Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
New Year is When One Begins to Know the Truth
Share:
by Phillip Garcia | January 5, 2009 at 11:34 am
697 views | 5 Recommendations | 32 comments
Manila, Philippines – Award-winning evangelist says New Year is when one begins to know the truth.
New Year’s Eve in the Philippines is the eve when no one is safe outside the house. During this evening, Filipinos detonate their Sinturon ni Hudas (Judas’ Belt), Super Lolo, Bawang (Garlic Bomb), Pla-Pla, Five Star, and Whistle Bombs out in the streets. In most cities of Metro Manila, one cannot walk outside the house without caution at these hours in the middle of what seems to be a civil war.
There is more, however, to the year’s noisiest and most air-polluted night. Every year, stray bullets kill the celebrators.
In 2007 New Year’s Eve, “about 450 people were injured by stray bullets and firecrackers,” according to Raju Gopalakrishnan of Reuters (1/1/2008). Authorities said that it was most gratifying because “the number was far less than in previous years.”
In 2006, New Year’s Eve welcomed 600 wounded and at least seven killed. In 2007, “10 people were hit by stray bullets during the revelry,” according to national police Chief General Avelino Razon. Last year 2008, hospitals were again busiest the night of the celebration, as the number of victims reached up to 563, according to Xinhua.net (2/1/2009).
The after-celebration has also been a familiar scene in the country. Early morning, residents would take up their broomsticks and clean up the massive pile of garbage the New Year’s Eve left. Children would then go to the little mountains of garbage to search if there’s any firecracker left for them to blow—or to blow them.
At sunset, families would gather together to watch the news, anticipating how many have lost their fingers and have blinded their eyes. Loud cries and screams engulf the usual silent hospitals as doctors treat the victims of firecrackers and stray bullets, or as they cover with white blankets those who did not survive the night.
People with decapitated fingers and blown eyes are the common scenarios. So much for the advertisements prior to the celebration warning people to avoid accidents due to firecrackers. One television commercial a few years ago showed a child’s fingers counting to nine only; another showed a hand with bandages tainted with blood.
Sirens of fire trucks also contribute to the deafening night. People don’t enjoy seeing their houses in flames; they just want to throw firecrackers in the streets. The Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region (BFP-NCR) recorded 23 fire incidents in 2007 New Year’s Eve in Metro Manila alone, according to GmaNews.tv.
Despite campaigns to lessen accidents due to firecrackers, more fire incidents occurred at the outset of 2008, including the burning down of a church in Las Piñas City. Out of 32 incidents, 11 were caused by firecrackers.
Not only in the Philippines is the New Year’s Eve notorious. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, “at least 19 people were wounded by stray bullets during New Year's Eve celebrations,” according to The Miami Herald not very long ago.
In Orlando, Florida, a “stray bullet struck a young mother in the head,” as reported in Wftv.com on 2 January 2006. She was watching fireworks in their lakefront yard while holding her seven-month old baby in her arms when the bullet hit her eye.
In Central America, "at least 101 people died in events related to New Year celebrations," according to Chinadaily.com.cn (1/3/2009). In Nicaragua, 19 people died on January 1; one died of heavy drinking, two committed suicide, three died in traffic accidents, four were drowned and nine were killed. In Honduras, 30 people were killed in violent accidents and another 40 were injured during the celebration. In Guatemala, 38 people died during the New Year holidays; 34 were killed with fire guns, three died in traffic accidents and one was drowned.
And the list goes on.
In the United States, traffic accidents worsen during the New Year’s Eve celebration. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics show that New Year's Eve is by far the worst period for crashes involving alcohol. This was reported by Anthony Parenti of Mycentraljersey.com (12/29/2008).
Beyond all these, New Year’s fireworks extravaganza contributes much to air pollution. According to Stop-fireworks.org, “Health hazards caused by fireworks exceed by far the damage done as a result of explosions or burns.” Not only is our own health threatened by the revelry by exploding tons of fireworks, said the American Lung Association of Hawaii; even the environment suffers a great deal.
Not all countries celebrate New Year on January 1, however; only those that are governed by the Gregorian calendar. According to Wikipedia, the Roman calendar traditionally began on March 1, until it was later changed by Julius Caesar in 47 BC, creating the Julian calendar. Catholic Pope Gregory XIII then changed it again in 1582 to what is presently known as the Gregorian calendar, which begins on January 1.
The true New Year, on the contrary, according to Bro. Eli Soriano, host of the religious program Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path), is not January 1 or any other date. In his Bible Expositions being held in different parts of the globe, Bro. Eli usually encounters questions regarding the New Year. According to the preacher, in the Bible, “Christ is the New Year.”
Soriano, acclaimed by many as the only sensible preacher of our time, is the Presiding Minister of the Members Church of God, International.
Bro. Eli explains that once a person has accepted Christ in his life, to him it is the beginning of a new year. No more alcohol drinking, no more cigarette smoking and no more of the wicked ways that he formerly does. Unlike in the Gregorian calendar, a drug addict will still be a drug addict after the New Year celebration.
Instead of buying firecrackers to promote air pollution, why not build a free transient home or orphanage for the homeless? Instead of welcoming the New Year with dismembered fingers, bloody eyes and dirty nose, why not provide free feeding programs in the depressed areas of the country?
In the Ang Dating Daan (ADD) Convention Center in Apalit, Pampanga, north of Manila, a new free Transient Home is currently on its finishing touch. It is a sequel to the free Transient Home in Quezon City, Manila, a few blocks away from UNTV Studio, opened on October 29 through the efforts of Bro. Eli Soriano and UNTV host, Mr. Daniel Razon.
The free Transient Home is a temporary shelter from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for those who do not have a place to stay at these hours. It may serve as refuge for those who are involved in precarious cases like being victims of holdup, rape and other untoward incidents. Transients, or those who are being accommodated, are given free dinner and breakfast, comfortable beds and even personal needs. They are also provided with free medical check-ups.
In the ADD Convention Center also, an orphanage and a free hospital is located. The physically-disabled, the elderly widows and the orphans have physicians and assistants attending to their needs. Food is served on time, vitamins and all possible care is provided. This orphanage is one of the several orphanages Bro. Eli maintains in different parts of the country.
Perhaps, the best way to celebrate the New Year is to give to the needy and be a better person. January 1 is just another date in the calendar, unless we do something for the other 364 days and make the New Year more meaningful.
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (32)
at 17:57 on January 5th, 2009
Indeed, Christ is the New Year. There is no better way to celebrate a new year than to have a new life in Christ. And nothing and no one in this world can help us achieve this new life except through Him.
at 18:06 on January 5th, 2009
agree! no doubt!
at 18:18 on January 5th, 2009
Celebrating a noisy, violent, polluted and extravagant literal new year achieves no significant changes in a person's life. Long list of new year's resolutions that they hope to achieve, as days pass by, the list will be forgotten. That's the truth of what they're celebrating...
Thank GOD we have known the truth thru Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel, we no longer contribute to the noise, violence & pollutution...
at 19:04 on January 5th, 2009
Now I realize how ironic New Year is for so most people in the world. Instead of alloting money for the tradition, it would be better to touch the lives of the needy. What about enlisting resolution for New Year would this help instead of getting busy with firecrackers and 13 round fruits?
at 20:53 on January 5th, 2009
"Perhaps, the best way to celebrate the New Year is to give to the needy and be a better person. January 1 is just another date in the calendar, unless we do something for the other 364 days and make the New Year more meaningful."
Indeed! How much is one pack of rebentador today? Instead of spending your money in a dangerous firecrackers why not just provide your own family their needs? We are in the Philippines, a third world country. Majority of the regular employees' wage is not even enough to sustain the budget for domestic maintenance, and firecrackers? I just don't get my fellow countrymen.
at 02:12 on January 6th, 2009
Same with me, dudes!
Yearly, the numbers in the calendar change but people don't unless they are renewed with HIM!
When you give, give your best!
Go for it, buddies!!!!
at 07:37 on January 6th, 2009
Where is Eli Soriano now? He always advertise his bible expo but these look like pre-taped videos.
Anyway, I'd like to see him come out.
Visit my blog: resbak.com
at 07:53 on January 6th, 2009
WARNING:
This truthcaster who is advertising his website resbak.com is a FAKE.
The Eli Soriano he is looking for is the authentic one is Truthcaster.com.
Now, this FAKECASTER here, who's name is Conrad Obligation in Topix.net, badly needs attention for his website. RESBAK is a Tagalog word which means REVENGE.
If you do not want to give his site more traffic, and if you don't want your emails or IP's seen by a man who seeks REVENGE (who knows what about or what kind), better not visit that site.
Sure enough its contents are a waste of time to read. He doesn't even know English.
at 22:13 on January 6th, 2009
liecaster,
pre-taped? there are about a thousand attendees in our BIBLE expositions here in the Philippines, why dont you ask them if it was pre-taped, or ask those people who enlist their names to ask their questions from Bro Eli, or better yet why not attend one and ask your very own question... or challenge him to a debate (we'd like to see how you turn red in shame).
you make yourself seem more moronic - " these look like pre-taped videos", of course the ones being broadcasted on TV are taped Bible expositions. duh?!! if you want to see him come out (like who are you anyway?) then go to the places where he conducts Bible expositions.
now if you are just like many who can not afford to go places, then have pity on yourself, yor hardened heart will lead you to a more miserable condition in damnation.
you dont even deserve your user name!
at 08:38 on January 6th, 2009
Why so full of hate? All I did was ask for Soriano's whereabouts? You and others like you, such as Jane Abao, posted so many things about some other religion on many different site, nowpublic, topix, youtube. Those nasty things are still there. My site is about other things, one of which is a biography of Soriano. Nothing nasty like what Soriano's supporters wrote. Just the truth. Just the plain truth about Soriano so they may know the truth.
I'll make you a deal. Tell Soriano to remove all the nasty things you and other Soriano supporters wrote and posted about other religions and I'll stop writing about Soriano. Do we have a deal? If not, I'll just keep writing.
Visit my blog: resbak.com
at 09:27 on January 6th, 2009
Your color is all over your face, FAKE.
Asking Soriano's whereabouts? Why?
You do not have the right. There are people wanting to trace his location, you know. People who want him dead. I am not accusing you of being one of them, but why ask for his whereabouts?
And what about those nasty things you accuse us of saying to your religion, Iglesia Ni Cristo? Is it about the five PUP students that were killed by your deacons in the vicinity of your chapel in Punta, Sta. Ana? Is it what we say that is nasty? Or is it what they did?
If you think your deacons are innocent of the crime, of which the primary witness was your own member, you better protest to Justice Hilario Davide, Jr., who judged them guilty of the crime.
at 09:47 on January 6th, 2009
Why? because he's wanted in the Philippines. People don't want him dead. They want him face justice.
Here you go again, accusing without proof. As you said, if at all true, "deacons" and "vicinity". There's no connection to the INC and you still trying to tie this with the INC. Stop it. It's not right and you know it. If there's a crime, let the criminals pay for it. NOT THE RELIGION OF THE CRIMINALS. Similar to Soriano's case, I'm not charging your religion raped Veridiano. I'm saying Soriano should face HIS rape case against Veridiano. Now do you get the difference?
Anyway, what about the deal. Are you going to remove the nasty post or not? I'm pretty sure, if I start posting Soriano will regret it.
Visit:resbak.com
at 22:33 on January 6th, 2009
what is your involvement with the alleged rape of Puto anyway? are you his lawyer? why are you raving so much about this case? It has never been proven anyway. puto is not even coming out of the open seeking for revenge, he is not rallying in the streets, not going to the media and bombarding everyone about his cry for justice. why of all people do you care? there are more pitiful victims, why are you not sympathizing with them? there are 14 boys raped by puto, why are you not mentioning this??????
why, why, why????
at 23:20 on January 15th, 2009
What justice are you talking about?
That so-called rape case filed by Daniel Veridiano was DISMISSED for lack of evidence. BUT it was re-filed by no other than the Secretary of Justice, who is not in anyway involved with the case.
Today is your day. Go forth and enjoy it - with all your lies.
Aren't you the one stealing Eliseo Soriano's monicker?
The name "Truthcaster" had been associated with him for preaching the word of God for a long, long time.
at 03:35 on February 10th, 2009
Mr. Fakecaster!! Bro. Eli will not get a fair trial as of this time & better after the year 2010. We all know that he is a GOOD man. Veridiano seek revenge against the Iglesia after he was removed from the organization for so many wrongdoings.
at 09:54 on January 6th, 2009
Regret it? Post all you can if that's your job.
In case you don't know about Veridiano, he's the RAPIST of about 14 or more young teenagers. For his portrait as a rapist, click here.
Now, about your deal, you fabricate lies, then we expose them, okay FAKE?
at 10:02 on January 6th, 2009
ok. if that's what you want.
if you change your mind, you know where to reach me.
at 22:24 on January 6th, 2009
as if! as long as it is not God who turns away from us, we have nothing to fear, not even the devil who fuels your deranged mind.
acting tough huh, you cant even post under your real name, coward!
at 23:23 on January 15th, 2009
You remind me of satan making a deal with Jesus Christ.
Haha!
No matter how you sugarcoat lies, it will come out!
at 12:46 on January 16th, 2009
lies? satan?
trivia questions for you:
1. who is the televangelist who vilified and cursed his fellow televangelist for delving into politics?
2. who is the televangelist who in front of his supporters said he would never, ever go into politics for he said it is against the bible, and then turns and ran anyway, big liar that he is?
3. who is the televangelist who is also a disqualified senatorial candidate?
the answer to all three questions is: ELISEO FERNANDO SORIANO
at 16:15 on January 16th, 2009
CONTEXT, MAN, CONTEXT!
You are just like a blind man having touched only a part of the elephant and then talk a mouthful about it.
Know more about Eliseo Soriano and you will have enough benchmark data to size him up.
at 07:55 on January 17th, 2009
is this the best you can do? I just proved your beloved leader is a liar and this is your response?
size him up? here's some more trivia questions:
1. who's the televangelist who claims to be "the most sensible"? in case you and your leader doesn't know, sensible means showing good sense.
2. who's the televangelist who claims that some people in Cainta, Rizal are dark-skinned because the sun in Cainta is extra hot. this makes me laugh just thinking about it.
and the answer is: ELISEO FERNANDO SORIANO
I've got 101 of these so I can keep going.
at 00:35 on March 25th, 2009
Liar!! Use your brain Mr. Fakecaster.. Our preachers in the Iglesia ng DIYOS are not like yours. BOBO!!
You can never bring Bro. Eli down!!!
at 22:21 on January 6th, 2009
Admittedly, fellow Filipinos who still celebrate January 1 with a lot of noise and fuzz are blind followers. Filipinos have been sticking to traditions even if they can not provide a logical explanation why they are doing it. worse is when there ate injuries and death resulting from that inexplicable traditions or mimicked traditions. Because of this, their souls are placed in great danger without them even knowing it. This is the reason why I totally agree that New Year is when a person gets to know the truth, and that experience would be surreal, even without the noise and fiasco.
at 02:19 on January 8th, 2009
INC's Truthcaster said "Why so full of hate?", I can't help but to picture another psychopath in the character of Heath Ledger's The Joker saying "why so serious?"
at 15:14 on January 13th, 2009
This is a nice post. I personally never liked that "firecracker" new year (being noisy and accident prone that is).
This gives me a more meaningful way of recognizing the "new year".
Thanks for the post mate.
at 23:29 on January 15th, 2009
Hi, francis!
That's right! Anything new must be associated with something meaningful.
Noise to scare away the goblins and the ghosts?
We've been had for a long, long time. We've been like children never learning. It is hight time that somebody come up and pump sense into our coconuts. That's what teachers say in the classrooms when we behave nonsensical.
at 15:54 on January 21st, 2009
We will never know how truthcaster, an INC, will threaten or resbak anyone responsible in the ENBANC full text. But we can expect more lies from this INC malicious writer, especially when someone talks about their "INC doctrines from hell."
at 16:53 on January 21st, 2009
Gerardo Torres Valdez at age 13 died a tragic death in the arms of his uncle who shot him using a sumpak, a one-meter long improvised gun; while a stray bullet from the same gun ended the life of a 29-year old Perlita Mamorno Ferrer. Cipriano De Vera, Sr., was accused of having killed the two victims and was charged in three separate informations, inclusive of a charge for illegal possession of firearm. lawphil.net.
What was the occassion? A typical Iglesia ni Cristo New Year Celebration:
"...Jesusa Valdez, sister of Gerardo, testified that at about 10:45 p.m. of 31 December 1993, she and Gerardo were invited by Mary Ann, daughter of Cipriano De Vera, Sr, to partake of the New Year's meal at the latter's house...." lawphil.net
"...Dalia Ferrer testified that she and her sister Perlita were in Cayambanan for the New Year's celebration at the invitation of Julito De Vera. The house of Gerardo was about 40 to 50 meters from where her sister was standing when shot. Perlita was brought to the Sacred Heart Hospital where Neil Valdez informed her that the assailant was the accused...." lawphil.net
"...Glenda De Vera stated that on the eve of 31 December 1993, she celebrated the coming of the New Year with her family, relatives and some guests. It was her father, the accused, who prepared the food for them. Her father, as well as some of the visitors, left the house at around 10:00 p.m...." lawphil.net
"...Cipriano De Vera, Jr., a son of Cipriano De Vera, Sr, stated that around 9:00 p.m. of 31 December 1993, he was on guard duty at the Iglesia ni Cristo Chapel in Cayambanan with Neil Valdez, ..." "...The witness said that Neil used to be a member of the church until he was expelled therefrom...."lawphil.net
"...Neil Valdez, brother of Gerardo, testified that at around midnight of 31 December 1993, he and Gerardo were exploding firecrackers...." lawphil.net
"...Renato Valdez, the father of Gerardo, confirmed that he and the accused, a cousin, had a dispute over the land given to Renato's father by their grandfather of which the accused wanted a share...." "...He spent P2,375.30 for Gerardo's hospitalization, P4,200.00 for the vigil, P4,000.00 for the lompos, P3,000.00 for the tomb, P300.00 for the lapida, P200.00 for the church rites, P10.00 for the burial permit and P5,000.00 for the funeral expenses. Gerardo was in first year of high school when he died...." lawphil.net
What took place during that INC New Year celebration according to INCs?
"...Neil Valdez, brother of Gerardo, recalled that at around midnight of 31 December 1993, he and Gerardo were exploding firecrackers when he noticed his uncle, Cipriano De Vera, Sr., go under a mango tree. Minutes later, he was startled by a gunshot, followed by the falling body of his brother, Gerardo, to the ground. When he looked around, he saw the accused, whom he clearly recognized, holding a long-barreled gun, about one meter long, also locally known as "sumpak." The accused was about 8 to 9 meters away from him. Just as he started to assist his brother, Neil heard shouts, about 40 to 50 meters away, that Perlita was also dead ("aynatay metten ni Perlita"). He learned moments later that Perlita was shot on the left side of the forehead above the left eye. The accused tried to flee from the scene. Neil proceeded to give chase but he was not able to overtake the accused. He speculated that the shooting was an offshoot of the land dispute between his father and the accused...."lawphil.net
"...Neil Valdez and Samuel Nicer were presented on rebuttal. Neil said that neither Cipriano De Vera, Jr., nor the accused was a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, either in Cayambanan or in Nancalabasaan, Urdaneta. Nicer, for his part, denied having been expelled from the Iglesia ni Cristo. Also presented at the witness stand was Isagani Pagaduan, Cayambanan Secretary of the Iglesia Ni Cristo from 1985 to 1993 who attested that Neil Valdez had never been expelled from the church . He also declared that on 31 December 1993, Neil Valdez stayed at the Iglesia ni Cristo chapel only until 10:00 p.m., and that the latter did not come back that night after leaving the place...."lawphil.net
"...Samuel Nicer recalled that a few days before the incident, he saw the accused sporting a gun. Around midnight of 31 December 1993, he, together with Rodrigo Gallardo, Raffy Bustamante and some other friends, again chanced upon the accused holding the same one-meter long gun, which the latter, in fact, pointed at them. At about 12:10 a.m. of 01 January 1994, while on his way home, the witness saw the accused walking towards the east, in front of the Dominguez ricemill, still carrying his "sumpak."..."lawphil.net
"...The accused, Cipriano De Vera, Sr., asserted that he arrived in Urdaneta from Manila on 27 December 1993. In the evening of 31 December 1993, he cooked the food for his family. After taking their supper at about 8:15 p.m., his children went to the Iglesia ni Cristo chapel while he departed for Barangay Paurido, Urdaneta, to cook for his cousin, Felicidad Barcelona. He arrived in Barangay Paurido at 10:30 p.m., celebrated with his relatives and there spent the night. He woke up at 6:00 a.m., and left for Manila after taking a bath and having his breakfast. He arrived in Manila in the afternoon of 01 January 1994 and proceeded to work the next day. When he returned from his work that day, he was surprised to find his daughter, Grace, who went to see him about a pending warrant for his arrest. He was able to return to Urdaneta only on 06 January 1994. After attending a religious service at the Iglesia ni Cristo chapel, he proceeded to Barangay Paurido. He went to the Urdaneta police station on 08 January 1994 to inquire about a warrant of arrest issued against him on a pending rape charge but he was promptly put to jail...." lawphil.net
The wounds from deadly gunshots, hiding behind the noise and merriment of the New Year's celebration:
"...Dr. Ramon Gonzales, Jr., Rural Health Officer of Urdaneta, Pangasinan, declared having conducted an autopsy examination on 01 January 1994 and 03 January 1994, respectively, on the remains of Gerardo Valdez and Perlita Ferrer. Gerardo had sustained three gunshot wounds; viz: ..." These shots were at the head and neck portion. "...According to him, all the wounds were fatal. The slugs were kept in his office since he was not asked to turn them over to the police. The autopsy on Perlita revealed that she had suffered a gunshot wound on the left eyebrow. It had a point of entry but no point of exit, and the slug was found at the right parietal lobe of the brain. The wound was fatal. He said that the slugs he recovered from Gerardo Valdez were similar to the slugs he recovered from Perlita Ferrer which he also kept in his office...." lawphil.net
Summary:
"...The trial court has correctly appreciated the qualifying circumstance of treachery against appellant. Treachery exists when the means of execution employed by the accused gives the victim no opportunity to defend himself or retaliate, and the means of execution are deliberately or consciously adopted. It has been amply shown in this instance that the victims have been totally unprepared for the sudden and unexpected attack. It is also evident that appellant has placed himself at a safe distance in firing at his victims, indeed hiding behind the noise and merriment of the New Year's celebration, to avoid any risk to himself and then to cover up his nefarious deed...." lawphil.net.
Decisions: PHILIPPINE JURISPRUDENCE - FULL TEXT
"...So ordered. Davide, Jr., C.J., Romero, Bellosillo, Melo, Kapunan, Mendoza, Quisumbing, Purisima, Pardo, Buena, Gonzaga-Reyes, and Ynares-Santiago, JJ., concur. Puno, and Panganiban, JJ., on leave. lawphil.net.
at 08:45 on February 4th, 2009
I pasted parts of PHILIPPINE JURISPRUDENCE - FULL TEXT (not verified) above and used the same title as username because comments under my name is being filtered.
And until now, why isn't the fake truthcaster commenting anymore?