Wednesday 8 November 2017

The Opposition's Trinity : The Church, the Left and the Yellows


Over the weekend ( Nov. 5) the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called for a healing mass in Edsa shrine.

Organizers were very clear that there will be no political speeches or any move to undermine the government in the said religious exercise, but only to condemn drug-related killings.

"Siyempre, tatawagin na naman kaming destabilizers nito. Pero ang panawagan ng taumbayan, ang panawagan ng Simbahan ay hilumin ang mga sugat, hintuin na ang pagpapatay, baguhin ang pananaw pagdating sa usapin ng droga," said Karina Constantino-David, one of the founders of Tindig Pilipinas. *
Members of the Liberal Party chaired by Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan are part of the opposition or more popularly known as "The Yellows" in the Senate( Photo credit to Philstar)

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, outgoing president of CBCP, earlier said the event would have no political color.

"Walang kulay ang November 5. Ang kulay ng November 5 ay transparency, clarity of vision, purity of heart," Villegas said in a video posted Thursday on his Facebook page.

"Hindi tayo magra-rally para sumigaw. Tayo ay mananalangin para ibulong sa puso ni Hesus, patawarin po Ninyo kami, patawarin po Ninyo ang bayang nagkasala laban sa Inyo."

Veteran columnist Mr. Rolly G. Reyes in his column today in The Manila Times ( November 9, 2017)  titled “The unholy trinity: The Church, the Yellows and the Left” expounded on the different roles of the Church, the opposition of “The Yellows”, and those of the “Left” in shaping the political scene in this time of history where they are against a very popular Mindanaon President.

The full text of Mr. Reyes is quoted below:

 

CLENCHED fists? Curse warning? Oust somebody? And we ask for healing?

The Church


Question: Should the clergy be involved and participate in condemnations of political acts or should they only be mindful of shaping the moral values of their flock by way of gospels relayed through homilies?

We all remember during the Spanish era that the friars treated the state as its instrument or tool. Participation in the political world is deemed rejected today as the religious spheres are pluralized and religious institutions are as varied as they can be. *

Sad to note that instead of the pulpit being used, members of the clergy are seen marching in the streets to be seen with throngs of unlikely allies using megaphones and media cameras to project their influence. Healing is the remotest word you can connect with these actions.

The public square of opinions is now “pluralized” and the role of “influencers” being taken by the church and using their “rights” to conceal hidden “elitist purposes” is not being accepted anymore by the more educated sectors of our society.

“Politicking” is when you use your religious influence to put people into office or throw them out at will. The Church is not supposed to be in that business. It is supposed to be in the business of upholding moral values in its “own” secular space.

The Yellows


“Been there, done that” is maybe the wrong slogan to use and command respect and patronage from the people who were directly hit by that six-year phenomenon of questionable incompetence and zero achievement.

Their color-coded tenure was marked by injustice and strengthened the “ruling class” that was dismantled wholesale by the Marcos presidency. Clothed with “righteousness” and “can-do-no-wrong” attitude clad in yellow-ribbon-pinned shirts are now reminders of hugely corrupt misdemeanors and selective persecutory tactics done under their jaundiced regime.  *

They now are forced to band together to topple the current administration as they are faced with voluminous legal actions which can land them behind bars. The specter of changing their uniform from yellow to orange is always a nightmare during bedtime. A Duterte-less presidency and a quick Robredo assumption is their only chance.

The Left


They were never interested in the peace process. Theirs was never an advocacy but taking over the reins of governance. The “rebels without a cause” are now faced with extinction after the government decided to scrap all the efforts to smoke that proverbial peace pipe.

Public sympathy was dampened greatly when they started violating the ceasefire agreements as government security forces were treacherously ambushed and killed. Irrelevance is their worst enemy as of now and they know it.

Again, as history tells us, they can change colors as quickly as they can change those street placards and effigies they use. Alliances to them is as easy as changing partners in a ballroom as long as it will bring bonfires of discontent across the nation.

A disunited country will always give them a voice to resonate their never-ending demands. An emasculated military replaced with their cadres is the only future. A socialist republic is the only way. A government of their people, by their people, and by their people. And the rest should follow. *

The worst thing that PRRD can do when he meets Donald Trump is to genuflect with bended knee. Trump is not a football fan at all.

Philippine elections: Before, a candidate wins based on an unblemished track record and sound platforms. Nowadays, it seems that the winner is one who runs the most successful smear campaign.

So many are born to speak, but not that much born to listen. Many ask questions, though actually less in seeking answers by themselves. A lot prefers walking endlessly, but only a few choose to stand their grounds.
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