BACOLOD CITY — Prometheus, in mythology, was a Greek god who stole fire from heaven to benefit mankind. Zeus, the god of all gods, was angry, punished him by chaining him to a rock in the Caucasus mountain.

Zeus was a very good chief god. He punished thieves, even if they were gods. Everyday, an eagle, would come and feed on Prometheus’ liver. But at night, the liver would be restored. Later Hercules pitied Prometheus and killed the eagle.

Prometheus is always pictured as one carrying a torch and running. Running because he was afraid to be caught.

Some highly imaginative and creative thinking columnists wrote Prometheus is carrying a torch in search of an honest man. Did he find one? No! That’s why he is still running.

But still some more imaginative and more creative columnists who deplore corruption in the Philippines, said Prometheus came to the Philippines searching for an honest man. He did not only fail to find one. Somebody stole his torch.

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Anecdotes are effective in driving home a point. That is why parables have been the best vehicle of Jesus Christ in teaching lessons.

In the Prometheus principle, we must not ask the gods to have lightning strike the dishonest but let us look for the honest ones and show them to the world as good examples.

Said another way, let us not curse the darkness. Let us light a candle. That is why we in Bacolod always appreciate the Bacolod Christian businessmen for campaigning for people to be honest. They put up signages, posters, and even billboards that say, “BE HONEST. Even if others are not. Even if others cannot. Even if others will not.”

There’s one billboard near the Capitol and the one fronting the PNB. May I suggest to Gov. Pidio Zayco, put one signage in every office. Then hope that no more rice will be lost in the future.

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Recently I talked with businessman Dennis Jalbuena. He agreed enthusiastically with the idea of promoting honesty among our public officials.

Dennis is honest, and not afraid to be quoted. Many businessmen friends agreed too but asked that they may not be quoted. The problem, they told me, will the Christian businessmen undertake the putting up of billboards? I said, I talked with one friend who said, he is willing to help in the cost. Maybe I can ask others to contribute, too.

The idea is, because there’s one already in the Capitol, there must be two big billboards, one in front of the government center along the circumferential road and the other one at the entrance.

Don’t you like the idea? We will fine-tune it later, if we get support from friends.

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But many said, one big billboard must be there at Burgos Street in front of the gate of Congressman Monico Puentevella and the other one at Rosario Street in front of the gate of Mayor Bing Leonardia.

Then we may have later billboards in front of the houses of councilors and even department heads.

A friend told me, with all those charges of dishonesty traded between the mayor and the solon, it is about time we should know?

“Look,” he said, “the mayor’s men are charging the solon of dishonesty, asking where the P490 million pork barrel for the last 7 years go, the alleged computer scam, and the alleged fertilizer scam.”

And on the other side, he said, “The solon’s men are charging the mayor of the alleged overpricing of the government center, alleged overprice of the furniture, and another alleged overpricing of the dumpsite, not counting the questions on the slaughterhouse.”

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They should be awakened, I was told. And can there be a more effective one than every time they go out of their home, the big bold letters of “BE HONEST” stare them at their face?

I agreed. Fully agreed. Then, one said, how about media people? I said, let us not spare them too.

And I hit back, the businessmen, too. Many of them cheat the government of taxes. Yes, they said, because BIR is corrupt.

My God, there seems to be no end in the finger pointing. But, let us center meanwhile, our attention on the “BE HONEST” billboards at the government center and the residence of the mayor and the solon.

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I am happy with the reaction on my item yesterday about the food we eat. It’s about time. So many of our people are dying of cancer.

I would like to express my happiness on the successful result of operation on Dr. Ninfa J. Ramos, wife of Toti Ramos at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manila last Monday. Prayers of many friends helped.

Our other friend Baldomero Rio Jr. had his operation of the cancer of the colon some one and a half years ago. When we traveled to Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia last month we were always in the same room with Jun. He is healthy now.

Prayers of friends helped, too.

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