On Separation of Church and State

I have been reading in law school about the separation of church and state. And in my opinion, it is a healthy separation.  The Church to be busy to its religious, moral, concerns while the State to be busy on its own affairs like public affairs, foreign affairs, tax affairs and the like.

In our taxation class, my professor once asked why is the State exempting the Church from taxation of its real estate and other activities related to religious purposes.  The answer is because the Church provides services which the State cannot undertake on its own -- that of the molding of the society into God fearing, moral individuals imbued with values that ultimately benefit of the State.  The functions of the two institutions, could be separate, but, as I take it, they are complementary and for the ultimate benefit of the individual. Of the person.  For after all, aren't the two institutions created for the purpose of benefitting man?  His government to serve and protect him, and his religion to teach him morals to separate him from the beast?

The recent development wherein a Congressman from the Party-list group Kabataan proposes that religious ceremonies and images should be banned from government offices can be taken 2 ways : that it could encourage other religions to exercise their religious rights OR to ban all religious practices altogether.  I think the bill could, if passed in to law, have the latter effect. With respect to this, I agree with Cris Beltan's opinion on the Philippine Star with respect to the issue. Read it here.

Here are my thoughts on the matter of Separation of Church and state as I related it to a friend.

If the state should regard the church as a separate entity, walang issue. ang ginagawa ng church na pamemressure kung meron man ay ginagawa rin ng lobbyist group, ng tobacco companies, ni tony boy cojuanco

Kung sabihin man ng simbahan na idedeklara niyang erehe at pilibustero ang isang congresista, eh ano ngayon

May separation. yun nga lang, parang nahihighlight kasi malaking bloke ng populasyon ang mga Katoliko

Ang Iglesia ni Kristo, may block voting (ibig bang sabihin noon nakikialam din sila? Hindi dahil bumoboto sila at karapatan nila na bumoto ayon sa gusto nila. Kung may sanction man yun ng Iglesia o wala, wala tayong pakialam. Boto nila yoon eh)

Pero hindi sila (ang Katoliko, ang INC's) ang gobyerno.

pero pwedeng makialam yung mga tao (in general, regardless of religion), kasi ang tao ay gobyerno. at ang tao rin ang bumubuo sa relihiyon.

Sabi ng kaibigan ko, religion and faith are good pero iba na kapag pinapakialam na ng heirarchy ang machinery na dapat applicable sa lahat which is the government.

As for me, religion and faith are good. But what are those if you cannot practice it?  Parang pagsasabi ng I love you, pero absentee partner ka naman.  They don't want organized religion to call the attention of the government in matters that the Church thinks will violate Man and his Morals that is why they want to stop people from practicing their faith..

How are you to separate Church and State? Simple, it is written in the Constitution that the State should not favor any religious domination.  Has the State filed a single law favoring the establishment of religion, favoring any religion?  NO.

Does the law and the constitution guarantee freedom of expression and the freedom to practice religion?  YES.

Just a thought, if the State cannot pass laws favoring the creation or favoring a particular religion, then it shouldn't also have the right to prevent people from getting into, practicing, or praying through our religion.

(Note: This blog is about Life is a Series of Destinations.  I acknowledge, through this blog, that life is also a Spiritual Journey. I am writing this with the ultimate thought and the realization that I am also to depart from this body, this life, and I am undertaking this Spiritual Journey here on earth in preparation for the Life at the other side. I Believe in, Jesus Name)

Firing at the Manila Target Shooting Range 6/9/2012

Thank God for deal websites like Ensogo.ph and I was able to buy a membership at the Manila Target Shooting range (see their facebook page click here).  For 750 pesos, I got a 1 year membership with MSR and a free first 50 rounds, gun rental, and instructor.

The voucher should expire today June 12, so I decided to go to the range with Kuya Ryan, my law school buddy who also bought a voucher, and my bestfriend, Diana Roselle last Saturday (June 9).

We head off to the Shooting range by 3pm.  It was sunny and hot.  But that did not dampen our enthusiasm for our first experience to fire.



Kuya Ryan and Diana before we went in the office.

There were other first time shooters when we got in. The sound of guns being fired sent me chills. I got excited and afraid at the same time.  But knowing that it is a gun club and people there know guns, I relaxed in the thought that professionals handle the shooters.

We waited to fire for about 2 hours after signing some membership forms and waivers.  Shooting is a dangerous sport, it seems to me when I read the forms, I almost gave up the idea that I was shooting that day.  But since we have spent time going there, there is no way I am not going to try to shoot.

We were informed also by our very cordial instructor for the day, Kuya Jimmy, that they get around 200 shooters a day. Some workers from the surrounding offices de-stress themselves during lunch breaks firing at the MSR range.  It is not surprising, he said, that there are people like us who get in and wait for an hour or more to shoot.



Kuya Ryan reading the papers while we wait for our turn



My bestfriend who is a nervous wreck but still can smile while waiting to fire



Me at the MSR lobby.  The shooters can be viewed through the glass behind me.

The MSR offers shooting gear, from vests, to holsters ( if I am not mistaken), to protective eye wear, to ear plugs.  For shooters and gun club members, they can use the eye protector and ear plugs for free too.  Water is being sold there too at 10 pesos per bottle.  Comfort room is also available.  I guess it would be better for them too to offer sandwiches and coffee to club members while they are waiting, with fee of course.  But it seems that MSR is too small for this. Perhaps a vending machine for coffee and other drinks would do.


Kuya Ryan shoot first with Cal. 45. Don't know the make. Hahaha =D Perhaps as we progress as shooters, hopefully, we get to know more about guns and ammo.



I shoot next. The feeling is awesome. The first time I fired, my grip was loose that I felt the gun fly. =D I was holding a Cal.40.  I rested in between rounds since my arms grew tired.  Oh I need exercise.



That's my bestfriend, the last one to shoot.  Kuya Jimmy, MSR's shooting staff, thought us how to handle the gun.  Since I had a marksmanship session at the UP Diliman firing range a year ago, it was easy for me to understand what Kuya Jimmy was telling us.

At this point, all we focus on is firing. No techinicalities, nothing about the guns, just the experience of shooting.

In the middle of my shots, I can hear myself swearing with excitement as I hit my bulls eye thrice in a row.  I even bit my lip while shooting. I guess this is how i like it. I LIKE IT SO MUCH.

Since the range is indoors, you can expect the smoke to build up after firing 250 rounds.  We asked Kuya Jimmy if there are any outdoor range for MSR members. He said they are working on an outdoor range at Tagaytay near Splendido where we could fire long arms, rifles, and even AK-47s.  But the membership is a bit higher than MSR Pasay.

Membership with MSR Pasay is 2,500.  A member gets free gun rental, gear use and free instructor.  Members are entitled to one free guest.  Free entrance for guests plus 561 pesos for 50 rounds and 1 target board.

I will still check with MSR when we get back how much do we have to pay for the bullets as members who bought the vouchers. I read that we are entitled to 50% off the price of the bullets.  Would love to fire a hundred rounds next time we go back there.



Kuya Ryan after shooting with a .45



Us Girls after shooting with a .40 =D With Kuya Jimmy of MSR as our instructor for the day.

We were grinning from ear to ear after firing. We have conquered our initial fear when we get in the range. We have fired for the first time and we are looking for more opportunities to get back in the range. We super enjoyed the experience.

Thank you Ensogo.ph and Manila Target Shooting Range for the awesome experience. We will definitely go back there soon.

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Diana's first time to shoot video. =D