Mental Fragments

"Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul." - Ezra Taft Benson

Anyone who has experienced some form of inner struggle in their lives will agree to this. It’s very hard when you know that what you are trying to overcome is inside you. At times you ask yourself why you’re like this or that… or doubt yourself if you will be able to conquer it. There also comes to a point that you blame yourself because it is you who you’re trying to overcome.

Often times I think too much. I don’t know if I’m just being too self-absorbed or living by the book. I’m uptight and self-controlled that I feel I’m missing the best things in life. Many times I envy those people who just do that they want to do without regard of what other people might think of them. On the other hand, we are guided by tried and tested laws and norms (society, wisdom, morality, God’s laws, etc…) and following them isn’t that bad.

But the decision is still with us. We can choose on what path to take and determine what applies in our own situation. Here’s a quote by Peter Parker from the movie Spiderman 3:

"Whatever comes our way, whatever battle we have raging inside us; we always have a choice… It’s the choices that make us who we are, and we can always choose to do what’s right."

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I’m reminded of a chat with a friend and it went like this:

[Me]: minsan gusto ko na mag-enjoy at magpakaloko

[Friend]: well, pwede ka naman mag-enjoy ng hindi nagpapaka-loko…

…she is right; maybe we can strike a balance in enjoying life and doing what’s right.

With the May 14 elections just under a week away, it is our duty as Filipinos to examine the platform and the quality of leaders that we are about to elect. Few weeks ago, I was thinking that I won’t be able to complete my list of 12 senators. With the personalities of the majority of those running for the Senate, it’s hard to choose. Our politics are ruled with candidates whose integrity, competence and intentions are questionable. Then an officemate forwarded an email about a relatively unknown party called ‘Ang Kapatiran’.

“Ang Kapatiran, or the Alliance of the Common Good is a national political party founded on the ideology of the common good based on 10 ethical principles:

Belief in God

Respect for life and human dignity

Strengthening of the family

Community participation

Basic rights and responsibilities

Preferential option for the poor and the vulnerable

Dignity of work and rights of workers

Care for nature as God’s creation

Peace and active nonviolence

Solidarity

and commitment to the common good.”

They have three senate candidates under their party, they are:

ZOSIMO JESUS M. PAREDES II

     Former Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on the VFA, Professional Soldier, Lawyer, Civil Servant, Teacher

ADRIAN O. SISON

     Lawyer, Teacher, Writer, Radio Broadcaster

MARTIN DONATO BAUTISTA

     Medical Doctor (Gastroenterologist), Former Overseas Worker

I haven’t finalized my senatorial list yet but I will definitely be considering these three. The party is doing away with the money politics and that makes the intentions of these candidates clearer. These people may not win the elections but I would rather vote for them rather than winnable but undeserving candidates. But there is hope, with the CBCP and El Shaddai endorsing all three Kapatiran candidates, winning is not impossible.

Ang Kapatiran Website

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Inquirer.net has this Eleksyon 2007 Podcasts wherein senatorial candidates were interviewed regarding their platforms. This can help us in choosing our senators. Let’s do our part to make Philippines a better country.