Rep. Abante’s ‘Act of God’
Today, Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, a Baptist Pastor-turned-legislator, pious and close to God, delivered a speech to declare that the Ondoy tragedy is an Act of God.
I would not debate on the issue of God and disasters. I won’t even go into this ‘holier-than-thou’ stance and claims that our so-called wicked ways led to this divine punishment. What I do know is that storms are getting deadlier because of climate change, a phenomenon caused by humans, by our lifestyle. From what I see, too, garbage – plastics, in particular – clogged the Metro’s drainage, waterways, & creeks, and thus aggravating this problem.
But I will tell you more about Rep. Abante. Talk to him and you’d get the sense that he seriously believes that he’s the voice of God, to the point that he treats his flatulence as a wisp of the Holy Ghost. He can silence you (Oh, that he did to several LGBT activists in a hearing of the House human rights committee), and he struts as if the post-deluge sun shines from his bottom. His breath smells of incense.
Rep. Abante used to be the Chair of Congress’ Human Rights Committee. He blocked the passage of an anti-discrimination bill that protects the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. He’s also rabidly against the Reproductive Health Bill. As the current chair of the Committee on Information in Congress, he also championed a pro-censorship measure, the Right of Reply Bill.
For all his piety, he was put in the Hall of Shame of Human Rights Watch, a prestigious international human rights NGO based in New York.
But look – Rep. Abante may be close to God, but he’s no Noah. So when the floodwater was rising in Manila, when hundreds of families in his district were scampering to find floating devices, a Philippine Coast Guard rubber boat was reportedly deployed to fetch Rep. Abante’s son and his barkada in Philippine Columbian Sports Club in Paco, Manila.
That must be the so-called ‘Act of God’ that Rep. Abante is talking about, the one he’s really familiar with – when public officials play god, and use their power to push for their own interests over the survival of the people.
Well, he certainly sounds like the Asshole of God.
If he sees only the religion or the sins and not the people who are in need of help or are suffering then he is not pious, kind, holy or whatever: he is just SICK. And the Philippines is worse for having people like him.
[...] heard it Rep. Bienvenido Abante? It’s not an act of God. So stop acting like one by imposing your twisted values upon your [...]
Shame, shame, shame!
Voice of God? Maybe his god is different from our God.
I will tell my friends, kamag anak not to vote this guy!
The LGBT community will not stop until he realized how organized we are. Kaya nating magpabagsak ng isang Congressman.. bet you!!
The biggest loser ever. I hope he gets sodomized by a thousand sperm whales. And you call yourself a REPRESENTATIVE. Shame on you, pig.
Sorry to break it to everyone but there is no god.
Abante? Paurong kaya.
grrr… i’d like to wring his neck.
“I won’t even go into this ‘holier-than-thou’ stance and claims that our so-called wicked ways led to this divine punishment.”
Hmm. He said those things? So, he claimed that the”Ondoy Tragedy” as such (divine punishment for our so-called wicked ways )? and how was he “holier-than-thou” in his speech? What else did he say(can you give the entirety of his speech?)?
Shame on him then if he did!
Our existence is also an act of God.
How dare this guy point a finger at God for this calamity. He lives in Manila right?? I wonder how much garbage he and his family and relatives for that matter produce in a day??? Does he segregate his garbage?? Does he own a car ?? Does his house use lumber?? Does he only use recycled paper?? How many airconditioners does he have in his house?? How about his office?? My list can go on and on on how he might have probably contributed to the calamity,, I take that back.. I am sure he has contributed more to the calamity than most of the filipinos…. Now dare he point a finger at God for the calamity when he is very guilty of making it happen.. And he calls himself a Man of God!! He should be ashamed!!!!
mr abante, tama ka dahil sa ating kapabayaan, especially sa mga basura, pero being a congressman yourself in many years in one of the districts of manila what have you done to rectify what your constituent had been exploiting. Ordering the coast guard to fetched your son and his friends was not bad at all but you should also do the same to your constituents especially those whose lives, loveones and property were in a more delicate situation than your son and his friends.
to all of you guys who posted your comments or to all of the above whoever you are.. am just concerned of all those comments.. watch out and you are accountable for all the words that you posted… HINDI NYO BA ALAM NA ANG BINABANATAN NYO NG KOMENTO AY ISANG TAO NA DAPAT NATIN IGALANG ..KUNG MAY TAO NA MASIGASIG, MATAPAT, AT KARAPATDAPAT NA MAGLINGKOD SA BAYAN …ABANTE….HINDI SIYA RELIGIOSO SUBALIT SA PANALANGIN MAASAHAN NATIN… SUBOK NA ANG KANYANG KAKAYAHANG MAMUNO SA DISTIRCT VI… AT IBA PANG MGA ORGANIZATION. HINDI SIYA MARUNONG UMATRAS. KASI ANG PANGALAN NIYA AY ABANTE… ISA SIYANG MABUTING KAIBIGAN, MATULUNGIN SA LAHAT NG ORAS MAASAHAN… ANG TANGING DALANGIN NIYA AY ANG II CHRONICLES 7:14….”IF MY PEOPLE WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND …PANALANGIN NG PAG-ASA….MAYBE INSTEAD OF POINTING YOUR FINGERS TO OTHERS WHY NOT JUST TRY TO SEEK YOUR OWN HEART ON WHAT YOU DID TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE YOU EVER DONE YOUR PART OF HELPING OTHERS IN NEED?..
Well heres a story about that rubber boat you are talking about.
http://imobed.com/politics/fullman-ph-criticized-cong-abante/
I know the man since the day I can understand… and he has always been transparent with his people… you guys just give comments on the man like you knew who he is… you read any article that someone wrote without even talking to the man himself if it were true… thats bad journalism… talk to those he helped… talk to those who works for him… talk to those in his neighborhood… this is not facts but pure fiction based on hearsays which i think is a stupid way to base your articles on… good thing is he is not bothered by your insults and your comments and he is always letting the people choose whether they still want him in office next year.
yea! he’s no NOAH, but he tried.. and him being BENNY M. ABANTE was already an enough reason for him to help others ALLLOOOTT.and uh.. he’s not the only one who believes himself as a man of GOD, cause HE got US at his back.. WE BELIEVE HE IS A MAN OF GOD. and i have hundreds and thousands of reason to be proud to this man.
Mr. ABANTE knows the need of his kababayan.He reached out to those who are in need. There are a lot of goods that he distributed to the people not only of the people of 6th district, and yeah’ the PHILIPPINES is really going to be sick with people like you guys who are so judgemental.
**HOW ABOUT YOU? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! SITTING THERE AND WRITING THIS ARTICLES .. oh yea?! that’s a great help.
“WHO’S TO BLAME?”
a Privilege Speech Delivered by:
HON. BIENVENIDO M. ABANTE, JR.
@ the House of Representatives
last, September 30, 2009
– Who’s to blame? I would say not just the illegal logger, not just the garbage thrower, not just the businessman that keep on constructing malls, not just the residential subdivision owner and developer, and certainly, NOT GOD but US. If we, as representatives of our people would only act decisively in seeing to it that laws are enforced without fear or favor and without respect to persons, if chosen leaders would only lead this country in all honestly, good faith, transparency, integrity and accountability, perhaps the destructive effects of such calamity would not be that great. But it seems that this is not so, as it would now appear from what is happening around us that calamities, corruptions, crimes, and condemnations are the ones ruling our beloved nation today. While typhoon Ondoy is a natural calamity, its devastating effect is man’s own doings – with his undisciplined ways, corrupt practises, and love for self and money. Let us now heel heed the warning from the holy writ: “be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).
Mr.Speaker, we must now call on all concerned agencies of the government to come together and agree to pursue at all cost one direction which is to minimize, if not prevent, costly flooding and land slides, and other calamities, especially in the metropolis. I therefore filed yesterday a Resolution for this house to conduct investigation on all government agencies concerned such as PAGASA, DPWH, DENR, DILG, MMDA, NAPOCOR and DSWD with the end in view to minimizing, if not preventing, the destructive effects of flash floods, landslides, and other natural calamities in our country, especially in Metro Manila and in nearby cities and municipalities. Being the sub-chairman of the committee of appropriations on the DOST, I would like to conduct an ocular inspection before the plenary debate on the budget on the state of our equipments on weather forecasting of PAGASA, and recommend upgrading of their apparatuses, making this a priority so that we can be more prepared when such calamities strike. This is what our country and people need!
-> these are ONLY some parts of the privilege speech that our dear BMA delivered at the House of Representatives.
)
Now, tell me?! is he blaming God for this?! you must be ashamed of making nonsense issues like this.
Well… I think it’s not right to point finger to other people. Yes, it’s very easy to sit down in front of your computer and type words that you “didn’t even think about it”. It’s so easy to pinpoint someone’s mistake as if we ourselves are perfect.
My fellows, Cong. Benny M. Abante is not a perfect person, the same with us. Meaning, we are not in the position to judge who did right or who did wrong…
Let’s focus in our ownselves. As I read each reply/comment here, as if we, ourselves are righteous. Come on peeps, let’s sit back and try to think and ask for wisdom to weight things right. Yes, you are an intelligent person, but hey, we need wisdom rather than knowledge. because our knowledge is just foolishness before the sight of God.
Fellows, especially those who resides within the jurisdiction and covered with the authority of Cong. Abante, let us try to see the good things he did for us. Well, he is not Noah, he is not the Messiah, but look he wants every Filipino to be in good connection with God.
This coming election, we should not allow “political poisoning” pollute our minds. We have our own rights, our own decision and our own conviction. Are you going to choose someone who compromises in exchange with power? Please, let us observe what’s really happening in our society.
we need a leader who has a vision for the welfare of his countrymen not the welfare of his ownself and family.
we need a leader who will act and fulfill the goal, not a leader who knows the goal and do nothing about it.
we need a leader who is fears God, acknowledge God in his life, and with wisdom coming from God. Not a leader who knows God however, acknowledge MONEY as his God. We do not need a leader who knows everything and very intelligent and knows how to fool around his people.
WE NEED A LEADER WHO CAN PUT HIS FEET FORWARD… AND THAT IS ABANTE!!!
May God bless our country.
‘But look – Rep. Abante may be close to God, but he’s no Noah. So when the floodwater was rising in Manila, when hundreds of families in his district were scampering to find floating devices, a Philippine Coast Guard rubber boat was reportedly deployed to fetch Rep. Abante’s son and his barkada in Philippine Columbian Sports Club in Paco, Manila.’
Reportedly, as you said, right? That means, there’s no factual basis to this? For all you know, Cong. Abante’s son slept on the floor all night at PCA, and not even a paper boat came to rescue him. And this is not ‘reportedly.’
And please, stop attacking someone who’s actually doing something for other people. In fact, he’s helped people from outside his district, as far as Villasis, Pangasinan. ‘And this is not reportedly.’
If his playing god indeed outweighs the survival of his people, what do you call the thousands of bags that his church, and other Christian churches, have given out for a month after Ondoy? ‘And this is not reportedly.’
REP. ABANTE is ONE MAN TO BE PROUD OF; not because he is intelligent or eloquent but because HE IS A MAN WHO POSSESS WISDOM. A RIGHTEOUS LEADER INDEED! A LEADER THAT OUR NATION TRULY DESERVES!!!
Just a reminder…the more bad comments you throw at him, the more coals you heap on your head. Before judging REP. ABANTE…please do checj youself first if ur worth 2 be one. Now if you find yourself clean, go ahead and judge!
there are so many things you people cannot understand….
you are only saying those things that’s against rev. Abante, what about the good things that he had done. Don’t judge lest ye be judge. thinkfirst before you say something.
it’s funny how adults are suppose to don’t believe everything that they read in the net and to think that it is just written by someone who is not yet proven credible… maybe you should search first everything about that person before believing just ONE negative article about him… im a teenager but i know how to THINK…
In case anybody is wondering what Abante has been up to as of late:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20091208-240826/Solon-seeks-to-criminalize-same-sex-union
An attempt to criminalize same-sex marriages.
So now do we have due reason to call him a bigoted old coot who uses his religion to candy-coat his prejudice?
As for the commenters here touting his Christian background – Did it ever occur to you that Manila has is share of non-Christians and non-theists? Who will represent them? Definitely not Abante.
u fool as what d bible says!! for ol those people does not recognize the word of God?? yan ang gusto ng mga tao,ang mga pulitikong trapo who kept on telling people lies and nothing but lies.walang ibang lumalabas sa bunganga kundi ang pagiging makamundo!Pero pag matino at makaDiyos at cguradong ayawan dahil natatamaan ang mga puso. Its jst a matter of humility and acceptance na makasalanan tau and we need people like Abante who can stand what is moral and biblical at a d man who reminded us of our failure to please God and definitely not to please every kind.Thus,try to think a hundred times and ask yourself,WHAT IF DEATH WOULD COME TO U- THEN JUDGMENT FOLLOWS???? DONT U EVER POINT UR FINGER TO ABANTE FOR HE HAS DONE ENOUGH!!!!GOD BLESS
ANG KAPAL NG MGA MUKHA NIYO PARA AKUSAHAN XA NG GANYAN! Ok lang.., mga TANGA!!!
to rev. agbayani…
knowing that you are a pastor, don’t judge cong. benny abante for he is our missionary to congress. without congresssman abante. we will lost our influence to the government. if you feel that cong. abante did something wrong in his speech. let our God judge him. don’t judge a person, that stand against the immoral bills in congress.
you think it’s easy being a congressman? you think it’s a good life? who are you to judge? do you even know “the” guy?? who are you to say those stuffs?? are you perfect? as far as i know, no one is…
sure, he made his own mistakes.. but we all have..
and as far as i’m concerned.. cong. Abante is a very nice guy.. and he is a man of God.
you think it’s easy being a congressman? you think it’s a good life? who are you to judge? do you even know “the” guy?? who are you to say those stuffs?? are you perfect? as far as i know, no one is…
sure, he made his own mistakes.. but we all have..
and as far as i’m concerned.. cong. Abante is a very nice guy.. and he is a man of God.
who r u to judge cong. abante??he is a good man!! he deserves to be respected he does not respect this bad comments!! at least he really cares for our future and our country!! just thank him 4 all the things that he had done!!
IF YOU DONT HAVE ANYTHONG NOCE TO SAY DANT SAY ANYTHING!!!!!!
I tell you the truth you sodomites and/or homosexuals, except you repent you will all likewise perish and burn eternally in the literal lake of fire. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8). You are worthy of nothing but to be cast out in Hell. For all Have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And the wages of sin is death. And also it is appointed unto men once to die; but after death is the judgment of God.
You dirty bunch of sodomites! you are curse of this country! You corrupt this nation by your immorality! The judgment of God is already upon your souls, expect you repent to God and be converted! You enemies of morality, decency and dignity! Repent and be saved!