(Excerpts from my book)
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| Photo from www.google.com.ph |
It is ironical that because of our Christianity we vehemently oppose the maximum punishment of death in our country, yet we are killing each other. As a people I believe we need to think deep and better evaluate our situations and not learn and desecrate. We have so much knowledge and voluminous writings kept in history libraries where we can learn the wisdom of those before us in so far as the cost of our independence and national democracy is concerned. Yet while both parties in our internal conflict were long since sitting on the peace negotiating tables not only in our own domestic democratic conclaves, but also in internationally known councils of peace negotiators, we never have reached a resolve.
Our ancestors have long fought for our independence and freedom against tyrannical invaders and aggressors. Our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, in his sequel of the El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed -1891 - translations from the Spanish by Charles Derbyshire), was quoted, “There are no tyrants where there are no slaves.” (https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal). For long, Dr. Jose Rizal fought his battles with letters and words. In his “El Filibusterismo” he wrote:
“It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted in the field without becoming part of an edifice.
“You must shatter the vase to spread its perfume, and smite the rock to get the spark.
“The school of suffering tempers the spirit, the arena of combat strengthens the soul.
“The glory of saving a country is not for him who has contributed to its ruin.
“Pure and spotless must the victim be if the sacrifice is to be acceptable.” (https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal).
From several of his writings he was quoted:
Our ancestors have long fought for our independence and freedom against tyrannical invaders and aggressors. Our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, in his sequel of the El Filibusterismo (The Reign of Greed -1891 - translations from the Spanish by Charles Derbyshire), was quoted, “There are no tyrants where there are no slaves.” (https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal). For long, Dr. Jose Rizal fought his battles with letters and words. In his “El Filibusterismo” he wrote:
“It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted in the field without becoming part of an edifice.
“You must shatter the vase to spread its perfume, and smite the rock to get the spark.
“The school of suffering tempers the spirit, the arena of combat strengthens the soul.
“The glory of saving a country is not for him who has contributed to its ruin.
“Pure and spotless must the victim be if the sacrifice is to be acceptable.” (https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal).
From several of his writings he was quoted:
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| Execution of Dr. Jose Rizal |
“We want the happiness of the Philippines, but we want to obtain it through noble and just means. If I have to commit villainy to make her happy, I would refuse to do so, because I am sure that what is built on sand sooner or later would tumble down.” (Letter to Blumentritt, 31 January 1887).
“Filipinos don't realize that victory is the child of struggle, that joy blossoms from suffering, and redemption is a product of sacrifice.” ("Como se gobiernan las Filipinas" (How one governs in the Philippines), published in La Solidaridad (15 December 1890)
Indeed, our country’s journey to freedom and democracy costs one of the best Filipino blood. He was described by a friend thus: “His coming to the world is like the appearance of a rare comet, whose brilliance appears only every other century.” (Ferdinand Blumentritt, Philippinologist and Rizal's best friend, in his book Biography of Rizal, translated from German by Howard Bray (1898). https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal). On the eve of his execution in December 29, 1896, he wrote his “Last Farewell”:
Oh how beautiful to fall to give you flight,
To die to give you life, to rest under your sky;
And in your enchanted land forever sleep. ("Mi Ultimo Adios", st. 5).
I go where there are no slaves, hangmen or oppressors;
Where faith does not kill; where the one who reigns is God. ("Mi Ultimo Adios" st. 13 - poem written on the eve of his execution (29 December 1896) - translated from the Spanish by Charles Derbyshire.).
Our great leader, Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, during their struggles and fight for independence declared, "We cannot free ourselves unless we move forward united in a single desire." (Source(s):http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A08...
http://www.angelfire.com/on/philpres/agu...). In their fight for the ultimate freedom and democracy which was envisioned and which eventually brought Dr. Jose Rizal to his heroic grave, many also offered their lives to make us free. Then as we become free, we sing the anthem song:
Land of the morning
Child of the sun returning
With fervor burning
Thee do our souls adore.
Land dear and holy,
Cradle of noble heroes,
Ne'er shall invaders
Trample thy sacred shores.
Ever within thy skies and through thy clouds
And o'er thy hills and seas;
Do we behold thy radiance, feel the throb
Of glorious liberty.
Thy banner dear to all hearts
Its sun and stars alright,
Oh, never shall its shining fields
Be dimmed by tyrants might.
Beautiful land of love, oh land of light,
In thine embrace 'tis rapture to lie;
But it is glory ever when thou art wronged
For us thy sons to suffer and die.
“Filipinos don't realize that victory is the child of struggle, that joy blossoms from suffering, and redemption is a product of sacrifice.” ("Como se gobiernan las Filipinas" (How one governs in the Philippines), published in La Solidaridad (15 December 1890)
Indeed, our country’s journey to freedom and democracy costs one of the best Filipino blood. He was described by a friend thus: “His coming to the world is like the appearance of a rare comet, whose brilliance appears only every other century.” (Ferdinand Blumentritt, Philippinologist and Rizal's best friend, in his book Biography of Rizal, translated from German by Howard Bray (1898). https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal). On the eve of his execution in December 29, 1896, he wrote his “Last Farewell”:
Oh how beautiful to fall to give you flight,
To die to give you life, to rest under your sky;
And in your enchanted land forever sleep. ("Mi Ultimo Adios", st. 5).
I go where there are no slaves, hangmen or oppressors;
Where faith does not kill; where the one who reigns is God. ("Mi Ultimo Adios" st. 13 - poem written on the eve of his execution (29 December 1896) - translated from the Spanish by Charles Derbyshire.).
Our great leader, Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines, during their struggles and fight for independence declared, "We cannot free ourselves unless we move forward united in a single desire." (Source(s):http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A08...
http://www.angelfire.com/on/philpres/agu...). In their fight for the ultimate freedom and democracy which was envisioned and which eventually brought Dr. Jose Rizal to his heroic grave, many also offered their lives to make us free. Then as we become free, we sing the anthem song:
Land of the morning
Child of the sun returning
With fervor burning
Thee do our souls adore.
Land dear and holy,
Cradle of noble heroes,
Ne'er shall invaders
Trample thy sacred shores.
Ever within thy skies and through thy clouds
And o'er thy hills and seas;
Do we behold thy radiance, feel the throb
Of glorious liberty.
Thy banner dear to all hearts
Its sun and stars alright,
Oh, never shall its shining fields
Be dimmed by tyrants might.
Beautiful land of love, oh land of light,
In thine embrace 'tis rapture to lie;
But it is glory ever when thou art wronged
For us thy sons to suffer and die.
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| Photo from www.google.com.ph |
Now after more than a century of freedom---no longer “dimmed by tyrants might”, her sons “suffer and die” not from invaders hands but from the same slaves of yesteryears now becoming tyrants---a sad characterization of the seemingly prophetic words of Dr. Jose Rizal: “Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow?” (El Filibusterismo, https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal).
The dreadful injuries and damages of our internal war have resulted in physical mutilations and mental torments. Tender wives and children were struck with incessant grief as they witness the Philippine flag covered coffins robbing them of the joys of having their husbands and fathers back home. It is even pitiful for some of the insurgents as they die in battle without even the benefit of a decent burial or perhaps even the knowledge of their families. Most unfortunate are those civilians who lost their precious lives while inadvertently trapped in the switching of bullets between warring factions. Young men, who have been involved in this unending armed conflict between brother Filipinos, breathe their last of a wasteful life, while others live with animosity and hatred for their own brethren becoming permanents parts of their physical structure.
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| Photo from www.google.com.ph |
Together with Jeremiah of old, I express my lamentation: “Is there no balm in Gilead [the Philippines]; is there no physician there?” (Jeremiah 8:22). To those who sit in the panel of negotiators and arbitrators we ask, why not give peace the chance? Peace is a paramount priority that needs our unequivocal quest. It can be the antidote to many of our national ills. Perhaps as we sit together in the bargaining table, we should not be as the “scribes and Pharisees” which Jesus denounced as “blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel” who “make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.” (see Matthew 23:23-25). We need to remember that we are no strangers, nor are we foreigners, but fellow citizens of our beloved country---the Philippines, and are supposed to traverse all ideological boundaries and common cultures towards unity and peace. Thus, we need to eliminate the critical lenses that had long since blurred our view of a prospective peaceful reconciliation and instead utilize telescopic glasses to have a far better vision of an enlarged tapestry of the best benefits of peace.
| Photo from www.google.com.ph |
King David in his psalms assured, “The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace” (Psalms 29:11). The Lord Jesus Christ likewise promised, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14.27).
Our centuries of Christian heritage allowed us to understand that real peace is a feeling of wondrous love, well-being, tranquility and protection that emanates from God. It is this peace that led Dr. Jose Rizal to pen these inspired words in his Noli me Tangere (The Social Cancer – 1887, as translated from the Spanish by Charles Derbyshire):
“I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land. You who have it to see, welcome it--and forget not those who have fallen during the night!
“Truth does not need to borrow garments from error.
“Fame to be sweet must resound in the ears of those we love, in the atmosphere of the land that will guard our ashes. Fame should hover over our tomb to warm with its heat the chill of death, so that we may not be completely reduced to nothingness, that something of us may survive.” https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal).
While my thoughts was lingering deep and chasing ideas to write, my sight loiters at the window in front where my computer was set, reaching far beyond the horizon into the sterling blue sky---a backdrop of the red fruit-bearing “Tambis” tree. The strong southern winds had just concluded its passion after two weeks of continued rage. Into my mind rings; how wonderful the peace that nature brings. How glorious it would be to sound a trumpet of a call for peace to our contending brother Filipinos as a citizen’s personal duty. How magnificent to one day witness the glad tidings that peace is sure to convey. I, therefore, hope and pray that we as a people and nation may give peace the chance.
Our centuries of Christian heritage allowed us to understand that real peace is a feeling of wondrous love, well-being, tranquility and protection that emanates from God. It is this peace that led Dr. Jose Rizal to pen these inspired words in his Noli me Tangere (The Social Cancer – 1887, as translated from the Spanish by Charles Derbyshire):
“I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land. You who have it to see, welcome it--and forget not those who have fallen during the night!
“Truth does not need to borrow garments from error.
“Fame to be sweet must resound in the ears of those we love, in the atmosphere of the land that will guard our ashes. Fame should hover over our tomb to warm with its heat the chill of death, so that we may not be completely reduced to nothingness, that something of us may survive.” https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal).
While my thoughts was lingering deep and chasing ideas to write, my sight loiters at the window in front where my computer was set, reaching far beyond the horizon into the sterling blue sky---a backdrop of the red fruit-bearing “Tambis” tree. The strong southern winds had just concluded its passion after two weeks of continued rage. Into my mind rings; how wonderful the peace that nature brings. How glorious it would be to sound a trumpet of a call for peace to our contending brother Filipinos as a citizen’s personal duty. How magnificent to one day witness the glad tidings that peace is sure to convey. I, therefore, hope and pray that we as a people and nation may give peace the chance.
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