“An executive too focus on the original business plan generally misses the bigger opportunity.” – a quote in Michael Learmonth’s The Open Source Ringmaster. WHAT is happening to the INK (Iglesia ni Kristo) today means life is like a sailing: you plan a sailing trip but you will never ever know how it’s going to end up. Almost all politicians pay their respects and leave their hefty donations in exchange for their belief that the INK can deliver votes and the latter is perceived to expect the appointment of a cabinet secretary plus so many other perks. Precisely because of this perception, the INK is politically powerful because of her huge political plans in every political exercise in the country. I would not be surprised if the INK spends a huge amount of money conducting their own survey of winnables in the national and local elections. They have to do this to ensure that the trapos are convinced that they have a strong following. They simply have to win the nods of the trapos because all trapos believe that by having the INK and the PCOS on their side, then their vote-buying and other illegal forms of coercing the voters would remain an open secret. The trapos know by experience that the teeming millions of poor Pinoys are gullible: they buy junk talks by the trapos. Ever since our elections have been made nationwide in 1935, imperial Manila, the trapos and the filthy rich have made sure that only the rich can afford our electoral process. Ergo, the poor have become poorer and rich richer. But we all know that this should not be so. However, we, the poor have been made to believe that we can do nothing about it until our “PACmen” came. Fortunately for the Philippines, even after the feisty Cesar Climaco was gone, our very own three young, brave and idealistic lawyers, whose dream of the Philippines reaching the top of the world continued the uphill fight against the ruthless conjugal dictatorship in our country. And, thanks to their uncommon valor and love of country, we regained our democracy inspite of Imperial Manila, the trapos and the filthy rich, and, most of all, the Comelec through People Power. Yes, it was the Philippines and not any other country in the world who proved that in any government: democratic, monarchial or even communistic, the will and voice of the people are the will and voice of God. That is one moment in history that ought to be instilled in every Filipino: the rich, the middle class and the teeming millions of the poor, the hungry, the abused and the oppressed. But, sadly, Imperial Manila, the trapos and the filthy rich found their way back to Malacanang, and all other government offices. And as we are fast approaching the filing of the certificates of candidacy, Imperial Manila, the trapos and the filthy rich are once again plotting to discourage the Mindanaoans and the teeming millions of the poor. They are conspiring to make it appear once again that only their choice has the right to run our country. Because they know that the gutsy but ailing Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago is the darling of the intelligentsia and the school youth, they purposely tickled the good senator by making it appear that she is now second to Sen. Grace Poe in the presidential derby, thereby, making it appear that sure winner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Super Digong” Duterte has slid to No. 4 instead of remaining in the third slot. Quite a good gimmick! However, the presidency in our country is still providential, hence, the never-expected turmoil in the INK. •• “If there were no God, it would be necessary to invent Him.” - Voltaire Because God is good, all the time, Laurence Sterne said: “God tempers the wind to shorn lamb.” And all too suddenly, the INK is experiencing the worst crisis in their uncontested reign in politics among the church-based organizations. Remember that the Catholic Church has remained true to its tenet: separation of Church and State. Now, because of what is happening to the INK, the trapos would now concentrate their ill-gotten funds to some other church-based groups like those of Mike Vilarde, Eddie Villanueva and Quiboloy, to mention just a few. And because life is like a sailing, it simply means, no plan, no formula and whatever can stop an idea, like ours, that has come of age. There is no better idea than that of our next President in May 2015 shall, without fail, come from the paradise-like islands of Mindanao-Sulu-Palawan-Tawi-Tawi in the person of the tough-talking yet wellespected Mayor Duterte. Believe you me, the only reason why Imperial Manila, the trapos and the filthy rich is in panic mode is because for the first time Mindanao with its 13.5 million votes or so is unanimously united in having Duterte as the first Philippines President from Mindanao. And we are so determined because the precursors of People Power––the PACmen: former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., former Assemblyman and Governor Homobono Adaza and former Mayor and Assemblyman Reuben Canoy – are not only united for federalism but are for “Super Digong” Duterte. But they still have the fire and idealism to make Mindanao’s dream a reality on May 9, 2015. Sobra ka na, Imperial Manila. Sa Mindanao na sab ta. Tsada, di ba? •• “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do to me.” –Psalms LVI. 11 Thank you Lord for everything. And Lord God, kindly implant, especially in our leaders, honesty, humility, transparency and hard work in their solemn task as our servants-leaders because those who have less in life are the sovereign and very source of their borrowed power and wealth. Finally, Lord, enlighten us all to see the light that greed is a flawed way of life. For truly, there is more profit in giving than in taking. For it is in giving that we receive. Truly, love begets love. Amen! (Call or text 09188030197, e-mail to bagabuyos@yahoo.com, and check out iluvmindanao.net)