Founded in Faith, Centered on Love

Today is September 18, 2012. It is my birthday and it is been a while since I posted my last blog. And no, not that I am tired of writing, perhaps, I am just too selective what articles from my journal deserves a post. Yet, this time I am not lifting an article from my journal. I am writing what my heart dictates. No edits. No right clicking to check on the right word or synonyms that would fit well to my sentence construction. In short, I am just purely writing, this time under the throb of my heart and compulsion of my mind.

“Hinubog ng tatlumpo't tatlong taong pagmamahal, pag- aaruga, at pagkakakilanlan bilang tao-- kaibigan, anak, kapatid, asawa at ama. Haggang ngayon, hindi pa rin pumipikit ang mga pilik.Tuloy ang daloy ng dugo at buhay sa bawat kahinaan at kalakasan. Ang mga karanasan sa buhay, matamis man o singpait ng katas ng gumamela, naging bahagi ang mga ito kung bakit ako naging AKO. Tuloy ang buhay, ang saya. Think happiness, ika'nga.”

The preceding snatch which I posted over Facebook had solicited some “likes” and sumptuous comments. Truly, the line came through my mind while I was looking at some of my pictures on my net book until my mind wandered travelling back some years from the past up to the present times.

Growing up in a brood of three while our father is away for the most part of the year and with our mother taking charge of all the chores at home, I am a witness of the “hard life before we get into a dwelling called home,” or that “educate yourself if you want to see the world” experience.

My father was a constant absentee from home not because of severance. He was on every two- year contract as a foreman of a furniture manufacturing company in the Middle East way back in the early 80’s up to the mid- 90s where he finally settled home due to the Gulf War. My mother on the other hand, was our constant guide, a mother cum father for us three kids.

Me and my wife, Sherlyn.

Like any typical mother, ours was a constant hard disciplinarian with a twist of some “sticks and yell” whenever house rules were evaded. Largely, our Manong takes responsibility towards me and to our youngest when mother would get off from the family home to do some commerce or trade nearby, sometimes out of town.

Our parents sent the three of us brothers in the same school from pre- school way up in the college. According to them, learning is best in public schools and universities. At one point, I despised my mother for not letting me go to the school where I wanted to pursue a degree in college. But as usual, mother’s decisions were like a judge’s final resolution- non appealable and even an attempt for a motion for reconsideration is prima facie denied.

After all, Manong was an attestation to my mother’s claim that public schools are the best schools. He obtained his Electrical Engineering degree from a local state university and hurdled the board examination the same year after his graduation. In short, I and our youngest were also sent to the same state university where Manong have attended. Later, I would graduate with a communication degree and our youngest, a computer engineer.

Back in the middle 90’s when my father finally came home for good, my family moved to a modest house adjacent from my father’s family home where we stayed, perhaps until I was five or six years old. The new home was far better than where we were I thought, since we were previously under one roof with my father’s parents and siblings. My father was eldest in a brood of ten— some were married and had children too whom I play with during weekends.

As I rekindle, I fairly revive that I have experienced labor during my tender years. Not because I was required by my parents but because I was envious to my friends who seem to enjoy some trade such as picking chico fruit and sell the same in the neighbourhood. In doing so, I would be able to afford to buy a bottle of Coke or Mello Yellow after I sold mine.

At one point, Manong and I have also experienced buying and selling old bottles, scrap metals, and other wisp goodies with our own kariton. This time, my brother and I have to pretend like we were just out picking chico fruit but in reality, we were engaged in buy and sell with our push carts intentionally not brought home. Otherwise, we would be prevented from doing our “business” forever. Yet, my mother would later find out what we were doing. Since then, my Manong and I was prevented from leaving our house early in the morning during weekends, my mother, under the impression that we would go back in that buy and sell stuff.

Rarely having a common time due to conflict of schedules, it is worthy to note that this photo (including two Yayas on the most right) is the most complete family picture ever taken. On the pool from L-R is Hannah (Manong's eldest child), Manong Randy, Jabez (Manong's second child), my kid Monching and wife Sherlyn, Theresa (my mother), and Ate Joy (Hannah and Jabez' Yaya. On top from L-R , me, my father Jun, and youngest brother Loyd who stays in Makati, Phl. and Ate Jaja (Monching's Yaya). September 16, 2012

Since I was small, I was made to understand by my parents and was taught by the circumstances that surround me that life would not be fine sans the hard work and cooperation. For example, my mother would post a work list in our kitchen’s back door indicating therein the specific jobs for us three brothers such as who will wash the dishes, mop the floor, pump the deep well or water the plants. Ignoring such specific duties would bar anyone of us from watching TV or play dodge ball with the other kids around.

Nonetheless, our mother, the expert disciplinarian educated us with the best home-grown teachings which are beyond compare to the principles and theories that are taught within the four corners of any popular learning institutions.

My father, on the other hand, is an epitome of a gentle family man worth emulating. While on vacation, my father would make sure that all of us would have a chunk of his modest precious time. Born traveller and adventurous, he would bring us out of town and meet other relatives and family friends. We would go out for a picnic or breakfast over the beach or even stay longer to watch the sunset. At home, he would cook us some mouth- watering kebab inspired foodstuffs while singing Tom Jones or Engelbert Humperndick songs. My father memorizes his lyrics along with the slightest pause or falsetto of each song he sings and I was his number one fan. In fact, I first learned my basic guitar chords from him when I was six during one of his vacations at home from abroad.

He was a book enthusiast and an accomplish historian in his own right. Not because he did study time and history in a modest university but because he was a vast reader of histories from the holy book up to the latest issues on human invasion to the moon or planet Mars. Conceivably, I could have inherited his deep passion for books.

Most of all, my father is a living proof that a college degree is not a requirement for one to see some of the most significant historical sites in the world. For one, he would account during his vacations that he had visited the birthplace of Jesus in Israel, the Holy mountain of Mount Sinai in the north western Saudi Arabia, and the cradle of civilization of Iraq. 

In fact, nearly two decades now since my father came home for good, he could still write and speak Arabic fluently and can communicate basic Indian and Bangla languages. Just recently, when my aunt along with her Punjab husband from Malaysia spent summer with us, our foreigner- uncle was surprised that my father could speak basic Indian- Punjabi dialect.

Looking back now, I have seen the saga of my life and my family like a roller coaster. The joys unforgotten, the hardships that inspired me, the knowledge acquired throughout my existence, my frustrations and desperation-- they have become the core of my persona. Within the sphere of influence though, I strongly attribute that whatever I have become now, the family whom I was with from the day of my conception until birth, is the same family whom I adore when I speak about love and values.

Truly, I have gone far from where I started. Life goes on, and perfect bliss is always around despite everyday confrontation with various negative atmospheres. And when I grow older, I would mean to tell my child's child that once upon a time I had a family that was founded in faith and centered on love, and that he is destined to be the apparent heir of great love, kind-heartedness, and wisdom.

oOo

Jay Go

Umaga. Hindi kailangang magsuot

Jay Go

ng dress upang masasabing maayos
ka tingnan. Salamin ng kaayusan ay
nasa isipan lang. Itanong mo pa
kay Nathan.
Hapon. Hindi kailangang
maligo para ang amoy mabango.
Pwede namang sa salamin lang
maaaring malaman kung amoy
paminta ka ba o toyo.

Pero, hindi sapat. Hindi akma ang
pag- iisip na binayo ni Karen
nitong nakaraan. Hindi tama ang
lugar kung saan isinilid ang damdaming
matagal nang nagtitimpi sa kahibangan.
Hindi pwedeng malaman ni Karl na para sa'yo
hindi mo talaga sya kaibigan.

Tuloy, nawaglit sa isipan
na hindi na kailanma babalik sa harap
ng salamin. Ayaw mo. Hindi mo maatim tingnan
ang mukhang parang espasol sa kapal
ng foundation na inilagay
ni Helen. Sabi mo, tsaka na lang.
Kapag maayos ka nang tingnan.

Tsaka na lang.

Unseating the Chief Justice: The Grand Coronation

At the outset of the so- called trial of the century after former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada’s impeachment in 2000, I can almost hear Michael Buffer’s trademarked catchphrase “Let’s get ready to rumble.....!” announcing the ‘President Noynoy Aquino versus Chief Justice Renato Corona’ match at the Senate of the Philippines impeachment court that has disappointed more Filipinos in the recent months.

Yes, the commotion between the two highest leaders in the judiciary and the executive branches in the country is a pandemonium that grimly affects the Filipino people. Simply put, it shouldn’t be like that. Both bodies should respect each other and subsist to achieve the ends of equity and justice and the general welfare every Filipino.

It’s distressing, however, that two of the highest leaders of the country today have forgotten their Constitutional mandate, that is, to serve the public more than their vested personal interests. Yet, it is evident from the recent actions between the judiciary and the executive branches of their immaturity and neglect to the true needs of the people, more so, of breaching the so called ‘public trust.’

For the first time in Philippine history, the leaders of the Executive and Judicial branches of the government had come to the open, firing their accusations to each other with dismay and arrogance. The President accused of bullying the Chief Justice, while the latter accused the former of disrespect and lack of civility.

Since Aquino was sworn to office in June 2010, he vowed to ‘cleanse’ the government by ‘removing from public office and hold liable those who have transgressed the law.’ His first move was the creation of the Truth Commission which was tasked to investigate the alleged corruption and cheating scandals that hounded the nine-year Arroyo administration. Aquino eyed former SC Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. to lead the commission.

SCRA. The MMSU College of Law where the author takes his Llb/Juris Doctor is equipped with facilities such as the law library where it houses annotated Supreme Court Reports.

Thus, in another blow to President Noynoy’s administration, the Supreme Court headed by Corona has declared unconstitutional the much trumpeted Truth Commission. Voting 10-5, the Supreme Court ruling effectively barred the prosecution of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and other officials and parties involved in alleged scandals under the previous administration.

The majority, among others, held that EO 1 (Executive Order 1) which attempted to create the Truth Commission violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution in as much as it singles out for investigation the reports of graft and corruption in the previous administration.

Then on, the cold war between the executive and legislative branches of the government fired up. For the first time a President boldly expressed his overly dismay against the judicial branch of the government while the latter stood with its decisions without any word of reprisal against the highest leader of the land.

In retaliation, the Chief Executive of the country publicly humiliated the chief magistrate of the highest tribunal, who was just an inch away from him on the occasion of a very important summit and in front of many morally and intellectually upright folks. The act was appalling. Majority of whom who were present in that particular occasion were members of the Bar. Beyond imagination, the speech delivered by President Aquino was no less than a slap in the face of the officers and members of the court, more so to the Chief Justice who seemed to have been subdued by what he just heard.

Arrogant, disrespectful, lack of civility, pathetic, megalomaniac, political dog—these were the words used to describe each other that Aquino and Corona blatantly expressed in their word wars which was published, viewed and heard in local and international media. Virtually, the Malacanang Palace portrayed the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice as a protector of the villains in the past administration.

Diverse reactions from the masses surfaced. Mostly were in disgust over the two warring heads. To some, there was actually nothing new—our dear Philippines have been lost for many decades due to precarious political situations.

Some said that the Aquino administration is disrespectful to the highest tribunal and has encroached into the independence of the judiciary. On one hand, the Supreme Court has kept its silence until Corona broke his voice a day before the impeachment trial and bravely announced that the President’s reason for putting him in the hot tub is plainly to vindicate his personal qualms.

Whatever the reason or reasons are, the on- going impeachment trial in the Senate is another sabotage in the political and economic sectors of the country. Time and again, the oligarchs in the three branches of the government have become the source of unsound situation that has put more Filipinos disgruntled with the breed of leaders this country has.

To many, the prosecution of Chief Justice Corona is an indication that the democratic system in this country is evident. However, it cannot also be concealed that the same system is thwarted and garnished by corrupt, ill- mannered, and feeble- minded public officials who have become the transgressors of law in the front line.

On a personal opinion, the three branches of the government, as an underlying principle, are mandated to serve and protect the interest and the general welfare of the masses. This principle is well entrenched in the Constitution—the fundamental law of this country. Yet, such duty is impaired due to political interests and gluttony of power which has left this country behind the shadows of its neighbouring Asian nations.

While it is true that compared to other countries, democracy so to speak, in the Philippines is well recognized, there is an urgent need for a major facelift and work out the details of our democratic system—to direct growth and shape our future all in conformity with the traditions and culture of our race. 

Consequently, the Philippine problem on politics and the so- called ‘democracy’ should be discussed in the light of true and real statesmanship—in a plane far above narrow, petty arguing regarding bribery, bossism, demagoguery, feuds, scandals—for these exists everywhere even in the most enlightened nations. After all, this country needs more reconstruction to re-establish its marred name, the Pearl of the Orient.

The political annals of this country have been blemished in countless times and patent with the notion that whenever a new political leader assumes power, the first move is to eliminate personalities that were appointed by previous administration. Vindication, avenge, conviction, cleansing, towards the right path? Whatever you call it, it does not make sense.

In other countries like the superpower United States, republicans and democrats, despite of their varying policies and political beliefs, they forge a harmonious working relationship for their citizens. So that at the end of the day, the general welfare of their people, justice and equity, and stable economy is delivered.

Our dear Philippines on the other hand, is also best served by our leaders- the other way around. Political coalitions simply stand ground on their crooked principles and remain adversaries until they end up instituting court action to get rid of their political foes from public office. They call that democracy. I simply call it ‘democrazy.’

One thing is clear though— democracy has been abused as an insensible arsenal of the political crooks of this country in order to bend the rule of Law.

Whatever the outcome of the impeachment trial, the personal interests of the two highest leaders would still benefit the most. Whether or not Corona will be exonerated and the State will be justified with its accusations, everything stays the same except that the results of the trial will form part as a newly established jurisprudence which will become as a condition precedent later on to another impeachment trial of an unwanted public official.

On the move is the grand ‘Coronation’. I wonder when do we draw closer to a great evolution?

oOo