The Renunciation of War

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?

---<--@

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.

Salutation #91

The Ages of Country
is a measure of the maturity of our Republic;
a measure of the brightness of our national remembrance.

From emerging to developing to developed to mature to ascended,
the development of our Country through its natural ages in time (the first four ages)
and its perfection in Eternity (the fifth age) can be likened to a tree
growing upon our one earth - in a garden of many trees.

It is deliberately conceived as a more harmonious alternative
better suited to the unitive spirit of the times
than the implicitly divisive three worlds, one earth model
that projects a first, second, and third world.
---<--@

We shall be aiming precisely for the fourth age - a mature Republic.

(The Fourth Age)

I can not see our Country

as anything else but a mature democracy -

a work of the truly free:

A hardy shelter of peace,

with wings strong enough to embrace

the whole of our one Filipino nation

- from least to great and great to least -

and spirit mighty enough to carry our one Republic forth

- across the vast wilderness of exile time -

from generation to generation,

from strength to strength,

and from truth to truth,

till all things in time are begun again by God

at the summit of our common Ascent

and the beginning of all things new.

---<--@

Remembrance: The Ages of Country

Salutation #90

A Filipino is a kind of love and this love binds us together as one nation.

(Citizenship with Fidelity)

I believe in our people

- We, the Philippines -

every ethnic tribe

- that make us -

into one common community;

one lineage of hope,

7,107 islands strong!

And I recognize in myself

and in each of my compatriots,

the strength and the spirit

that bind us together

as one Filipino nation.
---<--@

I shall be obedient

- to my parents -

and faithful

- to my God -

that I may learn to love virtue

and the good of others.

For I shall strive

to be useful to my nation

and shall work hard

to bring honor and joy

to my family,

to my school,

to my teachers

and to my community.
---<--@

I shall always remember

the experiences of our history

that forged for our people,

one common destiny.

And I shall walk - forever -

in this remembrance,

deriving from

the sacred memory

of our heroes,

one common identity.
---<--@

I shall keep true

to my common identity -

it is the reality

upon which

is established

the sacred trust

that binds the lives,

the labors

and the fortunes

of all Filipinos

- together -

into one lineage of hope;

one common citizenry.

And I will honor this

- sacred trust -

and work to fulfill this hope

in myself as a citizen

of our Republic endeavor,

drawing from the same

unyielding strength

that have empowered

the labors

of every Filipino

of every generation.
---<--@

I will cherish and understand

our Republic endeavor -

it is the foundation

of our democratic processes

in the political,

social

and juridical institutions

and representative traditions

that maintain the good order

of our public peace

that shelter

and preserve

the life of our civil society.

And I shall maintain

a constant vigilance

over our democracy,

participating in the labors

that enrich and advance

the peace of our Republic,

seeking every means available,

to pursue the the common good

of our people

and realize

the eternal vision

of our nation

established in our Constitution.

---<--@

I shall be brave

in the defense

of our Republic peace

and preserve

with my honor

and my life,

the truth of our Constitution

and the life of our generations.

And so

I shall embrace - forever -

all of these duties that I owe

to that undying dream

of freedom for myself

and for all Filipinos

being willing to freely

and humanly carry them out,

with much faith in God

and steadfast trust

in our Country,

kindled forever

like a flame in my heart

and in the hearts

of all my Filipino compatriots -
from always to always.
---<--@

Ang Pilipinas

Isa-diwa -

Ang Pilipinas ay hindi bagay,

na maaring hawakan at kulungin -

ito'y parang isang pangako

na maari mo lamang tanggapin.

Isa-puso -

Ang Pilipinas ay hindi luha,

na pilit mo lamang didibdibin

ito'y parang isang paglayang

sa katotohanan ika'y kukupkupin.

Isa-buhay -

Ang Pilipinas ay hindi galit

na sa 'yong puso'y dadamdamin

ito'y parang isang panaginip

na sa 'yong buha'y dapat gisingin.

Isa-gawa -

Ang Pilipinas ay hindi sukat

na sa ibang tao'y iyong kukunin

ang katunayan nito'y pag-ibig

na sa iyong paglisa'y aalalahanin.

---<--@

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Manatili nawa tayo sa alaala nang ating diwa.

Salutation #89

Mapalad ang Bayan na ang Diyos ay ang PANGINOON.

(Hindi Mo Lang Alam)

Hindi mo lang alam -

Pilipinas naming mahal,

- kung gaano kaganda -

ang inihandang bukas

ng Panginoong Diyos mo

para sa iyo.

Hindi mo lang alam ngayon -

Pilipinas naming mahal,

pagka't gabi pa't madilim

at hindi mo pa nakikita

- ang iyong sarili -

kung sino ka talaga.

O bayan kong iniibig -

hindi tayo nabubuhay para sa gabi;

ang diwa ng ating pagka-bansa'y

hindi sumasaatin dahil ito'y madilim.

Hindi tayo naririto -

kapwa ko kapatid nang Pangako,

upang sa tuluyang paglisan nitong kadilima'y

hindi sumikat kasama ng pagdating

ng bukangliwayway para sa ating Pilipinas.

Ang bansa nati'y kagaya ng araw

na sa ating Bandila'y walang kupas ang kinang,

walang takot at walang tigil ang ningning;

araw na nagbibigay sinag

sa kanyang mga talang

- matalas ang kislap -

laban sa mapangahas na kadiliman

nitong gabi ng ating pagdadalamhating

nagpapakilala lamang sa atin

sa darating na umaga.

Mga kapatid kong Pilipino,

ito ang umagang ipinangako sa atin

ng Poon nating Maykapal

- ang nag-iisa nating Diyos -

at Haring kanlungan ng lahat ng mga bansa;

ang paglayang sisikat din

sa pagbubunga ng Kapayapang

magbiyaya sa atin ng lubusang kalayaan

at kaunlaran sa ating mga salinglahi.

O bansang Pilipinas,

lupaing hinirang ng araw,

Pangako mo kapag ito'y nasilayan

ng puso nino man,

kayamanang walang hanggan,

pag-ibig na walang kamatayan.

---<--@

Salutation #88

Free inquiry is a civic virtue,

it is a strength of ours to be able to think as a nation!

So we must each cultivate good habits of the mind -

the ability to think about our thinking.

My brother and sister Filipino -

are we not a free nation upon this world?

(Question Everything)

In a democracy, question everything.

Democracy is not an answer, it is a path.

We are a work of human liberty

reaching out to the only other Freedom

reaching out to us - across the void -

the perfection of God,

the unity of the LORD;

our one God and true King!

We are one ascent to the Truth -

a Country made whole by the justice of our peace;

a peace made one by our common desire to be happy.

So have a thirst, O soul of my people,

have a thirst for every true thing under heaven.

Never stop longing - not just for good things -

but for great things - truly great things!

- selah -

We exist in a world so full of longing.

There is longing in our world

because there is an emptiness in the self.

There is a constant seeking for answers.

We can never really know anything unless we ask

and those who have come to know something

- have come to their own knowledge -

not by a perfect understanding of the answers

but by an imperfect understanding

of the questions one ought to know about.

For there are questions we must ask,

there are questions we must learn to ask,

and there are questions we must never ask.

- selah -

In a democracy, question everything.

(That is, validate them in yourselves.)

Democracy is not an answer, it is a path.

---<--@

Think about it -

"And I tell you,

ask and you will receive;

seek and you will find;

knock and the door

will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives;

and the one who seeks, finds;

and to the one who knocks,

the door will be opened."

(Luke 11: 9-10)

Now, if you know the Kama Sutra

more than the Kalama Sutra -

its time to start thinking!

Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing,

nor upon tradition,

nor upon rumor,

nor upon what is in a scripture,

nor upon surmise,

nor upon an axiom,

nor upon specious reasoning,

nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over,

nor upon another's seeming ability,

nor upon the consideration, "The monk is our teacher."

Kalamas, when you yourselves know:

"These things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness," enter on and abide in them.

- The Buddha, Kalama Sutra

Salutation #87

Judgment is the faculty of our soul - that -

deals with separating truth from untruth;

Light from Darkness.

(Decide)

To remove or to acquit?

Let me tell you this - decide.

Let us decide - and -

let us defend our decision together.

No nation is ruled by random chance.

There will be consequences

for every decision

we take* as a Country - good or bad.

(*Individual citizens make decisions,

our Congress takes them - in the context of this trial,

this means our incumbent citizen-servants

in the Senate, our Senator-Judges.

This is very important to understand.)

But if our immutable will - is -

to be true to the purpose

our God has established us, a nation

- imperfect though we may be -

all these imperfect choices

the LORD shall deign to bless.

And these shall ultimately lead our nation

- from generation to generation -

unto the Dawn!

For it is not we

who leads unto the Dawn, my people,

it is the LORD!

Personally speaking,
as your fellow citizen equally engaged
in this one Republic undertaking of Country,

I am ultimately inclined
to support our President Noy

for it is my conviction - that -
I must always defer to the Office

upon whose necessary authority

- every one of our presidents -

stands before we, the people.

- selah -

(I have other reasons

to support President Noy

- but they are wholly personal -

and so I shall exclude them

here in our consideration.)

But - good or bad - ultimately,

it is your choices we must defend, O my people,

so make these choices well and - decide.

---<--@

Think about it -

(Refer to our 2nd Monthly Exercise)

Whatever happens here, we can not exclude a Filipino from being a Filipino.

We still have to take care of each other.

We are expected to only choose our friends, this is the only correct choice.

So we must - with all peoples and with all nations, abide in peace and good will. Our enemies make themselves.

For our values are the values of peace.

NOTE: A representative democracy does not exclude the participation of the people so make an informed decision and let your representatives know - write them, text them, twitter them, or pm them in facebook - express your opinions through the right channels. Above all, we must stand together as one nation.

On the first day of trial, at the closing - Senator Enrile was right to caution us about who we are - we are a nation, not a mob. (20120116)

- selah -

I will cherish and understand our Republic endeavor - it is the foundation of our democratic processes in the political, social and juridical institutions and representative traditions that maintain the good order of our public peace that shelter and preserve the life of our civil society.

And I shall maintain a constant vigilance over our democracy, participating in the labors that enrich and advance the peace of our Republic, seeking every means available, to pursue the the common good of our people and realize the eternal vision of our nation established in our Constitution.

(excerpted from Citizenship with Fidelity)

(20120123) The uncertainty being braved through by our peers in the senate chamber - our senator-judges, the prosecution, as well as the defense - about this whole impeachment trial is proof of its own significance.

For we are making a path here where there was none.

It is a path that if it is crafted properly and tread justly, with the utmost care about all those concerned (the nation not excepted), shall serve as a comfort and a guide for those generations who yet to stand at the helm of our great and noble Republic undertaking.

Yes, it is important!

Let us pray it concludes decisively.

---<--@

The National Minimum

Lion of the Philippines!

Hail to the Lion -

defender of the people,

born and reborn again anew

through the spirit of thy election

resting mightily in thee!

Hail to the Lion -

guardian of the free,

reign over the darkness,

lead us ever unto the Morning

and onward to destiny!

Hail to the Lion -

keeper of the memory,

grant that thou may always remember -

thou art the scion of all our heroes

and faithful forever!

O Lion of the Philippines -

may the timeless glories of our nation;

its life, its love, its faith, its promise -

ever shine its eternal light upon thee

that it may in times of trial

and through deepest darkness

preserve in thee thy vision:

For God and Country!

---<--@

Hail to the Lion!

A Crime Against All Nations

Is it right to unjustly take from a man his liberty and to threaten his own family with his own life?

At any time and at any place, this crime is an evil which no nation can tolerate - let alone ours, let alone if this man is a guest of our Republic!

Our national prestige and the individual honor of our entire citizenry is burdened (again) by this crisis.

Is it right to unjustly take from a man his liberty and to threaten his own family with his own life?

This is what is happening right now to this man - Warren Richard Rodwell - and the nations of the world, friends - both familiar as well as unfamiliar alike, are watching and remembering it.

What happens here is important - how much value we place upon this issue is determined by how important we generally perceive this unfolding crisis to really and truly be.

Let us dwell with open hearts upon the plight of this guest of ours - selah.

Because what we do here is important - all of us are somehow involved in this - because there is no other Philippines with which other nations shall seek to know us than this one.

I implore all who are directly involved to concentrate and employ all available means to secure justice for this man, working toward his soonest and safest release, and to bind the evil that had perpetrated this crime in our midst with all our might as one Republic whole.

I want us to bear always in mind - kidnappers are bound with the same gaggle of criminals as slavers and human traffickers - theirs is but one spirit - an enemy of Mankind - hostis humani generis.

This is a crime against all nations.

And as we are a nation of Mankind - we can not tolerate this here.

My prayers go with Wocca, his family, and to Australia - may God see us all safely through this unwanted and unwelcome ordeal.

UPDATE: As of 20130323, Saturday, I came across an article in the news that Wocca has been freed by his captors. Bless the LORD for this day!

This is welcome news but still, the safe release of Mr. Rodwell doesn't override the fact that this criminal act should never have been done to him in the first place.

There never should have been a break in the liberty of his person nor threats issued against his God-given right to his own life.

At this time, Mr. Rodwell should immediately report to his embassy. If I know Australia, I know that whole nation is anxious to know that he is safe and sound.

I believe there are still hostages being held against their will - in this Country - by threats, criminal in their nature, that directly violate both their dignity and their rights and so the work continues... for it must.

---<--@

Go now and do what War does not expect;

in a million forms, in a million ways, serve -

Love your own and others like your own.

We are Complete

Let me bless the LORD, my honorable nation,

Let me bless the LORD before thee, my beloved people,

for God saw it fit that my silent seeking should be answered -

had we but two of the great Abrahamic faiths

present in the midst of our peoples?

No, my Philippines - we are complete.

Alleluia - bless the Name of God, our King - we are complete!

I did not think till yesterday early morning that we had a living branch of Elder Israel dwelling within the bounds of our Country.

So to the Jewish Community here in our Philippines, let me say this blessing unto each of thee -

The LORD bless you and keep you!

The LORD let his face shine upon

you, and be gracious to you!

The LORD look upon you kindly and

give you peace!

At mabuhay po tayong lahat!

---<--@

We are different, yet we are the same -

Shalom. Salaam. Peace.

Salutation #86

Of the Responsible State,

it must be said - there is no state more superior,

regardless of it's present governing framework,

than one that brings peace to the people.

A state must be judged by the people and the people by their peace.

A peaceful nation is a happy people ruled by a just state.

This state (the civilian leadership and its necessary administration),

regardless of its governing framework philosophy (in its present evolution),

is a just state - it is a Responsible State!

As all that is truth

cleave unto each other in the ascent,

so does freedom become ennobled

by the ennobling presence of freedom.

(Crossroads)

Peace, I salute you.

What's really on trial next week?

I want you see behind the externals

and look above the personalities involved,

and to perceive this impeachment in terms national

which extends across the life of our generations -

What's on trial next week

is an old and oppressive system

of selfish elitism and mindless factionalism -

a system which is disloyal to the life of our Republic;

a system we, the people, have allowed to endure

and have now the rare opportunity

to directly check and peaceably correct.

You feel the subtle effects of this system

('tis a rule of War, a mindless paradigm of division)

for it is like a tyranny without a tyrant

and its unfamiliar spirit is here in our midst

because we have allowed it to creep deep into our culture -

right into the very nook and cranny of every Filipino home

the sacredness of which our Constitution

- explicitly protects as inviolate -

because it is from each of our homes

where both our fortunes as well as our futures

as one Republic whole are broken or made.

(And War would have us all undone, my nation -

from weak to strong, and from lie to lie.)

Each home in our Republic is a bastion of Country,

for no matter how it is built - how magnificent or how humble -

each of our homes is dignified and defended by the laws

that we owe to each other equally - to recognize and uphold -

laws kept so that kings and presidents may not enter

any one of our homes - from least to great -

(but especially the least from among all)

without each our express permission -

let alone the spirit of War!

- selah -

My beloved people,

in exactly one week from now,

we shall arrive at a crossroads...

(only one of the many along our straight path)

where we shall each perceive

two paths leading out into the distance.

We shall each invest in a choice - as a nation -

a choice we must make more through our faith

- in the workings of God and of Country -

than through individual knowledge of any kind.

So that if we are still not established upon the truth

of who we are as a people and why we are as a nation,

when the time comes and everything speeds up once again

and the currents become for us turbulent -

we might get swept away - again -

into a place in time

we don't ever want to be.

We have no other home away from Home

- here upon this world of earth and fire -

than our one Republic of the Philippines;

we are but one vessel, one boat, one ship.

My brothers and sisters of the Promise,

we can no longer afford to be complacent.

There is no pulling ourselves back up river

for once it runs down water,

it must eventually reach the sea.

---<--@

Think about it -

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light (spirit).

And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness (judgment).

God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day (authority).

- Genesis 1: 3-5

Power is what calms the sea, it is what divides the waters, it is what distinguishes the light from the darkness.

Among the nations, power is the presence of authority.

Likewise, lack of authority is the absence of power.

(Please also see - One Song Meow: Power.)

The Paradox of Power

Sheltering Wings

Longing for Peace

This is my entry for the current OPAPP contest (to win a 2012 planner) - the question that is being fielded today through Twitter is this:

What's your own forecast for the GPH-MILF peace process?

This is my answer -

I long for the day when the rule of War is broken and peace to reign in our Country - I long for it like I long for breath.

Simply put, if you - like me - know the value of peace, we can not but say that the peace process must succeed. (And it eventually will because if the nations of the LORD don't do it, God Himself shall accomplish His purpose for all our nations.)

The real question here is when?

For "when" is ruled by how faithful our desire for the truth - by our remembrance of the Day.

If we are truly sincere, my brother and sister Filipinos, and if we remain steadfast in our desire for the daybreak of peace to finally dawn upon our Land of the Morning, being merciful and kind to our own true selves as a people upon this earth, the truth shall soon arrive - for us.

For peace is the purpose we are here as a nation; the sooner we remember why we are and who we must be, the sooner we shall arrive at that place in time where the dawn meets our dreams - together this time.

---<--@

Oh, and I would really, really love a planner - thanks!

Salutation #85

Lead us back to you, O LORD, that we may be restored:

give us anew such days as we had of old.

For now you have indeed rejected us,

and in full measure turned your wrath against us.

Lamentations 5: 21-22

(Law and Justice)

The practice of law is the practice of justice.

It is one act of charity.

Law is the breadth

and justice is the depth,

mercy is the awesome completeness

of its embrace in Man.

The depths of Man knows justice

- where and when it is present -

but more acutely

when and where it is absent.

The breadth of law

is the force that shapes

the destiny of nations

and guides each the order of it - across time,

keeping its necessary discipline

and exact form distinct

from the chaos

and the emptiness of the void.

Both law and justice is completed in mercy

and mercy perfected in charity,

even the charity of God.

For as long the soul of Man pines for God,

the heart of Man longs for justice;

for as long the heart of Man longs for justice,

the Law of the LORD exists!

And the laws of the nations derive their authority from it.

---<--@

For further reflection -



If law is a container,
then justice is the water.

How full it is depends on the water.
How satisfying it is depends on the container.
One can not be without the other. 

For a container without water
brings no comfort to the thirsty
and water without a container
sinks afoul into corruption.
---<--@

Salutation #84

Peace is the medium for our togetherness

- the freedom to be one heart and one mind -

'tis the spirit that binds each our souls together;

the completeness that makes our generations belong;

the unity which is the foundation of our prosperity.

(Building Together)

Let's go Philippines

- let's build, build, build -

build those timeless connections,

build those lasting institutions,

build good, nay - great government,

build better infrastructure,

build better roads and better bridges,

build better railways and better airways,

build great monuments to life and the art of life,

build wholly responsible businesses,

build wholesome relationships,

build stronger families,

build all those legacies to last...

mabuhay!

And may the Peace of the LORD be with us all.

- selah -

Bear into thy mind and heart - always -

We are not building a Republic to last a year or ten years.

We are building a shelter of Country for all our generations

unto the last of our generations.

This is the truth.

---<--@