Government and the worship of money

By Reni M. Valenzuela

“The Philippines emerges as Asia’s biggest gambling hub,” Seasia Stats reported a year ago. We beat and toppled the top 20 in the list. But don’t we realize the implication of this to all of us as a country and as Filipinos?

Money, purely money, and the worship of it is why people gamble, and why the government tolerates, even sanctions gambling – lavishly and profusely.

Cockfighting, POGO, horse racing, casinos, STL, lotto, sweepstakes, poker, bingo, mahjong, jueteng, ending, sakla and the likes are nothing but smites and bugs — just all about money, greed, destruction, and deceit.

They are among hell’s bedazzling, blinding schemes to destroy lives, souls and families (and the Filipino nation). Gambling “enjoyably” rips and ushers the cockeyed to catastrophe and everlasting abys and blazes.

Gambling destroyed my studies as a young student.

However glaring the truth may be, and no matter the truth stares you in the face, if it is money that blinds you, you are blind helplessly.

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” – 1 Timothy 6:10

There is no such thing as a “moderate gambler” for gambling to wreak havoc. Gambling with its sting and addictiveness is no different from drugs and drug addiction. It ruins, steals and kills. John 10:10.

Hence, thus, therefore and wherefore  — beyond seeking stricter watch and regulation of online gambling activities, senator William Gatchalian and/or the entire government should and must dismantle, demolish and abolish (completely, fully, totally) all forms gambling in the country —  physical and online, legal and illegal.

But why can’t you do that, dear officials, politicians and leaders of the land? Dirty sources of dirty government money, simply and plainly, are the only, solitary justification and reason why. Oh the money-god. “How great thou art.”

While gambling in general is strictly a source of corruption, criminality and numerous, various evils in society, legalized gambling in particular is a source of income for the government to fund its “development” and “humanitarian” projects like the “ayuda” distribution that aims to “bless” and curse (simultaneously) the needy and country.

Why indeed can you not crush gambling altogether and for good, dear honorable men and women in the halls of power? “Instead of loving people and using money, some people love money and use people.” – Wayne Trotman

There are more than compelling reasons, beyond the need for “government funding” and “progress,” to abolish Pagcor and all other agencies that are engaged in gambling or human exploitation.

Pagcor Chairman Alejandro Tengco can have all the excuses and alibis he wants in order to oppose the “abolish” clamor for the simple and obvious reason that the act would be tantamount to abolishing himself as well. The imperative truth remains: Gambling is evil.

Ignoring the evil effects of gambling altogether, Mr. Tengco’s concern must be somewhere else dug up, distant from and outside the public interest — beyond the “loss” of billions of pesos for the government (or for whom?).

Abolish Pagcor (indeed), PCSO and all other gambling agencies. Otherwise, or if not, these agencies should and would have to be transformed, recast and renamed to engage themselves in clean, decent, productive, creative, innovative, collaborative, effective, helpful ways and endeavors of raising income for the government, soliciting the  involvement and benevolent hearts of big private businesses, wealthy Filipinos, and foreign philanthropic entities.

What a good way of addressing and solving social inequality and social injustice that is, without revolution. And what a way to progress. God causes the sun to rise and the rain to fall on all people (Matthew 5:45).

Gambling does (insanely) so much more harm, devastation and evils than “good.” Won’t you stop using and exploiting people and love people instead, both the poor and the rich — by getting the nation rid of gambling?

If you don’t do that, with due respect, who or what then is transfiguring to be the bigger problem that needs the solving?

Email: renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com