Another Genesis?

Hello! Are you still there? So the world has not ended yet, as that old Mayan calendar is supposed to have predicted? Well, it is time to give thanks we can still celebrate another Christmas, the birthday of our Saviour, whose protection continues. As for those who believe that those Mayans knew their stuff, well, there are human beings who enjoy torturing themselves, so let them be, For us, this Christmas gives us more reasons to show our gratitude to our Heavenly Father, for the gift of His Only Begotten Son to us.

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Even if we Filipinos may not have taken that end-of-the-world scarer seriously, there are many all over the world who accepted it as true and have made preparations for their survival. Some dug out tunnels where they could seek cover with their loved ones, others built forts, and there are even rumors about those who prepared lifeboats and life jackets. Nobody knows, of course, how those devices will save them, they only want to do something that might help.

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But what if the predictions were true, and the world really comes to an end during our lifetime? Will survival be of any benefit? How would you like wandering around in an environment with all houses and structures gone, no living trees and other humans, and no flora or fauna, no fish or fowl to provide your food, clothing and shelter? Would you prefer such a “life”? No friends or relatives to talk to, no places to visit?

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Suppose everything goes back to how it had been before the creation? Remember that God had to create first the heavens and the earth. And the earth was a “formless wasteland,” covered with darkness. Do you suppose God will again say “Let there be light”, and also create the sea and the sky? All this is, of course are mere speculations, because, even when He punished the wicked by sending floods, He still chose to save some of the people then living. Anyway, those are just some of the thoughts that came to me on this, supposedly the “end of the world day”. Praise God for His love and tolerance for us, despite the sins of this generation.

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My brother Pros called it “another Pacquiao-Bradley” contest, with the obvious winner losing to the obvious loser. He was referring to the Miss Universe contest held in Las Vegas yesterday where the Philippine representative, who was a popular contender right from the start of the gathering of the contestants, just ended as First Runner-up to Miss. U.S.A. who not only appeared inferior in both looks and figure, but also in the question-and-answer portion where our girl very clearly won.

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Well, as some philosophers have rationalized, our last two bets had both gotten into the innermost circles, as fourth, then third runners-up in recent Miss U contests. So having this one cop first runner-up honors could mean that, next year, our bet will make it. Well, that remains to be seen. What is already very clear is that the candidates we have been sending are really top caliber ones, who can hold their own among all those beauties from so many countries. Note that even in the competitions for top models of the world, we already have had several winners. They can't put the Pinays down, is all I can say.

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Ah, but our Pinays are so feisty! And they are getting more and more so these days. Not only have we voted two woman presidents already, we have also so many females in top elective positions as well as in national cabinet offices. Two women are now in the news in Cebu, where the elected governor has been ordered suspended because of charges in the SandiganBayan, but refuses to yield the office, even if her vice governor, also a woman, has already been sworn in. Now Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia (wasn't she aiming for a senatorial post before?) is digging in her heels, and refusing to leave the capitol, even staying there all night, barricaded and surrounded by her loyalists.

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Her vice governor, Agnes Magpale, is biding her time, and wondering how she could sign official documents when records and even stationery and office equipment are in the capitol building, fiercely guarded over by Garcia and her supporters. This is going to be a tough fight between, ahem, dynasties. Garcia comes from the powerful clan that had governors, mayors and congressmen, while Magpale is an Almendras, also of the politically entrenched family, with one of them now a close associate of the President. So the tug-of-war goes on and when, or how will the rope break?*

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