Religious fervor
WHEN the silence is deafening on certain acts already parlayed by this president, his speaker and certain individuals, and money flows readily and is distributed wantonly without shame or regard to citizens’ welfare, we wonder where the country is going. Diversions are now integrated into governance. And diversion has been associated with this administration whenever it overreaches. Accountability and transparency issues are responded to through diversions. No one answers. Nothing is done. We jump from one travel to the next while allowing the West Philippine Sea issue to boil, believing that as a pawn, the country can win with an assertive transparency strategy being waved by an American operator as if the war were traditional. Not “giving an inch of our land” is not true, Mr. President. You embraced the power that will destroy this nation.
The Liberals are quiet about all the transgressions of this administration. The opposition has been managed. Those who were against the Marcoses during the campaign are nowhere, and the progressive bloc plays to the hilt their newly minted role under the baton of the House speaker as he is more and more presented as president-like from activities being made, interference in executive branch programs and launches being made under the Bagong Pilipinas promotions.
Against the deafening silence, Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva delivered a privilege speech on January 29 on account of the National Bible Day Celebration 2024. He positioned himself as a peacemaker in reaction to what former president Rodrigo Duterte said at the Davao prayer rally last January 28 of the Hakbang ng Maisug, that he will ask the AFP and the PNP to close down Congress because of its inability to open its books and make an accounting to the public. Bro. Eddie stated that the country is in a crisis: “You can accept it or ignore it.” He intoned further, “The fear of god is the beginning of wisdom.”
The Hakbang ng Maisug prayer rally moved to Cebu last February 25. Again, the “Dabawenyos are not for sale” reverberated as Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama said, “Cebu City is not for sale. Our country is not for sale.” And the religious fervor continued, with the city mayor calling to the high heavens, “San Pedro Calungsod, pray for us. Birhen sa Guadalupe, pray for us … Santo Niño, Santo Niño, have mercy on us.” Rama said: “Vox populi vox Dei, the voice of the people is the voice of God; salus populi est suprema lex, the general welfare of the people is the supreme law. When the welfare of the people is desecrated, trampled upon, then the people will be disenchanted, the people will look for something that they will be comfortable [with], and they will be granted.”
And for the past five continuous days, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy marshaled its members to occupy Liwasang Bonifacio. From March 5-12, it seems religion will fill the void, as it has always done. In KOJC, the fervor is felt, and we saw a discipline never seen before as they sang, danced, paid homage to their god, and slept at and cleaned the venue site. Rallies were never like this before. In KOJC, the elements of religion, flag, dance, songs and the ubiquitous whistles became acts of protest with a conscious break on the chant: “Tama na! Sobra na!”
When religious groups start moving to question certain political acts by the President, the speaker and some senators, we take note of the audacity of these individuals holding on to faith to get things done. Imagine if JIL, KOJC and INK come together in a resounding shout-out about what is wrong with this administration. But wait, where are the Roman Catholics? They used to be against the Marcoses and were the voice of the laity at EDSA, but they have remained quiet because they do not like the Dutertes. Clearly, there is no Cardinal Sin in the midst.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, of the 108,667,043 household population in 2020, nearly four-fifths or 85,645,362 persons (78.8 percent) reported Roman Catholicism as their religious affiliation. It was followed by Islam with 6,981,710 persons (6.4 percent) and Iglesia ni Cristo with 2,806,524 persons (2.6 percent). In 2015, these were also the top three religious affiliations in the country. Completing the top 10 religious affiliations in 2020 were Seventh Day Adventist and Aglipay (0.8 percent each); Iglesia Filipina Independiente (0.6 percent); Bible Baptist Church (0.5 percent); and United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Jehovah’s Witness, and Church of Christ (0.4 percent each).
These days, when accountability and transparency are swept under the rug, we wonder if the 36 years of being in the forest has led to a less caring leader, exacting much on the citizenry for those 36 years. The contempt charge at the Senate against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is a portent of things to come. Force it, and it might boomerang just like the House did with SMNI. In the end, “politics and morality are inseparable. And as morality’s foundation is religion, religion and politics are necessarily related. We need religion as a guide. We need it because we are imperfect, and our government needs the Church because only those humble enough to admit they’re sinners can bring to democracy the tolerance it requires in order to survive.”