While in the United States during the election period, I feel privileged to have witnessed their kind of Democracy at work (not necessarily at its best). There are things that I liked and I hope that those things will be applied in the Philippine Electoral system. But, there are things that I disliked too.
What I liked:
- The two party system: This ensures that there will be no turncoats or "balimbings". Politics of issues and not personalities is promoted.
- The speedy counting of votes: As soon as the polling stations have closed, the winner can be known. It is the very opposite of our electoral system in the Philippines wherein it takes more than a month to know the winners in national elections. Our electoral system should be automated as soon as possible.
-The statesmanship of the losing candidate: Hearing John McCain conceding defeat as soon as he was informed of the final count manifested his statesmanship. It made me wonder if defeated candidate (in a clean and honest election) in the Philippines can ever be capable of such gesture. Being an active PPC-RV volunteer during elections in the Philippines, I can say that almost all losing candidates claim that they were cheated.
What I disliked:
- Mudslinging: This is an aspect of Philippine politics that happens even in the United States (or did we learn it from them?). Both parties were guilty of this in their paid advertisements. It came really harsh when demolition jobs were done against VP Candidate Sarah Palin- particularly when false stories spread that her baby with special needs was the child of her daughter and that she had to cover up for her.
- Media Endorsement: In my humble opinion, this should be prohibited. For, how can the media remain objective if they endorse candidates?
(Where Our Lord Jesus Christ was Born)
(The site of the Crucifixion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ)
I have visited shrines of apparitions of Our Mother Mary and saw birthplaces, uncorrupted bodies and tombs of Saints as well as Churches of great significance in different countries but something made me crave for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. At the back of my mind, all of my other pilgrimages would not be complete if I will not be able to see where Our Lord Jesus Christ was born, where He embarked on his ministry and made miracles and where he suffered, died and resurrected. I first planned to go to Holy Land in 2006, when a group of student priests went on a pilgrimage there. Unfortunately, I could not go out of Italy at that time because my permit to stay was not yet renewed. On December of the same year, I wanted to go and spend Christmas in Betlehem but I was discouraged by my friends because of Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah at that time. After two failed tries, my dream was realized as I joined the other Ilocano Priests studying in Rome on a pilgrimage. It was a perfect time for a pilgrimage- a Holy Week in the Holy Land is an experience of a lifetime. However, as the day of our departure fast approached, we were filled with anxiety upon hearing from those who have been there about how hard it is to come in and out of Israel (the removal of things from check in baggages for inspection and the interrogation by at least three immigration officers etc.). We were also afraid because of the recent killing of 9 Jewish seminarians by their Arab driver a week before our flight. Archbishop Yllana, the Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan who happened to be in our residence days before our flight told us that if we keep on allowing fear to engulf ourselves, we will never be able to visit the Holy Land. Here is the rest of our itinerary:
Day 1 (March 15): Arrival, Visit to Notre Dame Chapel (Click here)
Day 2 (March 16) Palm Sunday in Jerusalem: We concelebrated with the Most Rev. Antonio Franco, DD former Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines and current Apostolic Nuncio to Israel for the 9 am Palm Sunday Mass at the Notre Dame Chapel in Jerusalem. We joined the Palm Sunday procession from Bethpage near Mount of Olives to Jerusalem (following the original route of our Lord). Along the way, we met the healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez who invited us to join his pilgrim group and stay in their hotel free of charge. We already experienced the grace of God in our second day in the Holy Land. (Click here)
Day 3 (March 17)- Caesarea, Haifa, Nazareth, Cana: We visited the ancient port of Caesarea and the Church of Stella Maris in Haifa. We concelebrated mass with Fr. Suarez at the Church of Annunciation (the site where the Angel Gabriel told Mary about God’s plan) in Nazareth. Pilgrims who are celebrating their wedding anniversary renewed their vows at the Church of Cana where Jesus turned water into wine during a wedding feast. (Click here )
Day 4 (March 18)- Sea of Galilee, Mt. Beatitudes, Caphernaum, Tabgha and Jordan River: We crossed the Sea of Galilee (where Jesus walked on the water) on a boat captained by a Messianic Jew (Jewish Christian). We concelebrated mass in Mt. Beatitudes (where the Lord preached theBeatitudes). We visited the town of Jesus in Caphernaum and saw the ruins of Peter’s house. We also visited the Tabgha church where the multiplication of loaves took place. Lastly, we visited the Jordan River (where Christ was baptized). Click here
Day 5 (March 19)- Mt. Tabor, Jaffa: We attended mass in the Transfiguration Church in Mt. Tabor (place of Transfiguration). We also visited St. Peter’s Church in Jaffa. (Click here )
Day 6 (March 20)- Abu Gosh: We went to a Retreat House in Abu Gosh (between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem). We concelebrated the Mass of the Last Supper and we gave a retreat to the El Shaddai members from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa. (Click here)
Day 7 (March 21)- Good Friday in Jerusalem: After giving talks on the seven last word, we went back to Jerusalem and did the Via Crucis. Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, we paid homage to the place where Christ was crucified, the stone where he was laid after he was taken from the cross, and the tomb where he was laid to rest and where He resurrected on the third day. (Click here )
Day 8 (March 22) Jericho, Dead Sea, Easter Vigil in Jerusalem: We visited the spot where the house of Zaccheus once stood as well as the sycamore tree purported to be the tree Zaccheus climbed to see Lord. We also went to the Mount of Temptation where Christ was tempted by the devil and where the the Qarantal Monastery is located. After lunch, we proceeded to the Dead See. In the evening we concelebrated the Easter Vigil Mass. (Click here )
Day 9 (March 23) Chapel of the Ascension, Church of Gethsemani, Wailing Wall: We visited and prayed at the small chapel where Christ Ascended into Heaven and the Church of Gethsemani where Christ spent his agony before he was arrested. The olive trees (thousands years old) are still there. We joined our Jewish brethren in praying at the “wailing wall” late in the afternoon. (Click here)
Day 10 (March 24) Ein Kerem, Bethany, Pater Noster and Betlehem: We were fortunate to have Sr. Aurora, SPC as our guide to the Arab Controlled parts of the Holy Land. We first visited and prayed at the Visitation Church (where the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth took place) and the Church of St. John (where John the Baptist was born) in Ein Kerem. We proceeded to Bethany where we visited the tomb of Lazarus and the Church of Martha and Mary (where their house used to stand). We also visited the Pater Noster Church in Mt. of Olives (where the Lord taught his disciples the Pater Noster). We sang the Our Father in Tagalog and Ilocano. In the afternoon, we went to Betlehem where we visited the Milk Chapel (where Mary nursed baby Jesus before they fled to Egypt), the Basilica of the Nativity (where Christ our Lord was born), and the Shepherds’ Field (where the angel appeared to the Shepherds).Click here
Day 11 (March 25) St. Peter’s Church in Galicantu, The Last Supper Room (Cenaculum), The Church of Dormision: On our Last Day, we visited the Church of Galicantu (where Peter felt remorse on his denial of the Lord upon hearing the cock crow), the Last Supper Room (where the Lord instituted the Eucharist), and the Dormision Church (where Mary went into her eternal sleep). Click here
I wish that every priest will be able to visit the Holy Land. Visiting the place where it all happened helps a lot in understanding the context of the Gospels.
My father used to tell me as a kid that truth can never be hidden because those who hide it know about it. It must have been providential that I chose the Gospel passage “I consecrate myself for their sakes now that they may be consecrated in truth (Jn. 17:19)” as the theme for my ordination to the priesthood. These words have seemingly permeated my innermost being because in the performance of my ministry, I made it a sort of conviction to involve myself on issues that call for transparency, honesty and accountability- the pillars of truth. In such undertaking, I have noticed that it is not an easy task to unravel the truth. There are instances when the truth is concealed in order to hide one’s wrongdoing. There are instances when even the obvious cannot be perceived by people who are unwilling to be bearers of truth. There are instances when the truth is hindered by people who play blind so as not to tarnish other’s reputation. And worst, there are times when people get killed for being mouthpiece of the truth. In the midst of such attempts to obscure the truth, I have noticed that the truth has its own way of manifesting itself. An example in recent memory is when the erstwhile champion of truth and transparency in public service Senator Joker Arroyo tried to point out bad faith on Jun Lozada’s part because he talked to other senators prior to his coming out in the open on his knowledge about the anomalies on the ZTE deal. Lozada proved him wrong by admitting that he talked even to his wife.
In the pursuit for truth, one should have patience and faith. No amount of threat, alibis, attempts to cover up and legal eloquence can conceal the truth. My recent endeavour in pursuit for truth has proven this all the more- with prayerful disposition, proof for truth comes out even as there are efforts to hinder it. No matter how uncertain the odds are, when the truth comes out it will shed light to what is obscure, both rendered and per se.
Through God’s grace, truth manifests itself and it should never be compromised by those who grasp it.
I am saddened that Fr. Robert Reyes, a colleague not only in the priesthood but also on social issues, criticized the bishops by saying over national tv that the CBCP toned down its statement on the ZTE scam because the bishops fear that donations will stop coming. In doing so, the touted running priest has unwittingly played into the liking of Malacañang. A Church divided will surely be a cause for rejoicing for them. I moderate my words, lest I might aggravate the effect which Malacanang would be so pleased to see, as a fellow priest reminded me that criticizing Fr. Robert will only make them all the more happy.
Hence, this is just a wake up call from a lowly “probinsyanong pari” to a flamboyant priest: Fr. Robert, please do not play into Malacañang’s hands by sowing intrigue and division. The enemy is not the CBCP. While you are free to say what you want to say, you cannot drag people into saying what you want them to say.
As an individual, I join my voice to the clamour for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s resignation but I do not impose it upon others. I respect the CBCP exhortation to “pray together, reason together, decide together, act together," which was also criticized and belittled by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on its Feb. 15, 2008 editorial which seems to have been written by a priest. The way I understood it, the CBCP cannot as of yet call for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s resignation because it still has to discern the truth as it unfolds based from credible witnesses and evidences. As a canon lawyer, I must stress that the CBCP is a collegial body which does not issue pastoral statements based on the whims and caprices neither of a priest, a bishop nor a group of bishops.
The damaging testimony of Rodolfo Noel Lozada, Jr. on the ZTE mess that has tainted the already besmirched regime of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo might just ignite the swelling of stronger clamour for her to resign. Although the testimony of Lozada did not, in anyway, directly implicate GMA on the ZTE scam, logic makes it obvious that she is involved through her husband. Malacanang’s lieutenants were quick to say that Lozada’s testimony did not incriminate the First Gentleman, but again, logic would tell us that Abalos’ involvement in this hullabaloo could not be without the blessings of the powers that be. On the other hand, the senators should go beyond grandstanding (some senators appear to be investigating in aid, not of legislation but of their 2010 ulterior motives). Sad to say, nothing has ever happened in senate investigations of anomalies like this except that it has effectively ensured the said senators’ selfish agenda. Cases should be filed in courts and laws should be legislated to compel transparency in similar transactions.
The recent event at the Philippine House of Representatives showcased dirty Philippine politics at its best. Speaker De Venecia was ousted as a consequence of his son’s expose on the ZTE broadband deal. Though the Arroyos in Congress deny it , the machination is pure and blatant political vendetta. Pushed against the wall, the trapo in De Venecia suddenly tried to mutate into a crusader against graft and corruption stressing on his moral revolution vision, implying that Arroyo is corrupt and that he knew about the cheating in the 2004 presidential election. He griped about having helped President Arroyo in her political career and bragged that he stood by her amidst all the anomalies that besmirched her Presidencyl. He re acted like a sour graping child. His wife was also shown on tv saying that she knows also about the cheating in 2004. The thing is, why are they only speaking now when those issues have died down? Such actuation would confirm that pure intention is rarity and ulterior motive abound ln Philippine politics.
The only good thing that I see in this event is that it paved the way for a new leadership. I hope that the new leader will be better than De Venecia. On the other hand, let us keep our fingers crossed that De Venecia and his wife are really serious in exposing everything they know and substantiate their accusations so as to spark a real strong clamour for the ouster of President Arroyo.
