“…Do not forget to read the Book of the Law. Meditate on it day and night. And carefully obey everything that is written in it all the time. Then, you will become prosperous and successful…” –Joshua 1:8
Dr. Jose Rizal put it ever so clearly: “There will be no tyrants if there would be no one willing to be enslaved and there would be no one who can ever defraud another if there is no one who is willing to be defrauded.” If Filipinos heed Rizal’s advice, no one would ever be duped of a single centavo. Yet, reports circulating today suggest unscrupulous people have easily run off with hundreds of millions of pesos from their hapless countrymen (one shocking report says a group from Mindanao has pocketed P50 billion through scams). This prompts the question: How do Filipino scammers continue to get away with their deeds so easily?
Swindlers know Filipinos have money stashed aside and can be easily swayed. They are also aware how easy it is to entice them with promises of huge profits and why many prefer “get-rich-quick schemes” than depositing money in the bank. The dream of earning bigger income always wins out in the end; essentially, greed often prevails.
Why does greed almost always take hold of many of our countrymen? Reiterating my point from earlier, Filipinos are no longer taught good manners and right conduct and are no longer instructed to fear and love of God—resulting in ignorance. If Filipinos were provided such training, along with understanding God’s commandments, they would realize one of the rules for a successful and prosperous life, as stated in the Book of Matthew, “We should love our fellowmen as we love ourselves—not mistreating them or taking advantage of them.” However, because we have not absorbed this teaching, Filipinos have often become selfish and lovers of money.
Scammers take advantage of this.
How can it be solved? God’s commands must be obeyed. Success and prosperity will come only when we do not forget to read the “Book of the Law,” when we meditate on it day and night, and when we carefully carry out everything that is written. Thank God in the Name of Jesus, Amen!
***
Reactions? Please call 0977-805-9058, 0918-574-0193, or 0933-825-1308; message me on Facebook at Melanio Lazo Mauricio, Jr. or attybatas; or email batasmauricio@yahoo.com or mmauriciojr111@gmail.com/WDJ