Muling Pagtanaw at Pagsasapuso sa Tatlong Pagkatao ni Ka Amado

Maaaring ang artista’y sumuko at manahimik, upang mabuhay,
ngunit ang ganya’y tiyak na kamatayan ng kaniyang sining.
Nakikilala niyang bahagi siya ng sosyedad, isang sangkap na tumutustos
a kabuuan at tumatanggap din naman ng panustos buhat sa kabuuan.”
-Hernandez sa “Pilipino sa Panitikan”

Ipinahayag ng isang paham na ang “tao ang lumilikha ng kasaysayan”. Siya ang nakaaalam at magdidikta ng kaniyang patutunguhan at isasapalaran. Kung kaya’t hindi mapasusubalian ang kahalagahan ng ideyolohiyang humuhubog sa mga tagapaglikha ng kasaysayan. Matatag ang paliwanag ni Karl Marx na ang “kalagayang materyal ng isang tao ang nagtatakda ng kaniyang kaisipan.” Kung paniniwalaan ang ideya ng tabula rasa, isang blankong pisara ang isang nilalang nang siya ay iluwal sa daigdig. Ang mga panlabas na salik ng lipunan ang huhubog ng uri ng kaniyang kaisipan. Sa ganitong kalakaran, maging ang mga obrang pampanitikan, bilang anyo o pormang ideolohikal, ay salamin o sumasalamin sa namamayaning ekonomiya, politika o ideolohiya ng bayan. Ang partikular na kalagayan ng isang tao ang pinagmumulan ng kaniyang kamalayan at ang kaniyang pakikipagsapalaran ang nagsisilbing talim at lakas ng kaniyang panitikan.

Ang panitikang Pilipino ay hindi minsang kinakasangkapan ng panahon upang ipaunawa ang tunggalian ng mga maykapangyarihan sa lipunan. Isa itong malinaw na salamin na patuloy na dapat harapin ng lahat ng Pilipino. Madalas, kung makita na nila ang tunay nilang anyo ay doon lamang nila magagawang kumilos at maghain ng mga alternatibong diskurso upang banggain ang naghaharing kaisipan. Matutunghayan sa mga akda ni Amado V. Hernandez na hindi lamang niya ibinunyag ang kalagayan ng bansa. Nagsikap rin siyang maghain ng mga solusyon sa suliraning panlipunan.

Maaaring sabihin na hinubog ng panitikan ang buhay ni Hernandez. Ganundin, binigyan rin niya ng panibagong dimensiyon ang panitikang Pilipino. Hindi niya nagawang takasan ang hamon at impluwensiya ng kaniyang panahon. Ang kaniyang mga kuwento, tula, dula at sanaysay ay nagbuhat sa kaniyang malalim na pagmamasid at pagsusuri. Pinanday siya ng maraming bagay upang maging tagapaglantad ng “kanser ng lipunan”. Ang kaniyang mga akda ay ang kaniyang tunay na buhay---siya si Mando, Andres, at Magat[1], Alfredo[2], Amarillo[3], Lantay[4] na nag-alay ng kanilang buhay bilang peryodista samantalang mababanaag naman sa katapangan nina Tanggol[5] Talyo[6] at Kampilan[7] ang kaniyang pakikipagsapalaran bilang biktima ng digmaan.

Sa kabila ng pasakit na kaniyang naranasan, isinalarawan rin niya ang katotohanang may mas mahalagang bagay kaysa kalayaan, pamilya, o maging buhay man—at ito ay ang karangalan at mabuting pagkatao. Gaya ng kaniyang naisaad sa kuwentong Pagdidili-dili:

“…Ang katawan ng tao ay walang naiiwang bakas sa ibabaw ng lupa at di kaya ng kaniyang mga gawain. Nalilibing ang mga patay, ngunit ang pangalan ng isang mabuting gawa, ang mahal na alaala ng isang dakilang buhay ay hindi namamatay kailanman, bagkus namumulaklak sa labi at humahalimuyak sa labi at humahalimuyak sa puso ng tao”.[8]

Ang edukasyon at kaaalaman ay kailangang gamitin sa pagtataguyod ng bayan at mabuting relasyon sa kapwa. Aniya, ang ‘pinakamabuting lesson plan’ ay ang magsunog ng kilay at mabuhay nang malinis.[9] Tatalakayin ng sanaysay na ito ang tatlong pagkatao ni Ka Amado batay sa kaniyang mga akda: bilang isang sensitibo at mapagmasid na makata, bilang alagad ng Pilipinismo at nasyonalismo at bilang tagapagtaguyod ng demokrasya at katarungang panlipunan. Susuriin ang ebolusyon ng kaniyang kaisipan mula sa pagiging romantikong makata ng dekada ’30 hanggang sa pangatawanan niya ang pagiging maalab na aktibista noong dekada ’60 hanggang ‘70. Kabilang sa pagtalakay sa paghuhugis ng kaniyang buhay ay ang pag-uugnay ng kaniyang mga ideyolohiya at mithiin sa mga kasalukuyang usapin.

ANG SENSITIBO AT MAPAGMASID NA MAKATA

Samakatuwid, tungkulin ng isang artistang manlilikha na ilarawan
ang katotohanan sa kaniyang panahon, hindi bilang marikit na sagisag
ng pangarap o mithiin, mahanga’y nang alinsunod sa lantay na kapayakan
ng kagandahan sa kapangitan o ng kapangitan sa kagandahan.”
-Ilang Sulyap sa Lumipas at Tanaw sa Darating

Unang napansin si Ka Amado sa panahong mataas ang pagtingin sa mga purista. Bagaman bahagi ng dominanteng kultura, ninais niyang tumaliwas sa mga kumbensiyong pampanitikan. Ibinaon sa lupa ng kaniyang mga tula ang kaisipang “ang makata ang dapat makibagay sa wika.” Itinitik sa plakeng ipinagkaloob sa kaniyang bilang Pambansang Artista na, “hinubdan niya ang wikang Tagalog ng pagiging magarbo nito at siya ay sumulat sa isang paraang higit na kolokyal kaysa sa istilong kalakaran.” Para kay Bautista, “Pinagtagumpayan ng mga akda ni Hernandez ang limitasyon ng panulaan ng kaniyang panahon. Hindi lamang siya naging manunula ng mga Tagalog kung hindi maging ng buong bansa.”[10] Walang halong pagkukunwari ang kaniyang mga gawa. Ang kaniyang buhay ay kaniyang tinula, sinalaysay at dinula.

Sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang pagsisikap, giniba niya ang mga nakasanayang sistema ng pagbuo ng tula. Isinilang niya ang mga kaisipang humubog at patuloy na humuhubog sa wikang Filipino. Bago pa man bansagan si Abadilla bilang ama ng “modernong panulaan”, puno na rin ng modernong kaisipan si Hernandez. Patotoo ang kaniyang tulang “Aklasan”[11] at “Isang Daigdig.” [12] Kasaba’y niyang lumusong sa mundo ng panulaan at pamamahayag ang mga idolo ng kaniyang panahon tulad nina Clodualdo del Mundo, Deogracias del Rosario at Jose Corazon de Jesus.

Sa mga unang kabanata ng kaniyang buhay, ibinuhos niya ang kaniyang sarili sa pagbuo ng mga tulang “naliligiran ng paru-paro’t rosas”. Ngunit kaniya ring ipinakita kung paano siya nananabang sa tema ng pag-ibig kasabay ng pagbabago ng kaniyang panahon. Katulad ng mga katha nina Lope K. Santos (Banaag at Sikat) at Faustino Aguilar (Pinaglahuan), nilaman ng kaniyang akda ang troika ng pag-ibig, katarungang panlipunan at kapitalismo noong panahon ng mga Amerikano. Itinatampok ng kaniyang mga kuwento ang tindi ng emosyon ng pagmamahal at ang negatibong imahe ng mga kababaihang kabilang sa mga kuwento.[13] Bilang pagkadismaya, Ipininta niya ang ilang kababaihang Pilipina ng dekada 30 at 40 na may mataas ang pagpapahalaga sa kayamanan at karangalan sa sosyedad. Ang kanilang kabiguan sa pag-ibig ay bunga ng kanilang paghahangad sa luhong materyal o kaya naman ay simpleng kamangmangan. Buhay na buhay ito sa mga katauhan nina Ligaya (Magpinsan), Naty (Kasal sa Pastor ) at Belen (Sa Oras ng Panganib).

Malayang nailahad ni Hernandez ang normal na kaugalian ng mga magulang na ipagkasundo ang kanilang mga anak sa mga propesyunal na manliligaw nito at bigyan nang higit na pagpapahalaga ang mga may salapi kaysa mga walang maipagmamalaki. Matagumpay na naihatid sa mambabasa ang obserbasyong ito sa pamamagitan ng mga tauhang tulad ni Aling Tecla at ng anak niyang si Nati.[14] Pinalutang ang abang kalagayan ng mga hikahos na manliligaw na lubos na nagsisikap upang mapagwagian ang karera ng pag-ibig. Laging “underdog” ang pangunahing tauhang lalaki habang pilit na sinisilo ng mga masalapi niyang katunggali ang kahinaan ng dalagang kaniyang iniibig. Ganito ang kapalarang sinapit nina Pastor[15] at Nestor:[16]

Nagpalit ng kasuotan ang panulat ng makata nang tumambad sa kaniyang harapan ang lagim at bangungot ng Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig. Ang nakakamanhid na romantisismo ay unti-unting naglaho nang mahantad siya sa krisis ng lipunan. Nasaksihan niya ang hubad, ulila at matamlay na Maynila sa pananakop ng hukbong Hapones. Tinuligsa niya ang mapagsamantalang sistema ng kapitalismo sa pagkauso ng black market na siyang tagpuan ng mga Pilipinong naghahanap ng pantawid-gutom. Naging sikat ang asusena, kalderetang kambing at kinubang aso na siyang pangunahing putahe ng mga nagdarahop. Ang isda, bigas at karne ay inilalalaan lamang sa mga Hapones at sadyang napakamahal ng halaga. Makikita sa lansangan ng Maynila ang tatlong uri ng tao: ang mga sinalanta, ang mga pulubi at mga tulisan. Ang mga tulisang ito ay ang mga mapagsamantala at nanghuhuthot sa halaga ng pagkain, kagamitan at bahay paupahan. Kabilang sila sa mga hunyango ng lipunan. Sa pagkakataing ito hinambalos ni Ka Amado ang karangyaan ng tinagurian niyang mga kolaborador, hunyango, dahong-palay at bantay-salakay. Kasabay nito ay ang panawagan sa lahat ng kaniyang mga kababayan na panindigan ang pagka-Pilipino:

“…ang mga pusakal na kolaborador ay makikitang naka-awtomobil, at ang mga biglang-yaman sa mahiwagang paraan ay tila hindi madapuang-langaw sa kanilang makisig na dokar na hila ng kabayong madudulas…”[17]

“Habang nag-aantay, ang bayang Pilipino’y hindi dapat humalik sa tanikala. Huwag siyang tumulong sa kaaway. Dapat siyang magpatuloy sa pakikibaka sa pamaaraang gerilya..”[18]

Ang gapang-pagong na pagsulong ng lipunang Pilipino mula sa panahon ng Commonwealth ay maituturing na isang sumpa. Nagpatuloy ang kahirapan tatlumpung taon matapos ipahayag ni Quezon noong 1937 ang kabiguan ng demokrasya upang paunlarin ang kabuhayan ng bansa. Lalo pang pinatindi ng pagtatapos ng Ikalawang Digmaang Pandaigdig ang mga pasanin ng bayan. Umigting ang suliranin sa pangangamkam sa lupain sa kanayunan. Lumawak ang kilusang HUK sa mga lalawigan dahil na rin sa kawalan ng tiwala ng mga magsasaka sa mga umuugit sa pamahalaan. Ilang ulit na tinangka ng administrasyong Osmena, Roxas at Quirino na pasukuuin ang mga Komunista sa kabundukan ngunit lahat sila ay nabigo. Ang administrasyong Roxas at Quirino ay naging “puppet government” ng mga Amerikano.[19] Mula sa pagpasa sa Bell Trade Act hanggang sa kaladkarin ng Amerika ang mga sundalong Pilipino patungong giyera sa Vietnam at Korea ay hindi nakatikim ng industriyalisasyon ang bansa. Pawang mga napakong pangako ang pasalubong ng mga lider ng Ikatlong Republika ng Pilipinas. Ang austerity measures ni Marcos ay lalo lamang nagpayaman sa kaniyang mga cronies.[20] Isang malaking katanungan kung kanino magkagayon ang pagsisikap ng gobyerno. Sa mga maliliit na mga Pilipino o sa mga buwayang Kongresista at opisyal ng pamahalaan?

Kung nabubuhay ngayon si Ka Amado ay ipagpapatuloy niya ang kaniyang misyon. Nagpapatuloy sa pagpapasasa sa kayamanan ng bayan ang mga buwaya sa pamahalaan. Hindi minsang nadawit sa iskandalo ang Bureau of Internal Revenue at Bureau of Customs ukol sa talamak na katiwalian at pagnanakaw. Paanong ang isang pangkaraniwang Direktor na sumasahod ng P25,000 kada buwan ay makabibili ng lupa sa Ayala at isang condominium unit? Nang lisanin ng mga Marcos ang Malacanang noong 1986, sila lamang ang napalayas at hindi ang kanilang mga alagad na ngayo’y muling bumubuo ng kanilang maluwalhating lugar sa burukrasya.

ALAGAD NG PILIPINISMO AT NASYONALISMO

“Kaya panahon nang magpanibagong-diwa at buhay ang bayang Pilipino.
Iwaksi ang panganganino sa iba at magtiwala sa
sarili…Itanghal nga natin ang nasyonalismong Pilipino.
Itambal ang diwang malay, ang sipag sa paggawa at taimtim na pagmamahal sa
mga likas na pag-unlad na pamana ng ating mga ninuno.”
-Pilipinismo: Susi ng Bayang Tagumpay

Ang Nasyonalismo bilang isang ideolohiyang mapagpalaya at reaksiyon sa mapagwasak na kolonyalismo ang isa mga pundasyon ng kaisipan ni Hernandez. Matitingala ang kaniyang mga sulating humahamon sa panganganino ng ilan sa mga dayuhang mananakop. Nakatulong nang malaki ang pagkahalal niya bilang bise-presidente ng "Aklatang Bayan," isa sa mga unang samahan ng mga manunulat na Pilipino, upang mapagyaman ang panitikang Pilipino na nakakabit sa kritisismong panlipunan. Naging bahagi siya ng pahayagang Watawat, nakilala bilang premyadong editor ng Pagkakaisa at pangkalahatang editor ng diyaryong Mabuhay.

Matapos himasin ang rehas na bakal sa loob ng anim na taon, tinanggap ni Ka Amado ang gawain bilang kritiko sa pahayagang Taliba. Nagbalik siya sa pagsusulat at pagtuturo ng nasyonalismo. Optimistiko ang kaniyang pananaw sa pagpapalaganap nito:

“Ating tandaan, na sa sandaling ang Pilipinismo’y maging kalangkap ng ating buhay na pang-araw-araw…mawawala na ang mga sawimpalad na kababayang namumulot sa mga basurahan upang makatawid sa gutom.”[21]

Kaakibat ng mga pananalitang ito ang paniniwalang kailangang isulong ang Pilipinismo. Pinatunayan ng mga akda ni Rizal, Bonifacio, Romulo, Recto at iba pa na hindi “inferior” ang lahing kayumanggi sa mga Kanluranin. May sarili tayong ideyolohiyang kayang yakapin ng mga Amerilkano, Europeo at Aprikano. Subalit ang mga iyon ay sinisiil sa pagtuturo ng mga ideyolohiya nina Locke, Rosseau at Hobbes na namuhay sa lipunang hindi umaayon sa ating kasaysayan at pamumuhay. Ang panitikan natin ay namumutiktik ng mga prosa ni Shakespeare at Edgar Allan Poe. Bunga nito, mas kilala ng mga musmos ang alphabet songs ng Sesame Street kaysa bigkasin ang mga itinuturo ng programang Batibot at Sine Eskwela.

Isa si Claro M. Recto sa mga naglaan ng kaniyang buhay para sa diwa ng nasyonalismo.[22] Para kay Recto, ang panlilimos sa mga dayuhan ay isang uri ng pagkunsinti sa kolonyalismo. Hindi maaring dayain ang isang sambayanan sa habang panahon. Hindi maaring palampasin ang pambubusabos ni Uncle Sam sa lipunang Pilipino. Sa krusadang ito, isang paanyaya ang ipinaaabot ni Ka Amado sa lahat:

“Kung tutuusi’y hindi natin kailangan ng isang Superman o isang Mesiyas. Ang kailangan ng Pilipinas ay ang bayan na rin--mga estudyante, manggagawa, magbubukid, mga tapat na intelektwal at mulat na karaniwang tao—na siyang magtitindig ng bagong bansa sa sinapupunan ng pagkakaisa…”[23]

Sa isa niyang sanaysay ay kaniyang nakanti ang sakit ng mapasailalim sa ibang bansa pagdating sa ekonomiya at negosyo.[24] Minsang sinambit ni Quezon na mas maaatim niyang magkaroon ng mala-impiyernong pamahalaan sa ilalim ng mga Pilipino kaysa maranasan ang makalangit na gobyerno sa ilalim ng mga Amerikano. Ang pambubusabos ng Amerika at Hapon ay hindi nagawakas noong 1946. Sa larangan ng kabuhayan wari’y “nakaipit sa dalawang bato ang bansa, sa Hapon sa mga negosyong galing sa labas at sa Intsik, sa mga bagay na yari sa Pilipinas. Ganundin, ang Imperyalismong Yankee ay nagpapatuloy dahil na rin sa mga “brown Americans” na taga-suporta nito sa bansa. Sa madaling salita, “nabago man ang kolyar ay naroon pa rin ang dating kadena”.[25]

Sa kasalukuyan, hindi lamang Amerika ang kumukordon sa interes ng bansa. Nakatali rin ang Pilipinas sa mga galamay ng “international financial institutions” tulad ng World Bank at International Monetary Fund. Kaya nilang baguhin ang sistema ng internal na pamamahala bunga ng kanilang mga pautang na salapi para sa mga proyekto ng gobyerno. Hindi dapat balewalain ang sistemang ito sapagkat ang porsyento ng pagbabayad ng utang panlabas ng bansa ay mas higit sa salaping nakalaan para paunlarin ang lokal na industriya. Nakalulungkot tanggapin na ang Pilipinas ay hawak sa leeg maging ng mga “transnational corporations” na nagsasamantala sa lakas-paggawa ng mga Pilipino. Inisip pa ng ilan na tayo ay nasa dulo ng pagkalugi nang pumasok ang Tsina sa World Trade Organization. Ngunit ano’ng pagkalugi ang hihigit pa sa pagiging robot ng maraming Pilipino?

Ang Masalimuot na Lipunang Pilipino

Hindi ikinatuwa ni Hernandez ang mga saliwang karakterisasyong ikinakapit sa mga lider manggawa, unyonista at estudyanteng aktibista. Laganap ang kabalintunaaan ng pagtingin sa kung sino ang ‘mabuti’ at ‘masamang’ Pilipino.[26] Aniya, ang itinuturing na mabubuti ay yaong nakahiga sa kayamanan at nakasandal sa kapangyarihan samantalang ang mga “bakya crowd”, mapanligalig, subersibo, peligroso at natatakang ‘komunista’, ay ang itinuturing na siyang “masasamang” Pilipino. Nagpapatuloy pa rin ang kalakarang ito sa kontemporaryong lipunan. Ang mga elitista ang siyang nagdidikta kung ano ang tama at wasto. Ang mga ‘masa’ ay itinuturing na walang pinag-aralan at ang kanilang mga saloobin ay hindi binibigyan ng pansin dahil sa sila’y “walang nalalaman” o kaya ay “kulang sa edukasyon”. Sa mas malalim na pagsusuri, ang polarisasyon ng bayan ay nagdudulot ng dalawang klasipikasyon sa lipunan: ang mga tulisan at ang mga pulubi.[27] Ano ang pagkakaiba ng EDSA I/EDSA 2 sa EDSA 3? Hindi ba mga lehitimong karaingan ang ipinaabot ng mga masa sa EDSA 3? Kailangan nating pansinin ang komposisyon ng mga pag-aaklas. Isang political analyst ang minsang nagpahayag na ang mga naunang EDSA Revolutions ay pinangunahan ng mga makapangyarihan mga Pilipino sa Kamaynilaan. Paano natin ngayon iuugnay ang mga kahilingan ng mga kababayan nating nasa ibang panig ng arkipelago sa mga pangyayaring ito? Paano ang mga grassroots communities na minsan lamang makadaupang-palad ang kanilang mga pinuno at kung madalaw man ay tuwing may eleksiyon. Paano pinakikinggan ng pamahalaan ang kanilang mga mithiin?

Ang eleksiyon sa Pilipinas ay maihahalintulad naman sa isang “Magugol na Sirko-Bodabil”.[28] Para kay Hernandez, tinatakpan ng salapi at kapangyarihan ang tunay na diwa ng halalan. Sa isang halalang ang nagdidikta ng resulta ay ang maysalapi, hindi kailanman maaaninag ang kapangyarihan ng demokrasya. Salapi, bala ng baril, karahasan at lagim ang kalimitang naghahari, hindi ang balota at makabayang damdamin. Kakabit ng usaping ito ang maling paggasta ng pamahalaan. “Libro, hindi bala!”, ang kalimitang isinisigaw ng mga estudyante sa tuwing ang bansa ay nahaharap sa sangandaan kung lalahok sa anumang lokal o internasyunal na digmaan. Hinati ni Presidente Arroyo ang buong bansa nang magdesisyon itong suportahan ang Amerika sa misyon nitong pabagsakin ang rehimeng ni Saddam Hussein at lansagin ang Al-Qaeda terrorist network. Higit sa usaping pananalapi, ang pagtulong ng Pilipinas sa Washington ay muling nagpapakilala na hindi pa rin nalalagot ang Big Brother-Little Brother na relasyon ng dalawang bansa. Laging nakatuntong sa national interest at kagalingang pambayan ang mga desisyon ng Malacanang na sumuong sa digmaan.

Dating nawili ang panitikang Pilipino sa romantisismo at eskapismo. Ngunit walang saysay ang mga iyon kung hindi mauuwi sa “realismo” o paglalahad ng katotohanan. Magaganap lamang ito kung makikita sa mga mangangatha at artista ang tatlong mahahalagang katangian: kamulatang panlipunan, diwa ng pakikibaka at kaunlaran at pagkakaisa upang maging isang malakas na katipunan na maaring manindigan. Tinuran ni Ka Amado na magiging isang malubhang kahinaan ng lipunan ang kawalan ng pamumuna o kritisismo. Kaniyang nilinaw na ang pamumunang ito ay hindi pagpupuri o pagpintas kung hindi isang masusi at intelehenteng pagsusuri sa mga isyung panlipunan. Itinuring niyang isang mahusay na behikulo ang panitikang Pilipino sa layuning ito:

“Ang panitikan ay hindi kamanyang lamang sa kagandahan o likha ng mga artista’t mangangatha pang ialay sa kapakanan ng burgesya. Ang panitikan ay dapat na bumukal, lumusog at yumamam, na ang kalusugaaging salamin bumukal, lumusog at yumaman, na ang kalusuga’t kayamanan ay dapat maukol sa bayan. Maging salamin ng kaniyang mga pagtitiis, ng kaniyang mga pangarap, ng kaniyang mga hangarin, ng kaniyang mga pakikitunggali, ng kaniyang mga karanasan, ng kaniyang kabayanihan, ng kaniyang kadakilaan.”[29]

Pagbabagong-dangal ng Wikang Filipino

“Nauna ang bulaklak kaysa binhi.”[30] Malinaw na ipinapakita ng kasaysayan na ang pagtataguyod ng wikang Pilipino bilang Pambansang Wika ay sadyang nahuli sa kaakibat na resulta nito. Bago pa man ideklara ni Quezon ang pangangailangan sa isang pambansang wika ay ipinanganak na sa puso nina Balagtas, Rizal, Bonifacio at del Pilar ang matass na antas ng pagmamahal sa ating wika. Dangan lamang sa impluwensiya ng dilang Amerikano at ibang banyaga kung kaya’t natabunan ang anumang pagsisikap na linangin ang wikang Filipino. Inawit ni Ka Amado ang kadakilaan ng lahing Filipino sa kaniyang koleksiyon ng makabayang mga tula (Kayumanggi). Kaniyang binigyang-pugay sina Balagtas[31], Andres Bonifacio[32], Marcelo del Pilar[33] at Manuel L. Quezon[34] na kinikilala niyang mga Ama ng Wikang Filipino.

Sa mga parangal na sanaysay para kay Huseng Batute at sa kaniyang kabiyak na si Atang Dela Rama[35], isang panawagan ang kaniyang ipinahatid upang bigyang-dangal ang mga makata at artista ng bayan na siyang tinig ng bayan.[36]

Sa larangan ng edukasyon, kapansin-pansin na hindi nagpamalas ng interes ang mga naging presidente ng bansa mula sa Katagalugan, maliban kina Marcos at Magsaysay, upang paunlarin ang paggamit ng wikang Pilipino.[37] Ang pananakop ng Amerikano ang naging ugat upang magumon ang maraming estudyante sa mga katuruan at kaisipan nina Shakespeare, John Bunyan at Edgar Allan Poe. Dahil rito, hindi lamang nilang hirap intindihin ang mga asignatura kung hindi mas lubos pang nahiwalay ang kanilang kaugalian at kaalaman sa taal na pagpapahalaga ng kanilang bayan. Ang katotohanan, ang paggamit ng wikang bernakular ang susi sa madaling pagkatuto ng maraming estudyante sa mga lalawigan. Para kay Hernandez, “walang malayang bansa sa mundo na gumamit ng dayuhang wika na saligan ng pagtuturo sa kaniyang mga paaralan.”[38] Kinakailangan ang paggamit ng isang wikang bubuo sa identidad ng buong arkipelago. Magagawa lamang ito kung ang bayan ang magkukusa na paunlarin ang kaniyang wika.

Binuksan ni Pangulong Arroyo ang isang “Pandora’s Box” nang kaniyang ideklara ang pagbabalik sa wikang Ingles bilang pangunahing medium of instruction sa mga paaralan. Bumalikwas ang mga nasyonalista at maging ang mga kawani ng DepEd. Ipinahayag ni Teresita Inciong, Direktor ng Bureau of Elementary Education, na ang wikang Filipino ay mas epektibong wikang gamitin lalo na sa una at pangalawang antas.[39] Ganito rin ang pahayag ng Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACTs) na naniniwalang ang wikang Filipino ang nagbubuklod sa diwa ng bayan. Naghain si Senador Aquilino Pimentel ng isang “flexible implementation” ukol ng proklamasyon sa pamamagitan ng pagpapanatili ng Filipino bilang wikang panturo mula sa una hanggang pangatlong antas ng elementarya lalo na sa asignaturang Mathematics, English at Kasaysayan.

Maging ang pop culture ay hindi dapat ipagsawalang-bahala ng mga akademiko. Ang literatura ng komiks ay isang epektibong pansupil sa kalungkutan ng maraming Pilipino.[40] Sa kabilang banda, marami ang nagsasabing walang naidudulot na mabuti ang pagbabasa nito dahil sa lalo nitong ibinubuyo ang maraming kabataan sa masasamang asal at gawi. Pinabulaanan nito ni Hernandez at Mars Ravelo sa kanilang pagtataguyod ng Pilipino Komiks na siyang tagapagbigay ng kasiyahang pumapawi sa hinagpis ng kanilang panahon. Para sa kanila, “ang tuwa na dulot ng komiks ay bulaklak ng hapis at ang tawa ay nanggagaling sa luha.”[41]

May kakayahang gumawa ng isang libro ng balarila si Hernandez. Ipinakilala niya sa mambabasa ang kahusayan niyang yumari ng mga termino at bigyan ng bagong-bihis ang mga salitang banyaga---ang mga singkit na mananakop na pon-jap nagpahirap sa atin; isang karangalan ang ikaw ay makabungung-balikat; lahat ay magkakaisa sa guhit-tagpuan; masarap ang tulyang isinuwam sa luya; isang sirko-bodabil ang eleksiyong Pilipino kung kaya’t kailangan itong i-boykoteo; isang penomenal na kaganapan ang pag-unlad ng Filipino; at marami pang iba.

TAGAPAGTAGUYOD NG DEMOKRASYA AT KATARUNGANG PANLIPUNAN

Repleksiyon ang kaniyang mga nobela at maikling kuwento sa marubdob na pagnanasa ni Hernandez na makamtan ang katarungang panlipunan. Isang malawak na testimonya ang kaniyang mga nobelang Mga Ibong Mandaragit at Luha ng Buwaya sa kaniyang pangarap na makatarungang reporma sa lupa. Hindi niya binitawan ang temang ito hanggang sa kaniyang pinakahuling maikling kuwento na tumalakay sa kung paanong ang isang pamilyang walang pinanghahawakang papel Torrens ng lupa ay sikilin ng mga naghaharing uri sa lipunan.[42]

Tagapagtanggol ng mga Obrero

Isang bentahe ni Ka Amado sa kaniyang mga kontemporero ay ang kaniyang karanasan bilang lider-manggagawa. Nagawa niyang pagsamahin ang teorya, praktika at retorika sa pagbalanse ng kaniyang pananaw. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit binansagan ang kaniyang panitikan bilang pinaghalong “bala at rosas”. Nang sakupin ng hukbong Hapones ang Maynila sa mga unang taon ng dekada ’40, sumanib si Ka Amado sa hukbong gerilya. Matapos ang digmaan ay inilaan niya ang kaniyang panahon upang ipagtanggol ang mga manggagawa. Nang ipagkaloob kaniya ni Presidente Osmena ang posisyon bilang konsehal ng lungsod ng Maynila, ibinaling niya ang kaniyang panulat sa pakikipaglaban para sa mga naaapi at naghihirap niyang mga kababayan. Ang kaniyang impluwensiya bilang pinuno ng Congress of Labor Organizations (CLO) ang nagbigay-daan sa pinakamalaking kilos protesta ng mga manggawa sa Maynila noong Mayo 1, 1948.

Isang hungkag na pangako ang binitiwan ni Presidente Roxas sa mga mangagawa nang kaniyang ikampanya na ang Bell Trade Act ang “messiah” ng lahat ng Pilipino. Kapansin-pansin na lalong tumaas ang desempleo at sinesanteng mga obrero. Ang tanging isinagot ng presidente sa mga karaingan ng mga manggagawa: “Ano ang aking gagawin? Ako ba ay isang magician?”[43] Ang pananalitang iyon ang naging mitsa ng pagbulusok ng administrasyong Roxas na pinadali pa ng hindi inaasahang kamatayan ng pangulo. Walang nabago sa panahon ng panunungkulan ni Quirino. Pinatunayan ito ng Bell Mission na ipinadala ng Washington na nagsabing mas higit na bumaba ang kalagayang ekonomiko ng bansa kaysa noong nakaraang panahon. Kabi-kabila ang mga mga isinagawang piket at demonstrasyon ng mga manggagawa.

Nalalaman ni Hernandez na ang yaman ng sambayanan ay nakasandig sa lakas-paggawa. Samakatwid, ito ang dapat na maging basehan sa paghahati ng kayamanan sa lipunan. Ang katarungang panlipunan ay tumutukoy sa wastong pasahod at mabubuting pakikitungo ng mga kapitalista sa mga manggagawa sa pagkakaloob ng lupa sa maliliit na magsasaka. Ito ang takbo ng isipan nina Andres at Bandong (Luha ng Buwaya), Mando, Magat at Dr. Sabio (Mga Ibong Mandaragit) . Ang pagpapahalagang sosyalista-utopyan ng mga tauhang ito ay isang reaksiyon sa malawak na impluwensiya ng Wall Street at ng matataas na opisyal ng CIA sa paghubog sa patakarang pampulitika at pang-ekonomiya ng Pilipinas.

Ang Bayang Malaya ay isang maliwanag na pagtanggap sa isang marahas na pakikipaglaban kung patuloy na nabibigo ang parliyamentaryong pakikipaglaban. Ito ang pinakamapangahas na obra ni Ka Amado na sinangkapan niya ng kaniyang karanasan sa kabundukan. Ang sambayanan ay hindi mahirap pagkaisahin sa isang digmaang bayan kung hinog na ang panahon. Sa kaniyang marubdob na panulat kaniyang idineklara sa kaniyang Inang Bayan:

“May araw ding ang luha mo’y masasaid, matutuyo, may araw ding di na luha sa mata mong namumugto ang dadaloy, kundi apoy, at apoy na kulay dugo…sisigaw kang buong giting na liyab ng libong sulo at ang lumang tanikala’y lalalgutin mo ng punlo!”[44]

Ang diwa ng bilanggong-pulitikal

Sa loob ng anim na taon ay nagpapalipat-lipat si Ka Amado sa limang piitan—sa Camp Murphy, Camp Crame, Muntinlupa, Fort McKinley at Panopio Compound. Dahil sa mainit niyang pakikipagtunggali sa administrasyong Quirino, sinampahan siya ng kasong subersiyon subalit napatunayang walang kasalanan at pinalaya noong Araw ng Manggawa ng 1964. Ang kaniyang karanasan bilang bilanggo ay isinalarawan nina Lantay (Bayang Malaya), Pastor at Mang Tumas (Mga Ibong Mandaragit) at Noel (Panata ng Isang Lider).

Buhay na buhay sa kaniyang dulang “Muntinlupa” ang palahaw ng mga bilanggo ukol sa bulok na sistema ng hustisya. Inilahad nito kung paano ang mga maimpluwensiya ay madaling nakakalasap ng kalayaan samantalang ang mga dukha’y nabubulok sa bilangguan nang walang kasalanan. Ang bilibid ay para sa maliliit lamang ngunit walang nabibilanggo dahil sa graft and corruption at iba pang katiwalian sa pamahalaan. Hindi kayang ipabilanggo ng mga nasa poder ang kanilang mga sarili. Sa isang usapan ni Doro at Daniel sa dulang Muntinlupa, pinalutang ni Hernandez ang nagtatagisang pananaw ukol sa wastong paraan upang baguhin ang lipunan. Pinandigan ni Daniel na ang kasamaa’y hindi malulunasan ng ibang kasamaan. Ang paggamit ng dahas ay hindi solusyon upang baguhin ang kalagayan ng bansa:

Doro: Gusto mo bang sabihin na ang baya’y hindi nagkakamali?

Daniel: Madalas, pagkat dapat nating aminin na sa kabuuan ng isang baya’y marami ang hangal kesa matino. Ngunit naniniwala pa rin akong ang balota’y mabisa kesa punglo.

Namumutiktik ang napakaraming kabalintunaan nang tukuyin ni Hernandez sa tulang “Walong Salarin” ang mabigat na kasalanan ng lipunan sa mga pagdurusa ng mga bilanggo. Ganundin ang paghihirap na idineklara ng tulang “Tinapay” kung saan nagtitiis ang isang biktima sa loob ng rehas na bakal bunga ng pagnanakaw sa isang latang biskwit para sa kaniyang nagutom na anak. Sinabing nang banggitin ni Hernandez ang kaniyang “Huling Dalaw ng Aking Ina” at “Bawal” ay hindi niya napigilang iluha ang sakit ng kaniyang kalooban:

“Gayon pa man, hindi ako sawimpalad, pagka’t mayroong nagmamahal; ang ina kong karamay ko sa lahat ng kasawian; noo’y araw ng pagdalaw, siya’y aking hinintay; tatlong taong di nagkulang ang ina kong tila kawal ng larangan…kabukasan ay sumapit sa ulilang bilangguan ang balitang anong lupit; ang ina ko ay namatay!…nilupig ng kaniyang sakit na galling din sa labis na pagtitiis…sa sawi kong pagkapiit…”

Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, lalong tumibay ang pag-asa ni Hernandez. Ginamit niya ang “Bartolina” upang kaniyang ibulalas ang kaniyang naisin na magpatuloy sa kaniyang misyon:

“…A! habang sa daigidig may buhay at pag-ibig at may kalayaan pa ang puso’t pananalig, ilang bilangguan ma’y di ako malulupig…Ang ilaw ng aking pag-asa’y haliling manlaho’t magningas at may gabing anong haba ng magdamag, ngunit walang sawang pananatiling buhay ang liwanag…”

Pinanday si Hernandez ng kaniyang karanasan sa loob ng piitan. Ito ang naging daan upang siya ay itanghal bilang isang “world-class human rights advocate.” Nakibahagi siya sa pagtataguyod ng pagbabagong lipunan sa Asya at Aprika sa kaniyang pagdalo sa isang kumperensiya sa Yenan, Tsina noong 1966. Naihananay ang kaniyang pangalan sa mga iginagalang na tagapagtanggol ng karapatang pantao sa buong daigdig tulad nina Lord Bertrand Russel, Jean Paul-Sartre at Chris Farley nang siya ay maging miyembro ng International War Crimes Tribunal. Ipinagtanggol niya ang Pilipinas laban sa mga paratang na bahagi ang bansa sa paglaganap ng digmaan sa Indotsina sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng PHILCAG. Lubos na mauunawaan ang kaniyang malalim na obserbasyon ukol sa paksa sa isang niyang personal na ulat.[45]

Mataas ang pagtingin ni Hernandez sa pagkakaisa ng relihiyon at siyensiya. Sa usapin ng matuling pagdami ng tao ay binalangkas niya ang isang diskurso upang magkaroon ng “guhit-tagpuan” ang simbahan at ang karaniwang mamamayan.[46] Maraming pagkakataon na hinahati ng pananampalataya at karunungang pang-agham ang buong bansa ukol sa maraming usapin. Hindi ito ang naisin ni Hernandez kung hindi ang pag-uugpong ng dalawang daigdig sa lalong ikababangon ng maraming Pilipino.

Ang simbahang Katoliko ay matatag sa kaniyang paniniwala na ang mga mag-asawa ay kailangang umiwas sa mga “artificial contraceptive methods”. Malaki ang papel ng simbahan sa bagay na ito. Sinukat ng sambayanang Katoliko ang mga kandidato ng mga nakaraang mga eleksiyon batay sa kanilang pananaw ukol sa family planning. Nakaugat ang lahat ng ito sa prinsipyo ng Vatican II (1962-1965) na nagsasabing hindi maaaring paghiwalayin ang “sekular” at ang “banal”. Hindi kailanman dapat ipagsawalang-bahala ng simbahan ang kaniyang papel bilang “konsensiya ng lipunan”. Ibig sabihin, may karapatang tuligsain ng Papa ng Roma ang anumang desisyon ng mga pangulu ng maraming bansa kung kaligtasang panlipunan ng mga mananampalataya ang nakataya.

Ang kahuli-hulihang tulang isinulat ni Hernandes ay patotoo sa pagbabago ng kaniyang pananaw ukol sa kabutihan at kasamaan ng teknolohiya. Kung dati’y inilagak niya sa moralistikong batayan ang pag-unlad ng agham, sa pagkakataong ito’y binatikos niya ang saliwang paggamit ng agham bilang instrumento ng dominasyon.[47] Wari’y nakita ni Hernandez na kung nagawa ng Amerika na sakupin ang buwan sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang mga Apollo Missions, magagawa nitong sakupin ang buong daigdig. Isang halimbawa ay ang “imperial Microsoft business” ng bilyonaryong si Bill Gates. Hawak ni Gates ang buhay at kamatayan ng mga computer systems sa buong daigdig dahil 9 sa 10 computers ay pinatatakbo ng kaniyang Windows system. Ang mga kasong anti-trust na isinasampa laban sa Microsoft ay hindi magbabago sa katotohanang mananatili ang impluwensiya ni Gates.

ISAPUSO AT PAGTIBAYIN ANG MGA MITHIIN NI HERNANDEZ

Hindi natatapos sa mga pagkilala ang ideyolohiyang pinaglaban ni Ka Amado. Hindi sapat na malaman ang kaniyang abang pinagmulan bilang estudyante ng stenography sa Gregg Business School. Kulang ang maunawaan na dalawang beses niyang naiuwi ang unang gantimpala ng Commonwealth Literary Contest, apat na beses na karangalan sa pagsali sa Palanca Literary Memorial Awards; at ang rekognisyon sa kaniya bilang “Hari ng Balagtasan”. Mas higit pa rito ang hinihingi ng kaniyang mga akda.

Ang pagiging alagad ng pakikisangkot ay isang mabigat na bokasyon. Niyakap ni Hernandez ang tungkulin na maging budhi ng lipunan. Isinapuso niyang ang makata’t manunulat ay ‘hindi lamang tagamasid sa mga tunggalian sa pusod ng demokrasya’. Higit kailanman, nangangailangan ang ating bayan ng mga manunulat na may paninindigan at hindi napapagod na protektahan ang karapatan ng mga pangkaraniwang mamamayan. Sila ang mga taong maghahain sa dambana ng ng kanser ng lipunan.

Isang tauhan sa nobela ni Lualhati Bautista, ang Dekada ’70, ang nagpahayag na ang isang tao’y kailangang handang mamatay para sa isang simulain - “that a man should have something to die for.” Nabuhay at namatay si Ka Amado sa ganitong kaisipan. Siya ay naging makata ng sambayanang naghihirap, naging alagad ng parliamentaryo sa lansangan at naging tagapagtaguyod ng wikang Filipino.

Isang kampanang patuloy na kakalembang ang kaniyang panawagan sa lahat ---tigilan ang panganganino sa ibang bansa at matutong tumayo sa sariling paa. Kailangang iwaksi ang kaugalian na kung walang dayuhang sasandigan ay hindi matatamo ang kaunlaran. Mahalin ang kababayan nang higit sa sarili. Ibigay ang nararapat sa mga nagdarahop at manggagawa. Tulad ng dinaliri ni Ka Amado, muli’t muli nating isabuhay: “Magsama-sama tayo sa paghahatid ng ‘Pilipinismo’, ‘Demokrasya’ at ‘Hustisya Sosyal’ sa lahat ng pinto at sa bawat puso sa ating bansa!”[48]

TALA HULI

---

[1] Mga Ibong Mandaragit

[2] Kulang sa Dilig (Maikling Kuwento)

[3] Ang Mga Kagalang-Galang

[4] Bayang Malaya

[5] Ibong Mandaragit

[6] Agaw Dilim (Maikling Kuwento)

[7] Ang Kampilan at ang Anghel (Maikiling Kuwento)

[8]Torres-Yu, Rose (ed.) 1996. Isang Basong Gatas at iba pang kuwento ni Amado V. Hernandez. Pp.37

[9] Edukasyon (Sanaysay)

[10] Bautistra. Cirilio. 2003. Bullets and Roses: The Poetry of Amado V. Hernandez, A Bilingual Edition (Translated into English and with a Critical Introduction). De La Salle University Press, Manila.

[11] Torres-Yu, 1986:297.

[12] Isang Daigdig (Tula), Torres-Yu, 1986:384.

[13] Magpinsan, Liham na Lihim, Kaysaklap, Kasal sa Pastor, Nasawing Bulaklak, at Sa Oras ng Panganib

[14] Ang Kanaryo at ang Pusa (Maikling Kuwento)

[15] Nagsilbi si Pastor (Maikling Kuwento)

[16] Magpinsan (Maikling Kuwento)

[17] Kalansay ng Maynila sa Ilalim ng Hapon Noong Disyembre 1944 (Sanaysay)

[18] Takas (Maikling Kuwento)

[19] Lupaing Mayaman, Bayang Nagugutom-Saan ka Patutungo? (Sanaysay)

[20] Austerity:Ukol Kanino (Sanaysay)

[21] Pilipinismo: Susi ng Bayang Tagumpay (Sanaysay)

[22] Pinarangalan ni Hernandez ang Senador ng isang tulang pinamagatang, “Recto, ang Dakila”, isinulat niya sa Manila Chronicle noong 11 Oktubre 1960.

[23] Dalawang Uri ng Pilipino. (Sanaysay),

[24] Kontrolado nila ng Intsik ang Negosyo (Sanaysay)

[25] Laban sa Status Quo ang Pagbabalikwas ng Estudyante (Sanaysay)

[26] Dalawang Uri ng Pilipino (Sanaysay)

[27] Laban sa Status Quo ang Pagbabalikwas ng mga Estudyante

[28] Halalan: Magugol naSirko-Bodabil ng mga Pilipino (Sanaysay).

[29] Ang Pilipino sa Panitikan (Sanaysay).

[30] Ang Pilipino sa Panitikan (Sanaysay)

[31] Balagtas (Tula)

[32] Bonifacio (Tula)

[33] Plaridel (Tula)

[34] Quezon (Tula)

[35] Si Atang at ang Dulaan (Sanaysay)

[36] Si Jose Corazon Hesus at ang ating Panulaan (Sanaysay)

[37] Itinuring ni Hernandez na bukas ang pinto ng Pilipino bilang pambansang wika, Sinabi niya sa kaniyang akda, “Ang Pilipino sa Panitikan”: na bukas itong mapapaunlad sa pamamagitan ng pagsasama ng mga kapatid na diyalekto sa bansa, gayon din naman sa mga wikang banyaga na makapagaambag sa kalawakan at kayamanan nito.

[38] Gamitin sa Paaralan ang Pilipino (Sanaysay).

[39] Teachers: What For English?, Manila Standard, Feb. 2, 2003 

[40] Pro-Komiks at Anti-Komiks (Sanaysay)

[41] Pro-Komiks at Anti-Komiks (Sanaysay)

[42] Langaw sa Isang Basong Gatas (Maikling Kuwento)

[43] Lu[paing Mayaman, Bayang Nagugutom—Saan Ka Patutungo? (Sanaysay)

[44] Kung Tuyo na ang Luha Mo, Aking Bayan (Tula)

[45] Isang Pilipino sa International War Crimes Tribunal (Sanaysay).

[46] Matuling Pagdami ng Tao sa Mundo, Sandatang Nukleyar at Birth Control (Sanaysay)

[47] Tulang Isinulat sa Tayog na 35,000 Talampakan (Tula)

[48] Kalatas sa mga Kapuwa Pilipino (Sanaysay)

MGA PANGUNAHING SANGGUNIAN

Bautistra. Cirilio. 2003. Bullets and Roses: The Poetry of Amado V. Hernandez, A Bilingual Edition (Translated into English and with a Critical Introduction). De La Salle University Press, Manila.

Torres-Yu, R.1986.Amado V. Hernandez: Tudla at Tudling.UP Press: Quezon City.

_________.1996. Langaw sa Isang Basong Gatas at iba pang Kuwento ni Amado V. Hernandez.UP Press:Quezon City.

_________.1997.Magkabilang Mukha ng Isang Bagol at iba pang akda ni Amado V. Hernandez.UP Press:Quezon City.

April 19, 2007, 9:15PM-10:45PM

Fall

I love to worship You, my God
I love to worship You, my Lord
And see Your Spirit fall in power
Your love unfolding
Gifts from heaven

I love to worship You, my God
I love to worship You, my Lord
And feel Your precious

Breath of heaven
Your all consuming love

CHORUS
Holy Spirit come in power
Change my heart
I want to live for You, my God

Let Your Spirit come in power
Change my life
That I may live for You my Lord

Fall on us Lord
Fall on us Lord

BRIDGE

So I yearn for You
Long to see You move
Lord, I lift my hands before my King and pray

An Inspiration for the Youth

Everyone can draw inspiration from the life of a 16-year old Summa Cum Laude of UP Diliman, batch 2007. Mikaela Irene Fudolig graduated with a general weighted average of 1.099. She received the Best BS Physics Student Award of the University and currently vying for a slot for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP). Mikaela entered the University at the age of 11 as part of UP's experimental program that would test the possibility of gifted children succeeding in the university. After four years, she debunked the theory that emotional development will be negatively affected by rigorous academic work if a student is relatively young. Below is Mikaela's valedictory speech calling all students and youth to strive for excellence and break new grounds.

Jesus said that, "TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED" (Luke 12:48). We are accountable to the knowledge, resources, abilities, that God has blessed us with. God is not honored by acts of mediocrity. He deserves the best from us. We must live for Him in the best way we can. And Mikaela did her best.

------------
Take Not The Road Less Traveled
By Mikaela Irene Fudolig
BS Physics (Summa Cum Laude), age 16
University of the Philippines (Diliman)
Graduation Speech, 22 April 2007


One of the things that strike me as being very "UP Diliman" is the way UPD students can't seem to stay on the pavement. From every street corner that bounds an unpaved piece of land, one will espy a narrow trail that cuts the corner, or leads from it. Every lawn around the buildings sports at least one of these paths, starting from a point nearest to the IKOT stop and ending at the nearest entry to the building. The trails are beaten on the grass by many pairs of feet wanting to save a fraction of a meter of traveling, no matter that doing so will exact some cost to the shoes, or, to the ubiquitous slippers, especially when the trails are new.

What do these paths say about us, UP students?

One could say that the UP student is enamored with Mathematics and Pythagoras, hence these triangles formed by the pavement and the path. Many among you would disagree.

Others could say that the UP student is naturally countercultural. And the refusal to use the pavement is just one of the myriads of ways to show his defiance of the order of things. This time, many would agree. Still, others will say that the UP student is the model of today's youth: they want everything easier, faster, now. The walkable paths appeal to them because they get to their destination faster, and presumably, with less effort. Now that is only partly true, and totally unfair.

These trails weren't always walkable. No doubt they started as patches of grass, perhaps overgrown. Those who first walked them must have soiled their shoes, stubbed their toes, or had insects biting their legs, all in the immovable belief that the nearest distance between two points is a straight line. They might even have seen snakes cross their paths. But the soiled footwear, sore toes, and itchy legs started to conquer the grass. Other people, seeing the yet faint trail, followed. And as more and more walked the path, the grass gave in and stopped growing altogether, making the path more and more visible, more and more walkable.

The persistence of the paths pays tribute to those UP students who walked them first: the pioneers of the unbeaten tracks: the defiant and curious few who refuse the familiar and comfortable; the out-of-the-box thinkers who solve problems instead of fretting about them;the brave who dare do things differently, and open new opportunities to those who follow.

They say how one behaved in the past would determine how he behaves in the future. And as we leave the University, temporarily or for good, let us call on the pioneering, defiant, and brave spirit that built the paths to guide us in this next phase of our life.

We have been warned time and again. Our new world that they call "adulthood" is one that's full of compromises, where success is determined more by the ability to belong than by the ability to think, where it is much easier to do as everyone else does. Daily we are bombarded with so much news of despair about the state of our nation, and the apparent, perverse sense of satisfaction our politicians get from vilifying our state of affairs. It is fashionable to migrate to other countries to work in deceptively high-paying jobs like nursing and teaching, forgetting that even at their favored work destinations, nurses and teachers are some of the lowest paid professionals. The lure of high and immediate monetary benefits in some low-end outsourcing jobs has drawn even some of the brightest UP students away from both industry and university teaching to which they would have been better suited. Like the sidewalks and pavement, these paths are the easiest to take.

But, like the sidewalks and pavement, these paths take longer to traverse, just as individual successes do not always make for national progress. The unceasing critic could get elected, but not get the job done. The immigrant could get his visa, but disappear from our brainpower pool. The highly paid employee would be underutilized for his skills, and pine to get the job he truly wants, but is now out of his reach. And the country, and we, are poorer because of these.

Today, the nation needs brave, defiant pioneers to reverse our nation's slide to despair. Today, we must call upon the spirit that beat the tracks. Today, we must present an alternative way of doing things. Do NOT just take courage, for courage is not enough. Instead, be BRAVE! It will take bravery to go against popular wisdom, against the clichéd expectations of family and friends. It will take bravery to gamble your future by staying in the country and try to make a prosperous life here. It might help if for a start, we try to see why our Korean friends are flocking to our country. Why, as many of us line up for immigrant visas in various embassies, they get themselves naturalized and settle here. Do they know something we don't?

Do NOT just be strong in your convictions, for strength is not enough. Instead, DEFY the pressure to lead a comfortable, but middling life. Let us lead this country from the despair of mediocrity. Let us not seek to do well, but strive to EXCEL in everything that we do. This, so others will see us as a nation of brains of the highest quality, not just of brawn that could be had for cheap.

Take NOT the road less traveled. Rather, MAKE new roads, BLAZE new trails, FIND new routes to your dreams. Unlike the track-beaters in campus who see where they're going, we may not know how far we can go. But if we are brave, defiant searchers of excellence, we will go far. Explore possibilities, that others may get a similar chance. I have tried it myself. And I'm speaking to you now.

But talk is cheap, they say. And so I put my money where my mouth is. Today, I place myself in the service of the University, if it will have me. I would like to teach, to share knowledge, and perhaps to be an example to new UP students in thinking and striving beyond the limits of the possible. This may only be a small disturbance in the grass. But I hope you'll come with me, and trample a new path.

Good evening, everyone.

All Things Work Together for Good

Bernard Gilpin was an Anglican preacher of the 16^th century who was arrested for preaching the gospel. He was being taken on horseback to London for his trial, and he kept remarking, “EVERYTHING IS FOR THE BEST”. His captors made fun of these remarks. On the way he fell from his horse and broke his leg. This made his captors especially merry. But Gilpin quietly remarked, “I have no doubt but that even this painful accident will prove to be a blessing.” He was delayed because of the injury and arrived in London some days later than expected.

When they reached the prison, they heard the bells ringing merrily in the city. They asked the reason and were told, “Queen Mary is dead, and there will no more burning of Protestants!”.

“Ah!”, said Gilpin. “you see it is all for the best.”

(taken from Jesus Driven Ministry bu Ajith Fernando, pp. 235)

Romans 8:28 declares, “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose” (GNB)

APPLICATION: To make things work for your good, you must LOVE God. God has a divine purpose for those who love Him.

You Saved My Soul

The following is a song composed by a well-known musician who had a brief encounter with Christ. He wrote this as a testimony of his conversion.

---------
"You Saved My Soul"

When I think about how you saved my soul
I'm compelled to praise youLike a woman out of control
So I lift up holy hands
I take advantage of this chance to say thank you
When I think about what you brought me through
I'm reminded to praise you for all that you had to do
So I lift up holy hands
I take advantage of this chance to say thank you
So from the bottom of my heart I say

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you
When I think about were you brought me from
I gotta praise you like the victories already won
And I lift my hands
I take advantage of this chance to say thank you
When I think about oh Lord yes
Why you love me so
I'm compelled to praise you because
I really don't care whose looking and who knows that I love you

And I lift up my holy hands
I take advantage of this chance to say thank you
Oh, everyday of my life I just wanna say
Thank you, (Thank you Lord)Thank you, (I gotta thank you)
Thank you, (Because of who you been to me)
Thank you, (You been a shealter in the storm)
Oh and I Thank you
You been a rock that I can stand on
Thank you Lord
And I say Thank you

You been a bridge over any kind of water
I gotta say Lord I thank you
With all my heart with all my soul
Everything within me says thank you Lord
Thank you Lord
Lord I thank you, Lord I thank you,
Lord I thank youFor all you done to me
Thank you LordT
heres no words that I can say but you been good
I can't thank you enough
no no no no noThank you Lord (I just wanna thank you)
I wanna thank, I wanna thank you
I gotta thank you, just wanna thank you
I thank you yes, I thank you yes,
I thank you yes, I thank you yes
And I say.....I wanna thank you
Said Lord I thank you yes
----------

Believe it or not, the song was written by John Lennon, the (in)famous member of the most successful and most popular band of 1960s. His biographers, Steve Turner, Robert Rosen and Geoffrey Giuliano, chronicled in their most recent books the spiritual journey of the Beatles member and how Christianity revolutionized his life. John received Christ after listening to the telecasts of Billy Graham crusades and watching Franco Zeferelli's Jesus of Nazareth series. He even wrote a letter to evangelist Oral Roberts regarding his confusions about surrendering his life to Jesus. He did surrender his life. Consequently, Lennon began to use expressions like “Praise the Lord” and “Thank you, Jesus” in some of his public appearances. He attended some church services and even called The 700 Club help line to request prayer for his troubled marriage. Lennon’s spiritual ecstasy, however, was short-lived because of opposition by his second wife, Yoko Ono, who had been practicing occult rituals and visiting shamans and witches in different parts of the globe. To salvage the marriage, Lennon yielded to his partner's demand for him to leave the newfound faith. Hence, the song above was never released in the market.

Had Lennon chose to follow Christ, he could have been an effective witness as a Gospel singer. He could have been protected from the bullet of Mark David Chapman (a self-confesses Satanist) and would surely have been spared from the troubles of unstable fame and marriage.

This 2007, I will be posting stories of Christian conversions of prominent personalities in different fields of endeavor and how they responded to the reactions of the public and lived the rest of their lives. May we learn from the lessons of those who have come before us.

Full-Packed October

My birthday month has brought me surprises of gigantic proportions. Indeed Psalm 37:4, made its way in my life. I have been seeking joy in the Lord’s vineyard, and He gave me the desires of my heart. The month’s extravaganza started with my birthday (October 3). There was nothing unusual about the event but it made me realize how blessed I am for having a faithful God and Lord, a wonderful wife, loving families (immediate and in-laws), a great student ministry, among others. I saw my life not as a career but as a mission. God has entrusted to me a ministry that could save millions of youth struggling with different life issues.

In the second week of the month, the Lord expanded the tents of Generation 3:16 Ministries by touching the hearts of six high school teachers of a very large public high school. They want us to minister to their students, majority of which, have been struggling with poverty, with their families, peers and self-esteem. As a result, for AY 2006-2007, we have a total of 800 students being ministered every week through our E.A.G.L.E.S (Enriching and Guiding the Life Experiences of Students) Program. Days after, my application for college teaching was finally approved. Starting the 2^nd semester, AY 2006-2007, I will be teaching International Political Economy in one of the prestigious universities in the country.

I had a wonderful time in Zamboanga City where I attended the Philippine Political Science Association Conference (October 26-27). Aside from eenjoying academic discourses, me and my TWSC colleagues (Joel, Sharon and Zurds) visited some of the must-see spots in the city including the Fort Pilar Museums, the Yakan Village (where they weave nice handicrafts), Vista del Mar beach Resort (overlooking the Sta. Cruz and Basilan Islands) and the famous “barteran” tiangges.

I Will Go, Send Me

INTRODUCTION

I learned about the Adopt-a-Campus (AAC) Project in April 2004 when I was praying and consulting with pastors and Christian friends regarding the establishment of the ministry the Lord has given me, the Generation 3:16 Ministries. I emailed Ptr. Jun Singson, AAC’s over-all Coordinator, signifying my interest to be part of the group. A year after, I accepted the challenge to be the AAC Coordinator of Pasig City. I believe the Lord desires His children to serve Him effectively in His vineyard. Getting involved in AAC is a great opportunity to take part in His work. I would like to share with you what the Lord has taught me when it comes to ministry service, as expressed in the amazing experience of prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 6, GNB). Take note of the events leading to the prophet’s declaration that he must be commissioned to deliver the message to the Israelites. They reveal how we should respond to God’s invitation to work for Him and with Him in any endeavor.

THE NEED FOR MINISTERS

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord…(Isaiah 6:1)

God showed himself to Isaiah the day King Uzziah died. Uzziah became the leader of Judah when he was 16 years old and reigned as king for 52 years. The fifth chapter of the book of 2nd Kings reveals that he did what was pleasing to the Lord. He became powerful with his fame spreading even to Egypt (2 Chronicles 26:8). Nevertheless, his leadership experienced a tragic ending due to his arrogance and disobedience (2 Chronicles 26:16). He failed to destroy the pagan places of worship thus the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense to various idols. He burned incense on the altar of incense of the Temple without a divine mandate. Consequently, he was stricken by God with a dreaded skin disease which stayed with him the rest of his life. He lived in a separate house, relieved of all his official duties, while his son, Jotham, governed the country (2 Kings 15:5). When he died, he was buried in the royal burial ground but was denied to be laid in the royal tombs (2 Chronicles 26:23).

God showed Himself because there was a pressing concern. Israelites did not know that God’s judgment was knocking on their doorstep. A man He had chosen to represent Him before Israel disappointed him and abandoned His cause. Serving as a historian for King Uzziah for several years (2 Chronicles 26:22), Isaiah may have been discouraged because of the demise of a great leader of Judah. Nonetheless, the Lord assured the prophet that the vacuum in the leadership will be short-lived because He shall choose another leader.

Similar to Isaiah’s time, many present leaders (Christians and non-Christians) of our country have disappointed God. Hence, there is a critical need for passionate Christian youth leaders who shall take the lead in proclaiming God’s glorious plan for this nation. Man-made solutions cannot address the basic heartfelt needs of the younger generation. It is only through Jesus that they can experience genuine peace and fulfillment. This can only be made possible through the active involvement of Christian youth leaders who can serve as God’s mouthpiece.

MINISTERS KNOW THE CHARACTER OF GOD

He was sitting on his throne, high and exalted, and his robe filled the whole Temple. Around him flaming creatures were standing, each of which had six wings. Each creature covered its face with two wings, and its body with two, and used the other two for flying. They were alling out to each other: "Holy, holy, holy! The LORD Almighty is holy! His glory fills the world." The sound of their voices made the foundation of the Temple shake, and the Temple itself became filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1-4)

Isaiah witnessed God’s two major attributes: as the King of the universe (the One who sits on the throne) and as the Most Holy One (the object of angels’ worship). The Bible declares that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness of it; the world, and those who dwell in it (Psalm 24:1). Nothing is impossible with Him (Matthew 19:26) because He is the prime controller of human history. This character is complemented by His holiness which “overcomes any darkness” (James 1:17). As the angels declare God’s holiness, the foundations of the temple shook and the room was filled with smoke. Smoke has been identified with the glory of God which appears whenever people worship Him. Worship facilitates the relationship between God and man because it is only through genuine adoration that divine presence manifests (Psalm 22:3). As ministers, our main goal is to help the spiritually lost to become genuine worshippers of the living God.

Seraphims are “burning angels” who minister at God’s throne. They have six wings. The two cover their face; the other two conceal their body and the rest they use for flying. Notice the balance of the use of their wings. On one hand, they use their four wings to cover their face and their body as an act of humility. Further, as the scenario suggests, even angels cannot endure the brightness and majesty of God. On the other hand, they utilize their two wings to express their willingness and ability to serve God. Humility and service, these are the qualities that God requires from His ministers.

Our level of commitment to a ministry often hinges on our knowledge of God’s character. We can only comprehend the true value of our service if we can understand His two major character: the all-powerful One, who can make all things possible and the Most Holy One, who deserves to be praised and worshipped by the peoples of the world.

MINISTERS ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR WEAKNESSES

I said, "There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes I have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." (Isaiah 6:5)

Isaiah saw his weaknesses when he heard the pure worship of angels and witnessed the majesty of God. We can only see our real spiritual condition if we experience a real encounter with God. God’s glory (shekinah) exposed Isaiah’s filthiness as a man of unclean lips. He realized the impending judgment for his sins. This is the same situation in Luke 18:13 where a publican was in the corner of the Temple beating on his breast crying, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!" He did it because he has been exposed to the truth about his sin and had an experience of conviction. Unless we acknowledge our iniquities we can never appreciate the value of God’s forgiveness.

Our weaknesses should alert us to the truth that we can do nothing apart from our Creator (John 15:5). Our attitude should be attitude of our Lord who said, "I can do nothing of Myself" (John 8:28). God uses those who are meek and humble because at the end of any work, the full credit must be ascribed to Him alone. No person should glory in His work (Isaiah 42:8, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29).

When Isaiah saw the Lord, who did he see? He saw the pre-incarnate Jesus (John 12:41). God has revealed Himself through our Christ as the physical embodiment of His love for mankind (John 1:1-2). Anyone can be transformed by Christ’s love and compassion. We can always find mercy at the feet of the cross. The Bible declares that “no man can see the face of the Lord and live” (Exodus 33:20). God, in His sovereign will, protected Isaiah. This reinforces the truth that, in His presence, He preserves and protects His ministers (Psalm 32:7).

Our effectiveness as ministers is measured by how we acknowledge of our frailties and weaknesses. We must realize that we need’s God’s empowerment to accomplish His will. Ministers depend not on the strength of the flesh, but on the power of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). For it is God who is working in us to make us willing and able to obey him (Philippians 2:13). Consequently, we can have the confidence that God shall preserve us even in the most difficult part of our Christian walk.

MINISTERS ARE SANCTIFIED

Then one of the creatures flew down to me, carrying a burning coal that he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, "This has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven. (Isaiah 66:6-7)

Isaiah’s “unclean lips” made him unfit for God’s ministry. But God provided the way for the prophet to become a qualified minister. He is the Lord who shows compassion and pity on those He chooses (Exodus 33:19). Remember that in the plan of salvation, it is God who made a way for man to be saved from His sins through the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross (John 3:16, Romans 5:8). The burning coals represent God’s cleansing power. The coals came from the altar, representing the place where God’s blessings and mercy emanate. Isaiah confessed his sins thus he was forgiven and cleansed (I John 1:9).

Isaiah’s commissioning was announced after his spiritual cleansing. Ministers need to be sanctified. As Christ’s ambassadors, we must maintain the righteousness that Christ has ascribed unto us. Sin is the major reason why ministries fail. Church programs cannot please a righteous God. They can become “filthy rags” if done with hands full of transgressions (Isaiah 64:6). All who serve the Lord must respect His holiness (Leviticus 10:3). Offering our lives as a “living sacrifice” is the least thing we can accomplish (Romans 12:1-2). As the writer of Hebrews wrote, “Let us rid ourselves of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us” (Hebrews 12:1).


MINISTERS ARE READY TO SERVE

Then I heard the Lord say, "Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?" I answered, "I will go! Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8)

In this verse, God inquires who will go for him to the people, and bear his message. The prophet expresses his readiness to do it. What created this kind of heart in Isaiah? First, he had been immersed in the transforming presence of God. He had a heart that realized its sinfulness and had been washed by God. Most importantly, Isaiah absorbed God’s heart to reach the nations. He realized the spiritual needs of his people. God is searching for people who will stand in the gap between Him and the youth of this nation (Ezekiel 22:30). He needs leaders who will represent Him in different campuses. He is searching for “Isaiahs” who are always ready to proclaim the Gospel and stand firm in faith.

How can campuses in the country “call to Christ for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed? And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? As the scripture says, "How wonderful is the coming of messengers who bring good news!" (Romans 10:14-15).

God’s call is not always dramatic. We may not fall off from a horse and be blinded by a bolt of lightning as experienced by Paul. We may not see God sitting in His throne as Isaiah witnessed. Many times we know God is calling, but we deny it, we ignore it, and we doubt it. Don’t wait for the gigantic display of God’s fireworks, expecting that the Lord will visit your room and hand over to you His invitation. As prophet Elijah had learned, God is not in always in the wind or the thunder, but in a still, small voice inside us (I Kings 19:12). He is calling us for a special assignment. That is, to actively take part in advancing His kingdom in campuses all-over the country through the AAC.

There are more than enough reasons to respond positively to God’s invitation to take an active part in the AAC campaign. "God Is Calling You. You must answer: “I Will Go Send Me!" If you hear His voice, harden not your hearts (Hebrews 4:7). Follow his will.

MINISTERS PROCLAIM GOD’S MESSAGE

So he told me to go and give the people this message: "No matter how much you listen, you will not understand. No matter how much you look, you will not know what is happening." Then he said to me, "Make the minds of these people dull, their ears deaf, and their eyes blind, so that they cannot see or hear or understand. If they did, they might turn to me and be healed." I asked, "How long will it be like this, Lord?" He answered, "Until the cities are ruined and empty---until the houses are uninhabited---until the land itself is a desolate wasteland. I will send the people far away and make the whole land desolate. Even if one person out of ten remains in the land, he too will be destroyed; he will be like the stump of an oak tree that has been cut down." (The stump represents a new beginning for God's people.)
(Isaiah 6:9-13)

Isaiah was sent to preach to a people who would not respond to God’s message. This is God’s strategy of making the guilt of the people certain. We are preaching to a generation which does not know the essence of Christ’s death on the cross. They do not recognize that sins lead to spiritual death. It is, therefore, our mission to show them what sin is, its consequences before declaring God’s way to solve the problem. Often, ministers lay down the solution without first explaining the root of the problem. We often over-emphasize God’s love that we ignore His holiness and righteousness. Our programs must be directed on making this lost generation acceptable to Christ and not the other way around. The Gospel may be a “bitter pill” for unbelievers to swallow, but it is still the medicine which can cure their spiritual disease. The following illustration reinforces this message:

Two men are seated in a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put is on as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first because he can’t see how wearing a parachute in a plane could possibly improve the flight. After a time he decides to experiment and see if the claim is true. As he puts it on he notices the weight of it upon his shoulders and he finds that he has difficulty in sitting upright. However, he consoles himself with the fact that he was told the parachute would improve the flight. So, he decides to give the thing a little time. As he waits he notices that some of the other passengers are laughing at him, because he’s wearing a parachute in a plane. He begins to feel somewhat humiliated. As they begin to point and laugh at him and he can stand it no longer, he slinks in his seat, unstraps the parachute, and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fill his heart, because, as far as he was concerned, he was told an outright lie.

The second man is given a parachute, but listens to what he’s told. He’s told to put it on because at any moment he’d be jumping 25,000 feet out of the plane. He gratefully puts the parachute on; he doesn’t notice the weight of it upon his shoulders, nor that he can’t sit upright. His mind is consumed with the thought of what would happen to him if he jumped without that parachute.

Let’s analyze the motive and the result of each passenger’s experience. The first man’s motive for putting the parachute on was solely to improve his flight. The result of his experience was that he was humiliated by the passengers; he was disillusioned and somewhat embittered against those who gave him the parachute. As far as he’s concerned it’ll be a long time before anyone gets one of those things on his back again. The second man put the parachute on solely to escape the jump to come, and because of his knowledge of what would happen to him without it, he has a deep-rooted joy and peace in his heart. (Ptr. Ray Comfort, Hell’s Best Kept Secret)
Isaiah was told how long he must prophecy this way. The Lord answered: "Until the cities are ruined and empty---until the houses are uninhabited---until the land itself is a desolate wasteland. In other words, preach until destruction comes. Our soul-winning efforts should never cease until our Lord tells us to stop. Our message is filled with hope. We must, therefore, not grow weary in spreading the Gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).

Buddhism and Christianity

I recently made a 5-day trip to Bangkok for a research meeting with Chulalongkorn University professors and researchers. To maximize the trip, I and two of my friends went to the old capital of the country, Ayutthaya, to visit historic Buddhist temples. I had no idea what I was going to witness until I saw and touched the ruins of the former capital. Buddhist temples in Ayutthaya showcase the historical roots of the Thais. All of them house Buddha icons and, some, monks’ sculptures, which built the old structures. The capital of Thailand was transferred to Bangkok when Burmese intruders destroyed and desecrated Ayutthaya in 1800s.

Buddhism can be classified as a moral philosophy which its followers strictly adhere to. It teaches that man should not do evil, to cultivate good, and to purify one's mind. Many prominent personalities accepted Buddhism including the singer Tina Turner, Phil Jackson (coach of the Los Angeles Lakers), Richard Gere, and Steven Seagal. The Dalai Lama has become a prominent spiritual figure for many throughout the world. It has also influenced the lives of the Thais in many areas. Its teachings can be easily discerned from the values of the people. Bangkok has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. No doubt it has become a major tourist capital.

The Basics of Buddhism

Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the Sakya tribe of Nepal, in approximately 566 BC. He left the comforts of his status when he was 29 years old, to seek answers about the nature of suffering in the world. He found the answer after 6 years of arduous yogic training. Siddharta Gautama became Buddha, the Enlightened One” under a bodhi tree on a full moon of May. He wandered the plains of northeastern India for 45 years more to teach the path he discovered, the Dharma. He sought to answer the question, "Why is there pain and suffering?" Buddhism teaches four noble truths: 1) Life is suffering; 2) Suffering is due to attachment to the things of the world; 3) Attachment can be overcome; and 4) There is a path for accomplishing this.

Buddhists’ concept of “duhkha” or suffering explains the imperfect, stressful and brutish world. For them, there is suffering in the world because of the uncontrollable cravings of man (e.g. sexual pleasures, gluttony, pride). This inevitable condition is exacerbated by the interconnected nature of things. Nothing has a separate existence. This is the reason why Buddhists cannot afford to act, think, speak or accomplish things in evil ways because they may affect the positive flow of things. Their concept of “karma” is so important that they are really cautious even the way they think about people. Buddhism teaches that attachment to the world can be overcome through rigorous self-discipline. Buddhist monks’ lifestyle is bound by many “Thou shall not…”. They have to adhere to over 225 regulations which forbid them to do many things. Thai monks are often seen in temples reading the teachings of Buddha. They are not allowed to have their own family (if they already have one, they must renounce their family relationships), not permitted to worldly entertainment, must not drink liquor, and even have a job that could be harmful to others (thus, many of them depend on dole-outs and alms given by the faithful in temples). The regulations are summarized in the Eightfold path which undeniably, privileges human agency:1) Right view is the true understanding of the four noble truths: 2) Right aspiration or true desire to free oneself from attachment, ignorance, and hatefulness; 3) Right speech involves abstaining from lying, gossiping, or hurtful talk; 4) Right action involves abstaining from hurtful behaviors, such as killing, stealing, and careless sex; 5) Right livelihood means making your living in such a way as to avoid dishonesty and hurting others, including animals; 6) Right effort is a matter of exerting oneself in regards to the content of one's mind: Bad qualities should be abandoned and prevented from arising again; Good qualities should be enacted and nurtured; 7) Right mindfulness is the focusing of one's attention on one's body, feelings, thoughts, and consciousness in such a way as to overcome craving, hatred, and ignorance; and 8)Right concentration is meditating in such a way as to progressively realize a true understanding of imperfection, impermanence, and non-separateness.

Buddha and Jesus Compared

Thais do not really consider Buddha as a god but rather as a great teacher. Buddhism does not believe in a personal God or a divine being. This is the reason why it does not have worship, praying to, or praising of a divine being. It does not believe in Christianity’s concept of sin, redemption, forgiveness, heavenly hope, resurrection, among others. If some Buddhist sects believe in a personal God, it is pantheistic in nature (the belief that God is an impersonal force keeping things in the world in order).

Many scholars have compared Buddha with Jesus in many ways. They claim that since Buddha was the Awakened One Jesus became Anointed One. Some even go further by saying that Buddhist teachings inspired the sermons of Jesus Christ. Hence, there are mechanisms that we can harmonize the teachings of both traditions. Some Christians even think that there is little difference between Christianity and Buddhism. I beg to disagree.

It must be noted that Buddha emerged during a time when the people were tired of Hindu sects, castes and teachings. He both promoted new teachings and discarding others. In contrast, Christ came in Israel’s history where the Jewish people were desperate for a Savior. But unlike, Buddha, Jesus only fulfilled what was already written in the Scriptures by confirming God’s prophecies and revelations.

Buddha focused on bringing about the best in him. His passive outlook of humanity is far different from Jesus’ active concern for mankind. Christ became the “friend of sinners” and epitomized a man full of love who has been touching the lives of many. Buddha died in the old age 80 while Christ was resurrected from the dead and continues to transform lives of many people around the globe.

Buddha tried to understand the sufferings of man by detaching himself from the world. On the contrary, Christ addressed the suffering of man, corrupted by sin, by offering Himself as a ransom for man’s sins (Romans 5:8). Buddha relied on his efforts to find answers to his perplexing inquiries. Jesus has made man realize that answers can only come from his Creator. Christ does not need to search for wisdom because He is the wisdom and power of God (2 Corinthians 2).

One major difference between Christianity and Buddhism is the acknowledgement of a divine being. On one hand, Thereavada, one of Buddhism’s sacred texts, says Buddha did not claim to have a special relationship with God. He was not divine. On the other hand, Christ does not only know the mind and nature of God, but He is God himself (John 1:14). He is a God who became man. (Phil. 2:5).

Buddhism directs people to Nirvana, an ultimate state in the afterlife, while Jesus offers eternal life which is a free gift for man. Buddha showed the way to nirvana, but it was up to each follower to find his or her own path. Christ did not come to show the way; He claimed to be the way (John 14:6). Also, Buddhists believe there are many ways to God. He must only follow the Dharma to find the real path. However, the Bible declares that Christ’s death on the cross has provided a way for man to be reconciled to God. Christianity declares, “It is done”, while Buddhism emphasizes, “You have to work for it.”

What does it take to be a Christian Academic?

In a conference where I presented my paper on the role of academics in the development and outcomes of local social movements' actions, I was confronted with the question, how should a Christian academic respond to secular academic values and principles? This question appeared in my head during the conference's open forum when one of the panelists reacted to the statement of a participant regarding the need for public intellectuals to be more “assertive and bold” in addressing social problems. The man, who happens to be an staunch, principled activist professor, expressed a bad language (by cussing) in dramatizing his point, which the lady panelist quickly reacted to because it hurt her sensibilities. What happened next shall never be erased from the memory of those who witnessed the confrontation. The scenario highlighted the propensity of the so-called “intellectuals” to show their unpleasant side—“low emotional IQ”. Moeover, it made me realize how mainstream academics can be easily misled by their secular knowledge and values.

Being part of the academe is my unavoidable Christian calling. I finished my post-graduate degree because I believe that Christians should be a model of academic excellence. If others could finish multiple MAs and PhDs, why can’t Christians do the same? It is my firm belief that Christians should not only be concerned with the building of their “private stairways to heaven”, but it is also their responsibility to help others see the path to a God-pleasing life. A slogan in a high school where I graduated from reads, “The highest goal of learning is to know God”. The following neatly summarizes my convictions and beliefs on how a Christian must maneuver in the world of academe.

The Scriptures offer truths about the nature and purpose of acquiring knowledge. We must recognize that all wisdom (spiritual and secular) comes from God (James 1:5, Ephesians 1:17). For the Lord gives wisdom; out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding (Proverbs 2:6). Psalm 111:10 declares that “ the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Any knowledge that is not anchored to a true relationship with Christ is useless. I believe that true, sensible knowledge can only be found in Christ. As Thomas a Kempis said: Without the way, there is no going; Without the truth, there is no knowing; And without the life, there is no living. That life is Jesus Christ (John 14:6)

Academic believers must not only be an exemplar of wisdom but also inspiring values and character. This is what James called as “truly pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy (James 3:17). Unbelievers are more prone to a character that is earthly, sensual, devilish (James 3:15) since they fail to recognize the real meaning of their vocation. If we are indeed wise, we should show it by works of good conduct with meekness of wisdom (James 3:13).

Maintaining an open mind is a sine qua non in any academic environment. No one has the monopoly of knowledge. You have to listen to others’ claims and propositions. It is the bastion of academic freedom. You question everything that exists in the world. But as a Christian, there are “non-negotiables” especially as far as my faith is concerned. I just cannot embrace any “ivory tower” ideas that challenge the core of my faith. Hence, I question my discipline based on my deeply-held Biblical and Christian convictions. I believe that “Christianity” is not a subjective term because it has a standard—the Bible. I cannot veer away from what God is saying through His Word.

The academe is a rendezvous of different faiths and persuasions. In university, one can say that anyone can choose whatever he/she desires without being told or pushed what to embrace. But for me, establishing your values on unstable foundations of academic learning is detrimental to the Christian faith. For one, God despises secular wisdom which desires to rise above His glory. St. Paul wrote, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, "He takes the wise in their own craftiness." And again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." He can confound the wise (I Corinthians 3:18-19). A Christian must never compromise his/her convictions for the sake of academic objectivity. Objectivity is measured on rationale findings of research but many aspects of the Christian faith can never be measured by man-made academic instruments. Christians live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

To be a Christian academic means mastering a discipline and producing the first class scholarship that will inspire others to seek God and obey His commandments. Jesus commands all to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). This should be the “true north” of all believers who want to make a difference in the academe.

If This World

Below is the song that made me dance for joy. Amidst the pain of going through life's trials and testings, God will always see us through. LET GO and LET GOD carry the burden. He shall never leave us nor forsake us.

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IF THIS WORLD
Jaci Velasquez

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.
Oh, yeah.
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.
Oh, yeah.

Do you feel you've been disowned,
Left outside in the cold and without a home?
Do you think that no one cares
That you're lost and alone and without a prayer?
Don't give into the lie that there's no one you can turn to.
Don't lose heart, there is hope,
There is someone who will never desert you, oh.

If this world is a lonely place for you,
Fall into the arms of love.
If this world is a lonely place for you,
There's a God who you can trust,
Who'll comfort you and lift you up.

(Intro Music)

Are you looking for a friend
Who will stand by your side to the very end?
Someone who is always true to His word,
Be assured He won't turn from you.
Put your faith in the One who will never let you down.
He has proven His love.
Open up to all He has for you now, oh.

If this world is a lonely place for you,
Fall into the arms of love.
If this world is a lonely place for you,
There's a God who you can trust,
Who'll comfort you and lift you up.

He hears your cry, He sees your tears,
He knows your pain and all your fears.
He waits for you with open arms,
He longs to live inside your heart.
You'll never be alone again.

If this world is a lonely place for you,
Fall into the arms of love.
If this world is a lonely place for you,
There's a God who you can trust,
Who'll comfort you and lift you up.

(Intro Music)

The Da Vinci Code: A Fiction Masquerading as a Historical Fact

I watched the movie on the big screen, not for entertainment reasons but to discern the impact of the movies’ claims on the viewing public (thanks to my brother who gave me complimentary tickets). The visual media is the most effective instrument to entice people to embrace a position. What they see, they often believe. After watching the 2.5 hour movie, I can put forth two observations. First, the movie must not be interpreted and appreciated beyond its fictional character. Second, the movie’s presentation can never ruin the faith of even a nominal Christian.

I would like to scrutinize the film using two lenses: as a simple movie-goer and as a minister. The presentation of the long journey of Robert Langdon has made the movie a real yawner. I was expecting to see a fast-paced story and a good cinematography as Dan Brown presents the mystery in the written form. The long conversations on church controversies among Langdon, Teabing and Sophia, in one way or the other, did a great disservice to moviegoers who expect more adventures. The action scenes are confined to car chases and hide and seek scenarios. To the extreme, it would be better to just get a copy of the book which is more challenging to examine (although I won't endorse that...). However, I am with the view that banning the movie from many cinemas can only enflame the growing curiosity of the people. Let the adults see the film. I am confident that they shall treat the movie as another product of imagination.

As a minister of the Gospel, I can never succumb to the author’s flawed claims and misguided theories. The issues which he put forth in the novel have long been settled by the leaders of the universal Christian church. Topics of counterfeit gospels (i.e. Gospels of Judas and Philip) are never new and have been settled by various Bible scholars both in the Catholic and Protestant circles. Dan Brown succeeded in using these issues to arouse the interests of non-religious people whose minds have been blinded by many socio-political and religious persuasions. He, in fact, as his words in an interview revealed, is a man of many religions. When asked if he is a Christian, he answered:

Yes. Interestingly, if you ask three people what it means to be Christian, you will get three different answers. Some feel being baptized is sufficient. Others feel you must accept the Bible as absolute historical fact. Still others require a belief that all those who do not accept Christ as their personal savior are doomed to hell. Faith is a continuum, and we each fall on that line where we may. By attempting to rigidly classify ethereal concepts like faith, we end up debating semantics to the point where we entirely miss the obvious--that is, that we are all trying to decipher life's big mysteries, and we're each following our own paths of enlightenment. I consider myself a student of many religions. The more I learn, the more questions I have. For me, the spiritual quest will be a life-long work in progress. (http://www.danbrown.com/novels/davinci_code/faqs.html)

The movie posits (through Teabing and Langdon) that the nature of Christ should never be big deal. Divine or human, it does not make a difference. On the contrary, relegating Christ to a mere human being is a straightforward blasphemy. Apostle John warned everyone of Gnostic, anti-Christ teachings which explain that that Christ did not become human, hence can never be divine or a God. 2 John 1:7 states that, “ For many deceivers have entered into the world, who do not confess Jesus Christ coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the anti-christ.”

As Christian apologists CS Lewis wrote, Jesus can either be a liar, a lunatic or a real LORD. The truth is, He is Lord and God. The claims of the false gospels can never outweigh the claims of the canonized Gospels of the current Bible. God will always protect His word. He can never let a single novel destroy His name. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but his Words shall remain forever (Mark 13:31). The Bible is still the best-selling book of all time. It continues to change lives because it is inspired by the Christ and His Holy Spirit. It does not take a complex code for a person to understand that truth.

The Filipino Spirit and the Mighty Everest

Filipinos are known for their resiliency and perseverance. We are a race deeply accustomed to struggles and challenges. As my friendly socialists would explain, we were born not with silver spoon in our mouths but with hammer and scythe in our hands. This character was magnified when three of our kababayans reached the highest peak on earth. After a year of intense training and preparations, Oracion, Emmata and Garduce finally reached one of their highest dreams--to step on the summit of Mount Everest. This achievement reveals important things about the Filipino spirit.

First, with the power of will and faith in God, Filipinos can be at par with other nations. Everyone united in prayer for the safety of the three travelers. Second, we can never veer away from the concept of “camaraderie and cooperation cum humility” as the three mountaineers have expressed and shown in their interviews. No one dared to claim the honor of who’s the first one to reach the mountain's summit. For them, everything was a product of “team effort”. Third, the victory of our "kababayans” will always be considered as the victory of the Filipino people in general. We have tasted the glory of triumph through the achievements of our heroes, dead and living. Everyone rejoiced for the success of our three beloved mountaineers. A great heroes’ welcome was only appropriate.

Amidst the national celebration were sad observations that many people failed to notice. The Mt. Everest expedition did not escape the notoriety of the media in capitalizing on people’s achievements. Garduce was the one who was highly-profiled by the broadcast media, particularly GMA-7 (since the station was one of the major sponsors of the mountaineer). The people expected that Garduce was the one who would lead the Philippine team in climbing the Everest. His acclimatization adventures and interviews were constantly aired by GMA 7 and watched by many. Lo and behold, Leo Oracion and Pastour Emata, who lacked the glamour of publicity, were the first ones to reach the peak. Garduce’s mother was quite disappointed with the scenario since Garduce has been groomed as the one who has the most illustrious career as a mountaineer among the three. He has climbed some of the highest peaks in the world. The most recent of which was his exploits in the mountains of Alaska. Indeed, those who were first can be last and those who were last can be first.

Another mountaineer, Dale Abenojar, had been out of the radar of the public because he started his adventure without the full support and blessings of the Philippine government. He became a “lone ranger” mountaineer who chose to work with an international mountaineering agency than to join the Philippine team in its noble quest. His wife claimed that he was the first Filipino to reach the peak of Everest on May 15. But Abenojar has yet to convince the Filipino people that he was indeed the first Filipino who accomplished that feat. I could smell an issue waiting to be answered by all mountaineers when they come back from Nepal and begin to tell their various stories.

I believe that man’s achievements must always be ascribed to His creator. The Bible declares that in Him we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). The strength of man emanates from the divine strength of God. All the greatest achievements in history were handiworks of God because He is the God of history (Isaiah 41:4).

In one scene of the Oscar award-winning film, Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddel quoted what he believed was the secret of his strength and success in running. He read Isaiah 40:28-310: Have you not known? Have you not heard, that the everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow weak or weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He gives power to the weary; and to him with no vigor; He increases strength. Even the young shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but those who wait on Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Words by prophet Jeremiah remind us that man must never glory in his wisdom and strength but rather always recognize the majesty and power of God: So says the Lord, Do not let the wise glory in his wisdom, nor let the mighty glory in his might; do not let the rich glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, doing kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth; for in these I delight, says Jehovah (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

Generation 3:16 Ministries Website

I have made a provisional website for the ministry God entrusted to me. Check this out: www.freewebs.com/generation316

The website contains some of the pictures of events in the last few months, the mission and vision of the ministry, some of the teachings I delivered for high school students, among others.