blackshama's commentary on Philippine issues

Rep Mong Palatino folded up as expected, withdrew his "religious neutrality bill" (I don't call it the "Ban God bill" since banning God is just like banning sex.. It just won't hold water). He apologised. I agree that he had nothing to apologise for especially for offending religious sensibilities (fanatics do that all the time..  ho humm). He should apologise to the public for his stupidity. This as expected given our own group of Freethinkers a dose of reality about Pinoy society. The fact is Pinoy society is visual and it needs images. Politicians know this and so put "Epal" everywhere. Also Pinoy society is basically theist and so there isn't really space for the secular. But I have blogged about this. Let me go to the idea of religious neutrality. The courts and our Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights hold freedom of worship as a fundamental human right. The Philippine Supreme Court has ruled that this right is s...

Christmas party pooper Raymond Palatino seeks to ban this religious symbol in UP's Lantern Parade! The Honourable Raymond Palatino, Member of the Philippine Congress wants religious symbols out of public view especially in government offices and agencies. This is a copycat move and foreign import from the secular West, especially Europe. As a foreign import, it is totally alien to Filipino culture , Christian, Lumad, Muslim etc and MUST BE OPPOSED . Filipinos are a nation of people with a faith tradition who support the separation of Church and State. Why? It is because they believe the separation of Church and State protects their freedoms, most especially of worship. This freedom of worship guarantees religious pluralism and the tolerance of most Filipinos to the diversity of beliefs. The Filipino as a Roman Catholic bishop once said, is "most ecumenical". An good friend of mine, an American Episcopal priest who has spent his whole priestly life in missions i...