HUMAN VALUES AND ITS RELEVANCE TODAY
Salvador Araneta called for a new humanism, “that will not make people slaves of modernism but will be motivated by the spirit of togetherness, of caring and sharing, of being accepted, and of helping others in finding their place in society.” This he saw as the answer to the social cancer of “alienation and materialism.”
Araneta further cited what is needed to achieve this new humanism: he said, this will require heroic and unselfish leaders for nation building.
The Bayanikasan Constitution gives the framework and structure that is necessary for good governance. It also gives the new rules of the game wherein ordinary citizens must do their share through participatory democracy.
Sadly, Federalism is definitely not the answer under today’s scenario. Even Dr. Salvador Araneta would admit this. But he will rejoice to see that some provisions of The Bayanikasan Constitution have found their way into the Charter of the 1987 Constitution. For this, he is no longer alone. What is needed is simply the implementation of the provisions of the 1987 Constitution and the passage of the necessary accompanying rules as mandated by the Charter.
In his youth, Araneta declared that the nation will not achieve true democracy if people are not ready to vindicate and fight for their rights.
Araneta called for leaders who are ready to give up absolute power, affording other individuals the opportunity to contribute the wealth of their own wisdom. Leaders must realize that no one is above the law, and there can be no double standard in the application of laws and policies, and that WORDS DO COUNT.
While Araneta was a wealthy man not only by birth but by hard work coupled with integrity and delicadeza, he had the vision of putting a limit to how much wealth one could hold so that wealth would not remain in the hands of the few but would spill over to a society where no man is left behind.
He believed that wealth should be used to promote justice, peace, and prosperity for all. Araneta called for the democratization of wealth, to lessen poverty, to strengthen the middle class and to control the elite. The “comfortably cushioned elite” must realize that nothing is permanent.
Dr. Araneta said that we must devise a new system which offers each of us a more meaningful life. In fact Araneta went further in advocating four absolutes: HONESTY, PURITY, UNSELFISHNESS and LOVE.
On honesty, Araneta spoke on his faith in God, devotion to country, nationalism and hmanism.
By his faith in God, he meant resting our will in the will of God, practicing the essence of sublime wisdom, and remaining unconquered and undisturbed by the contrariness of the world.
By his devotion to country, he said that he felt that the present realities of the world demand that a small nation needs an assertive and dedicated nationalism because its underdeveloped resources and many idle and despondent people are ignored. We have to raise our people above their miseries.
He said only the people can help themselves and redeem their own salvation with hard work and wise national decisions and for this, they have to be united as a people duly supported by their government.
On nationalism, he said that our nationalism should not subtract from our duties to humanity and the need for an ever increasing realization of the brotherhood of man. In time, we would be under a World Federal Government and a new World Law. This vision can be justified as we try to address today’s environmental problems which affect the existence of our planet. The idea of a new World Law will not find acceptance unless the Filipino believes in the idea of the brotherhood of men.
Araneta foresaw the bleak and desolate future of the world if we do not stop abusing our environment. The tripod of civilization – water, soil and forest – will not be able to sustain us if we do not take care of them. In front of the US Congress, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, said that we need to have a new World Order and New Laws. (To be continued/PN)
