On IBP's "objection" to the "Culture of Corruption" of this Administration

My apologies to my lawyer relatives, friends and contacts.

My father was a lawyer, God rest his soul. I have been brought up following the wheelings and dealings of a filipino lawyer practicing the law profession in this country. My father was an honest lawyer, to a point. He knew which strings to pull to get positive response for his clients. He knew, as we say, how to grease the wheels of justice. So for the IBP to say that they are aghast over the "Culture of Corruption" is a clear case of the pot calling the kettle black. The practice is so filled with this so called culutre that it is often joked that an honest lawyer is a dead one. I guess this is hypocrisy at its finest. Sure, there may be honest lawyers out there, in some backward province where the practice of law comprise of notarization and petty cases. A lawyer who pratices religiously by the rules ends up in the losing side of the case. Lawyers may find this staement "objectionable", but let us face facts. Four of my uncles are lawyers, one of them was once managing partner to a very big law firm in Makati. They knew how to play the game -- calling in favors here, slipping a little "grease" there. Lawyers will deny that this practice is done, much like the way they might deny that they rehearse their witnesses before calling them to the stand, but that is the way things work. After all, if they don't do it, the other side will. And in a court case, no one wants to be on the losing team. The culture of corruption so vehemently objected to by the IBP of this administration is the very culture that keeps their practice succesful.

to anjela, tatang orly's niece

Hello Anjela. I only got achance to read your comment about my article on Tatang today. I am so sorry for the very, very, very late reply. You are most welcome to link my blog to your multiply site. You can also add me up in multiply (www.rodelbanares.multiply.com). Take care always.

My Faith Restored

I have been verbal about my disappointment with the actions of several bishops, priests and nuns the past few days and I finally did something to help me release my sentiments. I wrote Monsignor Pepe Quitorio of the CBCP. I was glad I did because I tend to generalize when i air my sentiments. Here is the mosnignor's reply in full:

dear rodel,

thanks for your email. i understand your sentiments. on social issues each one should be able to express his opinion--it is our inherent right. you will pehaps agree that to suppress one's opinion or individual stand on issues is not very wholesome.

perhaps it is good to correct some generalizations:

1. there are presently 7,800 plus catholic priests in the philippines. only three (2 bishops and 1 priest) were in makati. to say that "priests and bishops are modern day pharisees persecuting the president" is not very accurate. are we to condemn the remaining 7,797 priests who does nothing but celebrate the sacraments and minister to their parishes or schools?

2. bishop labayen is retired and fr robert is on leave from his diocese. only bishop tobias is active. to tag them as church leaders is not also accurate.

i hope the above figures will somehow situate your disappointment with the church which, incidentally does not belong to the priests cited above but to the composite of millions of lay people and thousands of priests, nuns and bishops.

have a nice day.

msgr quitorio

This reply has puit my views to better perspective and i have been somewhat calmed by his assurance and remark that indeed, the church does not belong to the bishops I am disappointed with, but to the "composite of millions of lay people and thousands of priests, nuns and bishops". With this caliming reassurance, My faith in the catholic religion has been restored. I only wish there are more people like Monsignor Quiterio who bother to talk to the millions of faithful who wish to express themselves fully.