The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Article 2, Section 2 states the following:
"The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land and adheres to the policy of peace (1), equality (2), justice (3), freedom (4), cooperation and amity with all nations (5)."
1. Peace requires we understand War.
2. Equality requires we understand both human dignity and human promise.
3. Justice requires we understand the economy of the life of nations.
4. Freedom requires we understand the truth about ourselves before God.
5. Cooperation and amity with all nations requires we understand how to love our own and others like our own as citizens and fellow human beings upon the earth.
What about our own nation, my brother and sister Filipino?
Are we excluded here by our own Constitution?
Shall we renounce the use of war against each other first?
When shall we build the monuments
to remember this time in the life of our Country, my people?
When shall we count the names?
When shall we take the memory of our fallen in
and remember each their lives and each their promise
away from the poisonous darkness
this cruel division has so far
wrought upon the mind and soul of our nation?
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Think about it -
I hate this conflict among ourselves
firstly because of (1) what it takes away - from us,
because of (2) what it prevents from arriving - for us,
and lastly, because of (3) what madness it inspires by its scandal - in us.
When you see this conflict
for what abomination it really is
in the eyes of both heaven
and of all the earth,
you will recoil.
From whatever side
- you claim to belong -
upon this one hallowed belonging
granted to us - equally, to all our generations -
by the great Providence of God
and the timeless merits of our people,
you will recoil!
Now,
I want you to set the eye of your heart
on the prize of Peace -
it is everything that is being denied our Country
at this point in time - wealth, prestige, quality of life,
and much, much more - every good thing
which ultimately leads our nation
to the freedom desired by all Filipino hearts.
- selah -
Forsake War, renounce it.
