RAIN OF FIRE

A GUMIL convention
CESAR G. BONILLA

LAOAG CITY -- Seemingly harmless small pellets which create sparks and smoke when children step on them, they are a mixture of harmful components. For yellow phosphorus, potassium chlorate, potassium nitrate and trinitrotoluene are quite dangerous to human beings. The antidote for watusi poisoning is not commonly found in drugstores and clinics and has to be imported as it is not available nationwide.

Hence, children accidentally swallowing watusi, even if brought to an emergency clinic, cannot be treated for lack of rare antidote. But despite several warnings regarding the danger of firecrackers and its bad implication to one’s health, children and parents continue to ignore and disregard advice of authorities. The smoke and burning chemicals are in themselves pollutants, but what caused danger is the fact that they have been causes of poisoning and have been used by children or adults to commit suicide through ingestion.

It is proper that the campaign to use non-dangerous noise makers instead of fire crackers, watusis, and other explosive toys used for celebrating the season and the advent of the New Year is warranted. We have to wean our children and some of our adults away from these instruments of merrymaking for safer-ones, for watusis are deadly when accidentally swallowed and firecrackers cause serious damage to limbs when lighted and used.

Our national hero, Dr Jose P. Rizal, in his visits to Hong Kong had observed the boisterous celebration of the Chinese New Year with the use of firecrackers to ward off demons and propel themselves to prosperity. This belief by the Chinese people and its own significance for the rising of miracles and fortune in the Crown Colony of Great Britain on the South China coast is part of their culture but then accidents do happen when firecrackers are lighted. In the Philippines, we must pray for peace and prosperity for the coming year 2008.

When almost everything is going bananas, our consolation is that, our faith in our Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, is a constant motivation in improving our shaky existence. Let us bring light to this land through sacrifice. A blessed New Year to all of us! ###
The GUMIL-Ilocos Norte Convention and Christmas program was a successful affair for the national president of Gunglo dagiti Mannurat nga Ilocano (GUMIL) in the person of Department of Interior and Local Government Provincial Director of Isabela Baldovino Valdez delighted the attending delegates with his friendly equivocation of the mission and important role of writers in today’s society. He arrived earlier than expected for someone who will come as a guest speaker.
Provincial Education District Supervisor Rosario Bingayen, the secretary of GUMIL-Ilocos Norte, pleasantly toured the president and his fellow writers at the Marcos Museum and Mausoleum. In his speech, GUMIL-Filipinas President Valdez said faith without action may ruin one’s hope and dreams. He said the God-given talents of Ilocanos like the writers should be harnessed for reformation of society. He said the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos transformed his faith and idealism into action and this could be a good example to all aspiring writers.

He also lectured on poetry writing together with his fellow giants in the field of Ilocano literature like Joel Manuel who lectured on short story writing, Ben Pacris (PIA-Ilocos Sur) who lectured on feature story writing and Efren Inocencio who talked on writing humorous stories.
##
I would like to give due recognition to the honorable principal of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in the person of Merlin L. Rabanal for his friendliness and generosity. Truly, this educator is great, an excellent academician. GUMIL-Ilocos Norte president Elizabeth M. Raquel conceived the idea of having this wonderful occasion to promote unity and better camaraderie among the young blood and veteran Ilocano writers. With the presence of well-known leader Dr Francesca Caluya, a former member of Sangguniang Bayan of Batac, and veteran writer and novelist Marlyn Tolentino among other GUMIL officers and members, this endeavor to propagate talents of Ilocano writers would last.
###
Justice in our times is oftentimes an elusive dream because of conflicting forces in our society. How many persons have been killed and murdered and yet their families and relatives are still hoping for justice to come despite difficulties displayed by investigating authorities in resolving the crime? We should not blame the government or the police all the time for the slow-paced dispensation of justice but rather, the apathy and indifference of citizens against injustice. Why is it that man can barter his place in God’s kingdom with material exchange akin to that of lucifer or the devil who rebelled against God? Would it be possible for a leader or a powerful demagogue to lead without conscience or morality?

A peaceful society is always made up of civilized inhabitants. We abhor cruelty and barbarism as a means to keep Machiavellian despotism and control. Even the most hardened criminal cannot be executed without the benefit of due process and judicial trial to ensure that justice must be served. Ignorance and poverty are no excuses in doing illegal acts. Police intelligence networks should be intensified. A hotline for crime prevention must be installed in different places for vigilant citizens to report crime but police and military should also be disciplined.

Different public and private offices must have at least one security guard from credible security agency complete with metal detector and high-caliber licensed firearms. The installation of hidden cameras though expensive must be encouraged to identify people who come inside offices. Money can buy everything except the sacred life given by God. To disregard the Ten Commandments is equivalent to self-destruction, a ticket to eternal damnation.