TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON

As the nation commemorates the 29^th anniversary of Sen. Ninoy Aquino’s assassination at the hands of government agents (whose mastermind has not yet been uncovered until now), we find ourselves bereaved by reports of the morning undersea finding of the remains of DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and of the two pilots inside their overturned Piper Seneca at the bottom of Masbate Bay, which curiously, as a substitute plane, suffered mechanical problems in mid-flight. 

Nonetheless, “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, NABRE)

By the way he lived his life, Secretary Robledo was a man of courage; he acted in spite of fears, doubts, worries and anxieties. The following words of King David must have been part of his being: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4, NABRE)

We might think he has been taken prematurely. But, maybe, ours is not to complain. “For that which is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and that which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality. And when this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about: “Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:53-58, NABRE, underlining supplied) And Secretary Robledo, in his firmness, steadfastness and devotedness to the work of the Lord (through his love of neighbor), has simply been sent ahead, for his labors have not been in vain.

In his devotion to honor, country and family, Secretary Jesse lived in the love of God. For nothing separates us from the love of Jesus. “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?” … “No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35, 37-39, NABRE, underlining supplied).

We might want to consider the perspective that in this earth realm - dominated by powers and principalities - apparently random events of evil do happen, by accident or by human agency. We might presume, as we are wont in our human presumption, that God - The Creator – gets affected when these things happen. But he has equipped mankind with a sovereign free will; so God cannot force and micromanage man or spirit agents to do things His way. He has also set natural physical laws to operate on their own. The Lord, then, has to allow events to transpire, let innocents undergo evil, have evil-doers suffer the consequences of their actions sooner or later, and let the workings of physical laws take effect. But God always has a reason or arrangement for good in the long run, as He had with Joseph and his brothers: “It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.” (Genesis 45:5; Read Genesis Chapters 37 then 39 to 45). In that sense, “everything happens for a reason” and that reason is there to assist us. 

And we can say, all things work together for good… as: “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”  (Romans 8:28, NABRE)

On our part, given that “nothing has meaning except the meaning we give it” (Eker, The Millionaire Mind), we could choose to understand the events that took the life of Secretary Robledo (and brought out tremendous national and international cooperation for search, rescue and recovery) as a turn of happenings that calls for more political engagement on the part of the citizenry.  

This nation of close to a 100 million people have more than enough qualified and competent citizens who can effectively assume the responsibilities of Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.  But probably some of these capable citizens are not within the immediate range of the President’s attention or those of his close advisers. We, the sovereign citizens, should help by submitting names we know to be eligible and skilled, and let the President know we demand that he choose the best in terms of caliber and expertise not in terms of connections to those with connection.

Things happen and we move on. A strong load-bearing pillar has been taken away from us. Perhaps, we the people are now expected to effectively carry the load of good governance (as it ought to be in a dynamic democracy) by using our popular, democratic instruments (internet, social network sites, all types of active participation) to ensure transparency and accountability of public officials, which no one person alone - no matter how moral and effective - can really accomplish; because good governance is essentially, in the words of Dr. Jose Rizal, a correlation of people and government.  In "The Indolence of the Filipinos", La Solidaridad, 15 Sept 1890, p. 202, Dr. Rizal wrote: "People and government are correlated and complementary. A stupid government is an anomaly among a righteous people, just as a corrupt people cannot exist under just rulers and wise laws." (Underlining supplied).

I submit meaningful societal change in our country has a better hope of realization in the democratic engagement of our citizenry in the ways of righteousness, than in the chance that our political classes (who have no qualms about using all legal, extra-legal and illegal means to win and stay in power) will become just rulers and pass wise laws. Secretary Robledo was an exception.

OF FELLOW FILIPINOS

“Pilipino kasi, eh!” & “Pilipino yata ‘yan!”

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:” 1/ “What we think we become.” 2/ “Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.” 3/

Habit, they say, is but a set of TEAs (thoughts, emotions, actions) repeated over time (at least 21 days, we are told) that then becomes a pattern our body-mind gets accustomed to; the longer this TEA-set is done again and again, the more it becomes somewhat of a second nature to us, sometimes even to the extent of making us say 'this is our nature', 'this is what we really are...'

There is a mental habit and habitual expression that many of us, perhaps unconsciously, say of our fellow Filipinos when something ‘newsworthy’ (translation: bad) happens in the Philippines or to Filipinos. It is: "Pilipino kasi, eh!" This is an utterly disparaging remark that most probably originated in colonial times, connoting someone unworthy, clumsy, 'walang kaya' (poor and/or without capability), incompetent, ignorant, 'tinimbang ngunit kulang' (weighed but found wanting) and whatever other word that would try to put the Filipino down. It is a negative judgmental evaluation that we, in effect, stamp on the forehead of every Filipino, including ourselves, when we utter it. By force of habit, reiterated and replicated over centuries, many of us repeat and reinforce it, without thinking.

This need not be so. We can change it.

I submit the principle of duality can help us here. This principle says: “Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled.” 4/ It explains that in everything there are two poles, or opposite aspects, and that “opposites” are really only the two extremes of the same thing, with many varying degrees between them. 5/

So in regard to expressions of perspectives on fellow Filipinos, we must be conscious that every time some internal urge surges within us to use the "kasi, eh" phrase, there is always its pair, its other pole, its identical opposite, which is: "Pilipino yata 'yan!" This statement is a positive judgmental evaluation indicating pride in the accomplishments of the fellow Filipino, showing acceptance of his/her being one of us, ipinag-wawagayway (waved like a flag to show honor and joy), and whatever other expression of acknowledgment, approval, esteem, glory, gratitude, respect and support for being Filipino.

Both expressions can only be translated into a neutral English phrase - unspoiled by valuation verbiage as good or bad, or by level of self-inflation as source of pride or humiliation – and the translation is: "Because he is Filipino!" Of course, this English phrase could have either shameful or prideful meaning depending on one's intonation and facial expression at the moment of utterance. But that would be unduly adding body language to the equation.

There are then sound and strong indications that from the principle of duality, the phrases "Pilipino kasi, eh!" and "Pilipino yata 'yan" both translated into English as "Because he is Filipino!" are simply the two extremes of the same thing: the range of attitudes on Filipino to Filipino relationship. 

And since, in the final analysis “nothing has meaning except the meaning we give it” 6/, we can always choose to embrace the meaning and the phrase that: (a) build up our own self-esteem as well as that of our “kapwa” (fellow, neighbor, equal, partner, comrade); and (b) mutually elevate the respect and regard of Filipinos for each other.

"Pilipino yata 'yan!" Marunong tayong pumili ng tama, ng nakakatulong at ng mabisa. (We know how to choose the right, the supportive and the effective) Talaga! (Truly!)   Remember, "Thought is action in rehearsal." 7/

Why don't we watch our TEAs as regards fellow Filipinos in the next 21 days, and every time our wayward minds and hearts start searching for reasons to say "Pilipino kasi, eh", we deliberately and consciously stop that stream of thought, and immediately start a search for reasons to say "Pilipino yata 'yan!" and then, with feeling and conviction in the belief that the Filipino is truly worthy of esteem, honor, regard, and respect, say: "Pilipino yata 'yan!"

Kung wala tayong sinasabi o sinusulat kundi panlalait lamang ng kapwa Pilipino, ang pupuwede lang mai-tawag sa atin ay “manlalait”. (If we have nothing to say or write but the denigration of fellow Filipinos, the only descriptive that can be used to call us is “denigrator”). The Tagalog term “lait”, in English, refers to such attempted provocations as: affront, belittling, blasphemy, causing offense, condescension, condemnation, contempt, contumely, criticism, curse, decrial, denigration, denunciation, deprecation, derision, derogation, disapproval, disdain, dislike, disparagement, disregard, disrespect, disruption, execration, frowning on, gibe, hatred, imprecation, injury, insult, lack of respect, letdown, loathing, looking down on, malediction, mocking, offense, outrage, ridicule, saddening/troubling comment, scorning, shocking, showing contempt, slighting, slurring, sneering at, spurning, taunting, tirade, wounding. 8/

If perchance we find ourselves doing any of these against fellow Filipinos, then we might as well be classed among those whom Dr. Rizal described as the “tyrants of tomorrow” – who are already present now – being so taken up with the erroneous presumption of superiority over fellow Filipinos that the words flowing out of our mouths and pens are nothing but tyrannous, like a despotic martinet decreeing that everyone else should follow; because we have entertained the wrong idea and have come to think, as the condescending colonizers did, that fellow Filipinos are devoid of the capacities to think and to act for themselves.

But we can change. We each have the God-given and God-respected power to choose, which makes us responsible for the consequences of our choices.

“… For from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” 9/

“An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.” 10/ We should consider this particularly applicable to any one claiming to be “kapwa” who deprecates the Filipino.

“Among a man's many good possessions, a good command of speech has no equal. Prosperity and ruin issue from the power of the tongue. Therefore, guard yourself against thoughtless speech.” 11/

When we each assume responsibility for the ideas and the thought-emotion clusters we broadcast about our people and our country, then we do some constructive part in helping to realize Dr. Jose Rizal’s “Dream of my life, my ardent, living, passion and rallying cry” [Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo],  which was to see his “jewel of the sea of the orient, the dark eyes dry, the smooth forehead held high unbent: without frown, without wrinkles, without stains of high color” [joya del mar de oriente, secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente, sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor]. 12/ For we would, in effect, help build Filipino self-respect, Filipino mutual respect, and respect by others.

Rizal’s dream, after all, stated plainly, was to see (a) Inang Bayan standing strong with self-esteem and self-confidence, (b) Filipinos treating each other with high regard, and (c) our country and people respected by other peoples and nations because we are able to get our acts together and play as a formidable team.

As Socrates said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is a habit." Let us then, in turn, repeatedly and excellently build each other up, treat each other with high esteem, and play as a true team: trusting in and relying on each other as we choose to make our respective selves trustworthy and reliable.

Pilipino yata ‘yan!

Mabuhay po ang Pilipino! Mabuhay po ang Filipinas!

_______________________

Notes:

1/   Proverbs 23:7, KJV

2/   Buddha

3/   Mahatma Gandhi

4/   The Kybalion 

5/   http://enlightenedawareness.wetpaint.com/
      page/7+The+Principle+of+Duality

6/   T. Harve Eker, The Millionaire Mind

7/   Anonymous

8/   cf http://www.bansa.org/dictionaries/tgl/?dict
      lang=tgl&type=search& amp;type=
      search&am;data=panlalait 
      and Online Thesaurus

9/   Matthew 12:34-37, NABRE

10/ Buddhist Quote

11/ Tirukkural 65: 641-642, Hindu quote

12/ see below: Rizal's Untitled Last Poem 

Farewell Arizona Knights of Rizal

My brother knights, ladies:

This get-together and leave-taking reminds me of Dr. Rizal in 1892, Hongkong. Remember, he was there practicing ophthalmology where he operated on his mother. Yet, the call to do more for Inang Bayan beckoned him to return to the Philippines, even though he had become an enemy to the Spanish colonial government on account of his Noli and Fili. Family and friends, fearful of what the authorities would do to him, counseled him not to go. He went any way, founded La Liga Filipina and ended up an exile in Dapitan. But before he left Hongkong, he wrote two “Letters to My Countrymen“, sealed them and entrusted them to a confidante, a certain Dr. Marquez, with the script: “Make these letters public after my death.”

One of these letters, in part, said: “Always have I loved our unhappy land, and I am sure that I shall continue loving it till my latest moment, in case men prove unjust to me. My career, my life, my happiness, all have I sacrificed for love of it. Whatever my fate, I shall die blessing it and longing for the dawn of its redemption.”

Now, my brothers and sisters, I cite this not to compare myself with Rizal and the circumstances then of his leaving Hongkong, as I am way too insignificant to be of any comparison, but simply because of two phrases that keep ringing and flashing, namely: “our unhappy land” and “dawn of its redemption”. These phrases stand out because our people’s sense: “of misery” and “of their being like valuables in the control of vested interests” remain unabated, that is why “going abroad” is still the dream of many.

Perhaps, together, these two phrases can serve as the guiding north stars, or the grand problems to solve, in the programs and projects this Chapter undertakes.

Let me wind up these short remarks with more positive words from Dr. Rizal, from the last stanza and chorus of “Hymn to Talisay”, a poem-song that he penned in Dapitan and which he made his pupils sing before class; incidentally, the Spanish military prosecutors, at his trial in 1896, used this poem as corroborative proof of Rizal’s being supposedly a subversive. In this poem Rizal allegorically used the name of the Talisay tree to refer to his Inang Bayan. Listen to his words, translated to English, and judge for yourselves:

“Live, live, Talisay rich with verdure! 

In chorus, all our voices thee praise: 

bright star, precious and valued treasure, 

of childhood's true learning and solace. 

In fights and struggles awaiting man, 

subject to sorrow, grief and unease 

 your mem’ry shall be his talisman; 

in the tomb, your name shall be his peace.” 

“Hail, Talisay! 

Firm and constant, 

always forward, 

you shall prosper. 

And, triumphant, 

all elements - 

sea, land and air: 

you shall master!” 

Thank you very much, brother Knights and sister Ladies: generally, for your kindness, warmth, patience and consideration; and particularly, for this quickly yet efficiently organized wonderful despedida for Lady Betty and me.

And now, with your indulgence, as our conclusion, I would like to propose a toast. May I ask everyone to please stand up and raise their glasses.

Ladies and Knights: in light of the historic impeachment and conviction of former CJ Corona:

“Here’s to Dr. Rizal’s magnificent obsession: 

a Morally and Materially Prosperous Philippines! 

Mabuhay!”

 _____________________________________
Remarks at AZKOR INC Despedida Dinner, June 7, 2012, 
World Buffet, 8914 N 91st Ave # 130 Peoria, AZ 85345

Rizal’s Untitled Farewell Poem

An English translation by Edwin D. Bael, March 10, 2012

Farewell, Fatherland adored, region beloved by the sun,
Pearl of the Orient Sea, our perfect place, lost and drifting!
Joyfully I go to give you this sad parched life without fun,
And were it brighter, fresher or had more flowers that stun,
Still I would give it to you, give it for your well-being.

In fields of battle, fighting with delirium and frenzy
Others give you their lives without doubt, without grief;
The location matters not, whether cypress, laurel or lily,
Gallows or open field, combat or martyr’s cruel agony,
It’s all the same if homeland and home ask for it lief.

I die when I see that colors lighten the sky
And finally herald the day after the cloak of night;
If you need scarlet grain, your dawn to dye,
Pour my blood, shed it in good hour to abye,
And gild it a reflection of your nascent light.

My dreams when scarcely a lad adolescent,
My dreams when a young man all filled with vigor,
Were to see you one day, jewel of the sea of the orient
The dark eyes dry, the smooth forehead held high unbent:
Without frown, without wrinkles, without stains of high color.

Dream of my life, my ardent, living, passion and rallying cry,
Health, shouts to you the soul that soon shall go and depart!
Health! O, how beautiful it is to fall to give you power to fly,
To die to give you vigor to live, beneath your heaven to die,
And in your enchanted land, the eternity to sleep never apart.

If one day over my sepulcher you should see sprout
Among the dense unpretentious grass, a humble flower,
Bring it close to your lips and kiss my soul devout,
And I feel in my forehead under the cold tomb layout
Soft blow of your tenderness, warmth of your breath zephyr.

Let the moon see me with light tranquil and soft;
Allow that the dawn send forth its fleeting resplendence,
Let the wind sigh with its murmur so gentle-mellow oft,
And if above my cross a bird descends and perches aloft
Allow that the bird intone its canticle of peace and silence.

Allow that the burning sun evaporate the rain
And the heavens turn pure with my clamor following;
Allow that for my early end a friend may shed tears of pain,
And, in serene evenings when someone prays for me certain,
Pray also, O Fatherland: that I may in God be resting.

Pray for all those who died without contentment,
For those who suffered pain and anguish without equal,
For our poor mothers who bemoan their embitterment,
For orphans and widows, for prisoners in agony and torment,
And pray for yourself that you see your redemption made final.

And when at night darkness wraps around the cemetery,
And only the dead alone remain there, the vigil keeping,
Don’t disturb their rest, don’t disturb the mystery;
Perhaps you hear chords of zither or psaltery,
It is I, beloved Fatherland, I who to you, songs do sing.

And when already my tomb is forgotten by all,
Having neither cross nor stone to mark its place,
Let man plow it, by hoe disperse it and let fall,
And my ashes, before they turn to nothing at all,
Will go to form the dust of your carpet apace.

Then it matters not you put me in oblivion and forgetting,
Your atmosphere, your space, your valleys will I cross,
Vibrant and clean note shall I be to your sense of hearing,
Fragrance, lights, colors, soft murmurs, singing, sighing…
Constantly repeating my faith essence, sprinkling it across.

My Fatherland idolized, pain-affliction of my pain-afflictions,
Beloved Philippines: hear the last goodbye and go with God.
There, I leave you all: my parents-ancestors, my loves-affections.
I go where there are no slaves, slayers nor tyrants in all locations;
Where faith does not kill; where the one who reigns is God.

Farewell, parents and siblings, pieces of this soul of mine,
Friends of tender years in the hearth now gone and left behind,
Give thanks that I rest from the day fatiguing and serpentine;
Farewell, sweet foreigner, my friend, my joy-of-life divine,
Farewell, beloved beings. To die is to rest, relax, unwind…

- o o 0 0 0 o o –

“On the afternoon of Dec. 29, 1896, a day before his execution, Dr. Jose Rizal was visited by his mother, Teodora Alonzo, sisters Lucia, Josefa, Trinidad, Maria and Narcisa, and two nephews. When they took their leave, Rizal told Trinidad in English that there was something in the small alcohol stove (cocinilla), not alcohol lamp (lamparilla). The stove was given to Narcisa by the guard when the party was about to board their carriage in the courtyard. At home, the Rizal ladies recovered from the stove a folded paper. On it was written an unsigned, untitled and undated poem of 14 five-line stanzas. The Rizals reproduced copies of the poem and sent them to Rizal's friends in the country and abroad. In 1897, Mariano Ponce in Hong Kong had the poem printed with the title ‘Mi Ultimo Pensamiento.’ Fr. Mariano Dacanay, who received a copy of the poem while a prisoner in Bilibid (jail), published it in the first issue of La Independencia on Sept. 25, 1898 with the title ‘Ultimo Adios.’”
(The Inquirer, December 30, 2002)

Copy of his original text in Spanish is as follows:

Adios, Patria adorada, region del sol querida,
Perla del Mar de Oriente, nuestro perdido Eden!
A darte voy alegre la triste mustia vida,
Y fuera más brillante más fresca, más florida,
Tambien por tí la diera, la diera por tu bien.

En campos de batalla, luchando con delirio
Otros te dan sus vidas sin dudas, sin pesar;
El sitio nada importa, ciprés, laurel ó lirio,
Cadalso ó campo abierto, combate ó cruel martirio,
Lo mismo es si lo piden la patria y el hogar.

Yo muero cuando veo que el cielo se colora
Y al fin anuncia el día trás lóbrego capuz;
Si grana necesitas para teñir tu aurora,
Vierte la sangre mía, derrámala en buen hora
Y dórela un reflejo de su naciente luz.

Mis sueños cuando apenas muchacho adolescente,
Mis sueños cuando joven ya lleno de vigor,
Fueron el verte un día, joya del mar de oriente
Secos los negros ojos, alta la tersa frente,
Sin ceño, sin arrugas, sin manchas de rubor.

Ensueño de mi vida, mi ardiente vivo anhelo,
Salud te grita el alma que pronto va á partir!
Salud! ah que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,
Morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,
Y en tu encantada tierra la eternidad dormir.

Si sobre mi sepulcro vieres brotar un dia
Entre la espesa yerba sencilla, humilde flor,
Acércala a tus labios y besa al alma mía,
Y sienta yo en mi frente bajo la tumba fría
De tu ternura el soplo, de tu hálito el calor.

Deja á la luna verme con luz tranquila y suave;
Deja que el alba envíe su resplandor fugaz,
Deja gemir al viento con su murmullo grave,
Y si desciende y posa sobre mi cruz un ave
Deja que el ave entone su cantico de paz.

Deja que el sol ardiendo las lluvias evapore
Y al cielo tornen puras con mi clamor en pos,
Deja que un sér amigo mi fin temprano llore
Y en las serenas tardes cuando por mi alguien ore
Ora tambien, Oh Patria, por mi descanso á Dios!

Ora por todos cuantos murieron sin ventura,
Por cuantos padecieron tormentos sin igual,
Por nuestras pobres madres que gimen su amargura;
Por huérfanos y viudas, por presos en tortura
Y ora por tí que veas tu redencion final.

Y cuando en noche oscura se envuelva el cementerio
Y solos sólo muertos queden velando allí,
No turbes su reposo, no turbes el misterio
Tal vez acordes oigas de citara ó salterio,
Soy yo, querida Patria, yo que te canto á ti.

Y cuando ya mi tumba de todos olvidada
No tenga cruz ni piedra que marquen su lugar,
Deja que la are el hombre, la esparza con la azada,
Y mis cenizas antes que vuelvan á la nada,
El polvo de tu alfombra que vayan á formar.

Entonces nada importa me pongas en olvido,
Tu atmósfera, tu espacio, tus valles cruzaré,
Vibrante y limpia nota seré para tu oido,
Aroma, luz, colores, rumor, canto, gemido
Constante repitiendo la esencia de mi fé.

Mi Patria idolatrada, dolor de mis dolores,
Querida Filipinas, oye el postrer adios.
Ahi te dejo todo, mis padres, mis amores.
Voy donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores,
Donde la fé no mata, donde el que reyna es Dios.

Adios, padres y hermanos, trozos del alma mía,
Amigos de la infancia en el perdido hogar,
Dad gracias que descanso del fatigoso día;
Adios, dulce extrangera, mi amiga, mi alegria,
Adios, queridos séres. Morir es descansar.

DOES RIZAL'S RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION MATTER?

Rizal Roman Catholic

In the earlier part of this year, some communications in the KOR-World@ GoogleGroups.com, in relation to Dr. Rizal’s martyrdom, brought up issues about his spirituality using some words like ‘heretic’. There is a new opinion piece by Fr. Jose S. Arcilla, SJ, in his Business World column “Vestiges” which, though not centered on Rizal, might help illuminate the matter of Rizal’s spiritual persuasion. Judging by the broad yet insightful definition by Fr. Arcilla that a Roman Catholic is “one who loves to the point of dying for the beloved” 1/, one might say that Dr. Jose Rizal was a Roman Catholic.

Dr. Rizal loved his Inang Bayan so much 2/ that he devoted a great deal of his energy and time writing and communicating to right the many wrongs in the Philippines. He described his life-mission as working for more liberty, more justice, more peace and more sacred rights of man in the Philippines. 3/ His noble cause was to give more light that the people might be able to discern their own way, or education, education, education 4/ and if it were necessary, he would: (a) shed his blood [pour my blood, shed it in good time] and (b) die for the country [o, how beautiful it is to fall to give you flight, to die to give you life] which are both ideas sublimely expressed in the last poem. 5/

When hurriedly condemned to death by a military court of the Spanish colonial regime, he calmly (with normal blood pressure) stood before the firing squad, intoning in his soul (we might imagine) the unparalleled verses of his Ultimo Adios. Jose Rizal’s life, so lived and offered, embodies “love to the point of dying for the beloved”, following the examples of Jesus who in the last supper with His disciples declared: “this is my body; it shall be given up for you” and of the early Christian martyrs, who for love of Jesus, courageously faced death by being fed to lions, crucified sometimes head down, burned at the stake and through many more atrocities.

In that sense, we can refer to Rizal’s religious affiliation invoking Fr. Arcilla’s definition.

Questions

But it appears there is a need to go farther and ask some questions concerning this matter of raising as issue Dr. Rizal’s specific religious affiliation, in relation to: (1) the current spirit of ecumenism; (2) the KOR tenets of non-sectarianism and non-partisanship; and (3) the KOR Code of Ethics.

Ecumenism

From 1618 to 1648 Europe was plunged into one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history, known as The Thirty Years’ War, which initially was largely fought as a religious conflict between the Protestants and the Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire and later got complicated into a more general ‘balance of power’ and ‘royal succession’ conflict involving most of the European powers. 6/ All because Catholics and Protestants each insisted their side was correct and had God’s blessings while the other was wrong and under the sway of the devil. We might say mutual intolerance and reciprocal demonization brought that war on.

The East–West Schism, sometimes known as the Great Schism, happened six centuries earlier, in 1054. It formally divided the State church of the Roman Empire into Eastern (Greek) and Western (Latin) branches, which later became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, respectively. There were anathemas or mutual excommunications as well as splits along doctrinal, theological, linguistic, political, and geographical lines, with each side accusing the other of having fallen into heresy and of having initiated the division. 7/

The protestant reformation happened in the sphere of the Western or Latin Church. And the divisions arising within Christianity over the centuries have given rise to a variety of denominations. But within the last century up to the present, ecumenism has grown as a movement for achieving Christian unity and for overcoming these divisions. The Catholic Church is fully committed to the Ecumenical movement. The decree on Ecumenism issued by the Second Vatican Council in 1964 is the charter for the Catholic Church’s approach to Ecumenism. Since then, much progress has been made through dialogue between Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Churches and there has been a growth in mutual understanding and respect. 8/

This ecumenical progress was reflected by Pope Benedict XVI in a 2008 address in New York: “Let us give thanks to Almighty God for the progress that has been made through the work of his Spirit, as we acknowledge with gratitude the personal sacrifices made by so many present and by those who have gone before us. By following in their footsteps, and by placing our trust in God alone, I am confident that – to borrow the words of Father Paul Wattson – we will achieve the "oneness of hope, oneness of faith, and oneness of love" that alone will convince the world that Jesus Christ is the one sent by the Father for the salvation of all.”9/

The question, then, is: Why bring up historically divisive and conflict-ridden adjectives (e.g. heretic) in referring to the spiritual affiliation of a hero when the churches are in the process of continuing dialogue for mutual understanding, cooperation and healing of historic rifts?

Non-Sectarian, Non-Partisan Principles

The KOR Manual states that: “The Order of the Knights of Rizal is a civic and patriotic organization recognized by law as an instrumentality by which the teachings of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal may be propagated among the Filipino people, and others who may believe in his teachings to the end that they may emulate and follow his examples. Aside from its being a civic and patriotic organization it is also cultural, non-sectarian, non-partisan and non-racial.” (The Knights Of Rizal: An Organization)

For the purpose of this article, let’s keep our focus on the non-sectarian and non-partisan tenets.

Nonsectarian, in its most literal sense, refers to a lack of sectarianism; 10/ also, not having a sectarian character: not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group. 11/ Sectarianism, according to one definition, is bigotry, discrimination or hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions within a group, such as between different denominations of a religion, class, regional or factions of a political movement. Non-sectarians espouse that free association and tolerance of different beliefs are the cornerstone to successful peaceful human interaction. They espouse political and religious pluralism. 12/

Non-Partisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation. The Merrian-Webster dictionary's definition of "nonpartisan" is: "Not partisan; free from party affiliation, bias, or designation." 13/ A partisan is an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance; of, pertaining to, or characteristic of partisans; partial to a specific party, person, etc.14/

The question is: Would the ideals of being free from bigotry, discrimination or hatred and being supportive of free associations, tolerance of beliefs and pluralism (non-sectarianism) and the principles of not being biased, not partial, not bound by emotional allegiance, and not slanted by affiliations (non- partisanship) both be upheld by the raising of unnecessary issues in a manner that is tantamount to name-calling?

Code of Ethics

According to the KOR Manual, the Code Of Ethics Of The Knights Of Rizal is as follows:

“A Rizalist – Loves his country and people; Promotes international understanding among peoples and nations; Venerates the memory of the nation’s heroes by making their ideals his own; Values honor as he values his life; Strives to do justice to all his fellowmen; Finds meaning and purpose in life; Upholds freedom at all costs;
Maintains a tolerant and understanding attitude towards his fellowmen; Believes in the value of education essential to the formation of the character of man; Promotes social justice and general welfare; Is industrious, self-reliant, persevering and conscious of the plight of the less fortunate; Is truthful and honest in thoughts, words and deeds.”

The question is: Would raising an insignificant and besmirching issue be consistent with this Code in terms of valuing honor, doing justice, maintaining tolerance, understanding, truth-telling and honesty?

The bottom line: What was the point of all that? Was it to put Rizal down? Why?

Spirit of Submission

These questions are respectfully submitted in the spirit of Saint Paul’s urging of Jewish Christians in Hebrews 10:24 (NABRE): “We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works”.

Rizal’s View on His Religious Affiliation

We end this piece with a quote from Dr. Rizal himself on the issue of his religious affiliation. It is taken from his correspondence with Fr. Pablo Pastells. In October 1892, Father Pastells had blamed Rizal's Protestant influence for Noli Me Tangere, and his Freemasonic influence for El Filibusterismo. His reply, dated October 11, 1892, while only a small excerpt of their in-depth correspondence, 15/ encapsulates Rizal's view, which is ecumenism a long way ahead of Vatican II:

“Rizal a Protestant! Only out of respect for Your Reverence can I suppress the guffaw that rises inside me. Your Reverence should have heard my discussions with a Protestant pastor in the long Summer evenings in the lonely depths of the Black Forest (Germany). There, speaking freely, calmly, with deliberation, we discussed our respective beliefs in the morality of peoples and the influences on them of their respective creeds. A great respect for the good faith of the adversary, and for ideas which were necessarily poles apart due to the diversity of race, education and age, led us almost always to the conclusion that religions, no matter what they were, should not make men enemies of one another, but friends, and good friends at that.

“From these discussions, which took place almost every day for more than three months, I think I got nothing more, if my judgment does not fail me, than a profound respect for any idea conceived with sincerity and practiced with conviction. Almost every month the Catholic parish priest of a little town on the banks of the Rhine came to visit [the Protestant pastor], and this priest, an intimate friend of the Protestant, gave me an example of Christian brotherhood. They considered themselves two servants of the same God, and instead of spending their time quarrelling with each other, each one did his duty, leaving it to their Master to judge afterwards who had best interpreted His Will.”
________________________

1/ See Vestiges, “Who is a Roman Catholic?” Business World Online, posted March 04, 2012, http: //www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Opinion&title =Who-is-a-Roman-Catholic? &id= 47 762)
2/ cf “…the thought of my whole life has always been love of my country and her moral and material development …” (Letter to the Governor and Captain General of the Philippine Islands, Hongkong, 21 Mar 1892, Epistolario Rizalino, III No. 577, p. 306); also, “My dreams when a lad, when scarcely adolescent: my dreams when a young man, now with vigor inflamed: were to behold you one day: Jewel of eastern waters: griefless the dusky eyes: lifted the upright brow: unclouded, unfurrowed, unblemished and unashamed”. (4th Stanza, Ultimo Adios, Nick Joaquin translation)
3/ cf “A man ought to die for duty and his principles. I hold fast to every idea which I have advanced as to the condition and future of our country, and shall willingly die for it, and even more willingly procure for you justice and peace.” 1892 letter to Rizal’s ‘Beloved Parents, Brothers and Sisters” (To be opened after my death) entrusted to Dr. Marquez in Hongkong 4 years before his martyrdom
4/ cf "Our whole aspiration," Rizal declared, "is to educate our nation; education, and more education!" in a letter to Mariano Ponce; also, “So education beyond measure, Gives the Country tranquility secure.” - a couple of lines from Rizal’s poem “Education Gives Luster to Motherland” as translated to English shown in the site http://www.joserizal.ph/pm16.html
5/ cf “vierte la sangre mía, derrámala en buen hora” [pour my blood, shed it in good time]; “ah que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo, morir por darte vida” [o, how beautiful it is to fall to give you flight, to die to give you life]; compare also: “...I wish to show those who deny us patriotism that we know how to die for duty and principles. What matters death, if one dies for what one loves, for native land and beings held dear?” . . . “Always have I loved our unhappy land, and I am sure that I shall continue loving it till my latest moment, in case men prove unjust to me. My career, my life, my happiness, all have I sacrificed for love of it. Whatever my fate, I shall die blessing it and longing for the dawn of its redemption.” 1892 letter ‘To the Filipinos’ entrusted to Dr. Marquez in Hongkong, 4 years before his martyrdom, with the post-script “Make these letters public after my death.”
6/ See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years%27War
7/ See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East%E2%80%93West_Schism
8/ See http://www.waterfordlismore.com/2008/04/unity-among-christians/
9/ Address at the Ecumenical Prayer Service, St. Joseph's Parish, New York, Friday, 18 April 2008
10/ See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonsectarian
11/ See http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonsectarian
12/ See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sectarianism
13/ See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonpartisan
14/ See http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/partisan
15/ See http://www.schillerinstitute.org/educ/hist/rizal.html

WELCOME TWENTY TWELVE!*

Esteemed and respected community, in particular, the Phoenix Barangay Lions…

Friends:

Another time, another season: tonight, here in this Hohokam Ballroom of Pointe Hilton, Squaw Peak, it is time to renew bonds of friendship, time to be grateful, time to laugh, time to dance, time to pause, relax and heal; it is time to love, time to hope for a great medical mission, and for me this moment, time to speak, but quickly… for the time to relieve itchy feet for dancing is rushing in.

Ladies and gentlemen:

Events celebrating transitions, as this beautiful black and white New Year’s gala, remind us of some sayings: like “ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan” or literally, one who knows not how to look back at where he came from, cannot arrive at where he wants to be. Taking it in this literal meaning alone might complicate matters, for it could lead to a corollary saying: “ang lilingon-lingon sa pinanggalingan samantalang nagmamaneho ay sadyang di makakarating sa paroroonan dahil malamang masasakuna”, which means: one who keeps on looking back at where he came from, while driving, will probably not reach his destination as he will most likely meet an accident. I suggest we take this Filipino idiomatic expression in its substantive meaning, which is: “look at the past for mistakes so that errors will not be repeated and undertakings will have more success”.

Another saying that comes to mind points to the gift of today, which is the present, and urges us to live and act in the here and now, do what we are doing, have presence of mind, and have our being, living and loving with full awareness, for “today well-lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.”

Speaking of past and future, it has been said that Filipinos are inheritors of a glorious past and hostages to an uncertain future. Let’s think about that a bit. Might this saying not constitute counter-productive conditioning? For the good old days of the past are only good because they are old; but they are gone forever; focusing on them only makes us look backward while we are moving forward. The future is ours to make. While indeed there is no security in constant change which is the nature of a world in flux, there are always new opportunities coming up. As doors close, other doors open. Gen. Douglas MacArthur said: “There is no security, only opportunity.” Our job is to be agile and flexible as well as to be competent and capable of seizing unfolding opportunities as the seasons roll. We cannot stand still, stay frozen or stop dead simply because the future is said to be uncertain or unpredictable. Albert Einstein said: “the only way to predict the future is to create it”.

This brings to mind the creative purpose of this New Year’s Ball. Kudos to Phoenix Barangay Lions Club: you are generating funds for your Philippine Medical Mission 2012, while enjoying the fleeting glamor and glitter of this gala. Be assured the Filipino people will be grateful because you, Lions, “serve” and because you uphold the personal code of your founder, Melvin Jones, which is: "You can't get very far until you start doing something for somebody else".

Be assured too that the Filipino, with champion heart, will keep on standing up despite many devastating blows, like the one recently inflicted by Typhoon Sendong, now with reported casualties of 1,249 dead and 1,000 more still missing. For Filipino resilience is embodied in the Talisaynon spirit that, in Dr. Rizal’s “Hymn to Talisay”, declares: “There is no darkness, no pitchblack night, nor fierce storm or typhoon that we dread; and should Satan himself come to sight, he shall be captured alive or dead.”

Friends,

We are all made with the capacity to have dominion. The past is behind us, the future is in front of us. In God’s grace, we can make the rest of our years, the best of our years…

With these thoughts, allow me to close by proposing a toast. For that purpose, with your kind indulgence, may I request everyone to please stand up with their glasses?

Ladies and Gentlemen: with pure, clean, unadulterated water. . .

“To the New Year:
Welcome Twenty Twelve!
May your coming bring and carry
clear visions and resolute actions
for moral and material prosperity.
MABUHAY!”


-------------------------------------
*Remarks at the Black and White New Year's Gala of the Phoenix Barangay Lions Club, December 31, 2011, Phoenix, Arizona

I AM A KNIGHT OF RIZAL

Revised January 13, 2012

I am a Knight of Rizal.
My motto is “Non Omnis Moriar” 1/ meaning
not all of me shall die or I will not altogether die.
My mandate, within the Order of the Knights of Rizal,
is to accomplish the following general purposes: 2/
• to study the teachings of Dr. Jose Rizal;
• to propagate and inculcate said teachings in the minds
of the Filipino people and other citizens of the world and,
by word and deed, exhort them to emulate and practice
the examples set by Dr. Jose Rizal;
• to promote among the Knights of the Order the true spirit of
patriotism and Rizalian chivalry;
• to develop a perfect union among Filipinos and other citizens
of the world in revering the memory of Dr. Jose Rizal; and
• to organize and hold programs, activities and annual festivities
in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal.

To achieve these purposes, I pledge to carry out and realize the
following specific objectives 3/ in harmony with fellow Knights:
• To study and spread the ideals, teachings and exemplary
life of Dr. Jose Rizal especially among the youth of the Land;
• To organize chapters in the Philippines or any part of the
world, undertake programs which will promote individual
commitment to the ideals and teachings of Rizal, and
encourage enlightened personal involvement in
addressing contemporary issues; and
• To train and develop the youth in character building,
citizenship training, democratic leadership, patriotism,
universal brotherhood, and dedicated service to God,
country and people.

I am a Knight of Rizal.
No thought, no idea, no emotion, no suggestion can frighten,
intimidate, perturb or unsettle me; for they are but ephemeral
waves of mental and emotional states that incessantly come
rolling and crashing against the changeless, timeless ground 4/
of which I am a part.

It is the same sacred, sanctified, solid, supreme ground …
“…donde no hay esclavos, verdugos ni opresores,
donde la fe no mata, donde el que reina es Dios” 5/
… where there are no slaves, hangmen nor oppressors,
where faith does not kill, where he who reigns is God. 6/

I am a Knight of Rizal.
I uphold patriotism as a virtue and a striving, powered by love
for dignity, integrity, justice, liberty, rights and self-esteem.
I love my country with a divinely stamped, eternal, great,
heroic, imperishable and most disinterested love. 7/

To my motherland, I say, as Rizal did:
“Salud! Ah, que es hermoso caer por darte vuelo,
morir por darte vida, morir bajo tu cielo,
y en la encantada tierra la eternidad dormer.” 8/
Cheers! How lovely it is: to fall to give you power to fly,
to die to give you vigor to live, to die under your sky,
and, in the land enchanted, to sleep for eternity! 9/

I am a Knight of Rizal.
I commit and vow to help in giving Rizalist light and moving
my country to poised prosperity rooted in moral potency 10/
and to transcend obstacles to a noble life of overcoming
even if the exertions of struggle might mean my early passing,
after all, the merit and value of a dream or vision worth living for,
is that, as Dr. Rizal and many martyrs proved, it is worth dying for.

From a long-term view, I see all humanity as my family, because:
“Some centuries hence, when mankind shall become enlightened
and redeemed, when there shall be no races, when all peoples shall
become free, when there shall be neither tyrants nor slaves, nor
colonies nor metropolis, when justice shall rule, and man shall
become a citizen of the world, the cult of science alone shall
remain, the word patriotism shall smack of fanaticism, and he
who would boast of patriotic virtues will undoubtedly be confined
as a dangerous sick man, as a perturber of social harmony.” 11/

I am a Knight of Rizal.
Equally respecting and valuing the whole gamut of worldviews,
I believe we are not human beings having spiritual experiences;
but rather we are spiritual beings having human experiences 12/
even as I appreciate others whose principles and convictions
exclude matters beyond material measures and calibrations.

I am resolved not to identify myself with each brief and transitory
heart-mind state passing through me, as they are but temporary
contents of the permanent container that forms, permeates, and
saturates my entire true being; hence, I look for and live the truly
empowering inner life with the eternal 13/
for which, abiding, I stand.

I am a Knight of Rizal.
Verily: “Morir es descansar” 14/ To die is to rest. 15/
To die or be non-attached to the temporal is to abide in the eternal.
Yet, resting on this vocation to eternal life means not suppressing
but actually reinforcing one’s duty to apply the energies and
resources received from the Uncaused Cause to visions and
actions serving to promote and protect justice and peace
in this realm of the mortal. 16/

“Acordando la fe y la razon” 17/
or making faith and reason agree18/,
I make my days count with works “ad majorem Phil gloriam” 19/
for Inang Bayan’s abundance, blessings, calm, dignity, freedom,
grace, integrity, joy, justice, liberty, life that overcomes,
mental toughness, moral vigor, peace, prosperity and wisdom.
____________________
1/ Official Motto of the Order of the Knights of Rizal;
attributed as a quote from Horace
2/ Section 1, 2006 By-Laws of the Order of the Knights of Rizal,
based on Section 2 of Republic Act No. 646
3/ Section 2, 2006 By-Laws of the Order of the Knights of Rizal
4/ cf Guy Finley, “The Lost Secrets of Prayer”, Llewellyn Publications,
2006, p.56
5/ Penultimate paragraph, Last Farewell of Dr. Rizal
6/ Edwin Bael translation of the same lines in the penultimate paragraph
7/ cf Jose Rizal, “Love of Country”, La Solidaridad, Madrid,
31 Oct 1890, p. 247
8/ Fifth paragraph, Last Farewell of Dr. Rizal
9/ Edwin Bael translation of the same lines in the fifth paragraph
10/ cf “moral and material development” in Rizal’s Letter to the
Governor and Captain General of the Philippine Islands, Hongkong,
21 Mar 1892,Epistolario Rizalino, III, No. 527, p. 306
11/ Jose Rizal, El Filibusterismo, Ghent, 1891, p. 48
12/ cf Quote from Pierre Teillhard de Chardin
13/ cf Guy Finley, op. cit., p. 62
14/ Last phrase of Rizal’s Last Farewell
15/ Edwin Bael translation of the same last phrase.
16/ cf Catechism of the Catholic Church, # 2820
17/ Line # 4, Fifth Stanza, “Hymn To Talisay”, by Dr. Jose Rizal
18/ Edwin Bael translation of that Line from Hymn to Talisay
19/ Taken from a line in one of Rizal’s letters to Mariano Ponce:
“I am very busy these days for I am working
'ad majorem Phil. gloriam'” - a Latin phrase literally meaning
'to the greater glory of the Philippines', a paraphrase of the
more common expression ‘Ad majorem gloriae Dei’.