Unfathomable Love

I wonder why there are lots of individuals who claim that they fell in love when they first met. How come? Is it really possible?

Let’s find out…Man is capable of loving because of his intellect. It is from this intellect that he becomes rational, i.e., he can think, known, learn, love, give and forgive.

Most probably, the love that he felt, is not the real love that is manifested from the inmost self of every finite being, but rather simple infatuation…a feeling of mere gratification that overflows from his/her veins…but not the love per se.

Loving requires knowledge…knowledge on someone whom you know. Before loving someone you have to know that person, after this activity of the intellect, then love follows.

You can really claim that you love someone if you know that person. The absence of knowledge is the absence of love.

Now, after thorough assessing yourself and then you already know that person, and despite the negative qualities possessed by your “love”, and still you really feel that you are truly in love with him/her…that’s the right time to profess that your love is such real…a love that can be known but still…unfathomable.

Indefinable

Love is a four-letter word which has more than four billion different definitions which are based on the thousand-fold experiences of every single individual.

Indeed, lots of people attempted to find out the real meaning of love. Now, in trying to analyze this statement, let’s look back once again from the basics…In finding a meaning, we define it, right?

Thus we define what love is… Love is…blah…blah…blah and blah…In giving definition, we set a limit for that word for definire itself means to enclose within limits…if we will define love, we will simply enclose it within limits…if that is the case, it follows that we can define what love is.

Now, if you will simply define love you are putting a limitation on the essence of love, for love is indefinable, per se. Most probably, what you are doing is simply giving a mere description of love, but not giving it’s real definition for defining it would limit the essence or the “whatness” of love.

Thus, love itself has no definition. However, saying as such is already defining. Contradictory isn’t it?

Love, in a strict sense, is… indefinable.

Inspired By Hilera’s Define

Instant

What is patience? It is a virtue. That is the thought that most of the Catholic students learned in the school. Defining what patience is, is quite easy for them, it is very mechanical. But trying to understand the “whatness” of patience is hard to decipher.

Rev. Fr. Dominic Radecki, CMRI once said and I quote patience “is a virtue which helps us, for the love of God, to calmly bear our tribulations and preserve serenity amid the sufferings of life. Patience tempers sorrow and staves off excessive anger and complaining. Patience is the guardian of all the virtues, for there are obstacles to be encountered in any good work, and they can be overcome only by patience”.

It is obvious here that patience is a virtue, one of the cardinal virtues, which any Christians should possess. But how can people really acquire the virtue of patience, if everybody wants an instant access.

People nowadays desire to get what they want immediately. All the scientific investigations are used in order to speed up the natural process.

Everybody easily get tired of waiting. They don’t want to wait for so long. Human experiences tell us that people don’t want to wait.

As a matter of fact, many “instant” things are ever produced. Instant noodles, and instant coffee, in order to fill up the hungry stomach are there.

ATM’s are built to speed up banking transactions. Mobile phones and internets are the most common means of communication nowadays. One can easily send message to their loved ones using the said stuffs.

With all these realities, it appears that the humanity is very successful in trying to speed up everything and eventually avoided the agony of waiting. All that is said from above are just few things that one can see… people really want everything to be instant, so that in a glimpse of an eye, everything would be possible.

However, there is no such thing as instant. To be able to eat the instant noodles, and to drink the instant coffee, one should boil water first. One should wait for a few minute in sending the message through the SMS or through email.

In fact, in using computer, one has to wait in order for the computer to fully function, and so it says…loading, downloading, etc. In trying to get cash from the ATM, one should fall in line before s/he can take his/her turn.

There is no such thing as instant millionaire. Even the lotto bettors have to fall in line in buying their bets. They also need to wait. Be patient. That is the lesson.

There are many individuals who want to earn instant money, so they cut the trees for profit. And they never mind replacing them.

As a result, the city of the rich and famous was flooded. Indeed, there is no such thing as instant that the human beings can acquire. People must have a virtue of patience. Only the Absolute One can make it happen.

And here it was…instant flood.

Where Were You When I Needed You The Most

…I’m a man who is very easy to get along with. When I make friends, I am making it sure that I am for real… For real, in the sense that, I give value to my friends, I am not just a friend during party and happiness, but you can lean on me even in times of sadness.

I used to tell my friends…I am just one text away… Don’t hesitate to do so. Lean on, when you’re not strong, I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on.

There are times in our lives that we experience lonesomeness in life, lonely in the sense that we are tired of what is happening in our everyday living. We are just exhausted, but we don’t complain. We just want to rest and take a deep breath, or simply have a cup of coffee.

Sometimes, as humans, we just need someone to lean on, we just need someone to be with, or we just need someone to talk to.

I'm tired and exhausted already of making myself available to those who are dear to my heart, 'coz when I am the one who is in need, I have no one to lean. I am just left all alone. I am also human being like anyone else…my strength comes from the moral support of those who are concerned to me…Of course God is always with me, but my human nature is longing for humans who can uplift myself as a person.

I was thinking that I am superman, in the sense that, I can do everything without being tired and without experiencing poignant pangs of grief in this so called life.

Now that I am the one who needs somebody to lean, but none of my friends are available. They are enjoying their lives to the fullest without even sharing a drop of joys to others…

And now, I am the one who needs you…but where were you, when I needed you the most.

I Love MCDO

I still remember my college days when my classmates and I were having our snacks at McDonald's. We used to spend our time with simple burger, french fries, and drinking soda. With only 26 pesos, we were already happy for a value meal.

However, there were so many times when I wasn't able to join with them because my school allowance was very limited. I just had 2.50 pesos for my jeepney fare and I had no more.

I felt a little sadness within me for I have no single penny for a value meal. But I accepted the fact that I can't afford to join with my classmates as long as I want to because of my financial situation. I rather spent my afternoon playing my old guitar.

The music that I played were lingering in my heart. It gave me a rhythm of satisfaction in my life though. Acceptance of who I am, made me stronger each day that I can't join with my classmates. I told myself someday, I will order the most expensive meal in McDo.

After college graduation, I landed to a teaching job. The salary was not that high but it was more than enough to sustain my needs. And thus, I fulfilled my promise to myself. I had my lunch at McDonald's and I ordered the most expensive meal that the food stuff offered.

I can't forget the quarter pounder. It was yummy. Of course, I added a little money "Go Large". Meaning, my coke and fries were served in a large serving. And I enjoyed my meal a lot. Since I don't know how to cook, McDonald's served as my kitchen, hmmm I mean my dining hall (of course with a little exaggeration).

But I still felt alone, for I didn't have my classmates anymore, unlike before we were there together, enjoying our meal, laughing and chitchatting with one another, though most of the time I was not able to join them. Yes, I had more money to buy McDo Meal, but my classmates were already gone. We have our own lives right now.

When I left the country, there began my craving for McDonald's once again. I've missed the taste of the value meal that I used to eat. If you are familiar with McDo, you'll know what I'm talking about.

One day, during my laboratory check-up, I asked my driver to drop by at the nearest McDonald's. Unfortunately, it was closed. I just go back to the hospital and had my monthly check up. Sad to say, no value meal.

However, my longing for value meal were gone when our Head Mechanic, Sir Joe and our Male Nurse, Robert had lunch at McDo today. They came back to the office with value meal for me and for Mr. Felix, my Boss. Since, it was already lunch break, I gave Sir Felix his value meal and I brought mine in my room.

There, I enjoyed a lot eating my Big Mac. Big in the sense that it was really BIG. For in this country, what you see is what you get. The burger McDo was truly delicious and very tasteful. But as I was about to finish eating, I felt a little sadness in me, for it's quite painful and lonely to eat alone.

I was so lonesome. and then I realize that, it is not really the McDonald's or the value meal that I've missed, it is rather the persons who were with me during the time that I ate at McDo.

I can afford to have a party at McDonald's now, (modesty aside), but it is futile and meaningless when your loved ones are not around.

God Does Not Exist

Ludwig Andreas Von Feuerbach, a humanist-atheist claims that God does not exist. He explains that God is merely a projection of human imagination.

He says that man, in his action, is experiencing limitations in this life. He is going through suffering and poignant pangs of grief in life. To make up for this limitation, he produced or made up the idea/concept of God who is greater than himself.

Man, in his limitation, made the idea of infinite, eternal and omnipotent God. Thus, Feuerbach claims that God is a simple product of human imagination.

To put into syllogism, he says that “If God is, so man is a slave. But man is free and intelligent, therefore God does not exist.”

Granted that Feuerbach was trying to prove the non-existence of God by saying that God is just a product of human imagination in order to satisfy his limitation. Though he was able to deny the existence of God, still, he was not able to explain where this man’s idea of God comes from.

The question now is that, if man was able to make his own idea of God who is greater than himself, where this idea/concept of God comes from?

Obviously, his idea/concept of God does not come from himself, for man cannot think or even create someone or something which is greater than himself.

This unsolved question in Feuerbach’s position is answered and explained by Rene Descartes.

Descartes’ Arguments on God’s Existence

Rene Descartes proves the existence of God using his argument of the “Cogito Ergo Sum” as the starting point. He claims that God exists because it is God Himself who implanted the idea God to his (Descartes) mind.

When Descartes thinks the idea of God, he proves his “thinking” by examining his own thinking of himself. Thus, he says, Cogito ergo sum, I think, therefore, I am.

In connection with this claim, when he grasped the idea of God who is greater than himself, the idea of God which is present in Descartes’ mind comes from God Himself. He (Descartes) said this simply because, he cannot think of a greater idea of God since he (Descartes) is less great than his own idea of God.

So, where does this idea of God come from? Logically, it comes from God Himself simply because (not that simple for some people); God Himself is the Cause of the Effect of the idea of God on him (Descartes).

Thus, there would be no greater effect than the cause. Since, God is the cause of the idea of God, it follows that God exists. Descartes cannot think of the idea of God, if his idea of God comes solely from him.

In a nutshell, Descartes says that God exists because he has in his mind the idea of God, and this idea of God cannot come from him since this idea (of God) is greater than him. If that is the case, there is innate idea of God in his mind implanted by God Himself.

Therefore, God exists.

Jubail Industrial City

One of the provinces in the Saudi Arabia is the Jubail City. It is located at the eastern area which is considered as one of the Industrial Cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Many Industrial constructions in Saudi can be found in Jubail. This is designated by the Kingdom as its Industrial City wherein petrochemical plants, fertilizer plants, steel works, industrial port and huge number support industries are located. The 4^th largest petrochemical company, SABIC, is also here.

Everyone knows that Saudi Arabia is a desert. Thus, a problem with water is a big question. However, the world largest desalination plant, Marafiq is here in Jubail. It provides the 50 % supply of water all over the Kingdom. Therefore, there are lots of supplies of water in Jubail.

Jubail is just a small city in Saudi Arabia but it is the largest city with regards to industrial plants. As a matter of fact, “Jubail, Saudi Arabia, is the biggest civil engineering project in modern times—and it's getting bigger” (bechtel.com), for there is an additional project which is called Jubail II Industrial City.

Because of many projects here in Jubail, there are lots of expatriates working in this so-called Industrial City. The huge amount of foreign workers is having their shopping at the City Proper every Friday.

There are really lots of people roaming around. They are workers from Bangladesh, India, Sri-Lanka, Nepal, Korea, Thailand, and Filipinos, just to name a few. They are strolling around there in the City.

One of the places where Filipinos are hanging out is the Jubail Center. This is just a small shopping mall wherein workers spend their day-off by shopping, dining, and relaxing.

The center island of the street however is flooded with other foreign nationals, roaming and chitchatting with one another, most of them are Indians and Nepalese.

So, Friday is really a “TGIF” for the workers in Jubail, the Industrial City.

SAUDIZATION for the Saudis, Filipinozation for the Filipinos

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strengthens its drive to eliminate the problem of unemployment all over the country. Jobs are being offered by the companies in order to comply with the requirements of Saudization.

In short, Nitaqat, by all means, is in effect. And it is very beneficial for the young Saudis who are looking for a job. Long live for the King of Saudi Arabia, for he takes immediate action for the needs of his people.

Meanwhile, in the Republic of the Philippines, there is an increasing rate of unemployment. And the government does not take necessary measure to decelerate joblessness. The obvious proof is that, instead of working in their country the Filipinos seek job around the globe.

In Saudi Arabia alone, there are approximately 1,800,000^[1]Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs. And there are still more lots of jobs for the Filipinos available in the labor market. The Filipinos are sacrificing a lot just to earn a living by going abroad. They also lessen the numbers of unemployed Filipinos by leaving their families in exchange of the pennies that they will receive from their companies.

As the saying goes, “Homesick versus dollars”.

While OFWs are contributing a lot to lessen unemployment by going abroad, the Philippine government is not taking strong measures that would help the Filipinos who are still there in the Philippines to get a job. There are lots of newly graduates but they simply join to the ranks of million jobless.

Look at Saudi Arabia, there is problem of unemployment, but it addresses it through Saudization.

However, to take a little comparison between the Saudi government and the Republic of the Philippines, it is very obvious that they are very different with one another. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is rich but the Philippines is poor.

The Saudi is strict and strong while the Philippines is lenient and corrupt. Therefore, there is no point of comparison for Saudi, because its riches are incomparable to the Philippines.

In Saudi, thieves, cheaters, and criminals are sentenced to jail or sometimes even to death. In the Philippines, the thieves, cheaters, and criminals are sent to Malacañang and other government offices.

To continue further, what is the same with Saudi Arabia and the Philippines is the same problem of unemployment. The Saudi Arabia provides jobs for the jobless. The Philippines distributes conditional cash transfer or CCT. The former gives long life solution while the latter provides temporary solution.

The Saudi government assures their citizens through additional benefits such as free food, accommodations, transportations, medical insurance and additional allowances. The Philippines, on the other hand, deducts huge amount of taxes from its citizens.

And lastly, the Saudi assures a long tenure of employment, while the workers in the Philippines will be laid off after six months. And this is how the two countries treat their citizens, Saudization for the Saudis and Filipinozation for the Filipinos.

SAUDIZATION: Much Closer Look on Nitaqat

Problem Solved

The problem of unemployment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been addressed well by the Ministry of Labor. The result is quite obvious for nowadays, there is an increasing number of Saudis who get hired. The issue on the unqualified locals is also taking into account.

Thus, the Minister of Labor Adel Fakieh is not worried about this concern because for him, qualification must not come first; they must be hired instead and be trained by the experienced workers and eventually become qualified ones. His statement is really good for there are no more problems with the implementation of the Nitaqat. The solution for Saudis’ unemployment therefore, is the Nitaqat.

Other Options

However, there can be more solutions to address the problems of unemployment in Saudi. Nitaqat can be just one of many ways to combat unemployment.

First, The Saudi government can take much closer look on the problem. It is easier right now for the Kingdom for they already knew that there is a problem. Unemployment! Next, who are the unemployed?

Majority of the unemployed Saudis are young lads who are high school graduates. They do not have Vocational Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree.

Knowing these things, the Kingdom can draft another possible solution to address the issue on unemployment. Here are the questions and answers format for clear understanding.

What is the problem? Unemployment.
Who are the unemployed? Young Saudis who do not have Vocational or Bachelor’s Degree.
How to solve the problem? Implement Nitaqat so that Saudis will be given a chance to work.
But they are not qualified how it is possible? Just hire them and be trained to do the job.

The first question is answered. The second question is also solved. In the third question, there can be better answer. Send them to schools and attain knowledge that is professionally aligned to the job that they would be landed to in the future.

Schools are the best places for training, and not the companies where people are already working. The products of schools are trained individuals who are ready to be deployed to the labor market. Again there is no shortcut for this.

Here, another issue will arise. Most probably, there are young Saudis who are too lazy to study. They will rather stay home and sleep than attending the school classes. But still there is a solution for this. The Kingdom of the Saudi Arabia is the most strict and most disciplined country in the whole world.

They can send the young uneducated Saudis to school and learn. Make it mandatory so that they have no choice but to study. Eventually they can contribute much for the Kingdom in the future.

Therefore, the answer regarding lack of qualifications is of course education. Why there is unemployment in Saudi Arabia? It is because they are uneducated and therefore unqualified to fill the jobs in the labor market.

In the last question, there is much better response to address the issue. Why, because hiring the unqualified Saudis first, will not guarantee that they will learn and perform the job in the future. In some cases, it can be possible. But putting the unknowledgeable Saudis in the working environment can create a big problem with the companies.

Why is it so? It is because company is a company. It is the working area wherein there are employees who are working and eventually their works will bring profit to the company. Company is not like a training school wherein the students must attend the class and learn the lessons in a particular subject matter. It’s not the right place wherein the unqualified locals must be there to work and learn.

The formula must not be work then learn. It must rather be; learn, and then work followed by gaining more knowledge. It is only then that the issue would be fully settled.

In some cases, those Saudis who have potentials for the job can be hired through another training program. That is the On Job Training (OJT) which can be offered by the companies.

Here, the job seekers will be attending the working hours like regular employees. This is to be considered as their actual training. After spending enough time of training, the manager or the immediate superior will evaluate their performance.

When the companies find out that they are qualified upon evaluation, they can hire the trainees as regular employees. If they do not pass the evaluation, the companies can issue a certification saying that this particular person has attended training in the company.

The trainees now can use the certificates of training in looking for a job. This time the trainees are already qualified and at the same time experienced. Henceforth, the issue of lacking of qualifications, experiences, and education has been resolved.

While implementing Nitaqat, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can also take into consideration all of these things.