I was attending once in our small province of Aklan in the Philippines when the provincial board members were deliberating on the proposal of its mayors (except one) to have the Small Town Lottery (STL). As a third world country, our poor people have been plagued by gambling which neither is helpful for the majority of our people and our local government. Without entering into discussion with its harmful effects, the good people of Aklan and with good will tried to make the local understand about its morality. Finally, after some hearings, the light has finally won.
One sees according to the eyes one has. It was said by my Thai friends that there was a story of a king of who ridiculed a Buddhist monk by saying “You are a pig!” to which the humble Buddhist monk responded, “But you are a ‘buddha’!” Everytime the king insisted bout telling the monk as a pig, the more the monk is convinced in answering that the king is a ‘buddha’; untill the king asked why this kind resp0nse. The monk finally kind responded: “One sees with the eyes he has, if one has the eyes of a pig, he will see persons as a pig.”
I was sad that many of our leaders see the economic side, only how to increase income in their towns because of the “percentage” one receives from STL. If one sees only through the eyes of money and economics, the mind will be clouded and judge things according to the eyes of “money” without seeing the moral damage to the Aklanons. It seems that some leaders wanted immediate effects rather the long term gains.
Love for the country and true patriotism will prevail in this small province as long as the people with good will in Aklan will be vigilant in watching with the yes of true service and love for its people.
