Losing good manners and right conduct

Batas Mauricio

I AM intrigued, to say the least, by the fact that newspaper reports about an Ayala Alabang road rage involving a family whose surname is similar to the surname of a powerful political clan in Nueva Ecija seem to have failed to include the side of this family over this incident.

Either this is a monumental blunder on the reporters who covered the incident, and their editors as well for they are supposed to give all the sides to a news report, or this could be a deliberate attempt to suppress the truth. So my question is: why is the side of the family who are now portrayed as the villains in the incident not even mentioned?

If we are to believe the version being given now by the supposed victims here, it would appear that, indeed, many Filipinos, particularly the rich and the wealthy, have already irretrievably lost their “good manners and right conduct.”

Imagine, the supposed victims were profusely cursed with invectives, with one of them even being beaten up by the alleged assailants whose family name is similar to the surname of a powerful clan from Nueva Ecija, simply because the victims allegedly blocked the path of the assailants inside the posh Muntinlupa City subdivision.

Where have our “good manners and right conduct” gone? Why is it that many Filipinos now seem to be concerned only about their personal comfort and interests, and seem to have adopted an attitude of condescension against others, expecting these others to give way to them at all times? Why have we lost our concern for others?

This lack of “good manners and right conduct” is evident in many aspects of Filipino life these days. And this lack is displayed much more acutely by drivers and motorists who swerve and cut on the roads as if the other drivers owe it to them to give way to them, thereby causing more heavy traffic.

Then, this is similarly displayed in wild abandon yet by our officials in government who have no qualms cornering huge public funds, refusing to spend them for projects that would benefit the poor and the country as a whole, and then giving them instead to politicians so they could do the bidding of the powers that be.

Why is this lack of “good manners and right conduct” happening? Well, the Bible predicted this to happen––that people will no longer listen to what is good and noble, but would instead become selfish and disrespectful and disobedient to God, because they will instead be listening to the teachings of the devil and deceiving spirits. This is a serious problem, if you ask me!

And while we are at it, let me also say that, because of our people’s predilection to turn away from God and from listening to His Word and obeying His commands, the Filipino nation as a whole is collectively experiencing God’s curses, as He promised. If Filipinos want to change for the better before it is too late, we must listen to the Word of God (the Bible) again, and obey Him truthfully once more!

E-mail: batasmauricio@yahoo.com