A LETTER TO FRIENDS AND RELATIVES ABROAD
Published at the Philippine Star, Feb. 16, 1987
Dear Town mates,
It is not easy to describe one’s feelings after having actually joined a revolution as I did. I never felt so happy, so jubilant and so triumphant, all my life than after having personally participated in this historic transformation of the Filipinos. To me, what happened was “God’s politics”, a Divine intervention, a real miracle. Political analysts, psychologists and sociologists are all at a loss in evaluating the phenomenon of People Power. The experience made me feel so proud.
Now a new Filipino is born, a new Republic emerges and a new hope is just around the corner. The Filipinos are saved by their own brand of spirituality, life style and sense of humor. I was there when it all happened, can you beat that? I often say that if you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem. Now I know where I actually belong. I pity you who fled to other countries. You did not have the chance to get involved in this historic turn about.
My fifteen year old son cannot blame me anymore when he grows up. He will always remember that time when I enjoined him to be with me in chasing freedom and saving democracy. If I don’t leave him and my other children treasures when I die, I am confident they will always remember a simple ‘kind of courage’ that they will always cherish for as long as t hey live.
Helping save a country is not an easy job and having done so creates not a simple feeling. It is a feeling of extreme greatness and perhaps Marcos was right when he said “Filipinos will be great again”.
In fairness to him who flew to Hawaii, I am putting this on record that like Judas, Marcos also played a big role in the fulfillment of this democratic salvation.
My fond regards….
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
HOLY WEEK THEN AND NOW
HOLY WEEK
When I was a child, which happened a good three scores and many years ago, the observance of Holy week was a highly moving experience. We were expected to practice holiness in thought, in word and in deed. The execution of fasting and abstinence was strictly implemented during the period of Lent specifically on Fridays.
We were not allowed to play noisy games or tell dirty jokes. Radio stations played only inspirational and prayerful tunes. We were taught to practice how to sacrifice and do more acts of mercy.
Beginning Ash Wednesday, chant reading of the Passion of Christ was done in most household. The solemnity of the atmosphere was felt anywhere you go. During Palm Sunday we brought to Church our elaborately decorated palms for blessing. After the Mass we brought out the eggs which were supposed to be “strong” with their hard shells, and then we looked for an opponent in a game called “tuktuk”. It was simply a direct hitting of each other’s egg. The egg that cracked was given to the winner. The one who gathered the most number of eggs turned very popular among his peers.
The station of the cross was done only inside the Church in front of the 14 stations framed around the wall. At ten o’clock in the morning of Holy Wednesday, some children were gathered inside the Church to catch the “kampanero” who ran around until caught. This was supposed to be a dramatic symbolism of the apprehension of Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane after He was betrayed by t he traitor, Judas Iscariot.
During the procession on Holy Wednesday, the statue of St .Peter who was at the very front got lost then found at the middle of the procession. After a while he got lost again and later found following at the very end of the line. Before the end of the procession St. Peter was again lost, brought home to appear Sunday morning at the Galilee. This was done to symbolically emphasize the three times that he denied Jesus.
After the ritual on Holy Thursday, the Holy Eucharist was displayed the whole night and until the Good Friday ritual, while also presenting the “Siete Palabras” in different manners. On the dawn of “Sabado de Gloria”, the resurrection of Jesus was announced by the pealing of the Church’s bells. We then start jumping and shouting and enjoying the “Pagkabuhay”.
The “Salubong “was the reenactment of the meeting of Jesus and Mary at Galilee after the resurrection. It was Easter Sunday, supposedly the most important aspect of the life of Jesus Christ.
As years passed-by, many changes happened not only to the observance of the Holy week but mostly to the people themselves. This time we doubt and were uneasy to call the week Holy. Holiness was now hardly felt in the air as the celebration was now just a vacation when families can enjoy by observing their own version and interpretation of the occasion. Jesus was somehow lost. So, let us all proclaim the mystery of our salvation: “Christ have died, Christ have risen, Christ will come again at the end of time”.
When I was a child, which happened a good three scores and many years ago, the observance of Holy week was a highly moving experience. We were expected to practice holiness in thought, in word and in deed. The execution of fasting and abstinence was strictly implemented during the period of Lent specifically on Fridays.
We were not allowed to play noisy games or tell dirty jokes. Radio stations played only inspirational and prayerful tunes. We were taught to practice how to sacrifice and do more acts of mercy.
Beginning Ash Wednesday, chant reading of the Passion of Christ was done in most household. The solemnity of the atmosphere was felt anywhere you go. During Palm Sunday we brought to Church our elaborately decorated palms for blessing. After the Mass we brought out the eggs which were supposed to be “strong” with their hard shells, and then we looked for an opponent in a game called “tuktuk”. It was simply a direct hitting of each other’s egg. The egg that cracked was given to the winner. The one who gathered the most number of eggs turned very popular among his peers.
The station of the cross was done only inside the Church in front of the 14 stations framed around the wall. At ten o’clock in the morning of Holy Wednesday, some children were gathered inside the Church to catch the “kampanero” who ran around until caught. This was supposed to be a dramatic symbolism of the apprehension of Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane after He was betrayed by t he traitor, Judas Iscariot.
During the procession on Holy Wednesday, the statue of St .Peter who was at the very front got lost then found at the middle of the procession. After a while he got lost again and later found following at the very end of the line. Before the end of the procession St. Peter was again lost, brought home to appear Sunday morning at the Galilee. This was done to symbolically emphasize the three times that he denied Jesus.
After the ritual on Holy Thursday, the Holy Eucharist was displayed the whole night and until the Good Friday ritual, while also presenting the “Siete Palabras” in different manners. On the dawn of “Sabado de Gloria”, the resurrection of Jesus was announced by the pealing of the Church’s bells. We then start jumping and shouting and enjoying the “Pagkabuhay”.
The “Salubong “was the reenactment of the meeting of Jesus and Mary at Galilee after the resurrection. It was Easter Sunday, supposedly the most important aspect of the life of Jesus Christ.
As years passed-by, many changes happened not only to the observance of the Holy week but mostly to the people themselves. This time we doubt and were uneasy to call the week Holy. Holiness was now hardly felt in the air as the celebration was now just a vacation when families can enjoy by observing their own version and interpretation of the occasion. Jesus was somehow lost. So, let us all proclaim the mystery of our salvation: “Christ have died, Christ have risen, Christ will come again at the end of time”.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
SOLITUDE
SOLITUDE
I don’t remember the name of the author of one interesting poem that runs like this:
“I had a little tea party,
This afternoon, at three.
It was very small, three guests in all…
Just I, myself and me.
Myself ate all the sandwiches
And I drunk all the tea;
It was also I who cut the pie
And passed the cake to me”.
When one is alone he turns sentimental and poetic. Sometimes he resorts to building castles in the air or attending to an imaginary party. Psychologists say it is normal. Similar experience visited me for about a week when all my helpers left for different valid reasons.
While walking around doing my routine slow-jogging exercise someone curiously asked who lives with me at home. I replied in jest that I have my echo, my shadow and me. Being in solitude affects people differently. Many succumb to depression while there are those who simply feel suicidal.
My own experience taught me several lessons but I never felt lonely at all time. Why should I be lonely when it was the best time for me to make an inventory of my life? It was also a moment for me to enjoy complete freedom… in thought in words and in deed. I found it quite intriguing, challenging and enjoyable. I happily scanned the deepest recesses of my memory to as far back in the fast as my subconscious mind could allow to as far forward in the future as my superego actually brought me.
It was awesome and immensely enjoyable to be all by myself without anybody to object or interrupt my thinking mechanism. It was celestial to realize how magnificent I have been all my life.
I have all the reasons to celebrate. It was greatly fulfilling to do things for myself without being a slave to anyone. I have lived my life fully. No regrets at all. I came to the world alone and there is no practical reason why I cannot leave the same world alone. I can always bring with me, myself, my echo, my shadow and me.
But meantime I am still willing to enjoy all the good things that this kind world can offer with all the good people I know.
I don’t remember the name of the author of one interesting poem that runs like this:
“I had a little tea party,
This afternoon, at three.
It was very small, three guests in all…
Just I, myself and me.
Myself ate all the sandwiches
And I drunk all the tea;
It was also I who cut the pie
And passed the cake to me”.
When one is alone he turns sentimental and poetic. Sometimes he resorts to building castles in the air or attending to an imaginary party. Psychologists say it is normal. Similar experience visited me for about a week when all my helpers left for different valid reasons.
While walking around doing my routine slow-jogging exercise someone curiously asked who lives with me at home. I replied in jest that I have my echo, my shadow and me. Being in solitude affects people differently. Many succumb to depression while there are those who simply feel suicidal.
My own experience taught me several lessons but I never felt lonely at all time. Why should I be lonely when it was the best time for me to make an inventory of my life? It was also a moment for me to enjoy complete freedom… in thought in words and in deed. I found it quite intriguing, challenging and enjoyable. I happily scanned the deepest recesses of my memory to as far back in the fast as my subconscious mind could allow to as far forward in the future as my superego actually brought me.
It was awesome and immensely enjoyable to be all by myself without anybody to object or interrupt my thinking mechanism. It was celestial to realize how magnificent I have been all my life.
I have all the reasons to celebrate. It was greatly fulfilling to do things for myself without being a slave to anyone. I have lived my life fully. No regrets at all. I came to the world alone and there is no practical reason why I cannot leave the same world alone. I can always bring with me, myself, my echo, my shadow and me.
But meantime I am still willing to enjoy all the good things that this kind world can offer with all the good people I know.
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