Oops, control your emotions

By Alex P. Vidal

“If you don’t control your emotions, your emotions will control your acts, and that’s not good.”— Mariano Rivera

IT’S normal to be emotional, but if we are doing our work or obligation, we must do our best to control our emotions, the negative, toxic, or irrational anger.

Especially if we are in public service; and especially if we hold a high position in government.

If we are angry, we tend not to be compassionate or empathetic. We take pleasure in the misfortune of others, a phenomenon known as schadenfreude or “malicious joy.”

And we become quick to condemn and slow to praise.

This is our friendly reminder and advice to Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr., who recently called as “demonyo” (devil) the unnamed (but is a common knowledge) mastermind in the March 4 massacre in Pamplona, Negros Oriental that killed nine people, including Governor Roel Degamo.

“Gusto ninyong malaman kung sino ang mastermind? Ang mastermind ay si demonyo. Isa siyang demonyo. (Do you want to know who is the mastermind? Is the devil. The mastermind is a devil.),” exploded 59-year-old Abalos.

Abalos was obviously mad. He couldn’t hide what’s inside him. His actuations were uncalled for as a cabinet official, who is expected to maintain a decorum and refinement in dealing with complicated and sensitive matters in public.

Self-awareness is important and should come into play if Abalos wants to bring out the best in himself as authority and head of the agency tasked to run after the lawbreakers and hooligans.

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When they implement the law and seek justice for victims of violence and heinous crimes, the likes of Abalos are expected show utmost restraint and objectivity.

Their positions demand a high level of professionalism and propriety.

Calling a suspected criminal demonyo is the highest form of denunciation. Demonyo is the symbol of the darkness, an extreme but unworthy pillory toward any member of the human race.

“The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.” (Psalm 11:5).

In his anger and name-calling, Abalos terminates the benefit of the doubt even if the mastermind is still presumed innocent until proven guilty by the trial court.

In the 1977 movie “The Incredible Hulk,” actor Lou Ferrigno turns into a monster every time he gets mad.

He literally naga gua sa panit (comes out of skin). It’s because he can’t control his emotions and settles his conflict with the bad characters with brute force as a muscular behemoth, the alter ego of meek scientist David Banner.

When we don’t and can’t control our emotions, we become the Incredible Hulks.

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Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid that is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that transmits its signals between the nerve cells and the brain. It reduces hunger, increase sexual interest, improve memory and mental alertness, and alleviate depression. (Vitamin Bible)

COSTLY WAR. It will cost $411 billion to rebuild from the war in Ukraine, the World Bank announced in an updated assessment. The majority of damage is concentrated in frontline eastern regions, including Donetsk, Kharkiv and Luhansk.

Still, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expressing optimism that a victory could come by the end of the year—but only if Ukraine receives increased support from European and Western allies.

“It is obvious that the terrorist state cannot be stopped by anything other than one thing—our victory,” Zelensky said in his nightly address Wednesday after paying a surprise visit to troops on the front lines in the eastern Donetsk region. A Russian minister said the risk of a nuclear conflict is now at its highest level in decades, according to state media.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two local dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)