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


KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN


When I trained for an immigration officer’s job at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia way back in the mid90s, I learned that there were segments and segments of immigration regulations and procedures not accessible to the public including lawyers. I believe that’s still true today.

Though I may agree with the suggestion to seek the advice of an immigration lawyer when it comes to an immigration or naturalization issue, lawyers do not have all the answers or solutions. Some of them have even been disbarred for misrepresentation.

Lawyers definitely would need the assistance of an immigration expert or one who has been fully trained or completely immersed on a regular basis in immigration law and regulations. Such are former immigration or adjudications officers who were able to acquire long years of experience and knowledge in the implementation and enforcement of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the U.S. Code, the Code of Federal Regulations, and various court decisions including those of the Board of Immigration Appeals.

The people to watch out with regard to an immigration problem are those so-called “consultants” or “notarios” who do not have any experience or training in the Immigration Officer’s Academy. Don’t you ever seek their assistance because they will promise you or guarantee you everything in exchange for your money.

True to every field of endeavor such as in medicine, engineering, or in the arts and sciences, getting a second opinion from another professional is always better than not.

Most particularly in being confronted with the issue of whether or not one would need an invasive surgical procedure to cure an ailment, the best move is to get the best of all available medical advice from experts. Being totally dependent on one doctor is unwise because he or she is definitely subject to make a mistake.

Who I would recommend to put our trust completely for solution to any kind of problems in life is One who is All Knowing and Omnipotent. That’s God in Heaven if you have a personal relationship with his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Other from Him, it would be better to keep our options open.



End

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


“SUBSTANCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN”


So many preachers have used the test of faith illustration about a man with a wheelbarrow walking on a tightrope. One could not control his admiration for the extraordinary feat by jumping up and down shouting that he’s now a believer of the stunt man. Then a preacher asked him if he truly believes in the man. And he answered with a big Yes. He again asked him if he could ride on the wheelbarrow while being pushed by the stunt man on the tightrope. And he said, “That’s a different story”

That answer “That’s a different story” sounds familiar and common with anybody’s pronouncement of Christian faith or faith in God when it comes to a real test. Normally a man may proclaim his faith but cannot commit his life to it.

In the New Testament, there’s an account of a rich man who proudly told Jesus that he obeyed all of his commandments and asked whether he would go to heaven after death. Jesus asked him to leave all his riches and follow him. The rich man was not able to do it.

Faith is not plain belief. It is deep and divine. The Bible said that if one has faith even the size of a mustard seed, then he can command the mountain to move and it will move.

Faith is also described as like that of a child’s faith. A child obeys without question. Abraham of the Old Testament obeyed God like a child when told to offer his beloved son Isaac as a burnt offering. It was just a test of Abraham’s faith in God and he passed when God stopped him from doing it. That is why it is said of the children as the kingdom of Heaven.

Faith also does not require sight. It does not apply to the saying “to see is to believe.” The Bible teaches believers to walk “by faith not by sight…nor by might but by my Spirit, sayeth the Lord.”

The essence of Faith, therefore, is the “substance of things not seen and things hoped for.” The Scriptures say “God is Spirit, and one must worship God in spirit and in truth”

I think only a chosen few are endowed with the divine gift of Faith yet whosoever may ask God for it, according to the Bible. I WANT IT! Don’t you?


End

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


A SCENARIO FOR A NEW PHILIPPINES

I consider the next presidential elections in the Philippines as crucial to me personally as a natural born Filipino. It shall finally nudge me with full pressure to do something for that seemingly God-forsaken country in the Far East in case of an election failure.

If a supremely powerful force would transport me to the Philippines and install as the leader with zero connections to any living or dead person there, I should do the following to cure this nation’s combined socio-economic, political, religio-cultural, and ecological problems that have impoverished the people since the Spanish colonial times:

Seizure of all lands grabbed by the former Spanish Colonial Government and distributed to favored persons or entities in exchange of pro-Spanish activities as well as to favored military officials and five religious orders of Roman Catholic Church historically referred to as the FRIAR LANDS comprising thousands and thousands of hectares all over the Philippines. Note that the United States after taking over the Philippines from Spain was not able to properly and equitably solve the unlawful occupation of such lands that belonged to the real owners with titles.

Seizure of all lands and other properties from corrupt Filipino government officials and their cohorts since the founding of the Filipino nation under former President Emilio Aguinaldo. All those found to be guilty would be meted justice with mercy.

Seizure of stolen wealth taken from the sequestered MARCOS STOLEN WEALTH by officials and cronies of the government agency empowered to do it, the Presidential Commission on Good Government. This is a heinous crime and the culprits should be justifiably punished.

Support to successful Filipino entrepreneurs and investors who obtained their wealth legally under the Free Enterprise System by using their business intelligence using their insight, hindsight and foresight. Encourage them through tax subsidies to develop idle lands, explore and utilize the country’s natural resources, especially her mineral wealth and oil, gas, and other energy resources to build more job-creating industrial plants and factories.

Support to Filipino scientists and inventors as well as to academic theoreticians in order to advance the country’s science and technology program. This would change the country from a predominantly agricultural economy into one that may be described as highly industrialized.

Contingency programs to minimize the effects of natural calamities such as typhoons, earthquakes, tsunamis, and drought.

So much for these and just stay tuned for more.

As the leader, I would consider myself as a missionary sent by God to teach the Filipino people that GOD HELPS THOSE HELP THEMSELVES and to choose good over evil, justice over injustice, in our lives.

This is the end of my scenario. Remember, it’s only a scenario.