New Year's resolution or revolution?

The Antique Perspective
By Jun Escalona , Antique Bureau Chief

New Year's resolution or revolution?

We've been out of circulation for all of two weeks. Now, we're back, not with a vengeance, perhaps, but with a fresh outlook of things around and about us. How to spend Year 2005 for instance. It would seem that we have to come up with a resolve. January is fast coming to an end . The idea of a New Year's resolution is fading fast.

We have been skeptical of New Year's resolutions . They're too easy to make, rarely carried out, and often cover up what really needs to change. It's not that we set our sights too low; resolutions invariably sidestep root causes.

Things are constantly changing each day of our lives, making us believe that the only permanent thing is “change” itself. In our province, for instance, many changes has taken place, in the physical scene, the landscape has invariably changed. Infrastructure improvement is for the benefit of all, we hope. And if these positive changes are achieved by one of us, others would have done that too.

If we're honest, few of us really want things to be completely different. We just want life to get better, or easier. We can handle a face-lift, but drastic change? Medication, yes; but surgery, no. Reform, maybe; revolution, never.

***

All our life involves the deep yearning to become a ‘new person, and an inner readiness for something fundamentally different.

Another author says that New Year's resolutions obscure the profound transformation and are generally self-motivated. Also , most resolutions stem from a sense of guilt, thus our incessant preoccupation of spending more quality time with our loved ones. Moreover, resolutions assume continuity with the present: improvement, but not transformation. Finally, most resolutions rest on sheer will power.

I like for instance, the work of some who write that when God acts, a radical reversal begins, a decisive break happens: Our lives get turned inside out and spun around.

This writer says, thus: “ Unless we are dissatisfied with the way things are—not just with our personality or image—nothing will change. Only the brokenhearted, the desperate, and the oppressed crave for revolution, for freedom, and for new life. Thus, only when we recognize the chains that bind us can a change begin. The sooner we run for help, the better. God's victory comes in response to hearts that beg for change, admit their need, and go for help. If consistently applied, profound changes are like small pebbles that cause a ripple effect when tossed in water. New Year's resolutions to try harder and to do better won't shorten the distance. Only a humble, obedient faith can. With God, all things are possible. And for us, a good place to start is simply doing what we already know to be true.”

Now, enough with the profound. Let's talk about the mundane, and the earthly topics of development and a touch of political mudslinging.

The much-criticized So-long bridge, so called not because it is the longest presidential bridge in the country, but because it is the name of that barangay which will be most served, is about to be installed with a pier. We are not very familiar with technical jargon, but we understand that this is a development that speaks of near completion of the project . It spans all of 360 meters of the width of the Sibalom River in Solong , near the Sibalom poblacion . It is a dream of people that spans decades when Diosdado Macapagal was the President and the late Justice Calixto O. Zaldivar was Governor. It was as dangerous to cross the mighty river where several lives were lost negotiating the wide river during bad weather. They estimate that it could serve up to 16 barangays to the North of the town. Now in the incumbency of the daughters of the two former leaders, Pres. Macapagal and Gov. Zaldivar then, it would seem that the dream would finally be realized . What will happen to a friend who said that he will allow himself to be decapitated when this happens?

***

Along with the completion of the Solong bridge , would be the construction of the Leon side of the San Remegio -Leon Road . The Antique portion of the road that will finally make travel to Iloilo shorter by tens of kilometers have long been completed. If this happens, the RDC VI as an instrument of growth will have established its clout and credibility. And this happens under the leadership of Antique Governor Sally Z. Perez. It saddens us that a few are not so happy to hear that someone is capable of instituting the changes. This reality is a fact that escapes our simple knowledge of things that can, and cannot, change. After all, human pride is hard to fathom, and to attempt to understand it would be an exercise in futility.

***

And now , the humanitarian side of government effort. The Ohio Valley group of 31 medical specialists will come to Antique on January 24 to 28, to render a medical/dental humanitarian mission that will include some major to minor operations on patients with thyroid, hernia, cataract, blood and other disorders. It will be scheduled so that each town maybe given a chance to avail of free consultation, treatment and medicines. Patients with afflictions are encouraged to register with their Municipal Health Officers or with their respective municipal mayors to avail of this rare opportunity to be treated by American medical specialists.


Classifieds Festivals Hotels Events Restaurants Forum Archives About Us Guestbook Feedback Search What's new	The Antique Perspective By Jun Escalona , Antique Bureau Chief New Year's resolution or revolution? We've been out of circulation for all of two weeks. Now, we're back, not with a vengeance, perhaps, but with a fresh outlook of things around and about us. How to spend Year 2005 for instance. It would seem that we have to come up with a resolve. January is fast coming to an end . The idea of a New Year's resolution is fading fast. We have been skeptical of New Year's resolutions . They're too easy to make, rarely carried out, and often cover up what really needs to change. It's not that we set our sights too low; resolutions invariably sidestep root causes. Things are constantly changing each day of our lives, making us believe that the only permanent thing is “change” itself. In our province, for instance, many changes has taken place, in the physical scene, the landscape has invariably changed. Infrastructure improvement is for the benefit of all, we hope. And if these positive changes are achieved by one of us, others would have done that too. If we're honest, few of us really want things to be completely different. We just want life to get better, or easier. We can handle a face-lift, but drastic change? Medication, yes; but surgery, no. Reform, maybe; revolution, never. * All our life involves the deep yearning to become a ‘new person, and an inner readiness for something fundamentally different. Another author says that New Year's resolutions obscure the profound transformation and are generally self-motivated. Also , most resolutions stem from a sense of guilt, thus our incessant preoccupation of spending more quality time with our loved ones. Moreover, resolutions assume continuity with the present: improvement, but not transformation. Finally, most resolutions rest on sheer will power. I like for instance, the work of some who write that when God acts, a radical reversal begins, a decisive break happens: Our lives get turned inside out and spun around. This writer says, thus: “ Unless we are dissatisfied with the way things are—not just with our personality or image—nothing will change. Only the brokenhearted, the desperate, and the oppressed crave for revolution, for freedom, and for new life. Thus, only when we recognize the chains that bind us can a change begin. The sooner we run for help, the better. God's victory comes in response to hearts that beg for change, admit their need, and go for help. If consistently applied, profound changes are like small pebbles that cause a ripple effect when tossed in water. New Year's resolutions to try harder and to do better won't shorten the distance. Only a humble, obedient faith can. With God, all things are possible. And for us, a good place to start is simply doing what we already know to be true.” Now, enough with the profound. Let's talk about the mundane, and the earthly topics of development and a touch of political mudslinging. The much-criticized So-long bridge, so called not because it is the longest presidential bridge in the country, but because it is the name of that barangay which will be most served, is about to be installed with a pier. We are not very familiar with technical jargon, but we understand that this is a development that speaks of near completion of the project . It spans all of 360 meters of the width of the Sibalom River in Solong , near the Sibalom poblacion . It is a dream of people that spans decades when Diosdado Macapagal was the President and the late Justice Calixto O. Zaldivar was Governor. It was as dangerous to cross the mighty river where several lives were lost negotiating the wide river during bad weather. They estimate that it could serve up to 16 barangays to the North of the town. Now in the incumbency of the daughters of the two former leaders, Pres. Macapagal and Gov. Zaldivar then, it would seem that the dream would finally be realized . What will happen to a friend who said that he will allow himself to be decapitated when this happens? * Along with the completion of the Solong bridge , would be the construction of the Leon side of the San Remegio -Leon Road . The Antique portion of the road that will finally make travel to Iloilo shorter by tens of kilometers have long been completed. If this happens, the RDC VI as an instrument of growth will have established its clout and credibility. And this happens under the leadership of Antique Governor Sally Z. Perez. It saddens us that a few are not so happy to hear that someone is capable of instituting the changes. This reality is a fact that escapes our simple knowledge of things that can, and cannot, change. After all, human pride is hard to fathom, and to attempt to understand it would be an exercise in futility. *** And now , the humanitarian side of government effort. The Ohio Valley group of 31 medical specialists will come to Antique on January 24 to 28, to render a medical/dental humanitarian mission that will include some major to minor operations on patients with thyroid, hernia, cataract, blood and other disorders. It will be scheduled so that each town maybe given a chance to avail of free consultation, treatment and medicines. Patients with afflictions are encouraged to register with their Municipal Health Officers or with their respective municipal mayors to avail of this rare opportunity to be treated by American medical specialists.


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