FROM THE BARREL OF MY PEN
By Gonzalo “Jun” Policarpio

BEWARE TO WORSHIP THE GOLDEN CALF!

As I have said before that if a Filipino can accomplish something that is truly outstanding far exceeding that of any other competitor in his career or line of work, then the Philippines can also be comparably great or even greater than any country in the world.

Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao broke the record of winning seven championship belts in seven different weight divisions. His story is quite amazing to tell of an impoverished boy who by struggled to fulfill his dream to excel in his chosen field of sport which is boxing.

His recent victory on the boxing ring in Las Vegas technically put him on top of every other boxer in history as the greatest. So remember, it’s not Muhammad Ali but Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino who came from the ghettoes of Mindanao.

By all means, Jose Rizal is the National Hero of the Filipino people. Let no innocent boy or girl make the mistake of thinking that Pacquiao is a hero in the likes of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Emilio Aguinaldo, Gregorio del Pilar, and those who sacrificed their lives for freedom against the foreign invaders.

Rizal has gained worldwide recognition as a universal genius whose martyrdom for the sake of liberty for his people is indeed outstanding. He tried to imitate the death of Christ at the Cross when he willingly “gave up his ghost” before the Spanish firing squad.

Rizal’s heroism emboldened the timid and lethargic Filipino masses to rise against their Spanish masters that finally let to the declaration of independence of the Philippines from Spain with the founding of the first Philippine Republic in Malolos, Bulacan.

It is very important to tell our young children the true merits of Filipinos who are considered super achievers in their own particular fields of endeavor such as in sports or entertainment. Such deserve our accolades and due appreciation of their outstanding skills.

At any rate, what the Filipino people need now are super achievers in inspiring the masses to believe in themselves and most especially to our God the Creator who endowed each individual with special gifts or skills for a purpose. This is what popular American pastor Rich Warren is saying in his best-selling book, “Purpose-Driven Life.”

Manny Pacquiao no doubt pays tribute for all his successes to God and he is not ashamed to show it. All our national heroes dedicated their sacrifices for liberty believing that God is a God of Liberty.

I may say that the secret to success is to acknowledge our God in Heaven for all the blessings one receives for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The purpose of living in this world is to glorify the Creator, not the creation.

Beware to worship the Golden Calf!

End