OMG CHRISTMAS

12.25/26.14

"How are you feeling?" "Do you have a hard time breathing?"  "Does it feel itchy?"

Today is Christmas, the most wonderful day ever; yet instead of joyful greetings, what I get are questions about my state of health. Where am I?

Naturally, not in my usual family reunion where everyone arrives looking ready to party,  but in a hospital where my green jogging pants and red tee (Baduy ba? Hehe!) should do its job of cheering up the place. Trick didn't work, of course.  

I am in the emergency room (ER), for crying out loud. 

Overheard from my left side of the curtain divider:

Female voice: Ikaw na nga ang nakabangga, ikaw pa ang mayabang! Wala ka pang lisensya. (You were the one who hit them, yet you're so arrogant! And you didn't have your license!) 

Male voice: Wala din namang lisensya yung tricycle driver. Tsaka bakit doon tumawid yung bata? (The tricycle driver has no license too. And why did the kid cross the street?)

Female voice: Lasing ka! Ikaw pa ang mayabang! Antayin mo na lang ang demanda! (You were drunk! But you're so arrogant! Wait till they sue you!)

Christmas day live soap opera, courtesy of my co-ER guest, er... patient. You be the judge.

But back to why I 'm in the hospital.  Let's see if a few words can hack it: 

It seems my anti-uric meds dispensed a week ago wreaked havoc, painting my mala-porcelanang legs and thighs with matching pink skin rashes which turned kadiri-to-death-like even days after my doctor-nieces Franjo and Ruthie, and my internist—one of the few doctors available for consultation a day before Christmas eve—advised, "Stop using it altogether."  

Top that with leg, thigh and skull (not headache but skull-ache, parang nauntog) pain seesaw-ing between "oh-no!" and "oh-no-no-no!" I had days when crutches were my only means to move around.

Hospital confinement seemed the only choice when I woke up Christmas day with oh-no-no-no-no-no leg and thigh and head pain, plus a swollen right eye. OMG, this was gonna be worse than a bad hair day. 

(And I thought pneumonia was my bigger problem. That proved to be a mere "oh!")

But His grace intervened: 

Got checked into a nice comfortable room with just the right amenities.

My doctor visited. Yes, even on Christmas day, and the next. Really kind soul! His prescribed meds and the IV drip of course worked! But he advised to consult with a rheumatologist to rule out any vascular issues. 

Nurses and hospital staff came round the clock—even those who cleaned the room. 

Had a long chat with Butch (one of the attending senior nurses) about faith and having a personal relationship with Jesus. He was happy to receive my book, "Now That You're Boss." 

Got a little acquainted with Nazareth, a 24-year old nurse whom I gifted with "Going Up?" Am praying the Author of Life Himself will speak to her and Butch.

Karen, my OMF editor-partner-in-faith, called to assure me she was praying; and drop a bit of allelujia news from Vancouver, Canada—that  the "Boss" book is being serialized for bible study for its intended demographic in a local church. 

And of course, the prayers and well wishes of my loving family (our kids communicated and prayed relentlessly) other loved ones especially Papoose, Mita and Dan, my bosom-and-coffee-buddy Grace, friends, bible study brothers and sisters, and Pastor Robert—all of these rose to heaven, a sweet smelling aroma, which offered in faith, availed much.

Jack and Gigi, what would I do without you? Praising God always for you! 

I sure had a lot of "Oh-nos!" But the "Oh-yeah-yeahs!" prevailed.  Surely, no fear in Jesus; because His answer is always Yes and Amen! 

CHRISTMAS IS FOR US KIDS

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Christmas is for children. That's what they always say.

So true. If you're 60 or 16, and you believe in Christmas, then you're a kid. So you can enjoy with the rest of Christ-believers that He indeed came that first Christmas day.  Welcome to His party!

Because how can you believe this story of someone coming from heaven to save you? How can you even buy into a tale that this Son of God became man, was conceived by a virgin and then willingly let Himself be crucified in exchange for your salvation? 

What kind of mind would even think this nonsense? Children! Or as Jesus says, those whose hearts are like kids'. 

So with child-like faith, are you and I foolish for believing in Jesus? Because that's what we adults say sometimes of kids—that they're foolish and they need to grow up. The rest of humanity too believes that Jesus' coming is a fairy tale. 

But this I know, and that's why with childlike faith, I've believed:

It just made sense one day—That God loved me. That He sent Jesus as the expression of His love. That I needed to accept Him as my Savior and Lord. Then, something within me changed. 

He promised that! 

He said (Ezekiel 36:26) that He will change our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh—sensitive to His heart and His instructions. 

He replaced my bitter and unforgiving heart with one now able to love others and experience His peace that's beyond all logic. I can now sleep at night without worry or fear—as He has promised. No amount of MBAs or PhD's—or money or fame or power—could grant you that. 

Where I used to stew with rage, anger, envy and malice, I do now experience love, compassion and kindness for others.

Do I get tempted when those around me are irritating, irresponsible and inconsiderate? Definitely! Hello, we're still on planet earth and subject to all temptations. You can believe too that satan (I won't even give him the benefit of being treated as as a proper noun.) and his mean spirits are continuously sowing fear, intrigue and destruction all around us.

But Jesus' mind in me enables me not to lose my poise, be sarcastic, or retaliate. I just know that! Pre-Jesus, I'd fight you with venom or at least wish, "Madapa ka sana!" "May araw ka rin!" when someone offends me.

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Because He promised: I can walk His walk, demonstrating His fruit (Gal 5:22-23)—which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That's if we allow the Holy Spirit to control us. 

Note that the bible talks about this fruit in singular form—nine traits in one fruit. I checked a grapefruit recently and found nine individual parts. Just what Jesus intends for our character to manifest. A good fruit!

God has never been late or slow or changed His mind about any of His promises. All of these are given, not hidden, in the bible; that those with child-like faith may believe. 

Believers' changed lives should testify that we have not believed in a lie or a nonsense. Jesus came to save us and give us life abundant. 

Surely, we can't comprehend God with our intellect or our erudition. Be a child first. Then you can believe in Jesus. Christmas is about no one else but Him. 

Then you can mean it when you say, "Merry Christmas!" 

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WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

I listened in awe and expectation as Rev shared the Word of God last Sunday.

Rev's wife and our niece Bambi informed us earlier that Rev would be preaching at Victory (The Fort) last Sunday and we asked to be invited. 

He was to pinch-hit for another preacher on the last of the "Big Deal" series.  And what great reminder! 

What's "big deal" to you, he asks. "Money? Power? S-e-x (had to spell that out because there were kids in the audience)?"

Come to think of it, many would claim God and family, in that order, as their priorities; yet they hardly pray or read the bible, or play with their children, or speak with their wives (or husbands). 

Know God. Remember God. Love God. Obey God. This is the big deal. 

Deutoronomy 30:15&16—"See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess."

The offshoot is obvious—an abundant life of ever increasing blessings no matter where you are in the world, be it in your country of origin or in another land where He plants you. 

"God's heart is for the next generation," says Rev. "The children of the righteous shall never beg for food."

That's why we need to teach God's Word to our children. Deutoronomy 6:6&7—These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

It starts with loving Him with all of our heart and soul and strength (Deut 6:5).

And it's all about choice. Joshua 24:15—"... choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

My life, and all my days, start and end with God. How can I choose otherwise if in the process I reap misery; worse, be eternally separated from Him? 

Lord Jesus, enable me to decide today, "You are my Big Deal."

BIRTHDAY GIFT

I turned 63 the moment the clock struck 12:00 last midnight.

But unlike in Walt Disney's animated movie Cinderella—where a fairy godmother poof-poofed a "salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo" magic—no spooky moment transpired.

I was just wide awake—probably ingested too much caffeine the day before, so old acid reflux started to pester.  

Too, I could not shake off this new book concept. It started to brew weeks back when, with my friend Grace, a storyline started to emerge. It percolated loudly last night, with characters and plots and subplots taking shape as I typed away into the wee hours. 

Voila, my fifth book was born! 

I've done just a few measly pages, but I'm putting my faith on the line, believing Jesus will be faithful to stitch it all together as I heed His wisdom while I write.

Thank you Lord. What a way to start my special day. With only a few hours left to sleep—to get up at 5:30 am because today is my usual teaching day—I prayed, "Make me sleep, Lord. Make it so good I'd have supernatural strength to last me the entire day."

Yey, it really felt like I snoozed a hundred years when the alarm went off. New strength, new grace, new blessings. New morning! God indeed is faithful. This inspite of my once in a while catatonic faith and self-doubts. 

Psalm 45, my marked Psalm for today. Verse 1: "My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the King; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer." 

A voice inside popped, "That's my birthday gift for you." 

Wham! It hit me like a thundercloud. What more affirmation did I need? He alone enables. It too was a rebuke. From the very start of my writing gigs, I've always nursed this seeming inadequacy—"I am not good enough."

But now I see it! It is His noble theme—His Word alone—which moved my heart to dream and share His Word to a generation that's more motivated by a gimme-gimme attitude and a lust for carnal and short-lived pleasures. It has never been about my skills. 

That's the reason I started writing in 2008. A fiery theme continued to burn in my heart. "Tell these young people I have a purpose for their lives." So I penned my first book to let my students know God's great plan to prosper them.

So is this 63 year old grandma slowing down? Well, not in the words department; especially since verse 2 of Psalm 45 reads: "You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever." In the same way the Father anointed Jesus, so am I anointed to write with grace; and in excellence. 

Jesus has my back covered, even when I'm 63, and forever. 

HOY GISING!

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Are you dead, or alive? Just making sure: Pulse? Check. Heartbeat? Check. The rest of you? Check and double check!

So, if we're alive and kicking, why does the bible refer to us as either dead or asleep ? Ephesians 5:14 ― “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

"Hoy Gising!" (Awake!)  was Pastor Paul Chase's recent teaching. He was speaking of course of our being dead to our sins, as written in Ephesians 2:5; and how Jesus gives us life if we put our faith in Him ― believing His Word and following His example.

Come to think of it, many go to bed meditating on their supposedly unsolvable or hopeless situations:

"My debts are sky-high? How do I escape?"

"How could I cover up my work boo-boos? My job is in danger!"

"What if I've been targeted in my company's the next round of retrenchments?"

"What if my diagnosis is cancer and I only have a few months?"

Replaying scenarios like these in your mind will surely deprive you of sleep, even making you wish you were dead or wouldn't wake up to a new day ― to escape from this sinkhole.

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But Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

Morning always brings with it new grace, new mercy, new blessings; but one needs to get up!

"Don't allow your bed to be your place of surrender," says Pastor Paul. "Get out of your sleepy mode. If you make decisions out of a foggy mind and emotion, you're bound to stumble."

Waking up makes one sober-minded, wise, sensible, intelligent, says  Ephsesians 5:15-16. "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil."

Sure, you feel your circumstances chomping you up alive. I have a lot of those episodes myself; and I'd always been tempted to put my hands up, "I give up! I'm outa here!"  

Still, I cling to His promise not to allow me to be tempted beyond my capacity to endure, and that He will always give me a way out. 

  

His solution is coming! And it's wisdom that's wiser than any peace broker or psychiatrist or bank officer can offer. Only be wise and humble and dependent on Him.

Be assured: Jesus has everything in control. He is the Lord, ain't He? He too has engraved you in the palm of His mighty, powerful Hand!

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Resolve to wake and stand up tomorrow seeking after Him who died in your place so that you may have life. 

NO DEPOSIT LEADS TO PANIC

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Was there ever a time you checked your ATM or bank account and found almost nothing there? 

I did, recently; discovering to my dismay that my monthly pension from SSS has stopped, leaving me with just a balance of 44 pesos and 50 cents. 

"You should have come to us a year after receiving your pension," said the bank officer. 

Apparently, SSS just wants to make sure I'm still alive and my money does not get into the hands of someone mining my death for profit. And I didn't know that.

It was pretty scary --- knowing you have money in the bank then discover you've got nothing, zilch! I nearly panicked. To a retiree, pension money is sustenance. 

Someone should have made a deposit but I missed my bank appointment and that did it for me. All is well, of course, because the bank helped settle the matter with SSS.

Panic is what I experience too when, too lazy or busy to read the bible, I face my daily challenges with my own grit and power. 

It's a no-brainer: If you meditate on His Word before starting your day, you're better prepared to handle situations and issues fighting for your attention. 

It's so easy to give in to temptation --- be arrogant, prideful, resentful, hateful, angry, judgmental, depressed, etc. --- if the Gospel is not richly deposited in our hearts. 

Ephesians 6 says that His Word --- fashioned as our belt of truth --- enables us to stand firm to face the enemy. No weapon formed against us shall prosper if we allow ourselves to be covered by the full armor of God! 

But this happens only if we renew our minds daily with His Word. The mind of Christ rescues us from needless panic or fear.  

So don't let your heart account go kaput. Daily kneel before God. Be refreshed by His Word because He promised to let the truth set you free. 

WHO OWNS YOUR MIND?

"Ownership of mind." In Marketing or Advertising, this refers to consumers preferring a particular brand for a specific need, e.g., Coca-Cola for thirst, or McDonald's for one's burger craving. 

I've always taught my Marketing students that companies always strive for ownership of mind which is key to a brand's long-term love affair with its consumers; hence, the need to advertise; and to make sure the product works according to its promises.

Everyday, many thoughts vie for our attention. Our mind, they say, is the devil's workshop, if we allow carnal thoughts to take up residence there. It's easy for important matters to get lost as we focus on our gotta-have-them goods or nitty-gritty needs or desires.

Just this morning, as you got out of bed, was your mind preoccupied with what you needed to do or buy? The list is long: Write project proposal. Don't forget to greet someone "happy birthday." Buy dress for party on Saturday. Purchase groceries for almost empty pantry. Meet amigas  for lunch in mall.  

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All these can take precedence over our times with God. He should be the Brand that occupies our thoughts the whole day. If we believe Jesus is the best answer to all of our needs   --- be they the need for wisdom at work or about our relationships, or the need to spend wisely --- then our minds and hearts should always be plugged into His.

So why not seek Him as soon as you wake up? His Word is your best defense against all other voices and brands wanting to dominate your everyday. He promised to "destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ," (2 Cor 10:5).

Going for your favorite dependable brands is good. But even the best products fail, right? Make sure your total trust is on the Brand Who fails not. 

RAW DEAL

It's very tempting — this urge to criticize and complain.

But may I beg your indulgence, just this once; then I'll forever zip it. 

And you guessed right. I will add noise to the cacophony of words directed at those in authority.

Traffic, for instance. All of us who drive or commute see the obvious — day in and day out: 

Pasaway drivers counterflowing or crossing the red light or weaving in and out of their lanes without regard for rules or common courtesy. Jeepneys waiting for passengers in the middle of the road. 

Violations are rampart because traffic officers don't enforce traffic rules. Instead, many wait in shady corners waiting for their coffee-or-lunch-break allowance — meaning lagay from drivers who are just in a hurry (they may not have violated any rules) so they succomb to the pressure. As far as real violations? They look the other way; or deadma.

And please! Has the MMDA not seen it yet? They may be called that, but our traffic officers don't know how to traffic! I don't think it's their fault. But have the authorities even bothered to train them? Or have they consulted some hotshot traffic expert to put some rhyme and reason to our bewildering (nakakaloka talaga!) road conditions. 

A common comment: Pag may nag-t-traffic, lalong may traffic. Why? Because the one who conducts traffic does not even care about vehicular build-up on that part of the road that is on "stop" — while he allows all vehicles to pass, hanggang sa maubos sila (pero hindi naman nauubos) in the lane that's on "go."

Haven't they heard of "time and motion study?" There's a science for managing traffic as well as there is a science involved in washing dishes or clothes. Maybe they should ask a housewife to help them. 

At the rate traffic is being managed, one can surmise the high incidence of high blood pressure, lung cancer, and heart and kidney problems among residents in these parts. Oh Jesus, cover us all with your blood! 

Experts have of course warned that business productivity is at stake. With shipped goods stranded at our ports because of this unresolved traffic crisis, how can our companies afford to be competitive? 

This chain of inefficiency and bad management ought to be broken. 

Traffic is just the tip of the iceberg! It's the obvious part. 

Need it be said, for the centillionth time, that if only each one in government — be they bosses or subordinates — performed their tasks faithfully (as if doing it for God and not men), this mess need not even occur? 

But I'll stop here, because I might go on ad nauseam about how we're getting a raw deal as tax payers and law-abiding citizens. 

"We must do what we need to do, the right that must be done, in our own area of influence and reach." That's what we always remind each other in our bible study group when confronted with, "How can we effect change?" 

Jesus taught us not only to be hearers but also doers of the Word (James 1:22). But it's hard to obey if we're not accountable to the Lord of all.

If we say we are a Christian nation, then let us be. Obey the law. Don't bribe. Have no part in what they peddle as "if everyone does it, why can't we do it too," mentality. 

This is what it means to suffer as a Christian —by doing what pleases Him, not our pockets or our convenience. 

What more can we do? He urges us to pray. 1 Tim 2:2 — Pray for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (NASB). 

We know that prayer can move mountains. Matthew 17:20 — "... Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

O Lord we cast all cares about our nation into your hands. Yet, enable us to obey. 

AMAZING, IMMEASURABLE

These past few months had been a whirlwind of grace.     

First, I'd been able to survive an entire school term with four sections of college newbies -- first year students still transitioning from their high school mind-sets of kabisote (rote) learning to trying to think and analyse things and issues for themselves. 

Tough but rewarding, especially when you see most of them warming up to your efforts.

Second, though I missed my grandkids and children so much, Facetime and Facebook nonetheless allowed us precious bonding moments though we are continents afar.

Thank you Lord for the miracle of the internet!

Healthwise, my husband and I have measured up, in spite of the occasional stress seniors like us endure. Thanks to Gigi, our faithful kasambahay, who never fails to prepare our daily veggie-fruit concoction and make things easy-breezy for us around the house.

The joy of the Lord is our strength! Really!

And third, my fourth book has been birthed at last. "Now that You're Boss: Timely and Timeless Lessons for New (& Seasoned) Leaders," had its soft launch last week, courtesy of a long lost (back in my hotel days) colleague, Ms. Elvie Sanchez-Quiazon -- in a venue I never would have afforded, and an audience that was just the perfect answer to my prayer:

"Lord this book is about your Word, and your message to people in the marketplace. Let your purpose and your plan prevail. Let it be promoted to your intended audience."

Previously, Elvie -- who happens to be the general manager of Vivere Hotel and president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Muntinlupa  -- and I found myself in the same meeting room in the school where I teach.

"Could you hold a seminar for us?" she inquired. As our chika progressed and she learned of my upcoming book, she exclaimed, "Then you can launch your book with us!"

I prayed too for a sponsor so I can at least invite and say "thank you" to those who have endorsed the book. My brother-in-law, Tony Olizon, responded graciously.

And in spite of the pricey lunch tag, faithful friends came nonetheless.

So last Thursday, Sept. 11, my book took center stage at the ballroom of the Vivere Hotel, during the PCCI General Membership Meeting, where an overflow audience listened to my talk on leadership and market competitiveness, then lined up later to have their books signed.

Amazing, immeasurable grace! Thank you Jesus!   

DARK AGES

It's only been a day of electricity-less living yet most of us feel we've been plunged back into the dark ages.

Day two after typhoon Glenda. It started with a night of horrific winds lashing at 140 kph—howling, battering and almost unhinging and dismantling anything unstable on its path.  

Ceaseless prayers went heavenwards. Thank You Lord for keeping us safe. 

How sad for those who suffered more harm. Let's pray they recover from this tragedy—and do our part to help with whatever we can give or do—even as we brace for more typhoons, an offshoot of global warming. 

God is true to His promise to keep us safe even in the middle of the storm, because even the winds are subject to Him.

The morning after the storm, felled trees became the source of instant livelihood by some. In our place, a team of four men with their bolos hacked away at trees and their branches off of roofs, driveways and streets. 

Since last night, we'd waited for the current to hum, but to no avail. 

No electricity, no wifi, no computer games. Cell phones gone kaput. No humming or whirring of applicances. 

It's all quiet in the home front:

Longer time to pray, and pray hard.

Gave family members a chance to talk, something which a lot of gizmo-focused dudes have not done for a long while.

Made us realize that we can live on less and not sweat about it. 

Gave us pause on what's important—family, togetherness, safety, rest, quietness.

Dark days still have a way of making our days worthwhile. 

Let's be thankful and count our blessings. 

  

BRAZEN: A LESSON FROM ALDRIC

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The nerve of one of my students! Asking me to mention his name in my next book.

But I loved him for it. 

In my 12 years of teaching, I've not come across any one as brazen. 

I was taken aback initially, then realized that he was dead serious --- but kid-serious, just like a toddler pretty-pretty-please-asking her grandma for ice cream. He asked, and then asked again.

His entreaties were that of an innocent child who knew that if he persisted or maging makulit, he'd get his wish to finally be mentioned in a book. 

Aldric Yriarte. That's his name. So I promised him I'd mention his name in my blog --- first.

Why did I relent? First, it's a very simple wish. Second, his attitude reminded me that childlikeness works. Even if one has reached adulthood, some of this endearing childlike spark should remain. Being mature does not mean being stiff and boring.

Did he manipulate me? Not at all. He seemed as genuine as apple pie. And a lesson budded:

Boldness, coupled with niceness and respectfulness, seems like a perfect brew for easing your way into people's hearts. 

That's the heart too that Jesus wants to see in each of us. Remember that incident when children milled around Jesus so that He could pray for them, then the disciples tried to shoo them away? 

But Jesus said (Matthew 19:14), "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  Then He laid hands on them. 

Childlike faith moves God: 

Matthew 8:13?“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

 

Hebrews 11:6?"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Persistence likewise pays. Didn't Christ encourage us to pray and pray without ceasing until heaven responds? 

Aldric, I don't know if or when there will be a next book to finally see your name in print. But I just want to thank you for teaching your teacher that childlikeness with persistence isn't a liability but an asset, especially when it comes to faith in God. 

HYSTERICAL NEWS

Integrity and objectivity. These were the values instilled in us by our Journalism professor.  

I took these to heart when I apprenticed at the news desk of a radio station; and later joined a broadcast company, and then another, after college.

Our TV station's evening news program reaped awards for TV news reporting because our News and Public Affairs bosses adhered to these tenets.  

That's a bygone era. 

That was when TV news, no matter how shocking, didn't make your blood pressure rise — because even the most disgusting or heart-breaking stories were delivered by newscasters who didn't raise their eyebrows or sounded panicky.  It was up to the viewer to supply his own angst or disgust or disbelief.  

A professional newscaster modulated his voice. No tinge of editorializing, bias or intrigue. No shouting or eardrum-busting tones and snide comments. No bringing-you-to-the-gutter tactics.

Oh yes,  some emotion and a bit of hysteria somehow made their way into our living rooms.  But these were during live coverage of crises, like the EDSA revolution or a devastating earthquake. 

Today, when I turn on the news, I somehow get the same sense of panic attack akin to what I experienced when, many years back, a radio broadcast reported that a building collapsed due to an earthquake. 

Sensationalism is bad for your health! Today's broadcasts seem to set you off on fear-mode.

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Reporters didn't report neighborhood fights or husband-beats-wife incidents. Those were for the tabloids. Sadly, today's TV newscasts have turned primetime news into tabloids, magnifying tsismis, gore and scandals, and the lurid details of celebrities' lives. 

Where's the real news? How about some news on Filipino achievers, and I mean not just showbiz personalities. There must be some news about government leaders and programs worth emulating. And the world is so diverse, viewers could probably benefit from learning about what's happening in other countries. 

Or how about some objective commentary coming from those who can --- without fanfare or angas --- truly analyze the news and the actions of people behind them. We should have more Anthony Tabernas or Ka Tunyings in every newscast.

Our newscasts have become so micro-and-bad-news-oriented, viewers fail to see a bigger perspective with which they can judge domestic happenings. 

Then maybe, we can use some praise reports. Not the usual praise releases of politicians or entities glorifying themselves to get votes for the next election or to propagate some sinister ideology.  

Why not these? Honest-to-goodness news on goodness and kindness.  Successful partnerships, philanthropy and entrepreneurship.  Character and situation turn-arounds, triumph of good versus evil, etc.  

I'm not surprised if a lot of Pinoy TV viewers no longer tune in to local news. "Tumataas ang presyon ko," says my friend. 

I found one local news channel which still adheres to non-sensational and intelligent reporting.  Solar TV newscasters could amp their enthusiasm a bit; but I salute them for their objectivity and sobriety.

Isaiah 52:7---"How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

That's why if you're sick and tired of watching hysterical news, the Good News is always there to comfort and give you hope.