Once I was on a tour in HK and at that time, the British just turned over the country to China. The query was whether our workers would be affected? The tour guide guaranteed that Filipinos would still work in Hong Kong. Why? Because Filipinos have a sense of what is right and what is wrong, and what can be done and what should not be done.

When it comes to the Filipino culture, we know that the Church plays a significant role. How many of our singers, start singing with the Church choir; how many artists became better because the Church is the patron of the arts. Also, our values are what they are, because of the teachings of the Church. 

How do we become part of the Church? It all starts with Baptism. In the Gospel of Matthew, it is said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

In our everyday lives, personal and professional, three teachings of the Church are very important:

1. Forgiveness. Jesus said not to forgive seven times but seventy-seven times. We encounter so many people and many of these people are fighting a battle. Hence, the importance to forgive.
   
2. Service. Jesus said, “I came to serve and not to be served.” We all know that the Filipino service is world-class. We do it from the heart, we do it without counting the cost and we do it with a smile and joy.
   
3. Fear of God. We believe that whatever we do in life, it always comes back to us. Further, in the end, we believe that we will come face to face with God for judgment.

We must remember that we live in a world where there is the seen and the unseen. As human beings, we deal with the material and spiritual. Hence, as we take care of our bodies, let us also take care of our souls.