Checking the culture of criminality

HAVE you ever wondered why our national heroes as written in history books all come from Luzon? Well, I have. Santa Banana! When I was teaching history to Ateneo de Manila students in the 50s, I used to remind my students that it appeared to me there were only national heroes from Luzon and nobody from the Visayas and Mindanao.

And the reason for this was all historians were from Luzon.

It’s for this reason that Cagayan de Oro

Representative Rufus Rodriguez filed a bill in the House of Representatives that a great injustice was done to Mindanaoans which must be corrected, filing House Bill 1461 to correct history, which would also recognize 12 revolutionaries from Mindanao who fought the Spanish and American colonizers.

The bill of Rodriguez proposed the Mindanao Heroes Declaration Act be enacted to correct the bias against the heroes from different regions of Mindanao who struggled and fought the colonizers.

Rodriguez listed them as follow: From CDO City and Misamis Oriental, General Nicolas Capistrano, Colonel Apolinar Velez, Captain Vicente Roa; From Misamis Occidental: Rufino Deloso, Simeon Ledesma, Capitan Daligdig;

Now that Ongpin is dead, it will have to be a posthumous acknowledgment

From Surigao: Simeon Gonzales, Wenceslao

Gonzales; From Zamboanga: General Vicente

Alvarez; From Cotabato: Datu Uto, Datu Ali ;

From Marawi: Amai Pakpak.

No doubt about it. My gulay, were it not for the “revolutionarios” from Mindanao, the Katipuneros from Luzon would have had to fight in full force the Spanish army only on the island of Luzon and also the full force of the American army only in Luzon.

But, with the revolutionaries from Mindanao, the American forces had to be dispersed also to fight in Mindanao.

Thus, for the sake of truth and for history, the Rodriguez bill should be prioritized not only for the sake of truth, but also to do justice to a lot of Mindanaoans who died so that the country would be free.

I am particularly interested in General

Nicolas Capistrano, the paternal grandfather of my wife, Trinidad Kapunan Capistrano.

My wife told me when she was a child, her family who were then living in Cotabato, used to go on vacations to Cagayan de Oro to visit her grandfather, an hacendero who lived in a mansion by the sea at Gusa.

My wife could never forget that when a big gong sounded, people would be trekking foot down from the hills nearby to have lunch cooked in big vats, and seeing her grandfather on horseback coming down from the hills.

Her grandfather was married to a mestiza, Cecila Castaneda, who she remembered was called “ La Estrella del Quiapo ‘’ and whose family lived in Evangelista, Quiapo.

Soon enough , after the Philippine-American Revolution, when Filipinos were given their birthright as Filipinos, her grandfather became a senator in the first Philippine assembly and later became a judge.

I am recounting this not for me to glorify my wife’s grandfather, but to rectify history.

In recognition of the revolutionaries from Mindanao, the Americans, I was told, gave them extra benefits. My gulay, a street in Cagayan de Oro City was even named after General Nicolas Capistrano.

EvEryman

By Edmund S. Tayao

LET’S say, finally, the House of Representatives and the Senate find enough reason and fortuitously agree to proceed with Constitutional amendments, what amendments should we now consider?

Some are of the thinking we should only amend the economic provisions and avoid political issues altogether.

This was the approach during the time of then President Joseph Estrada, amplified by the administration’s initiative being named

Constitutional Correction for Development or CONCORD.

Focusing on the economic provisions obviously makes the development argument palpable.

Not only have we been reading about the feat of many countries, including those of our neighbors who used to trail us in economic development who have now overtaken us, posting significantly higher per capita income than us.

We have seen first-hand the advantages of living abroad, enjoying the comfort and reliability of their public transportation and other more advanced infrastructure.

It therefore comes as no surprise that many would be more inclined to focus on the economic rather than the political provisions in the Constitution.

As we have discussed in the first part, however, the Constitution has a unique function and or purpose for the country, that is why the many names used to refer to it underscores its primordial function. It is called the “fundamental” law because all

Likewise, there were also heroes from the Visayas who struggled and fought the colonizers, and they should also be recognized in law. *** *** ***

My wife and I had searched for chronicles about heroes from Mindanao and we came across a three-inch thick book on the local historical sources of Northern Mindanao compiled and edited by Jesuit priest Francisco R. Demetrio from the library of Ateneo at Cagayan de Oro.

In recognition of the Muslim heroes, Rep. Rodriguez has this to say : “These heroic wars waged by our Muslim brothers greatly diminished the military strength and divided the attention of the Spanish authorities.

“The Muslim resistance led to the strengthening of the Katipunan because without the military campaign in Mindanao, there would have been more than enough Spanish forces in Manila to check the Katipunan.“

It would do well for the National Historical Commission to support the Rodriguez bill if only to correct and rectify Philippine history because generations who have been taught Philippine history should know there are so many forgotten heroes also from the Visayas and Mindanao.

Senate President Migz Zubiri and Senator Bato de la Rosa who are also Mindanaoans should support the Rodriguez bill and file their own bills to declare the Mindanao heroes as national heroes.

It is for this reason why I am also calling the attention of Vice President Sara Duterte as Education Secretary to have this great error of having only heroes from Luzon in Philippine history books.

The Vice President, a MIndanaoan from Davao City, owes it to her fellow Mindanaoans to support the Rodriguez bill. *** *** ***

President Marcos Jr. did well through the LTFRB or the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to postpone the consolidation of franchises of jeepney operators in connection with the Modernization Program on Jeepneys to postpone it from June 30 to the end of the year, not only because of the nationwide threat of jeepney operators to go on a weekend long strike.

Santa Banana, the threat could well affect all government and private sector employees and workers, and could cause the suspension of classes as well.

My gulay, that could mean a national crisis, with the greater majority of our people already suffering from the high prices of almost everything because of soaring inflation.

In this connection, it would do well for the LTFRB to have all jeepneys inspected to check whether or not their engines are still roadworthy as part of the modernization program.

Jeepney operators can form cooperatives to have old and not roadworthy jeepneys modernized.

I am all for modernizing Philippine jeepneys, not only for the safety of passengers, but to have an effect on the public transport system.

Others may say since jeepneys are part and parcel of Philippine history, the old vintage type of jeepneys should be preserved.

But, the greater need is to have roadworthy types of jeepneys along our roads for the sake of the people needing them.

Thus, it is well and good the deadline of consolidation of franchises of all jeepneys is postponed to the end of the year, not at this time when the county has more important issues to attend to.

Survival for most of us Filipinos comes first.

The threat of jeepney groups to go on weeklong strikes against the modernization program on March 6 will proceed as scheduled, but there are also jeep factions nationwide who will not join the strike.

Good heavens for that, for the benefit of government and private sector workers and employees and workers. And students as well, my gulay!

Full text at www.manilastandard.net

GOOD reason stands alongside the suggestion of Senator Imee Marcos that Negros Oriental be placed under a state of emergency for justice to be swiftly served following the slaying of Governor Roel Degamo, 56, and eight others as well as wounding of 16.

Degamo’s weekend slay, while he was meeting villagers at his home in Pamplona, is the latest brazen-faced punch on local politicians in various parts of the country, according to law enforcement authorities.

Earlier on, Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong cheated death in an ambush in Maguing town, the recent ambush on Datu Montawal, Maguindanao del Sur Mayor Ohto Montawal in the metropolis, and the ambush-killing of Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Almeda and five of his companions.

Degamo’s killing came more than two weeks after the Supreme Court upheld the Commission on Elections’ resolution recognizing Degamo as the winner of the contested 2022 Negros Oriental gubernatorial race. The high court junked former Gov. Pryde Henry Teves’ petition against the poll body on the gubernatorial dispute that resulted in a standoff at the Negros Oriental provincial capitol in Dumaguete City last October.

It is encouraging the investigation into this spine-chilling murder is developing rapidly

Police said at least six men armed with assault rifles and wearing military-style camouflage and bulletproof vests alighted from three SUVs and opened fire on Degamo, hitting him and at least eight other people in front of his home.

Sen. Marcos, who had worked with Degamo in the Governors League when she was still Ilocos Norte governor, added sugarrich Negros Oriental should be locked down so those behind the killing could not leave the province.

Saved in hope

BENEDICT XVI headed the Catholic Church and was sovereign of the Vatican City State from April 19, 2005 until his resignation on February 28, 2013.

During his papacy, he left remarkable sermons and messages that elucidated human sickness and suffering and what it means to us.

These messages are scattered throughout his brief pontificate.

Pope Benedict XVI extensively discussed the Christian perspective on suffering and death in his encyclical Spe Salvi (Saved in Hope).

According to him, although comprehending suffering could be challenging, it presents an opportunity for individuals to grow in faith and strengthen their relationship with God.

He also highlighted that Christian hope for eternal life could provide comfort and solace in the face of death.

During a Mass for the sick and suffering in 2011, Pope Benedict XVI stated that suffering, when united with the Cross of Christ, becomes a means of salvation and a path toward resurrection and eternal life. He added that suffering could be seen as a gift from God, a grace, and an opportunity to draw closer to Him.

According to the Holy Father was of the view that sickness inevitably brings with it a moment of crisis and sober confrontation with one’s own personal situation. Advances in the health sciences often provide the means necessary to meet this challenge, at least with regard to its physical aspects. Human life, however, has intrinsic limitations, and sooner or later it ends in death.

This is an experience to which each human being is called, and one for which he or she must be prepared.

Pope Benedict XVI’s teachings on suffering and death underscored the significance of faith and hope in challenging circumstances.

To those suffering from an incurable and terminal disease, the Holy Father encourages them to contemplate the sufferings of Christ crucified, and, in union with him, to turn to the Father with complete trust that all life, and your lives in particular, are in his hands. Trust that sufferings, united to those of Christ, will prove fruitful for the needs of the Church and the world.

Suffering is always charged with mystery, difficult to accept and to bear

On another occasion, the pope made it clear that it is from the Eucharist that pastoral care in health must draw the necessary spiritual strength to come effectively to man’s aid and to help him to understand the salvific value of his own suffering.

Mysteriously united to Christ, the one who suffers with love and meek selfabandonment to the will of God becomes a living offering for the salvation of the world.

The Holy Father also made special mention of the suffering of children who suffer due to conflicts and wars, and other innocent victims of the insensate hatred of adults.

The pope was also quoted as saying, “It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love”

According to the Holy Father, the Son of God suffered, and died, but rose again, and precisely because of this those wounds become the sign of our redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation with the Father.

We support the senator’s call for the declaration of a state of emergency in the province which has a history of political rivalries.

Indeed, this culture of criminality, in any part of the country, must be checked, and the hitmen or the murderers in this latest act of violence, as in previous crimes, as well as the mastermind, their paymasters and whoever conspired to consummate the crime, should posthaste be arrested.

We give our hand to law enforcers who have been quick on the trail of suspects, arresting three and previously shooting to death a fourth in an encounter with pursuing police. We share the hope of Senator Marcos the arrested suspects will cooperate which could lead to the identification of other individuals responsible for the gun attack.

It is encouraging the investigation into this spine-chilling murder is developing rapidly.

At the same time, it is heartening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has raised the reprimand bar: “I am warning all those involved in this killing: you can run but you cannot hide. We will find you. If you surrender now it will be your best option.”

We are sure law enforcement agents as well as the suspects have heard the President loud and clear.

However they also become a test for the faith of the disciples and our faith: every time that the Lord speaks about his passion and death, they do not understand, they reject it, they oppose it.

For them, as for us, suffering is always charged with mystery, difficult to accept and to bear.

The two disciples of Emmaus walk sadly because of the events that had taken place in those days in Jerusalem, and only when the Risen One walks along the road with them do they open up to a new vision.

Even the apostle Thomas manifests the difficulty of believing in the way of redemptive passion: “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’

But before Christ who shows his wounds, his response is transformed into a moving profession of faith: “My Lord and my God!” What was at first an insurmountable obstacle, because it was a sign of Jesus’ apparent failure, becomes, in the encounter with the Risen One, proof of a victorious love: ‘Only a God who loves us to the extent of taking upon himself our wounds and our pain, especially innocent suffering, is worthy of faith.”

In his encyclical Spe Salvi (Saved in Hope), Pope Benedict XVI wrote extensively about the Christian view of suffering and death.

He argued that while suffering can be difficult to understand, it is ultimately an opportunity to grow in faith and deepen our relationship with God. He also wrote that the Christian hope of eternal life can provide comfort and solace in the face of death.

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