Here in the Philippines, it's been a week since storms have caused flooding and other problems. And the rain is still pouring from time to time. Makes me think of a deluge and for some people it has brought fear in their hearts.
Safety issues from natural disasters are always anxiety-causing and then here comes other news I saw today.
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Actually I can just scroll away from such news and do other things I enjoy but nope. This is not something to scroll away from. We have to do something about problems like this.
On the left of the image above is news of a Filipino mariner who got 18 years of jail sentence for working in a ship carrying cocaine. Of course he's not alone, his fellows also got their own sentences.
On the right side of the image is news about human trafficking of Filipinos in Cambodia. Happy to know the Cambodian government are cracking down on the job scam hubs in their country but look at the Filipino victims holding a press conference.
Let's go in depth on these trending news and learn what we can do about them.
You can do a quick search on this BBC News info to find out more details on this international news. Criminals getting jail time is good news, right? However comments on social media about this are all about the "poor guy" mentality.
As a Filipino, most people want to believe our kababayan (fellow Pinoy) is innocent and pity him and his family for his fate. They are ignoring the fact that he's already been proven guilty by the court. Who can say if he's really guilty or not? Only God knows the truth and also the evidence points to him being an accomplice.
Criminals would say those who got jailed are fools and maybe even thank them for being scapegoats. Governments are always jailing the small fry, nobody can touch the big bosses. Now what are we to do with this problem?
⁉️ Can you as an individual look for the mafia lords and call them out or bring them to the police? Is anyone reading this capable of hacking the criminal hideouts and actually do something to bring them to justice? Are you even able to put behind bars all the corrupt government officials? If your answer is no to all then welcome to the club. Hahaha.
Most of us just read and never care to do anything until it affects us. Duh, human nature. What if you're the one experiencing problems and nobody cared enough to help you, do you think you would be happy? Surely you'd think of dying instead or you will look for fellow victims then a group who can speak out on your issues. Then y'all can hold a press conference too.
Unfortunately not everyone is brave to do such even with anonymity involved. This is why crime becomes prevalent, nobody wants to do anything about the problem until it's already full blown and at its peak.
Bureau of Immigration April 2025 news post | source
Ah yes, the lure of big money. People always take the bait because of our greed, poverty or both. This is what happened to Filipinos who were lured to work in Cambodia as online scammers.
Let me ask you this: What is so wrong about not having all the latest top gadgets or expensive shoes and clothes? Is it wrong to rent because you don't have your own house yet? Hey, as long as we can eat 3 times a day that's a good thing, right? Apparently it's bad for other people that's why we have various news about Overseas Filipino Workers and their woes.
Of course we shouldn't judge anyone but we see this reality everyday, what should we do about it? There's a local saying that goes like: There won't be any scammers if there aren't willing victims.
Look at all the unfortunate people who fell for email scams in the past, they were lured by the promise of "long distance love" or more money. Now it's all over social media sites.
Human trafficking via AI/BPO online job ads is not the only result of online scams. There's also cash and/or love scams. Can you think of more?
We can always blame the victims but what about the perpetrators? I'm thinking Cambodia is becoming like Nigeria with their scams but crueler. Who will jail the abusive and manipulative "employers" for their crimes against humanity? Why are they doing such things if not for power, greed for money and luxuries in life?
⁉️ Can you who are reading this do something to capture these evil job scam syndicates? What can anyone do in any of the above situation? If you have no answer to those questions then I will tell you the "secret" which the devil don't want people to know.
Someone who doesn't like my posts accused me of being a Christian keyboard warrior. 😂 Just because I regularly post about God and His teachings in a certain social media site that person anonymously made such a comment about me.
But what of those who always post about their premarital or extramarital life (fornication and adultery), gossip, horoscope, occult and New Age stuff or rants about their life and bad news? What shall we call such people? Maybe let's call them Sin posters or Mortal sin propagators and Devil lovers. Would you like to be labeled as such?
If anyone calls out wrong behavior, why do we ridicule the person trying to point out the sinful things in the world? We like evil now more than goodness, is that it? Well here I am again, I will tell you that we must all pray for the conversion of sinners everyday. Says who? GOD SAYS SO.
Oh you know, conversion is a change of heart from bad to good. A person who changes from doing evil deeds to being holy. A related term for it would be repentance.
Is there proof of anyone being converted by God? Well St. Paul is one. His story is famous because it's in the Bible. St. Stephen prayed and thus the conversion happened. As for other saints who were once the worst sinners we have St. Augustine, St. Mary of Egypt, etc.
It can be said as one of God's desires for humanity. Recall that Our Lady of Fatima mentioned it in 1917 to the three shepherd children. And you know Jesus listens to whatever His mom says, right?
Oh don't be surprised but in the US, particularly in Wisconsin in 1859, Our Lady of Champion told an immigrant lady to offer up communion for the conversion of sinners! 😱 I was surprised when I learned about it last year!
Jesus also told such directly to His saints. For example, in the diary of St. Faustina, entry 186-187 states the following:
And finally in the Bible it says:
So what does the natural disasters in Southeast Asia and the international news have to do with the call to repentance?
⁉️ Seeing such bad news, don't you get the urge to help change the world even just in your own country? What about others like the ASEAN nations? Why, can you personally help everyone, the thousands and thousands of people affected by floods and other natural disasters? Are you able to talk to or catch every single criminal in the world who do bad things to children, teens, adults, and anyone?
If you can, wow please do it more often and be our hero. Unfortunately the most we always do is damage control instead of prevention. This is why we have to pray so God can help us change ourselves.
Don't daydream for a superhero when we have a real life Savior in Jesus Christ! Nothing is impossible with the Lord! 💪
Even just one short prayer to Jesus and the saints can do something however small it is. However, going to mass and offering it for the intention of the conversion of sinners is the best way to help make the world a better place! Mass is the highest form of prayer on Earth! If you go to daily mass, oh boy the devil will hate you and try everything to keep you from going. haha.
Never underestimate the power of praying to God. Your prayers to the Lord can have a big impact especially since praying for the conversion of sinners is in line with His will for us. The Holy Trinity answers prayers that are aligned to His will.
What is His will? That we all go to Heaven of course! He's doing everything to bring us back to Him but most humans and all demons are doing everything for everyone to end up in Hell. 😂 You think Hell and Heaven aren't real? Don't wait until you're dead to find out. 😜
Don't you think humans all over the world are experiencing too much suffering? Many people are perishing because only a few are praying. Surely you even have your own sob stories to share. (Do you want the pain to end? Pray and offer your sufferings to God. 🙏)
Those two news item aren't even the worst of it all. I don't want you to read about the gruesome crimes people do to other people so those two are enough to serve as an example.
In case you need more reasons to pray, here you go:
If all that still doesn't make you pray even a single Hail Mary or Our Father everyday for the reduction of crimes in the world then self-reflection is much needed. 😉
A heart full of anger and pride can never pray, don't you agree? But it's not too late to humble ourselves and do what we must to help save other people. Worst case scenario, you need someone to pray for you too before you can be able to say just one prayer for others. 🙏
If you ask a stranger to pray for you, do you think they really would? Well, would you pray for someone in need if they ask you for it? If yes then what's so hard in praying for the conversion of sinners? 🤔 You can say a prayer as short as this! Doesn't even take a minute!
If you can't pray but wanna help change the world then we first have to change ourselves. Visit Jesus in the adoration chapel or go to an open church and spend some quiet time with Him. Do it often and it will definitely be lifechanging and soon you will start praying hard too. What do you think? 😁
XOXO,
