The political circus known in the Philippines as the national elections has just ended and it ended with a blast. Not really literal. The national entertainment ended with the usual accusations of fraud (indeed there are no losers in the Philippines). But the most important thing that happened is the re-enactment of the fight between a widow and fraud war hero. And of course their last names were well-known. The 1986 Constitution of the Republic orders the congress to pass a law against “Political Dynasty” but we can prove the existence of the Lochness monster first and the existence of alien life forms before we can even see a law against politicos with the same family name sitting at different posts in the government at the same time or the same post one after another. Indeed, what could we expect from Dynasts themselves? But why is it so? Why do Filipinos continue to vote for people only because of their family names? Before we proceed I would like to be clear: not all of our leaders who bear the famous names were automatically evil and contorted. That will be an unjust generalization that only the ignoramus (most of them also in public positions) will raise. Now to the issue. The answer for me lies in the very fabric of our culture. It is no secret for us that our line of thinking is western but our culture remains oriental. That is why we so long for the rational thing about this issue: i.e. repeal the culture of Political Dynasties. But again it is a culture. Kultura na. History tells us that our first foreign contact is not with the Western world but with the Chinese. Chinese philosophy highly regards loyalty to one’s family. Indeed, Confucius even suggested that when your father is wanted by the police because of crime you must not tell them where he is for loyalty to one’s family is a priority over loyalty to one’s country or to anything else. This is very contrary to our idea of justice but this is what most of us do most of the times. We cannot blame them. Again it is culture. This is also the reason why we tend to vote politicians with familiar family names. Ever wonder why there have been two Aquinos, two Macapagal (one is hyphenated with Arroyo), and one Marcos with his ever-aspiring Junior? Indeed, Cebu City is still the land of the Osmeñas or the Ramas. Cavite still have Aguinaldo in its political dynasties although the Remullas are far superior now. The Ejercito-Estrada clan which is relatively new in politics is like seedlings harvested to different parts of the country. Even the incoming President is still part of a dynasty no matter what they say. In the Philippines, the family is too important that people see the son/daughter as the product of the upbringing of the father and the mother. Kung ano and puno siya rin ang bunga. Indeed this is true in many aspects. But because of this we Filipinos always tend to look at children of good politicians (or even only perceived to be so) to be good leaders themselves. But how many times are we wrong in this presumption? Sabi nila kaya daw may nasasaktan kasi nag-assume. At times this presumption could be good and indeed true but the problem is that we are a people with historical dementia. We love anything American without remembering that they have killed and raped our ancestors in the context of charity because the Philippines “cannot stand alone” and then left us bankrupt after the Second World War. The son of the late dictator (second in the world in terms of billions of dollars corrupted) ranked second in the last vice presidential bid with his supporters defending the dark martial law days where they do not have the faintest idea what life is like. This also applies to our forgetfulness of the misdeeds of politicians that is why we still vote for them and their heirs (as if it’s their birth right). What then can be the answer to political dynasty? To be honest I do not know the answer but the answer must address not only the science of politics but also the intricacies of culture and philosophy. Photo credits to aboutcagayandeoro.com Yes, I am a hypocrite and I thank you for saying so. But one reminder my dear Lord of the Iglesia ni Digong, my Church is not. Dear Mr. President-elect:
Good day and may the God of the hypocrites continue to bless your ever shining righteousness! I am a hypocrite. I confess to be so. I attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass without even understanding a word from it. Indeed, I could have understood Latin more. Whenever I got out of the old-bricked parish, I still see the world as I do before I enter the “House of God”: I still consider beggars and the poor as people to pity but not to help. I profess the value of chastity yet I still indulge in fleshly allurement. I follow the Way while my actions draw people to another ways. I want the Truth but I lie in order to survive. Indeed, I also believe in the “survival of the fittest”. I want to gain eternal Life but not yet as I do love my present life of flesh and bones. Yes, I am a hypocrite and I thank you for saying so. But one reminder my dear Lord of the Iglesia ni Digong, my Church is not. Allow me to explain this: By “Church” we mean the Iglesia, Simbahan, Ecclesia from the Greek “ekklesia” which means the community of believers. We do not mean the Gothic or modern abstract structure. Rather, the Church is a conglomeration of individual hearts that have the same pulse – that great credo to the eternally invisible, known yet unknown, the Ultimate Absurdity, the coincidentia oppositorum. One thing most people think is that the Church is the bishops, the priests, deacons, seminarians, nuns and the pope. This is both right and wrong. Yes they are the Church leaders but they are not THE Church. The Church according to Saint Paul (I forgot where; and this is another hypocrisy I have), the Church is the “Body while Christ is her head”. What does this instigator/persecutor-turned-believer mean by this? St. Paul tells us that the Church is not only its leaders, rather it is the entire “family of God here on earth,” the entire people of goodwill along with Christ as their head. But since you said that the ancient scrolls no longer matter then let us not use it as reference (I myself do not like to be a bible scholar). By definition the Church is not only its leaders but also everyone who professes the same creed, the same yes to the Absurd. The Church is composed of every single I who believes. Thus like me there are more hypocritical I’s who go to Quiapo every Friday and afterwards fornicate with another illegally, buy pampalaglag, lie, steal public funds, go to the nearest fortune-teller and the lists go on and on. But the Church is not hypocritical. What about the rare breed of us, Mr. President? The rare breed we call the holy ones? Remember the Church is not only the living on this earth. Ecclesiology would tell us that the Church is composed of the militant (we, present on this earth), the suffering (i.e. in purgatory but sure of heaven) and the glorious ones (the Saints and the saints). Where then is the merit of a Mother Teresa who cared for the sick? Of a Don Bosco who cared for the youth? Where then is the merit of our beloved dead whose memory is still in our hearts (note: in our hearts not just minds because we remember how they fared well and cared for us and loved us). Where then is the merit of your own parents? But of course you might say you do not believe in ecclesiology’s business so allow me to cite others examples that are “flesh and bones”. I would just like to ask you Mr. President-elect, where are you when the priests defended the rights of the black slaves in America? Have you read of the real reason why the Church became so powerful in Europe? After the Fall of Rome and facing different attacks from the Vandals, the Visigoths, and other like, the temporal responsibility of protecting the people fall to their supposed to be spiritual guardian. Have you heard how the French Revolution committed genocide of a French Town just because the people there are still loyal to the Catholic Church. Yes, women and infants included. Or else let us go to recent history. Do you know Bishop Romero of El Salvador? Who died because he defended the rights of the people against the dictatorship? Have you read how many priests were hung inside their parishes, nuns raped and killed in their convents during the glorious “Religious freedom” in Mexico (watch: For Greater Glory) and the Revolucion Española just because they wear their habits? Do you know that Pope Pius XII allowed the printing of fake baptismal certificates to Jews during the Second World War? Do you know Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe who offered himself to be killed in Hitler’s gas chambers in place of a father? Let’s go closer to home. When the Spanish authorities were abusing the natives did not the Synod of Manila condemned it? Who were the original founders of schools and towns? Ever wonder why most of our localities were named after saints? Where are our great politicos when your great Hero to be interred in the Heroes’ Cemetery declared Martial Law and rampant human rights violations were committed? All of them flee abroad. Even the Yellow martyr did. Who was left here? A Sin and his brother priests (and they are all sinners; another hypocrisy of ours). And after the Dictator’s fall, who pleaded the nation to have mercy and compassion to the fallen criminal and his gang… er, family? And the hypocrisy can still go further… Another thing your faithful ones would counter (even if it does not prove the point) is that the Church is “Yellow”. Bishop Soc is “Liberal”. Father so and so is “Aquino”. And the litany of Ad Hominems continue! I wonder how could that be sir since I myself did not vote for their appointed heir. Did the Nation forgot that the current oligarch in the palace when welcoming the man-in-white criticized the bishops for criticizing him? Did the Nation already forgotten the bitter war of words over the controversial RH Law the Second Aquino Administration so profoundly wants to be passed? Most importantly, who is there to defend the rights of farmers (especially of the Hacienda Luisita) against wealthy hacienderos (e.g. Cojuangcos, Aranetas, and the like… most of them Liberals)? No the Church is not yellow. Gold we might be since it is a liturgical colour in place of white. But yellow we are not. Yes, Mr. President-elect, most of us are hypocrites who do not have the right to kiss the sandals of your feet. Your community of believers are far superior to us in matters of righteousness. What with a Panelo who said that the Mamasapano Massacre (I prefer it be called the Ampatuan death eating) is a hoax. Surely we are of no worthiness to stand before your ever glorious righteousness. But Mr. President-elect, we might be hypocrites but the Church is not. If so, then she could just have broken her ethical and moral stands in order to gain your eyes of mercy turned toward us. Lastly I invite you, there is still one more seat here. As the song says, “All are welcome!” One more hypocrite is welcome. Love, The Hypocrite |
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"The absolutely other is the Other" Archives
September 2018
"There is only one corner in the universe that you can be certain of improving and that's your own Self" |