[Official Statement of SanibLakas Foundation in September 2001, in the form of ten quatrains, issued via the Internet a week after “9/11” to add our voice to the urgent clamor for peace.]
JUST a handful of days after the bombings in New York and Washington DC in September 2001, this poetic quatrain made the rounds in the Internet and short-text messaging, very obviously alluding to the bombings especially of the twin buildings of the World Trade Center in New York.
In the city of York there will be a great collapse
Two twin brothers torn apart by chaos
While the fortress falls, the great leader succumbs,
Third big war begins as the city burns.
The quatrain was attributed to 16th century prophet Nos-tradamus, and it carried his unique prophetic style of poetry, implying that he did foresee these events and their tension-filled aftermath where war-hawks were openly crying for Muslim blood to “avenge” thousands who died in the attacks.
However, none of the Nos-tradamus scholars found it in the seer’s own body of work.
In the Philippines, the Sanib-Lakas Foundation produced ten quatrains, which we released through the Internet and other channels under a symbolic collective by-line: “Nostraverus,” Our Truth.
Here are those quatrains with which we repeated our urgent call for World Peace half a decade later.
Mind of great populace creates swerves from dire prophecies.
Hearts of Light refuse being tunneled by the powerful to the abyss.
Human evolution now cries in louder chorus: ‘No more wars!’
Even frenzy of hate shall by the Loving Light of Truth be tamed!
Not ever can any saber-rattling a resolute adversary intimidate.
In fighting fire with hateful fire, messy strife surely will escalate.
Allow ourselves to all take sides, and conflagration broadens.
It’ll send all up in thickest smokes to blacken full the heavens.
Thousands lay dead and wounded, victims all, undoubtedly.
Yet who would the biggest victims be, really, in this awful tragedy?
Casualties lost bodies, but aren’t furious survivors losing their God?
Million souls now pushed to hate, and—woe!—to thirst for blood.
In word and form have peace prayers and rituals widely varied.
Still, all voices against war build synergies in intent and effect.
Small circles for sharing and praying embolden even the timid.
As their ripples grow out, more hearts start to ponder, to reflect.
God, please bless these people, so proud to be mighty and free!
Heal their wounds and pains, lovingly dry their bitt’rest of tears.
Cure them of hatred and confusion, and help them to deeply see
Why anger of many ‘round the world for stripe’d flag is so fierce.
Denial of Truth is a terrible cancer to our emotions and spirit.
We have the ‘response-ability’ to be vigilant, open and sobered.
Hold our judgment, let discernment move and work ahead of it.
Sift and seek the Truth in a patient way, with all well-considered.
Try, instead, to see which ways of ours we need now to amend.
If we really heed to heal, a much better world would come to sight!
Crucial first step to take in fighting terrorists most treacherous
Is for us to check and rid ourselves of tendencies within —
Toward being arrogant, intolerant and, oh, so self-righteous.
Then, and only then, shall we deserve this noble fight to win.
This may yet turn out to be a most complicated preparation,
That fully shed the tails from our reptilian origins would be,
For Humankind to march forward in collective evolution—
From intolerance and bigotry, to pluralism and Harmony!
Carnage from iron birds and threats of global war most bloody
Might just cause the whole Humankind to bond upon each strand.
We’ll finally be one global community, the great Human Family.
Clearly see shall we that “we’re all Fingers of the Same Hand!”
-- ‘Nostraverus’
(Our Truth)
September 2001
The first quatrain came from a special Sanib-Sinag (Light-Sharing) session held by some SanibLakas Foundation leaders at Earthlite, C.O.D., Quezon City on Sept. 17, as a special session of Sanib-Tinig new-moon jamming, where the only song sung was All We Are Saying is Give Peace a Chance, interspersed with sharing of insights from each of the participants.
The other quatrains were fashioned within the week of creation of the first quatrain, from later sharings through another “All We Are Saying is Give Peace a Chance” singing-and-sharing session, and through texted and e-mailed messages.
The following light-sharers are represented by their respective insights and feelings in all these ten quatrains: Ding Reyes, Joydee Robledo, Vivien Virata, Gerie Caniete, Ernie Gonzales, Henry Vasallo, Eve Magnata, Fr. Stephen Punnakal, Pio Isaga, and Ronel de la Cruz (singing-and-sharing sessions); Marie R. Marciano, Mila R. Garcia, Karen Virata, Mina M. Ramirez, Maraya Chebat, and Tony Villasor (texted messages); and Jimmi Reyes, Gus Maramara, Jim Paredes, and Jun Simbulan (e-mailed messages). Upon reading these quatrains for the first time, they recognized instantly which points of insight and discernment came from their own hearts and minds.
Each one appreciated how her/his own point related well with the others in the tapestry of the entire message for peace. They and all the others who spread these quatrains resonated with them and added to them, and instantly joined the collective voice of “Nostraverus” (Our Truth).
Friday, September 11, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
ALONE? ALL ONE!!
consolation for feeling ALONE
is knowing and feeling ALL ONE.
closest are people who know this most deeply
or feel it most intensely...
even without the joys of propinquity.
subic, zambales
september 11, 2009
is knowing and feeling ALL ONE.
closest are people who know this most deeply
or feel it most intensely...
even without the joys of propinquity.
subic, zambales
september 11, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
'Kamalaysayan': New 'Cause' on Facebook
KAMALAYSAYAN Solidarity for Sense of History–Philippines, was organized late in 1991 as a campaign network to promote an inspiring and keen sense of history that dwells not on memorization of dates and names but on a profound understanding of the storyline of the collective novel-life of a community or a dynamic voluntary cluster of communies, like a nation is supposed to be.
For KAMALAYSAYAN,history is not limited to the PAST, rather it is the PATH from the past, through the present to the future. Our sense of history avoids being preoccupied with details of events that are not really significant to or reflective of the lives of the people and the lessons they have learned.
Our sense of history seeks to be useful in consensus-building and decision-making on socially-consequential issues.
We are concerned mainly with the storyline of the collective evolution of the people's lives in various facets. And we hold that senior citizens are the natural historians, and the youth are the main beneficiaries of history in many respects.
Please open the link below to ‘join this cause’
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/351083?m=91e6b129
We will have many announcements to upload in the coming days with the upcoming 2nd Annual Pistahang Kamalaysayan (Sakay and Hernandez Day, September 13 – Balangiga Victory Day, September 28, 2009, inclusive). You may also join the kamalaysayan email group by sending a blank email letter to kamalaysayan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
ding reyes
(prof. ed aurelio c. reyes)
subic, zambales
september 10, 2009
For KAMALAYSAYAN,history is not limited to the PAST, rather it is the PATH from the past, through the present to the future. Our sense of history avoids being preoccupied with details of events that are not really significant to or reflective of the lives of the people and the lessons they have learned.
Our sense of history seeks to be useful in consensus-building and decision-making on socially-consequential issues.
We are concerned mainly with the storyline of the collective evolution of the people's lives in various facets. And we hold that senior citizens are the natural historians, and the youth are the main beneficiaries of history in many respects.
Please open the link below to ‘join this cause’
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/351083?m=91e6b129
We will have many announcements to upload in the coming days with the upcoming 2nd Annual Pistahang Kamalaysayan (Sakay and Hernandez Day, September 13 – Balangiga Victory Day, September 28, 2009, inclusive). You may also join the kamalaysayan email group by sending a blank email letter to kamalaysayan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
ding reyes
(prof. ed aurelio c. reyes)
subic, zambales
september 10, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Words of Light
Fierce fears, woeful tears upon your plight,
Depression, despair, in the long dark night,
Banish them all, and forever send to flight:
Shine upon them the Words of Light.
Seek for your Mind the Words’ loving might,
If upon seeing them your feel instant delight,
Their Spirit has always been glowing bright
Deep in your Heart, these Words of Light.
Breathe on, then, in peace with nary a fright,
As you focus on them your innermost sight!
Conquer all your fears, set things a-right,
Cherish and share all the Words of Light!
ding reyes
makati city
August 9, 1999
(first published in Ding Reyes Writes 30 WISHPERS and More, May 2007, see also http://bookmakers_phils.8m.net)
Sunday, September 6, 2009
My Type of Politician: Statesman Who is Fully Human
Who is my type of politician? My type of politician is one who envisions the Philippines as a country where citizens have the power whether directly, through their organizations or their representatives who genuinely represent them, And one who asserts that when they don’t, they can be recalled and they’re not omnipotent. That they are not passing down their power like an ancestral domain to their children.
My type of politician is one who would like to see Politics as a profession. And who views governance not out of the goodness of the hearts of politicians, but seen by everyone as their duty. That’s what politicians are paid for. It’s their job. It’s their contract with people. People should expect it from politicians not because these persons are magnanimous, but because the people put them there. It’s not a forever thing. Like in life.
My type of politician is one who really wants an economy where people have a chance, waiting for a chance to work, good, decent work from which they can adequately provide for their respective families. So the people can feel their honor, so their dignity as humans would be fully recognized and respected. They are no mere recipients of charity. They are not just captive voters. They are human.
My type of politician is one who dreams of a Philippines where we celebrate our history, we honor our ancestors, especially our heroes and heroines. One who values all the ordinary people and never forgets, who remembers those who went before us. A Philippines where our arts are preserved and enriched and lived, and so beautiful because they are. One who is saddened as we have been neglecting, even degrading it.
One who holds that we are a country like other countries, that we are not to be superior to other countries, but a country where if you choose to and if you put a reasonable amount of effort to it, you can be happy, in whatever way you can define, you can be happy. One who wants us to be a happy person that can be loved by other people, and can love those he or she wants to love, and that will make a difference. One who sees that we’ll be happy because of that.
Note: the first six paragraphs were almost lifted verbatim from Rep. Risa's responses in the interview conducted by Students and Campuses Bulletin, as published by Manila Bulletin last March 21.
My type of politician is one who would like to see Politics as a profession. And who views governance not out of the goodness of the hearts of politicians, but seen by everyone as their duty. That’s what politicians are paid for. It’s their job. It’s their contract with people. People should expect it from politicians not because these persons are magnanimous, but because the people put them there. It’s not a forever thing. Like in life.
My type of politician is one who really wants an economy where people have a chance, waiting for a chance to work, good, decent work from which they can adequately provide for their respective families. So the people can feel their honor, so their dignity as humans would be fully recognized and respected. They are no mere recipients of charity. They are not just captive voters. They are human.
My type of politician is one who dreams of a Philippines where we celebrate our history, we honor our ancestors, especially our heroes and heroines. One who values all the ordinary people and never forgets, who remembers those who went before us. A Philippines where our arts are preserved and enriched and lived, and so beautiful because they are. One who is saddened as we have been neglecting, even degrading it.
One who holds that we are a country like other countries, that we are not to be superior to other countries, but a country where if you choose to and if you put a reasonable amount of effort to it, you can be happy, in whatever way you can define, you can be happy. One who wants us to be a happy person that can be loved by other people, and can love those he or she wants to love, and that will make a difference. One who sees that we’ll be happy because of that.
My type of politician is one who firmly believes that even as our systems will never be perfect because we’re always a human enterprise, we can do a lot, lot more to create that kind of environment, that people don’t have to be miserable even if they work so damn hard. My type of politician is one who really wants us to have a chance to be happy and lead happy lives.
My type of politician is a statesman or “stateswoman” who describes her vision of a future Philippines in these terms. One that I can have firm reasons to publicly declare to people who value my judgments: I’ve known (her) for about two decades now. She is a combination of firmness and humility, compassion and rationality, openness and flexibility. Very sincerely human, very sincerely and "fiercely" patriotic and lover of the people's interests.
Well, the one I had publicly described thus is one and the same person, who had actually said everything i quoted indirectly but almost absolutely verbatim for the first six of the paragraphs above. Knowing well her actual character of honesty and integrity behind my descriptions, I am confident that she’ll continue using whatever opportunities that God and the people give her to turn her vision for our beloved Inang Bayan fully into a happy reality.
Her name is Ana Theresia Hontiveros, known more popularly as “Risa.” And I am glad that she is running for a seat in the Senate. Beginning the middle of next year may that body be blessed with her conspicuous presence.
I have therefore recently joined the Facebook ‘Cause’ “Rep. Risa Hontiveros, ang type kong pulitiko” And you, my friends who are reading this now, can join it by clicking at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/205122?m=3f1cca43 I hope you really would. I really have big reasons for trusting Risa and campaigning for her to win that Senate seat next year.
--ding reyes
subic, zambales
september 6, 2009My type of politician is a statesman or “stateswoman” who describes her vision of a future Philippines in these terms. One that I can have firm reasons to publicly declare to people who value my judgments: I’ve known (her) for about two decades now. She is a combination of firmness and humility, compassion and rationality, openness and flexibility. Very sincerely human, very sincerely and "fiercely" patriotic and lover of the people's interests.
Well, the one I had publicly described thus is one and the same person, who had actually said everything i quoted indirectly but almost absolutely verbatim for the first six of the paragraphs above. Knowing well her actual character of honesty and integrity behind my descriptions, I am confident that she’ll continue using whatever opportunities that God and the people give her to turn her vision for our beloved Inang Bayan fully into a happy reality.
Her name is Ana Theresia Hontiveros, known more popularly as “Risa.” And I am glad that she is running for a seat in the Senate. Beginning the middle of next year may that body be blessed with her conspicuous presence.
I have therefore recently joined the Facebook ‘Cause’ “Rep. Risa Hontiveros, ang type kong pulitiko” And you, my friends who are reading this now, can join it by clicking at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/205122?m=3f1cca43 I hope you really would. I really have big reasons for trusting Risa and campaigning for her to win that Senate seat next year.
--ding reyes
subic, zambales
Note: the first six paragraphs were almost lifted verbatim from Rep. Risa's responses in the interview conducted by Students and Campuses Bulletin, as published by Manila Bulletin last March 21.
Friday, September 4, 2009
HUMAN HOLONS: My Book on Synergism
(Introduction article of my book, Human Holons: Power-Packed Synergies, Pilot Edition March 2009, just uploaded to http://scribd.com for sharing with my friends. )
THE GREATEST obstacle to anyone’s learning often lies in the inability or unwillingness to admit to self that one still doesn’t have full knowledge about something worth knowing well.
. This is unfortunate because synergism refers to a very powerful tool that has always been available but has remained largely unused or, at best, underused in human endeavors. Many times, the very people most needing and most expected to work in close and strong teamwork don’t seem to get their act together for periods lasting months, or lasting even years. But just a whiff of fragrance of this principle can make us seek to see more of the beautiful wholeness and consistency of the principle where every small nuance is a very important, nay indispensable, particle of the entire synergy of nuances, which is the principle itself.
. People can relate to the principle of synergism any which way they want to, preferably in an act of choosing among a wide range of options that are known to them, with a wide range of degrees of intellectual comprehension and articulation.
. The range in the degrees of comprehension is so wide. So is the personally chosen approach in sharing it.
. At one end are persons who would not even have any use for the word synergism or for any word whatsoever, and yet really live it in their lives that they become it, and people around them can clearly appreciate it with only the term itself missing from the picture. Many of these people are just smiling in silence, enjoying the universe “unfolding as it should.”
Others choose to become part of that unfolding, in various ways, including wordless ways: live and be your message; unified consciousness of a critical mass (“square root of 1 percent”?) etc. etc.
. Some who are discerning midwife roles for them to play in the hastening of that unfolding, and are ever zealous but ever patient, because any pace of change they may be actively involved in might necessitate periods of time longer than one would tend to expect or wish for. In his Conversations With God trilogy, Neale Donald Walsch keeps close to the theme of doing everything we can in pursuit of a desire, as a “statement of who we are,” but without any emotional attachment to the result.
. At the other end are the people who choose to work in the arena of the academe and intellectualization and apply the stringent rigors to decisively convince the intellectual apologists of separative ego and human divisiveness that fragmentation and high walls do not define the essence of the human. The long-delayed writing of this book, is an attempt in the latter end. It originally came forth in the form of a paper for presentation at the Conference on Synergism in Total Human Development conducted by the mainly-Academe-based Lambat-Liwanag (a Filipino term for “network of light”) Network of Centers of about a dozen school-based centers of research and advocacy for paradigms shifts toward human empowerment, real development and harmony.
. This applies to the subject of synergism. The word synergism is no longer a “never-heard” word to many English-speaking and English-reading intellectuals. But having heard of this word or having used it once or twice in conversation is still very far off from having a working comprehension of the very potent principle this word refers to. Oftentimes this word is dismissed as hi-fallutin’ gobbledygook good only for purely academic discourse one doesn’t usually have the luxury of time to engage in.
. This is unfortunate because synergism refers to a very powerful tool that has always been available but has remained largely unused or, at best, underused in human endeavors. Many times, the very people most needing and most expected to work in close and strong teamwork don’t seem to get their act together for periods lasting months, or lasting even years. But just a whiff of fragrance of this principle can make us seek to see more of the beautiful wholeness and consistency of the principle where every small nuance is a very important, nay indispensable, particle of the entire synergy of nuances, which is the principle itself.
. People can relate to the principle of synergism any which way they want to, preferably in an act of choosing among a wide range of options that are known to them, with a wide range of degrees of intellectual comprehension and articulation.
. The range in the degrees of comprehension is so wide. So is the personally chosen approach in sharing it.
. At one end are persons who would not even have any use for the word synergism or for any word whatsoever, and yet really live it in their lives that they become it, and people around them can clearly appreciate it with only the term itself missing from the picture. Many of these people are just smiling in silence, enjoying the universe “unfolding as it should.”
Others choose to become part of that unfolding, in various ways, including wordless ways: live and be your message; unified consciousness of a critical mass (“square root of 1 percent”?) etc. etc.
. Some who are discerning midwife roles for them to play in the hastening of that unfolding, and are ever zealous but ever patient, because any pace of change they may be actively involved in might necessitate periods of time longer than one would tend to expect or wish for. In his Conversations With God trilogy, Neale Donald Walsch keeps close to the theme of doing everything we can in pursuit of a desire, as a “statement of who we are,” but without any emotional attachment to the result.
. At the other end are the people who choose to work in the arena of the academe and intellectualization and apply the stringent rigors to decisively convince the intellectual apologists of separative ego and human divisiveness that fragmentation and high walls do not define the essence of the human. The long-delayed writing of this book, is an attempt in the latter end. It originally came forth in the form of a paper for presentation at the Conference on Synergism in Total Human Development conducted by the mainly-Academe-based Lambat-Liwanag (a Filipino term for “network of light”) Network of Centers of about a dozen school-based centers of research and advocacy for paradigms shifts toward human empowerment, real development and harmony.
thanks so much!
ding reyes, in subic, zambales
(prof. ed aurelio c. reyes, iame-makati)
dingreyes@yahoo.com
09109420250
ding reyes, in subic, zambales
(prof. ed aurelio c. reyes, iame-makati)
dingreyes@yahoo.com
09109420250
The text of the entire book has been made available to all who are interested. just click here:
[Be sure to adjust the "zoom" setting (press "+") so the book's text will not appear too small for your eyes.]
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
People Power can broaden its claim on Noynoy
People who are, for any reason, not so excited about having Noynoy Aquino as the presidential bet only of the Liberal Party ought to be conscious that Aksyong Demokratriko, 3rd placer party in the 1998 presidential election with Raul Roco as its bet, has already adopted him.
Days after AD's move, Mar Roxas announced he was dropping out of the presidential race to give way to Aquino. Earlier, Ed Panlilio also announced the same but i don't know whether his political party was adopting Noynoy as their candidate to replace Panlilio. Meanwhile, as Noynoy agonizes in his decision-making, other groups can come forth and proclaim him as their own nominee to actively campaign for later. Even the Akbayan party-list, as an organization (not as a party relevant only to the party-list representation in the House of Representatives), can transfer its much earlier endorsement from Mar Roxas o Noynoy.
The more groups there would be doing this, the more Noynoy can deserve being in the race as People Power's own bet, and not only of Aksyong Demokratiko and LP. That is, if he finally decides to run.
ding reyes
subic, zambales
september 3, 2009
Days after AD's move, Mar Roxas announced he was dropping out of the presidential race to give way to Aquino. Earlier, Ed Panlilio also announced the same but i don't know whether his political party was adopting Noynoy as their candidate to replace Panlilio. Meanwhile, as Noynoy agonizes in his decision-making, other groups can come forth and proclaim him as their own nominee to actively campaign for later. Even the Akbayan party-list, as an organization (not as a party relevant only to the party-list representation in the House of Representatives), can transfer its much earlier endorsement from Mar Roxas o Noynoy.
The more groups there would be doing this, the more Noynoy can deserve being in the race as People Power's own bet, and not only of Aksyong Demokratiko and LP. That is, if he finally decides to run.
ding reyes
subic, zambales
september 3, 2009
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