust the justice system of the land, and some have even put the law in their own hands and become judges themselves. Many others, however, entrust the unfairness and injustices they have been through to the hand of God. Theodore Epp, a writer, said, “If you have been mistreated, cheated, or deceived and if your heart has been right all along, be assured that God knows this. God will eventually vindicate you.”
 
As values advocates and catalysts of change, we hope and look forward to the Philippines as a fairer and just place to live. And each one has a role to play in this noble undertaking and in advocating justice as a pillar of a fair society. Therefore, be a voice to the voiceless, never compromise your values for some valuables, do not stay silent when injustices take place before your eyes, and never take revenge as no evil act goes unpunished. The Scripture says,  “Never take your own revenge, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Justice is a pillar of a fair society, and each one of us has a role to play.